Red 16Line 64 in / 64 out Thunderbolt™ 3 audio interface – with Pro Tools | HD and Dante™ network audio connectivity User Guide FFFA001540- 01 www.pro.focusrite.
Contents About this User Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Box Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thunderbolt Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Logic Pro X Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Pro Tools Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
About this User Guide This user guide applies to the Red 16Line Thunderbolt Interface. It provides information about installing and operating the unit and how it can be connected into your home or studio system. Audinate® is a registered trademark of Audinate Pty Ltd. Dante™ is a trademark of Audinate Pty Ltd. Thunderbolt™ is a trademark of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries.
Introduction Thank you for purchasing the Focusrite Red 16Line. Red 16Line is a dual Thunderbolt 3 & Pro Tools | HD audio interface and preamplifier, suitable for a wide range of audio integration applications. The Red 16Line features Mic, Line and Instrument analogue inputs and 22 analogue output channels – including independent loudspeaker and headphone monitoring plus 16-channel LCD meter displays.
System Block Diagram Input Function, Gain & Reference Instrument 1-2 Meters 1-8 Meters 9-16 Output Control Input Select 1-2 Mic 1-2 Line 1-8 9-16 1-2 16 A-D Digital I/O ADAT 2 9-16 S/PDIF In S/PDIF Out Loopback In 8 8 18/24 -1 / 4 Line 1-8 Analogue Outputs Line 9-16 Thunderbolt -1 / 4 64 1-16 ROUTER ADAT 1 1-8 Headphones 1&2 D-A 18/24 Analogue Inputs Monitor 1-2 2 64 DAW Host Select Pro Tools 16 16 32 32 2 Dante Network Network 2 Word Clock I/O 2 Loop Sync I/O Numb
Red 16Line Controls and Connections Front Panel Instrument Inputs Input Select Buttons Input Encoder Meter I/O Select Buttons Level Meter Menu & Menu & O/P H/phone Display 9-16 O/P Display Encoder Select Menu, Meter & Monitor Buttons Input & Level Meter Display 1-8 Power Switch H/phone Outputs • Instrument Inputs. Two high-impedance unbalanced inputs on 1/4” jack sockets. • Input Select buttons provide direct access to the menu settings for analogue input channels 1&2.
Rear Panel AC Inlet Word Clock Dante Network Loop Sync Thunderbolt 3 Interface 2 x ADAT Optical I/O Pro Tools | HD Interface S/PDIF I/O Line Outputs Line Inputs L/R Monitor Outputs Microphone Inputs • AC Mains Inlet. Standard IEC receptacle for connection of AC mains. Red 16Line features a ‘Universal’ PSU, enabling it to operate on any supply voltage between 100 V and 240 V AC. • Word Clock – Input allows synchronisation to word clock.
Physical Characteristics 340mm / 13.4” 465.0mm / 18.3” 31.8mm / 1.25” Red 16Line dimensions are illustrated in the diagram above. Red 16Line requires 1U of vertical rack space and at least 400mm of rack depth, to allow for cables. Red 16Line weighs 5.04kg and for installations in a fixed environment (eg., a studio), the front-panel rack mountings will provide adequate support. However, if the units are to be used in a mobile situation (eg., flight-cased for touring, etc.
Operation Inputs Red 16Line has the capacity to accommodate sixteen analogue inputs, two independent 8-channel ADAT inputs, a 2-channel S/PDIF input plus 32 Dante input channels. (Additionally, an internal 2-channel loopback signal can be added as an extra stereo input – see page 13 for details.) Analogue Inputs Analogue input channels 1 & 2 can be assigned to the Instrument, Microphone or Line input connectors.
Input Configuration The settings for input channels 1 & 2 – its input type and function options – are selected via the Config Menu. • To enter the Config Menu, press-and-hold a channel’s Select button To exit this screen, press any of the channel Select buttons (or, rotate the Input Encoder to the ‘Back’ option and then click).
Encoder Toggle Function The Input Encoder can be programmed to toggle any one of the input functions with a single push (ie., without having to enter the Config Menu screen). This can be very useful when, for example, experimenting with microphone phasing.
Digital Inputs ADAT ADAT inputs 1 and 2 are accessed via the rear panel connectors. Signals will be available if the source is connected and the system is synced to a common clock. Each In/Out connection provides: • 8ch at • 4ch at • 2ch at 44.1 / 48 kHz 88.2 / 96 kHz 176.4 / 192 kHz (SMUX) (SMUXII) S/PDIF A two-channel S/PDIF I/O connection is accessed via the RCA/Phono connectors on the rear panel, or via the optical TOSLINK connectors.
Monitoring Monitors Monitor outputs, at line level, are provided via the 1/4” balanced jack outputs on the rear panel. • The Output Encoder will adjust the monitor output level whenever the Monitor button is illuminated Monitor Display The monitor display shows the current volume level and whether either Dim or Mute is active. ‘Dim’ attenuates the signal by 18dB. The L/R meter display shows a pre-fade level (the signal level present before the Output Encoder).
Meter Displays Level Meters 1–8 and 9–16 The left and centre LCD screens each display level meters. These indicate the internal signal level of channels 1–16, after A-D conversion, with 0 dBFS being at full scale. A red clip indicator is displayed on channels that reach clipping point. The meter source is selected as follows: Analogue In I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 • Press the Input button to display input channels 1–8 and 9–16.
Analogue Outputs 16 analogue outputs are provided on the two DB25 female connectors on the rear panel. Operating Level Selection The operating level for each Line input can be switched between +18 dBu and +24 dBu to correctly match additional studio equipment.
Thunderbolt Connection Confirm that Red 16Line’s Host setting is set to ‘Thunderbolt’, see Global Host Settings on page 20. Two Thunderbolt 3 connectors are located on the rear panel. Connect to the host or into the chain using standard Thunderbolt cables (one supplied). See appendix 2, pages 26–28 for the channel I/O allocation tables. Logic Pro X Setup • From the menu bar, go to: Logic Pro X > Preferences > Audio...
Pro Tools Connection Confirm that Red 16Line’s Host setting is set to ‘Pro Tools’, see Global Host Settings on page 20. Connect both rear panel PRIMARY ports to a Pro Tools | HDX card using Mini DigiLink cables. Each Pro Tools | HDX PCI/PCIe card provides two Mini DigiLink ports (giving the card a capacity of 64 inputs and 64 outputs), thus one Red 16Line may be connected to each card.
Pro Tools Setup • From the Pro Tools menu bar, go to: Setup > Playback Engine... • In the Playback Engine menu popup, select: ‘HDX’ or ‘HD Native’, as appropriate for your system The following steps are optional but will simplify signal routing: • From the menu bar, go to: Setup > I/O Setup... • Ensure your input and output routing tables are routed as follows by selecting the Default tab at the bottom left of the page. Notes 1.
Global Settings Press the Meter and Monitor buttons simultaneously to enter the global settings menu. • Rotate the Output Encoder to select a menu item • Click the Output Encoder to step through the available options To exit the Global settings screen press the Monitor button (or select the ‘Back’ option). Host Thunderbolt Host Selects the connection used for the DAW host: Thunderbolt or Pro Tools. The Lock flag in the Monitor display will show green when locked to the DAW host.
Focusrite Control The Focusrite Control application provides remote control of all Red 16Line’s front panel hardware functions and system settings via a graphical interface on your DAW. Please note: This manual includes information relating to Red 16Line’s specific front panel controls and device settings.
Device Settings GUI Sync Indicator Channel Gain Channel Function Input Type Sync Indicator – Will be illuminated if Red 16Line is locked to a valid clock source. Channel Gain – Sets the input gain on analogue channels 1 & 2; click-and-drag to change. Channel Function – Click to select an input function. See page 11 for Function descriptions. Input Type – Click to select the input signal type. Also see page 11 for Type descriptions. Sample Rate – Select from: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.
Input Routing Because the number of channels available reduces when operating at higher sample rates, Input Routing allows the channel order to be re-arranged so that all input signals required can be accessed. Use each drop-down list in the table to move input channels in pairs. For example, in the image below, ADAT inputs 5-6 are being sent to DAW channels 1–2. This means that when selecting inputs 1–2 on a track in a DAW, ADAT inputs 5-6 on the Red 16Line will be recorded.
Appendices Appendix 1 – Connector Pinouts DB25 (AES59) Connector Connector type: Applies to: Pin DB25 Female 1 Analogue Line Input / Line Output 14 2 13 Signal 16 14 17 5 18 19 20 22 23 Channel 6 – 24 25 Channel 4 + Channel 4 – Channel 3 + Channel 3 – Channel 2 + Channel 2 – Channel 1 + Channel 1 – Ground 13 n/c 1/4” Jack Connectors Connector type: Balanced socket Applies to: Monitor Outputs Connector type: Unbalanced socket Applies to: Ins
Appendix 1 – Connector Pinouts Continued...
Appendix 2 – Default Channel Allocation Sample Rate: 44.1 / 48 kHz Note Output channel allocations are only fixed when operating on Pro Tools | HD host mode.
Appendix 2 – Default Channel Allocation Continued... Sample Rate: 88.2 / 96 kHz Note Output channel allocations are only fixed when operating on Pro Tools | HD host mode.
Appendix 2 – Default Channel Allocation Continued... Sample Rate: 176.4 / 192 kHz Note Output channel allocations are only fixed when operating on Pro Tools | HD host mode.
Appendix 3 – Air information Air is the name we give to the sonic signature of the classic transformer ISA Preamp. Our customers first coined this name as a simple description of the effect the ISA preamp added to their sound recordings. The three most significant attributes of the transformer design that create the “Air” effect are: • Microphone interaction, created by the unique input impedance of the transformer coupling with the microphone output impedance.
Performance and Specifications Microphone Inputs Gain Range 0-8 to 63 dB in 1dB steps Maximum Input Level >+19dBu Input Impedance 6.2 kΩ, electronically balanced | Air Mode: 2.2 kΩ Dynamic Range 119 dB ‘A’-Weighted (typical), minimum gain Frequency Response 20 Hz – 35 kHz ±0.2dB | Air Mode: 2dB boost at 10 kHz and -2 dB at 20 kHz (ref. 1 kHz) THD + N -101dB (0.
Monitor Outputs 0 dBFS Reference Levels +18 dBu Dynamic Range 120 dB ‘A’-Weighted Frequency Response 20 Hz – 35 kHz ±0.2 dB THD + N -80 dB (0.01%) @ -1 dBFS Headphone Outputs Maximum Output Level +16 dBm ±0.5 Dynamic Range 114 dB ‘A’-Weighted Frequency Response 20 Hz – 20 kHz ±0.2 dB THD + N -75dB (0.018%) @ -1 dBFS Output Impedance 10 Ω Headphone Impedance 32 – 600 Ω Digital Performance Supported Sample Rates 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.
Dimensions Height 44 mm / 1.73” [1RU] Width 483 mm / 19” Depth 340 mm / 13.4” Weight Weight 5.04 kg / 11.11 lbs Power PSU Internal, 100-240 V, 50/60 Hz, consumption 120 W EMC Compliance (These are the recommended cables based on EMC testing) Analogue Ports Good quality screen cables (24AWG) Clock Ports High quality BNC cables e.g.
Focusrite Red 16Line Warranty and Service All Focusrite products are built to the highest standards and should provide reliable performance for many years, subject to reasonable care, use, transportation and storage. Very many of the products returned under warranty are found not to exhibit any fault at all. To avoid unnecessary inconvenience to you in terms of returning the product please contact Focusrite support.
