34-in/36-out FireWire Lightpipe Interface User Guide English Table of Contents English . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 What's in the Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 About ProFire Lightbridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 ProFire Lightbridge Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Controls and Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Front Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Driver Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Hardware Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 MIDI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Word Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Using ProFire Lightbridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 The Software Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Hardware Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 About Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Word Clock Synchronization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Understanding Word Clock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Warranty Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Warranty Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 M-Audio ProFire Lightbridge User Guide | 2 Introduction hank you for purchasing M-Audio's ProFire Lightbridge interface. ProFire Lightbridge uses the ADAT optical I/O standard to bring extensive digital connectivity to your studio. With its four ADAT optical inputs, four ADAT optical outputs, S/PDIF coaxial input and output, and stereo analog outputs, ProFire Lightbridge lets you connect a variety of devices to your FireWire-equipped digital audio workstation. Using the high-bandwidth, industry-standard FireWire (IEEE1394) protocol, ProFire Lightbridge gives your DAW up to 34 audio inputs and 36 outputs while connecting to your computer via a single cable. This makes it perfect for multi-channel transfers to and from external multitrack recorders. ProFire Lightbridge is also ideal for linking your DAW to an external digital mixer, or for connecting to another computer hosting soft synths and signal processors. This manual will explain the features and operation of ProFire Lightbridge. Even if you are an experienced recording enthusiast, please take a moment to read this guide and familiarize yourself with all of the unique features of your ProFire Lightbridge. T 1 What's in the Box 2 Your ProFire Lightbridge package contains each of the following: < < < < < < ProFire Lightbridge audio interface Printed Quick Start Guide M-Audio FireWire Series CD-ROM FireWire 400 6-pin cable ­ 6 ft. FireWire 400 4-pin cable ­ 6 ft. 12V DC 1A power supply ProFire Lightbridge User Guide | 3 About ProFire Lightbridge 3 P roFire Lightbridge is a 1U, half-rack audio interface designed to greatly expand the power of your digital studio. It provides a total of 34 digital inputs and outputs plus two analog outputs over a single FireWire connection. The interface's four optical inputs, four optical outputs, and S/PDIF input and output let you connect all of your digital gear to your Windows or Mac computer and send and receive audio from all of these devices at the same time. If your Windows PC is not equipped with a native FireWire port, you can purchase a FireWire add-on card at any computer electronics retailer. All compatible Macintosh computers have built-in FireWire ports. Each of the ProFire Lightbridge interface's optical I/O ports can transmit multiple channels of digital audio using the ADAT Optical Standard. This format supports eight channels of audio when operating at a sampling rate of 44.1 or 48kHz, or four channels of high-resolution audio at 88.2 or 96kHz using S/MUX mode. Two channels of S/PDIF I/O are also provided via coaxial RCA connectors, as well as two channels of balanced analog outputs on 1/4" TRS connectors. By default, the analog outputs will mirror the S/PDIF outputs; however, the analog outputs can be configured as independent outputs via the software control panel. Finally, ProFire Lightbridge has a front-panel headphone output with its own dedicated level control. This interface includes a multitude of word clock synchronization options and can operate as either a clock master or slave. As a word clock slave, the interface can sync to a digital source from any of its optical or S/PDIF inputs. Furthermore, the interface can sync to incoming word clock via its BNC word clock input, or output word clock via the BNC output. ProFire Lightbridge is also equipped with on-board MIDI I/O ports, enabling you to connect your MIDI-compatible devices to your DAW through the interface. Use these ports to hook up a MIDI controller keyboard, synth module, or to input/output MIDI Time Code (MTC) to synchronize your hardware or software sequencer. IMPORTANT: ProFire Lightbridge comes with premium six-pin-to-six-pin and four-pin-to-six-pin FireWire cables. We strongly suggest you use one of these cables to connect the interface to your computer. If you must use another FireWire cable, please use a high-quality cable to ensure optimum audio performance. If your computer is equipped with a six-pin interface, use the six-pin-tosix-pin cable; if your computer has a four-pin interface, use the four-pin-to-six-pin cable. Note that when using the four-pin cable, the external power supply must be used. However, a six-pin cable draws power from the FireWire bus and therefore does not require the power supply. NOTE: Some computer manufacturers may use a different nomenclature to refer to their FireWire connections, such as Sony's "iLink," or simply "1394." These connectors are compatible with ProFire Lightbridge. M-Audio ProFire Lightbridge User Guide | 4 ProFire Lightbridge Features 4 < < < < < < < < < < < < < < Four ADAT optical Lightpipe inputs and outputs Two channels of coaxial S/PDIF I/O Stereo balanced 1/4" analog outputs with dedicated level control All 34 inputs and 36 outputs can be used simultaneously Front-panel stereo headphone output with dedicated level control Optical ports are S/MUX capable for high-resolution audio Supports sample rates of 44.1, 48, 88.2, and 96kHz at up to 24-bit resolution 16 channels of MIDI I/O Word clock I/O on BNC connectors Activity LEDs show enabled ports and valid data at the optical I/O ports Sample rate LED indicators Word clock source LED indicators MIDI I/O LED indicators External power supply input ProFire Lightbridge User Guide | 5 System Requirements 5 Minimum System Requirements 16 channels of ADAT Lightpipe at 16-bit/44.1kHz Windows: Pentium IV 1.8 GHz 512 MB RAM 7200 rpm HD (8 MB buffer) Available FireWire port or FireWire expansion card Windows XP (SP2) Macintosh: Power Mac G4 1 GHz (G4 accelerator cards not supported) 512 MB RAM 7200 rpm HD (8 MB buffer) Native FireWire port Mac OS X 10.3.9 / 10.4.7 Recommended System Requirements 32 channels of ADAT Lightpipe at 24-bit/48kHz or 16 channels of ADAT Lightpipe S/MUX at 24-bit/ 96kHz Windows: Pentium IV 2.8 GHz 1 GB RAM 7200 rpm HD (16 MB buffer) Available FireWire port or FireWire expansion card Windows XP (SP2) Macintosh: Power Mac G5 Dual 1.8 GHz 1 GB RAM 7200 rpm HD (16 MB buffer) Available FireWire port Mac OS X 10.3.9 / 10.4.7 M-Audio ProFire Lightbridge User Guide | 6 Controls and Connectors Front Panel 6 1. Headphone Output ­ Accepts a standard 1/4" stereo headphone connector. This output always mirrors the analog line output. The headphone level is independent of the line output level, and is controlled by the headphone level knob (2). Headphone Level ­ Controls the volume level of the Headphone Output jack (1). Output Level ­ Controls the output level of the rear panel analog Line Outputs (16). Sample Rate Indicator LEDs ­ These LEDs display the sample rate of the current digital input signal, showing 44.1kHz or 48kHz. When the Sample Rate Multiplier LED (5) is lit, the sample rate indicated by these LEDs is doubled to 88.2kHz or 96kHz. Sample Rate Multiplier LED ­ This LED is used in conjunction with the Sample Rate Indicator LEDs (4) to display the sample rate of the current digital input signal. When the Sample Rate Multiplier LED is lit, the sample rate shown by the Sample Rate Indicator LEDs (4) is doubled. Sync Source LEDs ­ These LEDs light to indicate the master word clock synchronization source. The available sources are: internal word clock, external word clock via BNC input, optical input, or S/PDIF input. The associated LED will light steadily if the interface is receiving a valid clock signal, or it will flash if the interface is receiving a faulty signal. MIDI Indicator LEDs ­ These LEDs light to indicate activity at the MIDI input and output ports. Optical I/O Activity Indicator LEDs ­ When lit, these LEDs indicate the presence of a valid digital audio signal at the associated input or output. Power LED ­ This LED illuminates when the unit is powered on. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Power Switch ­ Turns ProFire Lightbridge on and off. ProFire Lightbridge User Guide | 7 Rear Panel 11. Power Supply Connector ­ Connect the 12V DC 1A power supply here. Use only the power supply provided with the interface or an equivalent power supply with the same rating and polarity. If you are using the six-pin-to-six-pin FireWire cable to attach ProFire Lightbridge to your computer, the interface will draw power from your host computer. It is recommend that you leave the power supply disconnected while operating ProFire Lightbridge on a bus-powered 6-pin FireWire port. NOTE: Your computer's 6-pin FireWire port may not be able to supply adequate power to ProFire Lightbridge if additional devices, such as external FireWire harddisks, are powered through the same FireWire port. Also, 6-pin FireWire ports on PCMCIA FireWire expansion cards for laptops are generally not bus powered. Use the power supply or connect the ProFire Lightbridge to a different FireWire port to remedy potential low power problems you may encounter. 12. Kensington Lock Connector ­ Connect a standard laptop-style locking security cable here to protect your ProFire Lightbridge from theft or accidental breakage. 13 FireWire Port ­ Connect ProFire Lightbridge to your computer using one of the supplied FireWire cables. 14. MIDI, S/PDIF, Word Clock Multi-Pin Connector ­ Connect the included breakout cable to this multi-pin connector. The breakout cable provides the following connections: · S/PDIF coaxial (RCA) digital input and output · MIDI input and output connectors · Word clock BNC input and output connectors 15. Optical Inputs and Outputs ­ Each of these optical inputs and outputs can support eight channels of digital audio at 44.1 or 48kHz, or four channels of digital audio at 88.2 or 96kHz. NOTE: These inputs and outputs do not support the two-channel S/PDIF optical format. 16. Line Outputs ­ These 1/4" TRS connectors output a balanced, line-level analog signal. By default, these outputs mirror the S/PDIF digital output, but can be configured in the control panel to appear as an independent set of outputs for your DAW. The analog line outputs' signal level is controlled by the front-panel Output Level Control knob (3). NOTE: The Headphone Output (1) always mirrors the signal that is coming out of the Line Outputs. M-Audio ProFire Lightbridge User Guide | 8 Dr ...