User's Guide DIGI 96/8 PAD 24 Bit / 96 kHz ü ® SyncAlign ® ZLM PCI Bus Audio Card 2 / 8 Channels Stereo / ADAT® Interface 24 Bit / 96 kHz Digital Audio 32-96 kHz Sample Rate 24 Bit / 96 kHz Analog Audio Board Rev. 1.
Contents 1 2 3 4 5 Introduction............................................................ 3 Package Contents .................................................. 3 System Requirements............................................ 3 Brief Description and Characteristics................... 3 Technical Specifications 5.1 Digital.................................................................... 4 5.2 Analog................................................................... 4 5.3 Digital Interface..............
1. Introduction Thank you for choosing the RME DIGI96/8 PAD. This card is capable of transferring digital and analog audio data directly from DAT, Sampler or other sources to your computer. Installation is simple, even for the inexperienced user, thanks to latest Plug & Play technology and full interrupt-sharing. Numerous unique features and a well thought-out configuration dialog have turned the DIGI96 series into a renowned and accepted industry standard.
5. Technical Specifications 5.1 Digital • • • • • • • • • Ultra-low jitter SPDIF: < 1 ns in PLL mode (44.1 kHz, optical in) Ultra-low jitter ADAT: < 2 ns in PLL mode (44.1 kHz, optical in) Input PLL ensures zero dropout, even at more than 40 ns jitter Bitclock PLL for trouble-free varispeed in ADAT mode High-sensitivity input stage (< 0.2 Vss input level) Output voltage 0.8V (phono), 3.5V (XLR) Supported sample rates: 32 / 44.1 / 48 / 64 / 88.
6. Hardware Installation Important: Switch off the computer and remove the power cable from the power supply before fitting the DIGI96/8 PAD. Inserting and removing the card while the computer is in operation will more than likely lead to irreparable damage to the mainboard! 1. Disconnect the power cord and all other cables from the computer 2. Remove the computer's housing; further information on how to do this can be obtained from your computer´s instruction manual 3.
7.3 Windows 2000/XP After the hardware has been installed correctly (see 6. Hardware Installation), and the computer has been switched on, Windows will recognize the new hardware component and start its ‘Hardware Wizard’. Insert the RME Driver CD into your CD-ROM drive, and follow further instructions which appear on your computer screen. The driver files are located in the directory \DIGI96 W2k on the RME Driver CD.
8. Operation and Usage 8.1 External Connectors The DIGI96/8 PAD has 3 external inputs and outputs. The current input is activated through 'Settings', available by a click on the DIGI symbol in the Taskbar's system tray. The card accepts all commonly used digital sources as well as SPDIF and AES/EBU. Channel status and copy protection are ignored. Use the supplied breakout cable to connect coaxial (SPDIF) or XLR (AES/EBU) devices.
.3 Playback (Windows MME) DIGI96/8 PAD can play back audio data only in supported formats (sample rate, bit resolution). Otherwise an error message appears (for example at 22 kHz and 8 bit). In the audio application being used, DIGI96/8 PAD must be selected as the output device. This can often be found in the Options, Preferences or Settings menus under Playback Device, Audio Devices, Audio etc. Only a few programs exclusively use Windows' Preferred Playback Device.
8.4 Recording Digital (Windows MME) Unlike analog soundcards, which produce empty wave files (or noise) when no input signal is present, digital I/O cards always need a valid input signal to start recording (this includes the correct sample frequency as well).
8.5 Recording Analog Use the RME Settings dialog to set the active input to 'Analog' and to activate the line inputs (stereo ¼" TRS jack, wiring diagram see appendix). Two jumpers labelled J2/J3 allow you to change the input sensitivity to the most common levels +4 dBu (jumper pulled) and -10 dBV (jumper in place). A full scale level (0 dBFS) requires +19 dBu respectively +2 dBV analog input level.
8.8 Low Latency under MME (Buffer Size Adjustment) Using Windows 95 or 98 the MME buffer size was nothing to worry about. Latencies below 46 ms were not possible. Meanwhile both computers and operating system have become much more powerful, and since Windows ME/2000/XP latencies far lower can be used. SAWStudio and Sonar allowed to use such low settings from the start. Sequoia was updated in version 5.91, WaveLab in version 3.04.
9. Configuring the DIGI96/8 PAD 9.1 General The hardware of the DIGI96 series includes a number of helpful, well thought-of, practical functions and options, which allow you to configure the behaviour of the card to suit many different requirements. Through ‘Settings’ you will gain access to: • • • • • Input selection Output operation Output Channel Status Synchronization behaviour Input and output status display The display of the current input frequency and format is updated every 0.5 seconds.
Input Defines the current input. Under W9x an additional option called Autoselect can be selected. When active, the digital inputs will be changed automatically until a valid input signal is detected. Stereo Devices (W2k only) SyncAlign operates fully automated and should be kept active all the time. Only in case the stereo devices must operate completetely independent, deactivating this setting may be necessary.
9.2 Force Adat The function 'Force Adat' is a mighty feature of the DIGI96/8 series. It forces the digital output into ADAT mode (i.e. 8-channel operation). When using a 'normal' 2-track program to play a stereo file, you're not only able to send the data to any SPDIF device, but also to any other ADAT interface! Just activate 'Force Adat' and choose the stereo pair that corresponds to the channels you want the data being transfered to (for example DIGI96/8 PAD (3+4)).
9.4 Tab 'Mode' The Buffer Size value can be set in the RME DIGI Settings dialog, tab 'Mode'. This setting determines the latency (the delay) between the audio application and the DIGI96 series, as well as general system stability. The higher the value, the more tracks can be recorded and played back simultaneously, and the longer the system takes to react. In RME DIGI Settings, tab 'Mode', 4 different buffer sizes are available: 256 (6 ms), 512 (11 ms), 1024 (23 ms), 2048 (46 ms).
9.6 Clock Modes - Synchronization In the digital world, all devices are either the 'Master' (clock source) or a 'Slave' synchronized to the master. Whenever several devices are linked within a system, there must always be a single master. The DIGI96 series includes a very user-friendly intelligent clock control, which handles the clock switching between master and slave on its own. Click on 'AutoSync' to activate this mode.
10. Using more than one DIGI96/8 PAD All our drivers can communicate simultaneously with all the cards registered in the system. The driver marks them with different numbers after the device's name, like ‘DIGI96/8 PAD In (1)’. Thanks to our AutoSync technology multiple cards can be synchronized easily by applying one input signal to all inputs simultaneously. In order to connect more than one DIGI96/8 PAD to a digital mixing desk they must all get the same clock(ed input signal).
11. Special Features of the Digital Output Apart from the audio data itself, digital audio signals in SPDIF or AES/EBU format include a header containing Channel Status information. False Channel Status is a common cause of malfunction. The DIGI96 series ignores the received header and creates a totally new one for the output signal. Note that in record or monitor modes, set emphasis bits will disappear.
12. Notes on the ADAT Interface DIGI96/8 PAD comes with two different driver methods in one driver. Using channel interleave there is only one device, the software in use divides the channels into 8 mono tracks. Because this easy to handle 'Windows native' method is not widely used the DIGI96/8 PAD also supports Multi-Device operation. The driver routes the 8 tracks in 4 stereo devices.
Rule 3: It is not possible to use the same channels with different programs simultaneously. If for example Cubase uses channels 1/2 (default in Cubase, Master bus), this output pair can't be used in Gigasampler/Studio (default) nor under MME. 13.2 Multi Channel Direct Sound (Win 9x only) The Windows 95/98 driver of the DIGI96 series supports DirectSound. Due to compatibility reasons DirectSound is de-activated by default. To activate the DirectSound support un-check 'Disable DS' in the Settings dialog.
14. Operation under ASIO 2.0 14.1 General As Steinberg is the inventor of ASIO we have chosen Steinberg's Cubase VST as example on how to use and setup our cards in ASIO operation. Our ASIO driver supports any combination of cards from the DIGI96 series. Important: Multiple cards MUST be synchronized among themselves! This may be done by using the input signal (having a common clock source, for example a digital mixing desk), several synchronized ADATs or the RME Word Clock Module.
14.2 Buffer Size - Latency The Buffer Size value in the RME DIGI Settings dialog determines the latency (in this case the delay) between the audio application and the DIGI96 series as well as general system stability. The higher the value, the more tracks can be recorded and played back simultaneously, and the longer the system takes to react. The indicated bit resolution is independent from the chosen bit resolution in Cubase.
15. Operation under GSIF (Gigasampler Interface) 15.1 Windows 98/SE/ME The GSIF interface of the DIGI96 series Windows 98/SE/ME driver allows direct operation with Gigasampler and Gigastudio, with up to 8 channels, 96kHz and 24bit. Additionally the driver supports multi-client operation. For example ASIO can use channels 1/2 and Gigastudio (with GSIF) channels 3/4 simultaneously, and so on.
16. Hotline - Troubleshooting 16.1 General The newest information can always be found on our website www.rme-audio.com, section FAQ, Latest Additions. Playback works but recording doesn´t: • Check that a valid input signal is at hand. In this case the Error LED on the hardware turns off, and the current sample frequency is shown under 'Settings'. • If you are sure that a valid signal is being sent but the LED is still red, then check the currently selected input in the Settings dialogue.
Cubase seems to work, but no signal shows up at the output of the DIGI96 • This can also happen with Logic or other programs. Most propably Gigasampler/Gigastudio has been installed. Programs like Cubase then use the newly installed Gigastudio MIDIPorts, thus activating GSIF on the audio channels which are set inside Gigastudio (default: 1/2). As a result ASIO (also 1/2) is blocked. This effect vanishes as soon as the Gigastudio ports are deactivated in Cubase' Setup MME. 16.
17. DIGICheck: Analysis, Test and Measurements using the DIGI96 series The DIGI96 series from RME is accompanied by a world wide unique software tool: DIGICheck, the incredible utility for test, measure and analysis of the digital audio data stream. DIGICheck is based on functions of our well-known DAM-1, the Digital Audio Monitor. This device uses a built-in DSP for its calculations. Therefore DIGICheck is not able to realize all the functions of the DAM-1.
19. Warranty Each individual DIGI96/8 PAD undergoes comprehensive quality control and a complete test in a PC environment at RME before shipping. This may cause very slight signs of wear on the contacts (if the card looks like it was used one time before - it was). The usage of high grade components allows us to offer a full two year warranty. We accept a copy of the sales receipt as valid warranty legitimation. RME’s replacement service within this period is handled by the retailer.
Analog input and output: Pin assignment of the TRS jacks Analog input and output are accessible through stereo ¼" TRS jacks. This allows a direct connection of headphones at the output. In case the output should operate as line out an adapter TRS plug to RCA phono plugs, or TRS plug to TS plugs is required. The pin assignment follows international standards. The left channel is connected to the tip, the right channel to the ring of the TRS jack/plug.
Block diagram User's Guide DIGI96/8 PAD © RME 29
CE This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits of the European Council Directive on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to electromagnetic compatibility (EMVG) according to EN 55022 class B and EN50082-1. FCC Compliance Statement Certified to comply with the limits for a Class B computing device according to subpart J or part 15 of FCC rules. See instructions if interference to radio reception is suspected.
