5.2 CardBus Card

Before inserting the CardBus card make sure the complete HDSP system is ready for operation! 1. Connect the CardBus card with the Digiface using the supplied cable. 2. Insert the CardBus card with the Hammer logo up into a PCMCIA slot. 3. Plug the power jack of the supplied switching power supply into the connector labeled AUX, on the rear of the Digiface. 4. Connect power cord to power supply, plug into AC outlet. The green LED of the power supply and the red LED of the Digiface will light up. 5. Switch on the notebook and boot the operating system.
5.3 Notes on Power Supply
The CardBus card delivers no power to the Digiface. Therefore a hi-tech switching power supply is included. The PCI card operates as power supply for the attached Digiface via the FireWire cable. An external power supply is not required. The Digiface draws a high startup current of more than 2.5 A during initialisation. Current at 12 Volt operating voltage: unloaded 200 mA (2.5 Watts), loaded 400 mA (4.8 Watts). Supply voltage range DC 8 V 28 V, AC 8 V 20 V.
6. First Usage Quick Start
6.1 Connectors and Front Panel
The front of the Digiface features a MIDI input and output, a stereo headphone output and several status LEDs. MIDI I/O 2 represent the second MIDI input and output, realized as 5-pin DIN jacks. The LEDs MIDI IN and OUT indicate sent or received data for the MIDI ports. The INPUT STATE LEDs (WC, SPDIF, ADAT) indicate a valid input signal separately for each digital input. Additionally, RME's exclusive SyncCheck indicates if one of these inputs is locked, but not synchronous to the others, in which case the LED will flash. See also chapter 11.2 / 20.2, Clock Modes - Synchronization. The red HOST LED lights up when the power supply or the computer is switched on, thus signalling the presence of operating voltage. At the same time it operates as Error LED, in case the I/O-box wasnt initialised, or the connection to the interface has been interrupted (Error, cable not connected etc.). It flashes then. After the firmware had been loaded the LED turns off, signalling a proper operation.
The rear panel of the Digiface has the MIDI I/O 1, three ADAT optical I/Os, the power socket AUX (only necessary with CardBus operation), ADAT Sync input, Word Clock I/O, and the coaxial SPDIF input and output. ADAT I/O 1-3 (TOSLINK): ADAT1 can also be used as optical SPDIF input and output, if set up accordingly in the Settings dialog. The Settings dialog is started by clicking on the hammer symbol in the Task Bar's system tray. SPDIF I/O coaxial (RCA): Fully AES/EBU compatible by transformer-coupling and level adjustment. The Digiface accepts the commonly used digital audio formats, SPDIF as well as AES/EBU. Word Clock I/O (BNC). The word clock input is not terminated. ADAT Sync In for connection to ADAT Sync of an ADAT recorder. Allows for sample-accurate synchronization with ASIO 2.0.

10.2 Driver Update

RME's driver updates often include a new hdsp32.inf file. Also the revision number of the hardware might change (after a flash update). To prevent Windows 2000/XP from using an old hdsp32.inf, or to copy some of the old driver files, be sure NOT to let Windows search for the driver! Instead tell Windows what to do. Under >Control Panel /System /Device Manager /Sound, Video and Game Controllers /RME Hammerfall DSP /Properties /Driver< you'll find the 'Update Driver' button. Select 'Install from a list or specific location (advanced)', click 'Next', select 'Don't search I will choose the driver to install', click 'Next', then 'Have Disk'. Now point to the driver update's directory.
10.3 Deinstalling the Drivers
A deinstallation of the HDSP's driver files is not necessary and not supported by Windows anyway. Thanks to full Plug & Play support, the driver files will not be loaded after the hardware has been removed. If desired these files can then be deleted manually. Unfortunately Windows Plug & Play methods do not cover the additional autorun entries of TotalMix, the Settings dialog, and the registration of the ASIO driver. Those entries can be removed from the registry through a software deinstallation request. This request can be found (like all deinstallation entries) in Control Panel, Software. Click on the entry 'RME Hammerfall DSP'.

10.4 Firmware Update

The Flash Update Tool updates HDSP PCI cards or CardBus cards to the latest version. It requires an already installed driver. Start the program hdsp_fut.exe. The Flash Update Tool displays the current revision of the HDSP interface, and whether it needs an update or not. If so, then please manually select if a PCI card (desktop computer) or a CardBus card (laptop) shall be flashed. Next simply press the 'Update' button. A progress bar will indicate when the flash process is finished. The bar moves slowly first (program), then faster (verify). If more than one interface card is installed, all cards can be flashed by changing to the next tab and repeating the process. After the update the PCI/CardBus cards need to be resettet. This is done by powering down and shutting off the PC. A warm boot is not enough! PCI card revision 1.8 or up (black PCB), CardBus with 6-pin FireWire connector When the update fails (status: failure), the card's second BIOS will be used from the next cold boot on (Secure BIOS Technology). Therefore the card stays fully functional. The flash process should then be tried again on a different computer. All other PCI cards, and CardBus with 15-pin flat connector When the update fails (status: failure) the flash process should be repeated several times, until no error message occurs anymore. If the failure message is displayed nonetheless, the interface will most propably no longer work when the computer is switched off and on again. The interface then has to be re-programmed at the factory. We have invested a lot of work to prevent the system from getting in this state. If it happens despite our efforts, the best advice we can give is to not switch off the computer! As long as it is not switched off the old programming of the PCI/CardBus interface will stay active, and you can continue to work with the system using the old drivers Note: Because of the changed hardware revision, Windows 2000/XP will start the hardware assistant and wants to install new drivers. Do NOT let Windows search for new drivers, but follow the instructions given in chapter 10.2.

The Hammerfall DSP's ADAT optical input and the SPDIF input operate simultaneously. Because there is no input selector however, the HDSP has to be told which of the signals is the sync reference (a digital device can only be clocked from a single source). This is why the system has been equipped with automatic clock source selection, which adopts the first available input with a valid digital signal as the clock reference input. The input currently used as sync reference is shown in the AutoSync Ref status field, together with its sample frequency. Via Pref. Sync Ref (preferred synchronization reference) a preferred input can be defined. As long as the card sees a valid signal there, this input will be designated as the sync source, otherwise the other inputs will be scanned in turn. If none of the inputs are receiving a valid signal, the card automatically switches clock mode to Master. To cope with some situations which may arise in studio practice, setting Pref Sync Ref is essential. One example: An ADAT recorder is connected to the ADAT1 input (ADAT1 immediately becomes the sync source) and a CD player is connected to the SPDIF input. Try recording a few samples from the CD and you will be disappointed. Few CD players can be synchronized. The samples will inevitably be corrupted, because the signal from the CD player is read with the (wrong) clock from the ADAT i.e. out of sync. In this case, 'Pref Sync Ref' should be temporarily set to SPDIF. If several digital devices are to be used simultaneously in a system, they not only have to operate with the same sample frequency but also be synchronous with each other. This is why digital systems always need a single device defined as master, which sends the same clock signal to all the other (slave) devices. RMEs exclusive SyncCheck technology (first implemented in the Hammerfall) enables an easy to use check and display of the current clock status. The SyncCheck field indicates whether no signal (No Lock), a valid signal (Lock) or a valid and synchronous signal (Sync) is present at each of the digital clock source inputs. The AutoSync Ref display shows the current sync source and the measured frequency. In practice, SyncCheck provides the user with an easy way of checking whether all digital devices connected to the system are properly configured. With SyncCheck, finally anyone can master this common source of error, previously one of the most complex issues in the digital studio world.
An example to illustrate this: The ADAT1 and ADAT2 inputs are receiving signals from a digital mixing desk that has been set to clock mode 'Internal' or 'Master'. An ADAT recorder is connected to input ADAT3. The Hammerfall DSP is set to AutoSync mode. As expected, SyncCheck shows that the ADAT1 and ADAT2 inputs are in sync (as they are driven by the same clock from the mixing desk), but shows Lock instead of 'Sync' for the input ADAT3. Because the ADAT recorder is not receiving any signal from HDSP or from the mixer, it will generate its own clock at a rate which is (almost) the same as the sample frequency of the mixing desk but not identical.

12.2 DVD-Playback (AC-3/DTS) under MME
AC-3 / DTS When using popular DVD software player like WinDVD and PowerDVD, their audio data stream can be sent to any AC-3/DTS capable receiver, using the Hammerfall DSP's SPDIF output. For this to work the SPDIF output wave device has to be selected in >Control Panel/ Sounds and Multimedia/ Audio<. Also check 'use preferred device only'. You will notice that the DVD software's audio properties now allow to use 'SPDIF Out', 'Use SPDIF' or to 'activate SPDIF output'. When selecting these, the software will transfer the nondecoded digital multichannel data stream to the Hammerfall DSP. This 'SPDIF' signal sounds like chopped noise at highest level. Therefore the Digiface automatically activates the non-audio bit within the digital data stream, to prevent most SPDIF receivers from accepting the signal, and to prevent any attached equipment from being damaged. Multichannel PowerDVD can also operate as software decoder, sending a DVD's multichannel data stream directly to the ADAT outputs of the Digiface. Supported are all modes, from 2 to 8 channels, at 16 bit resolution and 48 kHz sample rate. For this to work an output wave device of the HDSP has to be selected in >Control Panel/ Sounds and Multimedia/ Audio<. Also check 'use preferred device only'. PowerDVD's audio properties now lists several multichannel modes. If one of these is selected, PowerDVD sends the decoded (analog) multichannel data to the HDSP. The device selected as Preferred Playback Device defines the first playback channel. Choosing ADAT 3/4 and 6-channel mode, playback will happen on channels 11 to 16. Choosing ADAT 21/22 and 6-channel mode, even the SPDIF output will be used for the last (highest) channels. The available modes depend on the number of channels available above the chosen device! When selecting ADAT 23/24, the 6-channel mode will not be available. The channel assignment using PowerDVD is: 1 (first chosen playback channel) - Left 2 - Right 3 - Center 4 - LFE (Low Frequency Effects) 5 - SR (Surround Right) 6 - SL (Surround Left) Note 1: Setting the card to be used as system playback device is against common sense, as professional cards are not specialized to play back system sounds, and shouldn't be disturbed by system events. To prevent this, be sure to re-assign this setting after usage, or to disable any system sounds (tab Sounds, scheme 'No audio'). Note 2: The DVD player will be synced backwards from the HDSP card. This means when using AutoSync and/or word clock, the playback speed and pitch follows the incoming clock signal. Note 3: PowerDVD 5 no longer supports a starting channel other than channel 1. Use TotalMix to send audio to the ADAT port if necessary. Note 4: In WinDVD 5 and 6, a channel-separated 5.1 playback using the HDSP requires a change in the registry. Start regedit, go to >HKEY_CURRENT_USER / Software / InterVideo / DVD5 / AUDIOCHAN<, and set its value to 4 (hexadecimal). Additionally select 'Waveout' as Audio Renderer in the Audio configuration dialog. Warning: Changes to the registry are done at your own risk. Danger of complete data loss!

12.3 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. In the HDSP's Settings dialog the MME buffersize (in fact the DMA buffer size) is set with the same buttons as the ASIO buffer size. Our test computers allow to use settings down to 64 samples without clicks. Please note that this setting only defines the buffer size of the hardware. The true and effective latency is configured within the MME application! Attention: the DMA buffers must not be larger than the application's buffers. Playback will be stuttering and audio will be distorted. This case can happen unnoticed when using ASIO and MME at the same time (multi-client) and setting ASIO to 186 ms, while the buffers in the MME application are still set for a lower latency. Example: when you set the Hammerfall to 512 you can't use 128 in any program. But setting the buffer size to 128 allows to use 128 and all higher values within the software. Please also note that this is a you're-welcome-to-try feature. We can't guarantee that you will be able to use 3 or 6 ms with MME. Simply check out by yourself which lowest setting your system and software allows. Some motherboards with insufficient PCI bandwidth (like older VIA boards) suffer from crackling at settings below 512. Be sure to set the buffer size to 512 or higher in such a case (or get a new motherboard).
12.4 Multi-client Operation
RME audio interfaces support multi-client operation. This means several programs can be used at the same time. Also all formats, like ASIO, MME and GSIF can be used simultaneously. The use of multi-client operation requires to follow two simple rules: Multi-client operation requires identical sample rates!

If synchronization is not working i.e. Cubase does not respond when the ADAT is set to Play, please try the following: Check the cables Switch Sync off and on again (in Cubases transport panel) Select Reset Devices from the Options menu. Switch on the ADAT recorder(s) before starting Cubase Use the BRC as Master and send its word clock to all other devices Use the Clock Mode ADAT Sync
14. Operation under GSIF (Gigasampler Interface)

Windows 2000/XP

The GSIF interface of the Hammerfall DSP allows direct operation with Gigastudio, with up to 26 channels, 96 kHz and 24 bit. The new GSIF 2.0 is also supported with both audio and MIDI. Gigastudio requires a lot of the computers calculation power. An optimum performance is achieved with a stand-alone GSIF PC. However, when using the Hammerfall DSP, the latency is always the same as the one selected for ASIO operation. This can cause performance problems on slower machines when using GSIF and ASIO at the same time. Please note that the W2k/XP driver fully supports multi-client operation, including the combination MME/ASIO. So for example Cubase, Gigastudio and Sonar can be used simultaneously, provided each of these programs uses its own audio channels exclusively. For example ASIO could use channels 1/2 and Gigastudio (with GSIF) channels 3/4 simultaneously, and so on. Simultaneous operation of GSIF and ASIO requires to use different channels. For example, if Cubase uses tracks 1/2 these tracks can not be used by Gigastudio.
Common Problems Please note that Gigastudio is running unexpectedly in the background (thus blocking its assigned audio channels), as soon as the Gigastudio MIDI ports are used even when Gigastudio itself hasn't been started. This causes a lot of confusion, as the driver seems to behave completely buggy, and the user does not recognize the simple reason for it for example simultaneous operation of ASIO and GSIF on the same channels. In case Gigastudio loads well, loads gig files too, but won't play at all even when using the virtual keyboard: Go to Hardware/Routing and select a valid MIDI input port. Note that blank is not valid, but <none> is.

15. Using more than one Hammerfall DSP
The current drivers support operation of up to three Hammerfall DSP systems. Different I/Oboxes may be used, in any combination. Digiface, Multiface II, Multiface, HDSP 9632 and HDSP 9652 use the same driver, therefore can be used at the same time. Please note that only one ADAT Sync In can be used (of course). All units have to be in sync, i.e. have to receive valid sync information either via word clock or by using AutoSync and feeding synchronized signals. If one of the HDSP systems is set to clock mode Master, all others have to be set to clock mode AutoSync, and have to be synced from the master, for example by feeding word clock. The clock modes of all units have to be set up correctly in their Settings dialog. If all units are fed with a synchronous clock, i.e. all units show Sync in their Settings dialog, all channels can be used at once. This is especially easy to handle under ASIO, as the ASIO driver presents all units as one.
Note: TotalMix is part of the hardware of each HDSP system. Up to three mixers are available, but these are separated and can't interchange data. Therefore a global mixer for all units is not possible.

16. DIGICheck

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 4.4 operates as multi-client ASIO host, therefore can be used in parallel to any software, be it MME, ASIO or GSIF, with both inputs and outputs (!). The following is a short summary of the currently available functions: Level Meter. High precision 24-bit resolution, 2/8/18 channels. Application examples: Peak level measurement, RMS level measurement, over-detection, phase correlation measurement, dynamic range and signal-to-noise ratios, RMS to peak difference (loudness), long term peak measurement, input check. Oversampling mode for levels higher than 0 dBFS. Vertical and horizontal mode. Slow RMS and RLB weighting filter. Supports visualization according to the K-system. Hardware Level Meter for Input, Playback and Output. As above, received pre-calculated directly from the HDSP system hardware with near zero CPU load. Spectral Analyser. World wide unique 10-, 20- or 30-band display in analog bandpass-filter technology. 192 kHz-capable! Vector Audio Scope. World wide unique Goniometer showing the typical afterglow of an oscilloscope-tube. Includes Correlation meter and level meter. Totalyser. Spectral Analyser, Level Meter and Vector Audio Scope in a single window. Bit Statistics & Noise. Shows the true resolution of audio signals as well as errors and DC offset. Includes Signal to Noise measurement in dB and dBA, plus DC measurement. Channel Status Display. Detailled analyzis and display of SPDIF and AES/EBU Channel Status data. Completely multi-client. Open as many measurement windows as you like, on any channels and inputs or outputs! To install DIGICheck, go to the \DIGICheck directory on the RME Driver CD and run setup.exe. Follow the instructions prompted on the screen. DIGICheck is conctantly improved. The latest version is always found on our website www.rme-audio.de, section Downloads/Tools.

17.2 Installation

Hammerfall DSP is found in the Device Manager (>Settings/ Control Panel/ System<), category 'Sound-, Video- and Gamecontroller'. A double click on ' Hammerfall DSP ' starts the properties dialog. Choosing 'Resources' shows Interrupt and Memory Range. The newest information on hardware problems can always be found on our website www.rmeaudio.com, section FAQ, Hardware Alert: about incompatible hardware. The dialog 'New hardware component found does not appear: Check whether the CardBus card is completely inserted into the PCMCIA slot, or the PCI interface is correctly inserted in the PCI slot. The card and drivers have been installed correctly, but playback does not work: Check whether the Hammerfall DSP appears in the Device Manager. If the ' Hammerfall DSP device has a yellow exclamation mark, then there is an address or interrupt conflict. Even if there is no yellow exclamation mark, it's still worth checking the Resources tab.

18. Diagrams

18.1 Channel Routing ASIO at 96 kHz
This diagram shows the signal paths in ASIO double speed mode (88.2 / 96 kHz). The devices available via the ASIO driver have been designed to avoid conflicts in normal operation. Record and playback are identical. Device: The device name in the audio application SR: Sample Rate Device name code: Channel in ASIO host, interface, Digiface, card number
18.2 Channel Routing MME at 96 kHz
This diagram shows the signal paths in MME double speed mode (88.2 / 96 kHz). The devices available via the MME wave driver have been designed to avoid conflicts in normal operation, which is why channels 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the ADAT device have been omitted. Record and playback are identical. Device: The device name in the audio application SR: Sample Rate
Driver Installation and Operation Mac OS X
19. Driver and Flash Update

19.1 Driver Installation

First fit the card (see 5. Hardware Installation), then switch on the computer and install the drivers from the RME Driver CD. The driver file is located in the folder Hammerfall DSP. Installation works automatically by a double-click on the file hdsp.mpkg. RME recommends to download the latest driver version from the RME website! If done, the procedure is as follows: Double-click onto hdsp_xx.gz to expand the archive file to hdsp_xx.tar and the folder HDSP_xx, which includes the driver file hdsp.mpkg. Installation works automatically by a double-click on this file. During driver installation the programs Settings and Mixer (TotalMix) will also be installed. Both programs start automatically as soon as a HDSP system is detected. They stay in the dock when exited, and remove themselves automatically from the dock when the HDSP system is removed. Reboot the computer when installation is done.

19.2 Driver Update

In case of a driver update it's not necessary to remove the old driver first, it will be overwritten during the installation. Exception: driver updates from version <1.6. Remove the former Settings dialog and TotalMix from the Login Items, and delete both files from your hard drive! This driver version did not have the features AutoLoad, Dock Lock and AutoRemove. Therefore one has to make sure that both programs have been removed from the system, to prevent the old Settings dialog and TotalMix from being loaded.

19.3 Flash Update

The Flash Update Tool updates HDSP PCI cards or CardBus cards to the latest version. It requires an already installed driver. Start the program HDSP Flash. The Flash Update Tool displays the current revision of the HDSP interface, and whether it needs an update or not. If so, then please manually select if a PCI card (desktop computer) or a CardBus card (laptop) shall be flashed. Next simply press the 'Update' button. A progress bar will indicate when the flash process is finished. The bar moves slowly first (program), then faster (verify). If more than one interface card is installed, all cards can be flashed by changing to the next tab and repeating the process. After the update the PCI/CardBus cards need to be resettet. This is done by powering down and shutting off the PC. A warm boot is not enough! PCI card revision 1.8 or up (black PCB), CardBus with 6-pin FireWire connector When the update fails (status: failure), the card's second BIOS will be used from the next cold boot on (Secure BIOS Technology). Therefore the card stays fully functional. The flash process should then be tried again on a different computer.
All other PCI cards, and CardBus with 15-pin flat connector When the update fails (status: failure) the flash process should be repeated several times, until no error message occurs anymore. If the failure message is displayed nonetheless, the interface will most propably no longer work when the computer is switched off and on again. The interface then has to be re-programmed at the factory. We have invested a lot of work to prevent the system from getting in this state. If it happens despite our efforts, the best advice we can give is to not switch off the computer! As long as it is not switched off the old programming of the PCI/CardBus interface will stay active, and you can continue to work with the system using the old drivers

RMEs exclusive SyncCheck technology (first implemented in the Hammerfall) enables an easy to use check and display of the current clock status. The SyncCheck field indicates whether no signal (No Lock), a valid signal (Lock) or a valid and synchronous signal (Sync) is present at each of the digital clock source inputs. The AutoSync Reference display shows the current sync source and the measured frequency. In practice, SyncCheck provides the user with an easy way of checking whether all digital devices connected to the system are properly configured. With SyncCheck, finally anyone can master this common source of error, previously one of the most complex issues in the digital studio world. An example to illustrate this: The ADAT1 and ADAT2 inputs are receiving signals from a digital mixing desk that has been set to clock mode 'Internal' or 'Master'. An ADAT recorder is connected to the ADAT3 input. The Hammerfall DSP is set to AutoSync mode. As expected, SyncCheck shows that the ADAT1 and ADAT2 inputs are in sync (as they are driven by the same clock from the mixing desk), but shows Lock instead of 'Sync' for the ADAT3 input. Because the ADAT recorder is not receiving any signals from HDSP or from the mixer, it will generate its own clock at a rate which is (almost) the same as the sample frequency of the mixing desk - but not identical. Remedy: To drive the ADAT recorder from its digital input, set it to slave mode (DIG), and connect the input to the HDSPs ADAT3 output. The Hammerfall DSP is already in sync with the mixing desk, so it will send an identical (synchronous) signal to ADAT3 out. The ADAT recorder will lock onto this, its output will also be in sync. The signal from the ADAT recorder is now fully in sync with the signals from the mixing desk. Thanks to its AutoSync technique and lightning fast PLLs, the HDSP is not only capable of handling standard frequencies, but also any sample rate between 28 and 103 kHz. Even the word clock input, which most users will use in varispeed operation, allows any frequency between 28 kHz and 103 kHz. At 88.2 or 96 kHz: If one of the ADAT inputs has been selected in Pref Sync Ref, the sample frequency shown in the field SPDIF Freq. differs from the one shown in AutoSync Ref. The card automatically switches to S/MUX mode here, because ADAT optical inputs and outputs are only specified up to 48 kHz. Data from/to a single input/output is spread over two channels, the internal frequency stays at 44.1 or 48 kHz. In such cases, the ADAT sample frequency is only half the SPDIF frequency.

28.4 Tour de TotalMix

This chapter is a practical guide and introduction on how to use TotalMix and on how TotalMix works. Starting up TotalMix the last settings are recalled automatically. When executing the application for the first time, a default file is loaded, sending all playback tracks 1:1 to the corresponding hardware outputs with 0 dB gain, and activating phones monitoring. Hold down Ctrl and click on preset button 1 to make sure that factory preset 1 is loaded. The faders in the top row are set to maximum attenuation (called m.a. in the following), so there is no monitoring of the input channels. The Submix View is active, therefore for improved overview all outputs except Phones are greyed out. Additionally all faders are set to the routing target Phones. All faders of the middle row are set to 0 dB, so no matter on which channels a playback happens, the audio will be audible via the Phones output. Just try it! We will now create a submix on output ADAT1 1/2. Please start a multitrack playback. In the third row, click on the channels of hardware output A1_1 or A1_2. The Submix View changes from Phones to A1_1/A1_2. Both the fader settings and the output levels of all other channels are still visible, but greyed out for improved orientation. As soon as A1_1/A1_2 became active, all faders of the second row jumped to their bottom position except those of playback channel 1/2. This is correct, because as mentioned above the factory preset includes a 1:1 routing. Click on A1_3/A1_4 and the faders above are the only active ones, same for A1_5/A1_6 and so on. Back to A1_1/A1_2. Now you can change all the faders of all inputs and playback channels just as you like, thus making any input and playback signals audible via the outputs A1_1/A1_2. The panorama can be changed too. Click into the area above the fader and drag the green bar in order to set the panorama between left and right. The level meters of the third row display the level changes in real-time.
You see, it is very easy to set up a specific submix for whatever output: select output channel, set up fader and pans of inputs and playbacks ready! For advanced users sometimes it makes sense to work without Submix View. Example: you want to see and set up some channels of different submixes simultaneously, without the need to change between them all the time. Switch off the Submix View by a click on the green button. Now the black routing fields below the faders no longer show the same entry (A1 1+2), but completely different ones. The fader and pan position is the one of the individually shown routing destination. In playback channel 1 (middle row), labeled Out 1, click onto the routing field below the label. A list pops up, showing a checkmark in front of 'A1 1+2' and 'Phones'. So currently playback channel 1 is sent to these two routing destinations. Click onto 'A1 7+8'. The list disappears, the routing field no longer shows 'A1 1+2', but 'A1 7+8'. Now move the fader with the mouse. As soon as the fader value is unequal m.a., the present state is being stored and routing is activated. Move the fader button to around 0 dB. The present gain value is displayed below the fader in green letters. In the lower row, on channel 7, you can see the level of what you are hearing from output 7. The level meter of the hardware output shows the outgoing level. Click into the area above the fader and drag the mouse in order to set the panorama, in this case the routing between channels 7 and 8. The present pan value is also being displayed below the fader. Please carry out the same steps for Out 2 now, in order to route it to output 8 as well. In short: While editing the Submix A7/A8 you have direct access to other submixes on other channels, because their routing fields are set to different destinations. And you get a direct view of how their faders and panoramas are set up. This kind of visual presentation is a mighty one, but for many users it is hard to understand, and it requires a deep understanding of complex routing visualizations. Therefore we usually re-commend to work in Submix View. Often signals are stereo, i. e. a pair of two channels. It is therefore helpful to be able to make the routing settings for two channels at once. Hold down the Ctrl-key and click into the routing field of Out 3. The routing list pops up with a checkmark at 'A1 3+4'. Select 'A1 7+8'. Now, Out 4 has already been set to 'A1 7+8' as well. When you want to set the fader to exactly 0 dB, this can be difficult, depending on the mouse configuration. Move the fader close to the 0 position and now press the Shift-key. This activates the fine mode, which stretches the mouse movements by a factor of 8. In this mode, a gain setting accurate to 0.1 dB is no problem at all. Please set Out 4 to a gain of around -20 dB and the pan close to center. Now click onto the routing field. You'll now see three checkmarks, at 'A1 3+4', 'A1 7+8' and 'Phones'. Click onto 'SPDIF'. The window disappears, fader and pan jump to their initial values, the signal can now be routed to the SPDIF output. You can continue like this until all entries have got a checkmark, i. e. you can send the signal to all outputs simultaneously.

33.7 General

Power supply: external switching power supply, 100 - 240 V AC, 15 Watt Current at 12 Volt operating voltage, unloaded: 200 mA (2.5 Watt) Current at 12 Volt operating voltage, loaded: 400 mA (4.8 Watt) Typical power consumption: 5 Watt Voltage range: DC 8 V 28 V, AC 8 V 20 V Dimensions (WxHxD): 215 x 44 x 115 mm (8.5" x 1.73" x 4.5") Weight: 1.5 kg ( 3.3 lbs) Temperature range: +5 up to +50 Celsius (41 F up to 122F) Relative humidity: < 75%, non condensing

34. Technical Background

34.1 Lock and SyncCheck
Digital signals consist of a carrier and the data. If a digital signal is applied to an input, the receiver has to synchronize to the carrier clock in order to read the data correctly. To achieve this, the receiver uses a PLL (Phase Locked Loop). As soon as the receiver meets the exact frequency of the incoming signal, it is locked. This Lock state remains even with small changes of the frequency, because the PLL tracks the receiver's frequency. If an ADAT or SPDIF signal is applied to the Digiface, the corresponding input LED starts flashing. The unit indicates LOCK, i. e. a valid input signal (in case the signal is also in sync, the LED is constantly lit, see below). Unfortunately, LOCK does not necessarily mean that the received signal is correct with respect to the clock which processes the read out of the embedded data. Example [1]: The Digiface is set to 44.1 kHz internally (clock mode Master), and a mixing desk with ADAT output is connected to input ADAT1. The corresponding LED will show LOCK immediately, but usually the mixing desk's sample rate is generated internally (also Master), and thus slightly higher or lower than the Digiface's internal sample rate. Result: When reading out the data, there will frequently be read errors that cause clicks and drop outs. Also when using multiple inputs, a simple LOCK is not sufficient. The above described problem can be solved elegantly by setting the Digiface from Master to AutoSync (its internal clock will then be the clock delivered by the mixing desk). But in case another un-synchronous device is connected, there will again be a slight difference in the sample rate, and therefore clicks and drop outs. In order to display those problems optically at the device, the Digiface includes SyncCheck. It checks all clocks used for synchronicity. If they are not synchronous to each other (i. e. absolutely identical), the SYNC LED of the asynchronous input flashes. In case they are completely synchronous, all LEDs are constantly lit. In example 1 it would have been obvious that the LED ADAT 1 kept on flashing after connecting the mixing desk. In practice, SyncCheck allows for a quick overview of the correct configuration of all digital devices. So one of the most difficult and error-prone topics of the digital studio world finally becomes easy to handle. The same information is presented in the Digiface's Settings dialog. In the status display SyncCheck the state of all clocks is decoded and shown as simple text (No Lock, Lock, Sync).

Note: Cubase and Nuendo display the latency values signalled from the driver separately for record and playback. These values equal nearly exactly the buffer size (for example 3 ms at 128 samples) on RME's digital interfaces. Core Audios Safety Offset Under OS X, every audio interface has to use a so called satety offset, otherwise Core Audio won't operate click-free. The Digiface uses a safety offset of 32 samples. This offset is signalled to the system, and the software can calculate and display the total latency of buffer size plus plus safety offset for the current sample rate.

34.3 DS - Double Speed

When activating the Double Speed mode the Digiface operates at double sample rate. The internal clock 44.1 kHz turns to 88.2 kHz, 48 kHz to 96 kHz. The internal resolution is still 24 bit. Sample rates above 48 kHz were not always taken for granted, and are still not widely used because of the CD format (44.1 kHz) dominating everything. Before 1998 there were no receiver/transmitter circuits available that could receive or transmit more than 48 kHz. Therefore a work-around was used: instead of two channels, one AES line only carries one channel, whose odd and even samples are being distributed to the former left and right channels. By this, you get the double amount of data, i. e. also double sample rate. Of course in order to transmit a stereo signal two AES/EBU ports are necessary then. This transmission mode is called Double Wire in the professional studio world, and is also known as S/MUX (abbreviation for Sample Multiplexing) in connection with the ADAT format. The AES3 specification uses the uncommon term Single channel double sampling frequency mode. Not before February 1998, Crystal shipped the first 'single wire' receiver/transmitters that could also work with double sample rate. It was then possible to transmit two channels of 96 kHz data via one AES/EBU port. But Double Wire is still far from being dead. On one hand, there are still many devices which can't handle more than 48 kHz, e. g. digital tape recorders. But also other common interfaces like ADAT or TDIF are still using this technique. Because the ADAT interface does not allow for sampling frequencies above 48 kHz (a limitation of the interface hardware), the Digiface automatically uses the Sample Multiplexing method in DS mode. One channel's data is distributed to two channels according to the following table: ADAT Ch. DS Channel Samples 1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b
As the transmission of double rate signals is done at standard sample rate (Single Speed), the ADAT outputs still deliver 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz.

DIGIFACE

52-channel 96 kHz

Digital Audio Interface

Overview
RME presents the Digiface, a highly extended version of the well-known PCI card Project Hammerfall (DIGI9652). Digiface offers 3 ADAT optical I/Os, ADAT-Sync In, SPDIF I/O and word clock I/O like its predecessor. On top, there are 2 MIDI I/Os and a separate analog line out. Thanks to its unique Zero CPU Load technology Hammerfall DSP guarantees highest performance and lowest latency on both notebooks and desktops! Digiface provides interesting features: - 3 x ADAT digital I/O, based on RMEs reliable Bitclock PLL - 1 x SPDIF digital I/O, based on RMEs reliable DIGI96 technology - 1 x ADAT Sync In (9-pin D-type) for sample accurate transfers - 1 x Word clock I/O (BNC) - 1 x analog Line/headphone output, separate output for independent submix - 2 x MIDI I/O, 32 channels high-speed MIDI - HDSP Meter Bridge: freely scalable level meters, peak- and RMS calculation directly in hardware - TotalMix: 1456 channel mixer with 40 bit internal resolution - S/MUX poured in hardware: 12 channels 24-Bit/96kHz for record and playback on ADAT optical - DIGICheck, RMEs unique metering- and analyse tool. and numerous other features found already in the Hammerfall series. And all this for an unbeatable price!

Connectivity

3 x ADAT I/O (at 96 kHz over S/MUX) 1 x SPDIF I/O 1 x Stereo Analog Output (separate for submix/phones) 2 x MIDI I/O Word Clock I/O TotalMix

Features

ADAT S/MUX TotalMixTM Bitclock PLL SyncCheckTM SyncAlignTM DigiCheck ZLMTM
Engineered and Made in Germany
The small box using half the space of a 19 rack doesnt show the included outstanding power and extensive features at first glance. The front panel hosts some useful status LEDs, like MIDI state, lock state of the digital inputs and error state of the host-bus. Additionally theres a high-quality 24-Bit/96kHz analog line output, also usable with headphones, and one MIDI I/O. The back of the Digiface offers real Hammerfall connectivity: 1 x MIDI I/O, 3 x ADAT I/O, SPDIF I/O, ADAT Sync In and word clock I/O. This compact multi-channel solution has everything you need. The Digiface can be used with laptops as well as desktop computers. The connection to notebooks is achieved via a CardBus card, the connection to desktops via a PCI card or PCI Express card. These interfaces are sold separately.

Tech Specs

Supported sample rates: 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, variable 8 buffer sizes/latencies available: 1.5 ms, 3 ms, 6 ms, 12 ms, 23 ms, 46 ms, 93 ms, 186 ms ASIO zero CPU load technology: 0 (zero!)% CPU load when using ALL 52 channels! All settings changeable in realtime Clock modes: slave and master Automatic and intelligent master/slave clock control Enhanced Mixed mode: All inputs and outputs simultaneously operational Unsurpassed Bitclock PLL (audio synchronization) in ADAT mode Enhanced Zero Latency Monitoring for latency-free submixes and perfect ASIO Direct Monitoring DIGICheck, RMEs unique metering- and analyse tool Input 3 x optical (TOSLINK), 1 x coaxial (Cinch), 2 x MIDI, word clock (BNC) Digital input format: SPDIF, AES/EBU (Consumer, Professional), ADAT optical Outputs: 3 x optical (TOSLINK), coaxial (Cinch), 2 x MIDI, stereo analog line (1/4TRS), word clock (BNC) Format output SPDIF: AES/EBU (Consumer/Professional), ADAT optical

Worldwide Distribution

Am Pfanderling 60. 85778 Haimhausen. Germany Tel.: +49-08133-91810 Fax: +49-08133-9166

www.rme-audio.de