Digital X Bus

nect these outputs to the inputs of a 2-track recorder for mixdown, or to the inputs of a power amplifier to drive a pair of speakers for the studio or whatever.

Note: Remember that the level for the Main L/R Mix Out is always controlled by the Master Fader on the console. The Control Room volume knob does not affect this level.

8. SYNC CARD

The Sync card provides word clock synchronization in and out of the console on a pair of BNC connectors, and SMPTE time code (also called Longitudinal Time Code or LTC) in and out on a pair of 1/4" jacks.

The word clock input is the only means to slave the Digital X Bus sampling clock to an external clock reference device, such as a “house sync” box or a clock distribution system. The Digital X Bus can lock to a word clock source running between

44.1kHz to 192 kHz. The word clock input provides a 75 ohm termination, which prevents the clock signal from feeding back to the source and causing synchronization problems.

If you are slaving the Digital X Bus off an external word clock source, we do not recommend using the word clock output of the console to distribute that same clock signal to another digital device. There will be a certain amount of propogation delay from the input to the output, and this may cause a synchronization problem between your Digital X Bus and other equipment. If you are using multiple digital devices in your studio, we recommend using a word clock distribution device that can send a word clock signal equally and evenly to all slave devices.

A note about clocking and sync:

The ADAT, AES/EBU, and SPDIF digital audio specifications include the presence of a “clock reference signal” through the same physical connection as the audio signals. This means that you can use the Digital X Bus as a master clock source, and lock several different digital devices to the digital audio outputs of the console. You need to refer to the external digital devices’ product documentation and/or manual(s) to learn how to lock external devices off the ADAT, SPDIF, or AES/EBU outputs of the Digital X Bus.

Remember that the Digital X Bus cannot slave to any external source unless it is locked via the word clock connection.

The SMPTE input can receive an LTC signal from 24 through 30fps (frames per second) and includes support for “pull up” and “pull down” drop & non- drop frames rates.

When using the Digital X Bus with a SMPTE input, we recommend locking the word clock of the Digital X Bus to the same source that is generating the SMPTE output. This will ensure that the console does not “drift” from your video or other playback source.

The SMPTE output simply mirrors the SMPTE input. Without a SMPTE input present, the SMPTE output will not be active. Even though the Clock Settings window has an “Internal” setting for the time code source selection, the Digital X Bus does not actually generate MTC or SMPTE signals at the corresponding outputs.

Time code is also provided through MIDI time code (MTC). SMPTE time code is more commonly used in motion picture and broadcast applications.

D • SLOT

SYNC

 

 

 

C • SLOTS

 

 

B • SLOTS

 

 

A • SLOTS

 

 

 

 

SYNC CARD

 

MIX OUT CARD

DIGITAL CARD

FIRE CARD

AES CARD

LINE CARD

LINE CARD

MIC/LINE 8 CARD

MIC/LINE 4 CARD

 

MIC/LINE 4 CARD

 

 

 

 

IN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

1

 

 

IN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WORD

 

 

AES/EBU

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLOCK

OUT

 

TDIF

 

I/O

OUT

OUT

OUT

2

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OUT

 

 

 

I/O

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN

 

 

SPDIF

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

3

 

 

 

IN

OUT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SMPTE

 

 

 

OPTICAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OUT

 

 

SPEAKERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

L

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A

 

 

 

 

 

IN

4

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

IN B

 

 

IN

IN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

L

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OUT A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

PHONES

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

6

5

6

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OUT B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

L

 

MIX OUT

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

8

7

8

 

 

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

X.200