System User Guide FA0458-04 www.focusrite.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 1. Read these instructions. 2. Keep these instructions. 3. Heed all warnings. 4. Follow all instructions. 5. Do not use this apparatus near water. 6. Clean only with dry cloth. 7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. 8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat. 9.
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL. The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
TABLE OF CONTENTS IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 About this User Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
INTRODUCTION Thank you for investing in the Focusrite RedNet system. RedNet is a powerful, low latency, digital audio networking system designed specifically for music, recording studio, live and broadcast applications. It is based on Audinate’s Dante™, a well-established audio networking technology known for its extreme robustness. Dante - and the RedNet system is capable of transporting up to 512 channels of bidirectional audio (at 48 kHz sample rate) over a single Ethernet link.
Overview Focusrite RedNet Audio Networking - key features • Digital audio networking developed specifically for studios, live and broadcast.
RedNet PCIe/ PCIeR card The RedNet PCIe/ PCIeR (PCI Express) card is an optional hardware interface between the Ethernet network interconnecting the various I/O units in a RedNet system, and the host computer. When installed in a 4-lane (minimum) PCIe card slot in either a PC, Mac or Thunderbolt chassis, it allows up to 128 channels to be sent to/from the DAW through its on-board Ethernet port/ ports.
Minimum system requirements In general terms, computers running the following operating systems will allow a RedNet system to deliver satisfactory performance (but see important note below): Mac Apple Mac with OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion) or later. Please note that RedNet is not supported by Mac PPC. Min. 2 GB RAM Dual core Intel Processor (Quad core recommended) PC PC running Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10 (32- or 64-bit). Please note that RedNet is not supported by Windows Vista. Min.
Numerous makes/models of Gigabit switches have been found to operate satisfactorily with Dante systems. Recommended manufacturers include Linksys, Dell, HP and Cisco. We also recommend Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) enabled switches, which will power certain RedNet devices such as the RedNet AM2 (For more information - please see the RedNet User Manuals).
Installation Guide Unit connections and features RedNet I/O interfaces Full details of the front panel controls, indicators and rear panel connections of the various RedNet hardware interfaces will be found in the device specific User Guides on the RedNet website. RedNet PCIe/ PCIeR card 1. Primary Network Port - Connect this to the Gigabit network switch local to the computer. The port is the primary interface for all the channels of audio on the RedNet network.
The RedNet PCIe/ PCIeR card is powered by the computer or chassis in which it is installed. It conforms to the PCIe card supply voltage standard, and provided your computer’s PSU is working normally, you should experience no power-related issues with any computer.
Constructing a RedNet system Necessary equipment • Compatible Mac or Windows PC – see page 8 for computer specifications • RedNet I/O Interfaces as required • Either: • A RedNet PCIe/ PCIeR Card • Dante Virtual Soundcard software • Up to five (Pro Tools|HDTM) or six (Pro Tools|HDXTM) RedNet 5/ RedNet HD32R HD Bridges Gigabit Ethernet Switch – see page 8 for switch specification • • • Ethernet cables: • One cable between each RedNet interface and the switch, • One cable between the host computer and
registered your purchase at www.focusrite.com/register. The Product Registration Card provided with your RedNet unit contains a validation code which you will need to enter in the Registration area. This procedure ensures that you will have the most up-to-date software versions. Can’t get started? If you have any trouble with this product do not go back to the place of purchase.
Audio setup in your DAW with RedNet Control Whatever DAW you are using, it will provide a method of selecting which RedNet audio channel feeds each track. Please refer to your DAW’s documentation or Help files if you are unsure about this. The RedNet PCIe/ PCIeR card will be detected automatically by your DAW and added to the list of available audio sources.
System 2 - Single Control Room and Live Room setup (analogue) 2 x RedNet 2 (Control Room) + 2 x RedNet 4 (live room) Live Room Control Room Mac/PC GBit Switch CAT 6 Ethernet Cables 16 Channel AD/DA GBit Switch 8 Channel Mic Pre 8 Channel Mic Pre 16 Channel AD/DA Analogue Mixing Desk This small studio system would allow up to 48 sources to be recorded simultaneously; 16 of these could be from mic or line sources in the live room, with another 32 from line sources in the control room via the RedNet
Dante Virtual Soundcard setup RedNet 4 only, no switch, straight to host Ethernet port CAT 6 Ethernet Cable 8 Channel Mic Pre This shows the very simple network required if your system does not include a RedNet PCIe/ PCIeR card. The host computer would instead have the Dante Virtual Soundcard installed, and a single Cat 6 connection between RedNet 4 and the host’s resident Ethernet port would suffice.
RedNet audio distribution system – no DAW RedNets 1 – 4 in different rooms, audio networking only In this more complex, centralised system, users in any room would be able to access audio sources from any other room. Each room has its own local Ethernet switch, and each is connected in turn back to a central switch in the machine room. The host computer – which may or may not be a DAW platform – is connected to this central switch.
Operation with RedNet Control When RedNet Control is launched, it interrogates the network to discover which RedNet units are connected. This may take a few moments, after which a set of virtual front panels is displayed. When RedNet Control is launched for the first time, the screen display should be similar to that shown below.
Virtual panel layout As well as duplicating the controls and indicators of a device’s physical front panels, the virtual front panels have a number of features common to all RedNet types. 1. Minimise Icon - Click this to reduce the virtual front panel to a nominal size. The controls and indicators are no longer available when the panel is minimised. 2. Unit Name - Displays default unit name. Clicking on the name allows the unit to be renamed. 3.
Utility menu Right-clicking on most areas of a RedNet device in RedNet Control will open a pop-up menu with the following options: • Get Info – opens a window providing system information, including firmware and software • Launch Dante Controller... - clicking this option launches Audinate Dante Controller, or, • versions. if Dante Controller is already running, opens its window on top of RedNet Control. See “Using Dante Controller” on page 21. Upgrade Firmware...
Using Dante Virtual Soundcard If your RedNet system is to be based on Dante Virtual Soundcard instead of a RedNet PCIe/ PCIeR card, you will need to download the application from the Audinate website, www.audinate.com, and install it. Each RedNet I/O interface is supplied with Dante Virtual Soundcard download instructions and a software license.
The Dante Controller window has five tabs; Routing, Device Info, Clock Status, Network Status and Events. The Routing tab is where custom audio routings can be set up. The routing page is arranged as a matrix, with audio inputs listed horizontally (‘Dante Transmitters’) and audio outputs listed vertically (‘Dante Receivers’). The ‘+’ symbol against each RedNet device may be clicked to expand the full set of inputs or outputs; Note that in the case of an input-only interface (e.g.
The matrix displays graphically how the physical inputs and outputs on the RedNet units are currently mapped to the audio channels of the RedNet PCIe/ PCIeR card. Consider a simple situation where a single RedNet 1 unit is on the network.
You can see that the Dante Controller confirms that each of the RedNet 1’s analogue inputs 1 to 8 is mapped to the RedNet PCIe/ PCIeR card’s network receive channels 1 to 8, by a green tick.
Appendix Registering your product For technical support, please register your product at: www.focusrite.com/register Customer Support You can contact Focusrite Customer Support at: Email: supportteam@focusrite.com Phone: +44 (0)1494 462246 Troubleshooting If you are experiencing problems with your RedNet System, we recommend that in the first instance, you visit our Support Answerbase at: www.focusrite.
