User's Guide Digiface Dante Portable Dante via USB! USB 3.
General 1 2 3 4 5 Introduction ...............................................................6 Package Contents .....................................................6 System Requirements ..............................................6 Brief Description and Characteristics.....................6 First Usage - Quick Start ..........................................7 5.1 Connectors – LEDs .................................................7 5.2 Quick Start ........................................................
TotalMix FX 18 TotalMix: Routing and Monitoring 18.1 Overview .............................................................. 32 18.2 The User Interface ............................................... 34 18.3 The Channels....................................................... 35 18.3.1 Settings ........................................................ 37 18.4 Section Control Room.......................................... 38 18.5 The Control Strip.................................................. 39 18.5.
Technical Reference 24 Technical Specification ..........................................64 24.1 Firmware ..............................................................65 24.2 General ................................................................65 25 Technical Background 25.1 USB Audio............................................................67 25.2 MADI Basics.........................................................68 25.3 Terminology .........................................................
User's Guide Digiface Dante General User's Guide Digiface Dante © RME 5
1. Introduction Thank you for choosing the Digiface Dante. This unique, compact and portable audio interface is capable of transferring USB digital audio data and MADI from/to Mac or PC to the world's most popular audio network, Dante. The latest Plug & Play technology guarantees a simple installation, even for the inexperienced user. The numerous unique features and well thoughtout configuration dialog puts the Digiface Dante at the very top of the range of computer-based audio interfaces.
5. First Usage – Quick Start 5.1 Connectors – LEDs The front of the Digiface Dante features four Gigabit Ethernet ports, 2 BNC sockets for word or MADI I/O, a state LED, and the headphone output. The four network sockets, RJ45 format, support both 100 Mbps and 1 Gbps. The integrated LEDs show the states connected (yellow) and data traffic (green). The four ports can be used in switched (4) or redundancy (2) mode (Primary/Secondary).
5.2 Quick Start After the driver installation (chapter 6 / 13) the Digiface Dante has to be connected to a Dante network. A Dante network consists of a connection to at least one other Dante equipped device or computer with Dante Via installed. The Dante Controller does not allow any further settings without detecting a Dante network. Some basic and OS-specific options are available in the Settings dialog of the MADIface series driver. Level adjustment of the analog output Phones is done in TotalMix FX.
User's Guide Digiface Dante Installation and Operation - Windows User's Guide Digiface Dante © RME 9
6. Driver and Firmware 6.1 Driver Installation RME is constantly improving their drivers - the included Driver CD is most probably already outdated when unpacking the product. Please download the latest drivers from the RME website at http://rme.to/usbe. Unzip the downloaded file and start the driver installation with rmeinstaller.exe. If internet access is not available insert the RME Driver CD into your CD-ROM drive. The driver installer is located in the directory \MADIface_Net. Start rmeinstaller.
6.3 Firmware Update The Flash Update Tool updates the firmware of the Digiface Dante to the latest version. It requires an already installed driver. Download the latest version from the RME website at http://rme.to/usbe. Unzip the downloaded file and start the program fut_usbplus_avb_dante.exe under Windows, or USB Series Flash Tool under Mac. The Flash Update Tool displays the current revision of the Digiface Dante's firmware and whether it needs an update or not.
7. Configuring the Digiface Dante 7.1 Settings Dialog Configuration of the Digiface Dante is done via its own settings dialog.
Buffer Size The setting Buffer Size determines the latency between incoming and outgoing ASIO and WDM data, as well as affecting system stability (see chapter 7.1). USB Diagnosis shows specific USB transmission errors (CRC5, usually 0) and general errors. If the unit detects a record or playback error the number shown will no longer be 0. An audio reset is performed automatically. The counter is reset on start of playback/record. More information can be found in chapter 25.1.
7.2 WDM Configuration The WDM Devices configuration has one button to enter the edit dialog, a status display showing the number of currently enabled WDM devices, and a listbox to select between Stereo or Multi-Channel devices. The number represents both record and playback devices, so ‘1’ means one input and one output device. The screenshot to the right shows the stereo WDM devices available with the Digiface Dante. Here the first four stereo devices had been activated. Any can be activated.
Changing to the tab Speaker presents a list of all currently activated WDM devices. Any of these can now get the Speaker property. Please note that defining more than one device as Speaker usually makes no sense, and the speakers also don’t get numbered or renamed in Windows, so it is impossible to find out which one is which. After leaving the dialog with OK the WDM devices are reloaded so Windows sees their new properties. In the Windows Sound control panel the modes Stereo and 7.
7.3 Dante Controller All settings related to the Dante* network, like clock, streams and routing, are done with the software Dante Controller by Audinate*. It is a free software application (registration required) for Windows and Mac, and can be downloaded here: https://www.audinate.com/products/software/dante-controller Dante Controller offers automatic device discovery, one-click signal routing and user-editable device and channel labels.
8. Operation and Usage 8.1 Playback In the audio application being used, Digiface Dante must be selected as output device. This can often be found in the Options, Preferences or Settings menus as Playback Device, Audio Devices, Audio etc. Increasing the number and/or size of audio buffers may prevent the audio signal from breaking up, but also increases latency i.e. output is delayed. For synchronized playback of audio and MIDI (or similar), be sure to activate the checkbox ‘Get position from audio driver’.
8.4 Multi-client Operation RME audio interfaces support multi-client operation. Several programs can be used at the same time. The formats ASIO and WDM can even be used on the same playback channels simultaneously. As WDM uses a real-time sample rate conversion (ASIO does not), all active ASIO software has to use the same sample rate. However, a better overview is maintained by using the channels exclusively.
9. Operation under ASIO 9.1 General Start the ASIO software and select ASIO MADIface USB as the audio I/O device or the audio driver. The Digiface Dante supports ASIO Direct Monitoring (ADM). 9.2 Channel Count under ASIO In Single Speed Speed (44.1 and 48 kHz) 64 + 64 input and output channels each are available. Double Speed (88.2 and 96kHz) reduces the number of available channels to 32 each. Quad Speed (176.4 and 192kHz) reduces the number of available channels to 16 each.
9.3 Known Problems If a computer does not provide sufficient CPU-power and/or sufficient USB-bus transfer rates, then drop outs, crackling and noise will appear. Such effects can often be avoided by using a higher buffer setting/latency in the Settings dialog of the Digiface Dante. Furthermore PlugIns should be deactivated temporarily to make sure they do not cause these problems. More information can be found in chapter 25.1. Another common source of trouble is incorrect synchronization.
11. DIGICheck Windows The DIGICheck software is a unique utility developed for testing, measuring and analysing digital audio streams. Although this Windows software is fairly self-explanatory, it still includes a comprehensive online help. DIGICheck 5.92 operates as multi-client ASIO host, therefore can be used in parallel to any software, with both inputs and outputs (!). The following is a short summary of the currently available functions: x Level Meter.
12. Hotline – Troubleshooting The input signal cannot be monitored in real-time x ASIO Direct Monitoring has not been enabled within the DAW, and/or monitoring has been disabled globally (TotalMix Options). Playback works, but record doesn’t x Check that there is a valid signal at the input. If so, the current sample frequency is displayed in the Settings dialog. x Check whether the Digiface Dante has been selected as recording device in the audio application.
User's Guide Digiface Dante Mac OS X – Installation and Operation User's Guide Digiface Dante © RME 23
13. Driver and Firmware 13.1 Driver Installation Connect computer and MADIface using the supplied USB cable. Mac OS X detects the new Hardware as Digiface Dante (serial number). Install the drivers from the RME Driver CD. The driver files are located in the folder Fireface_USB Sierra. Installation works automatically by a double-click on the file Fireface USB.pkg. RME recommends downloading the latest driver from the RME website, http://rme.to/usbe. Note: The driver for High Sierra and higher, V 3.
13.3 Firmware Update The app RME USB Series Flash Tool updates the firmware of the Digiface Dante to the latest version. It requires an already installed RME USB driver. After its start the program displays the current revision of the Digiface Dante firmware, and whether it needs an update or not. If so, simply press the 'Update' button. A progress bar will indicate when the flash process is finished (Verify Ok). After the update the unit needs to be reset.
14. Configuring the Digiface Dante 14.1 Settings Dialog Configuring the Digiface Dante is done via its own Settings dialog. Start the app Fireface USB Settings. The mixer of the Digiface Dante can be configured by starting the app Totalmix. The following is available in the Settings dialog: x x x x Configuration of digital I/Os Hardware configuration Current sample rate State of input Any changes performed in the Settings dialog are applied immediately - confirmation (e.g.
Bus (USB 3 only) The Digiface Dante uses a special transmission mode with error correction in record mode. In case the default mode does not work Isochronous Streaming can be tried. This is the standard’s native mode for audio transmission and should work with any USB 3 controller (chapter 25.1). To the right USB3 transmission errors detected by the hardware will be shown. 14.
14.3 Channel Count under Core Audio In Single Speed Speed (44.1 and 48 kHz) 64 + 64 input and output channels each are available. Double Speed (88.2 and 96kHz) reduces the number of available channels to 32 each. Quad Speed (176.4 and 192kHz) reduces the number of available channels to 16 each. It is not possible to change the number of Core Audio devices without a reboot of the computer. So when the Digiface Dante changes to Double Speed (88.2/96 kHz) or Quad Speed mode (176.
16. DIGICheck Mac The DIGICheck software is a unique utility developed for testing, measuring and analysing digital audio streams. Although this Mac software is fairly self-explanatory, it still includes a comprehensive online help. DIGICheck 0.73 operates in parallel to any software, showing all input data. The following is a short summary of the currently available functions: x Level Meter. High precision 24-bit resolution, 2/8/128 channels.
17. Hotline – Troubleshooting Playback works, but record doesn’t: x Check that there is a valid signal at the input. If so, the current sample frequency is displayed in the Settings dialog. x Check whether the Digiface Dante has been selected as recording device in the audio application. x Check whether the sample frequency set in the audio application (‘Recording properties’ or similar) matches the input signal.
User's Guide Digiface Dante TotalMix FX User's Guide Digiface Dante © RME 31
18. Routing and Monitoring 18.1 Overview The Digiface Dante includes a powerful digital real-time mixer, TotalMix FX, based on RME’s unique, sample-rate independent TotalMix technology. It allows for practically unlimited mixing and routing operations, with all inputs and playback channels simultaneously, to any hardware outputs. The Digiface does not have a DSP, so there are no FX available. Here are some typical applications for TotalMix: x Setting up delay-free submixes (headphone mixes).
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18.2 The User Interface The visual design of the TotalMix mixer is a result of its capability to route hardware inputs and software playback channels to any hardware output. The Digiface Dante provides 128 input channels, 128 software playback channels, and 130 hardware output channels: TotalMix can be used in the above view (View Options 2 Rows).
18.3 The Channels A single channel can be switched between mono and stereo mode. The mode is set in the channel settings panel (tool symbol). Channel name. The name field is the preferred place to select a channel by a mouse click. A double click opens a dialog to assign a different name. The original name will be shown when activating the option O-Names in the View Options. Panorama. Routes the input signal freely to the left and right routing destination (lower label, see below).
The lowest field shows the current routing target. A mouse click opens the routing window to select a routing target. The list shows all activated routings of the current channel by arrows in front of the listed entries, the current one is shown in bold letters. An arrow is only shown with an activated routing. A routing is seen as activated when audio data is sent. As long as the fader is set to −∞ the current routing will be shown in bold letters, but not have an arrow in the front. Trim Gain.
18.3.1 Settings A click on the tool symbol opens the channel’s Settings panel with differing elements. Stereo. Switches the channel to mono or stereo mode. Width. Setting the stereo width. 1.00 equals full stereo, 0.00 mono, 1.00 swapped channels. MS Proc. Activates M/S processing within the stereo channel. Monaural information is sent to the left channel, stereo information to the right. Phase L. Inverts the phase of the left channel by 180°. Phase R. Inverts the phase of the right channel by 180°.
18.4 Section Control Room In the section Control Room the menu Assign is used to define the Main Out which is used for listening in the studio. For this output the functions Dim, Recall, Mono and Talkback are automatically applied. Additionally the channel will be shifted from the Hardware Outputs into the Control Room section, and renamed Main. The same happens when assigning Main Out B or the Phones. The original name can be displayed by the function Names in the View Options - Show at any time.
18.5 The Control Strip The Control Strip on the right side is a fixed element. It combines different functions that are either required globally, or constantly used, and therefore should not be hidden in a menu. Still using the menu entry Window, Hide Control Strip, the Control Strip is shifted out of the visible area to gain more space for other elements. The areas described in the following chapters can be minimized by a click on the arrow in their title bar. Device selection.
18.5.1 View Options View Options. This area combines different functions of routing, the level meters and the mixer view. Routing ¾ Submix: The Submix view (default) is the preferred view and delivers the quickest overview, operation and understanding of TotalMix. The click on one of the Hardware Output channels selects the respective submix, all other outputs are darkened. At the same time all routing fields are set to this channel.
18.5.2 Snapshots - Groups Snapshots. Snapshots include all mixer settings, but no graphical elements like window positions, window size, number of windows, visible settings, scroll states etc. Only the state wide/narrow of the channels is registered. Moreover the Snapshot is only temporarily stored. Loading a Workspace causes the loss of all stored Snapshots, when these all had not been saved before in a Workspace, or separately via File / Save Snapshot as.
18.5.3 Channel Layout - Layout Presets To maintain overview within TotalMix FX channels can be hidden. Channels can also be excluded from being remoted. Under Options / Channel Layout a dialog lists all I/Os with their current state. Selecting one or several channels enables the options to the right: ¾ ¾ ¾ Hide Channel in Mixer/Matrix. The selected channels are no longer shown in TotalMix FX, nor are they available via MIDI or OSC remote control. Hide Channel in MIDI Remote 1-4.
After finishing those settings the whole state can be stored as Layout Preset. A click on Store and the desired memory slot makes the current channel layout recallable anytime. The button All makes all channels temporarily visible again. With a simple click on a button it will then be possible to easily switch views of only the channels involved with the mixing of the drum section, the horn section, the violins, or any other useful view.
18.6 Preferences The dialog Preferences can be opened via the Options menu or directly via F2. Level Meters ¾ Full scale samples for OVR. Number of consecutive samples to trigger an over detection (1 to 10). ¾ Peak Hold Time. Hold time of the peak value. Adjustable from 0.1 up to 9.9 s. ¾ RMS +3 dB. Shifts the RMS value by +3 dB, so that full scale level is identical for Peak and RMS at 0 dBFS. Mixer Views ¾ FX Send follows highest Submix. ¾ FX Send follows Main Out.
Graphics ¾ Use D2D (Change requires restart). Default on. Can be deactivated to use a compatible but CPU-taxing graphics mode, in case graphics problems show up. ¾ Brightness correction. Set TotalMix FX screen brightness to your taste, matching the monitor setting or the environment. Store Setting for (Windows only) ¾ All Users (Restart required). See next chapter. Special Options ¾ Lock User Interface. Default off. Can be activated to freeze the current mix state.
18.7 Settings The dialog Settings can be opened via the Options menu or directly via F3. 18.7.1 Mixer Page On the mixer page some typical settings for the mixer operation are set, like Talkback source, Dim amount when Talkback is active, the stored main volume or the input used for the External Input function. Talkback ¾ Input. Selects the input channel of the Talkback signal (microphone in control room). Default: None. ¾ Dim. Amount of attenuation of the signals routed to the Phones in dB.
18.7.2 MIDI Page The MIDI page has four independent settings for up to four MIDI remote controls, using CC commands or the Mackie Control protocol. Index Select one of four settings pages and thus remote controls. Settings are remembered automatically. To activate or deactivate any of the four remote controls check or uncheck ‘In Use’. MIDI Connection ¾ MIDI In. Input where TotalMix receives MIDI remote data. ¾ MIDI Out. Output where TotalMix sends MIDI remote data. ¾ Disable MIDI in background.
18.7.3 OSC Page The OSC page has four independent settings for up to four MIDI remote controls via Open Sound Control (OSC). This is a network based remote protocol that can be used for example by Apple’s iPad with the app TouchOSC or Lemur to wirelessly remote control TotalMix FX running on a Mac or Windows computer. Index Select one of four settings pages and thus remote controls. Settings are remembered automatically. To activate or deactivate any of the four remote controls check or uncheck ‘In Use’.
18.8 Hotkeys and Usage TotalMix FX has many hotkeys and mouse/hotkey combinations to speed up and simplify the usage. The below description refers to Windows. On Mac substitute Ctrl in the below list with the command key (u). The Shift key enables a fine-tuning of the gain with all faders and in the Matrix. On all knobs it will speed up the setting. A click on a fader with held down Shift key adds the fader to the temporary fader group.
18.9 Menu Options Deactivate Screensaver: When active (checked) any activated Windows screensaver will be disabled temporarily. Always on Top: When active (checked) the TotalMix window will always be on top of the Windows desktop. Note: This function may result in problems with windows containing help text, as the TotalMix window will even be on top of those windows, so the help text isn't readable. Enable MIDI / OSC Control: Activates external MIDI control of the TotalMix mixer.
¾ Total Reset. Playback routing 1:1 with mixdown to Main Out. Switches off all other functions. Operational Mode. Choice of Full Mode or DAW mode. See chapter 18.5. Network Remote Settings. See chapter 18.5. Store Current State into Device. Current Submix Phones is used for stand-alone operation. 18.10 Menu Window Zoom Options 100%, 135%, 200%. Depending on the size of the monitor and the current resolution TotalMix FX might be much too small and the controls too tiny to easily operate them.
19.3 Operation Using the Matrix is a breeze. It is very easy to identify the current crosspoint, because the outer labels light up in orange according to the mouse position. ¾ If input 1 is to be routed to output 1, use the mouse and click one time on crosspoint 1 / Out 1 with held down Ctrl key. Two green 0.0 dB field pop in, another click removes them.
20.5 Copy and Paste everywhere The above three tips use functions found in the right click context menu available on all channels of the TotalMix FX mixer view. These menus are also available in the Matrix, but only directly on the channel labels. They are self-explanatory and automatically adjust to where the click is performed. The input channels offer Clear, Copy input and Paste the input mix. On a playback channel Copy, Paste and Clear the playback mix are available.
The block diagram shows how the software's input signal is played back, and fed back from the hardware output to the software input. Recording a Software's playback In real world application, recording a software's output with another software will show the following problem: The record software tries to open the same playback channel as the playback software (already active), or the playback one has already opened the input channel which should be used by the record software.
21. MIDI Remote Control 21.1 Overview TotalMix can be remote controlled via MIDI. It is compatible to the widely spread Mackie Control protocol, so TotalMix can be controlled with all hardware controllers supporting this standard. Examples are the Mackie Control, Tascam US-2400 or Behringer BCF 2000. Additionally, the stereo output faders (lowest row) which are set up as Main Out in the Control Room section can also be controlled by the standard Control Change Volume via MIDI channel 1.
21.3 Setup Open the Settings dialog (menu Options or F3). On the MIDI tab Select the MIDI Input and MIDI Output port where your controller is connected to. When no feedback is needed select NONE as MIDI Output. Check Enable MIDI Control in the Options menu. 21.4 Operation The channels being under Mackie MIDI control are indicated by a colour change of the name field, black turns to brown. The 8-fader block can be moved horizontally and vertically, in steps of one or eight channels.
21.5 MIDI Control The hardware output set up as Main Out can be controlled by the standard Control Change Volume via MIDI channel 1. With this, the main volume of the Digiface Dante is controllable from nearly any MIDI equipped hardware device. Even if you don't want to control all faders and pans, some buttons are highly desirable to be available in 'hardware'. These are mainly the Talkback and the Dim button, and the monitoring options (listen to Phones submixes).
Examples for sending MIDI strings: - Set input 1 to 0 dB: B0 66 68 - Set input 5 to maximum attenuation: B1 6A 0 - Set playback 1 to maximum: B4 66 7F - Set Output 3 to 0 dB: B8 68 68 Note: Sending MIDI strings requires to use programmer's logic for the MIDI channel, starting with 0 for channel 1 and ending with 15 for channel 16.
22. DAW Mode Users that work exclusively with their DAW software, and don’t want to use TotalMix FX for additional routing tasks, need a way to be sure that TotalMix FX currently doesn’t change the DAW’s routing.
23. TotalMix Remote TotalMix Remote is a remote control for TotalMix FX v1.50 and up, to control the hardware mixer and effects in RME audio interfaces. TotalMix Remote mirrors the current state of the host system on the iPad and Windows/Mac computers - the entire mixing state, the complete routing, all FX settings, up to the level meters, and everything in real-time.
Tip The remotes have the option Sync Channel Layouts active as default (in Preferences). This option transfers the Layout Presets and the current Channel Layout state from host to remote. Apart from the channel width state this option makes a mirror-style setup most easy. But when using the remote as individual setup, make sure to disable this option to have independent Layout Presets on the remote. Limitations • Mixer View & GUI.
User's Guide Digiface Dante © RME
User's Guide Digiface Dante Technical Reference User's Guide Digiface Dante © RME 63
24. Technical Specifications Gigabit Ethernet Port x RJ45 x 100 Mbit/s, 1 Gbit/s x Standard port LEDs: yellow connected, green data transmission x Supports straight and crossover cables (Auto MDI-X) x Network-based remote control of the unit (TotalMix Remote) MADI Input x Coaxial via BNC, 75 Ohm, according to AES10-1991 x High-sensitivity input stage (< 0.
24.1 Firmware The Digiface Dante is internally based on programmable logic. By re-programming both function and behaviour of the unit can be changed at any time. At the time of writing this manual the Digiface Dante is shipped with firmware 31. The firmware version is displayed in the Settings dialog as well as the Firmware Update Tool. The firmware of the Dante module (Brooklyn II) is currently at 4.0.9.1. Updates are available via Audinate's Dante Updater on Audinate's website. 24.
25. Technical Background 25.1 USB Audio USB audio is in several ways different from PCI based audio interfaces. Thanks to the high speed of USB 3, typical problems of streamed (isochronous) data transmission can be circumvented. RME’s proprietary USB 3 technology makes it possible to achieve performance similar to PCI Express, IF all participating components work perfectly.
The Digiface Dante also supports USB 2, where the number of record and playback channels are halfed due to the limited bandwidth (up to 48 kHz: 64 channels, up to 96 kHz: 32 channels, up to 192 kHz: 16 channels). The number of channels accessible via TotalMix FX, the network ins and outs and MADI I/O, stays identical to USB 3 operation. Good performance and click-free operation even at low buffer sizes are indeed possible on current computers.
25.2 MADI Basics MADI, the serial Multichannel Audio Digital Interface, has been defined already in 1989 as an extension of the existing AES3 standard following several manufacturers' wish. The format also known as AES/EBU, a balanced bi-phase signal, is limited to two channels. Simply put, MADI contains 28 of those AES/EBU signals in serial, i. e. after one another, and the sample rate can still even vary by +/-12.5%. The limit which cannot be exceeded is a data rate of 100 Mbit/s.
Single Wire Standard audio data transfer, where the audio signal's sample rate is equal to the rate of the digital signal. Used from 32 to 192 kHz. Sometimes called Single Wide. Double Wire Before 1998 there were no receiver/transmitter circuits available that could receive or transmit more than 48 kHz. Higher sample rates were transferred by splitting odd and even bits across the L/R channels of a single AES connection. This provides for twice the data rate, and hence twice the sample rate.
User's Guide Digiface Dante © RME
User's Guide Digiface Dante Miscellaneous User's Guide Digiface Dante © RME 71
26. Warranty Each individual Digiface Dante undergoes comprehensive quality control and a complete test at IMM before shipping. The usage of high grade components should guarantee a long and trouble-free operation of the unit. If you suspect that your product is faulty, please contact your local retailer. Audio AG grants a limited manufacturer warranty of 6 months from the day of invoice showing the date of sale. The length of the warranty period is different per country.
28. Declaration of Conformity 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 according to RL2004/108/EG, and European Low Voltage Directive RL2006/95/EG. FCC This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
