User Manual

Synchronization
Working with VST System Link
If a card has more than one set of inputs and outputs, choose whichever one that suits you
– for simplicity usually the first set is best.
Synchronization
Before you proceed, you need to make sure that the clock signals on your ASIO cards are
synchronized correctly. This is essential when cabling any kind of digital audio system, not just
VST System Link.
IMPORTANT
All digital audio cables by definition always carry a clock signal as well as audio signals, so you do
not have to use a special word clock input and output for this (although you may find that you
get a slightly more stable audio system if you do, especially when using multiple computers).
The clock mode or sync mode is set up in the ASIO control panel of the audio hardware.
PROCEDURE
1. Select Studio> Studio Setup.
2. In the Devices list, select VST Audio System.
3. In the ASIO Driver pop-up menu, select your audio hardware driver.
4. In the Devices list, select the your audio interface.
5. Click the Control Panel button.
6. Open the ASIO control panel on the other computer as well.
If you are using another VST System Link host application on that computer, check its
documentation for details on how to open the ASIO control panel.
7. Now you need to make sure that one audio card is set to be the clock master and all other
cards are set to be clock slaves (i. e. they listen for the clock signal coming from the clock
master).
The naming and procedure for this differs depending on the audio hardware – consult its
documentation if required. If you are using Steinberg Nuendo ASIO hardware, all cards
default to the AutoSync setting. In this case you must set one of the cards (and only one)
to Master in the Clock Mode section of the control panel.
RESULT
Typically, the ASIO control panel for an audio card contains some indication of whether or not the
card receives a proper sync signal, including the sample rate of that signal.
This is a good indication that you have connected the cards and set up clock sync properly. Check
your audio hardware’s documentation for details.
IMPORTANT
It is very important that only one card is the clock master, otherwise the network cannot function
correctly. Once you have set this up, all the other cards in the network will take their clock signal
from this card automatically.
The only exception to this procedure is if you are using an external clock – from a digital mixing
desk or a special word clock synchronizer, for example. In that case you must leave all your ASIO
cards in clock slave or AutoSync mode and make sure that each of them is listening for the
signal coming from the synchronizer. This signal is usually passed through your ADAT cables or
word clock connectors in a daisy chain fashion.
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