Pro Tools® Expanded Systems Guide Version 7.
Legal Notices CE Compliance Statement: This guide is copyrighted ©2007 by Digidesign, a division of Avid Technology, Inc. (hereafter “Digidesign”), with all rights reserved. Under copyright laws, this guide may not be duplicated in whole or in part without the written consent of Digidesign.
Important Safety Instructions 1) Read these instructions. 2) Keep these instructions. 3) Heed all warnings. 4) Follow all instructions. 5) Do not use this apparatus near water. 6) Clean only with dry cloth. 7) Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. 8) Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
contents Chapter 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Pro Tools Expanded Systems Without an Expansion Chassis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Pro Tools with an Expansion Chassis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 System Requirements and Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 About www.
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chapter 1 Introduction You can expand your Pro Tools|HD® system by adding Pro Tools|HD cards, either directly in the computer or using an expansion chassis. Expanding your Pro Tools® system will provide increased track count, add to the amount of possible plug-in and mixer processing, and let you connect additional audio interfaces. For a list of system requirements for maximum track count, visit the Digidesign website (www.digidesign.com).
System Requirements and Compatibility Pro Tools|HD systems can be used with a Digidesign-qualified Windows or Mac computer running Pro Tools HD software. For complete system requirements, visit the Digidesign website (www.digidesign.com). Compatibility Information Digidesign can only assure compatibility and provide support for hardware and software it has tested and approved.
chapter 2 Expanded Pro Tools|HD Systems This chapter provides the following information: • Slot order and sample rate information that applies to all expanded systems. • Instructions for installing an expanded system into slots in your computer (without an expansion chassis). • Instructions for how to connect Pro Tools|HD cards together using their FlexCables. These instructions apply to all systems. • Instructions for connecting audio interfaces.
Sample Rate and Multiple Cards Pro Tools|HD supports sample rates of 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, and 192 kHz. However, due to the processing load required for 176.4 kHz and 192 kHz sessions, a maximum of four Pro Tools|HD cards can be used at these higher sample rates. The maximum number of Pro Tools|HD cards supported in a single system is seven.
6 Install HD Accel (for PCI or PCIe) cards in the next slots. PCIe slot 4 (hidden) Group cards of the same type together (for example, put all HD Accel cards next to each other). PCIe slot 3 PCIe slot 2 AGP slot 1 (video card) 7 Install HD Process cards (if any) in remaining slots. Make sure the first card is the core card for your system. Expansion cards (HD Accel or HD Process) cannot occupy the lowestnumbered slot. 8 Connect all Pro Tools|HD cards using Digide- Figure 1.
Power Mac G5 (PCI) The PCI-equipped Power Mac G5 has three PCI slots (named PCI slot 2, 3, and 4). PCI slot numbers increase from bottom to top as you face the open computer case from the side. Install the HD Core card into PCI slot 2.
4 Connect the Port A connector of the FlexCa- ble to Port A on the second card. Push down gently but firmly until the cable is fully connected to the card. Attach the other end of the FlexCable (labeled Port B) to Port B on the first card. HD Accel (or Process) card in PCI slot 3 Port Port BB Port AA Port Port Port BB Port AA Port HD Core card in PCI slot 2 Top view of TDM FlexCable connections for two Pro Tools|HD cards 5 Verify the connection.
DigiLink Connections The DigiLink cable connects Pro Tools|HD cards and audio interfaces. A single Digi-Link connector carries up to 32 channels of bidirectional audio information. These 32 channels are broken up into 2 groups of 16 channels: Group A = Channels 1–16, Group B = Channels 17–32. The maximum number of DigiLink cables supported on a single system is ten (for session sample rates up to 96 kHz) or eight (for session sample rates of 176.4 kHz or 192 kHz).
HD Core or Accel Core card 18-inch DigiLink cable 12-foot DigiLink cable Loop Sync cables Figure 4. Two 96 I/Os, 32-channel HD Core or Accel Core card 18-inch DigiLink cable 12-foot DigiLink cable Loop Sync cables TDM FlexCable Loop Sync cables HD Accel card or HD Process card 12-foot DigiLink cable Figure 5.
To make DigiLink connections to Digidesign audio interfaces: 1 Connect the primary audio interface to the HD Core card with the provided 12-foot DigiLink cable. 2 Connect a secondary Pro Tools|HD audio in- terface to the Expansion port on the primary audio interface using the 18-inch DigiLink cable (included with the audio interface). See Figure 4 on page 9. – or – Connect a secondary Pro Tools|HD interface to the DigiLink on the next card (HD Accel or HD Process).
3 Connect the External Clock Out of the pri- mary interface to the Slave Clock In of the Legacy audio interface using a BNC cable. 4 If connecting two Legacy peripherals, connect the Slave Clock Out of the first Legacy peripheral to the Slave Clock In of the second Legacy peripheral. Do not connect the Slave Clock Out of the last Legacy peripheral to the clock input on any Pro Tools|HD interface.
Because of the way in which 192 I/O interfaces can be expanded, the maximum number of channels of digital or analog I/O possible with an expanded Pro Tools|HD system depends on whether you use digital or analog connections, and whether you require a symmetrical or asymmetrical number of input and output channels, as explained in the following examples: Maximum I/O Configuration Examples Pro Tools|HD System with Ten Interfaces (Session Sample Rates Up to 96 kHz) Digital Up to 160 input and output channels (
Starting Up and Shutting Down Your System Whenever you start your system, turn on all of your system components in a specific order. To start up your Pro Tools system: 1 Make sure all your equipment is off (including your computer). 2 Turn on the expansion chassis. 3 Turn on any external hard drives. Wait ap- proximately ten seconds for them to spin up to speed. 4 Turn on any MIDI interfaces and devices or any synchronization peripherals.
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chapter 3 Digidesign Expansion|HD Chassis The Digidesign Expansion|HD is a six-slot PCI expansion chassis for Pro Tools|HD systems. Expansion|HD lets you install up to six Pro Tools|HD (for PCI) cards for additional plugin and mixer processing, and for connecting additional audio interfaces to the system.
RTAS Monitoring Latency with Expansion|HD Systems using the Digidesign Expansion|HD chassis will incur increased latency when monitoring the output of RTAS plug-ins, compared with systems where the Pro Tools|HD cards are installed in the host computer. This increase in RTAS monitoring latency is due to the hardware buffering needed for the Expansion|HD chassis.
Hardware Specifications Host Card • PCI card or PCIe card Chassis Slots • Six PCI slots • Accepts the following Pro Tools|HD cards: • HD Core (for PCI) • HD Accel (for PCI) • HD Process (for PCI) Chassis Dimensions • Width: 19 in • Height: 4U (4 rack spaces) Expansion|HD Cable • Shielded Cat 6 cable Installing the Digidesign Expansion|HD Installation involves the following main steps, detailed in the sections that follow: • Installing the Expansion|HD host card in your computer • Connecting power to the
3 Install the Expansion|HD host card in the lowest numbered available slot in your computer. Installing Pro Tools|HD Cards • In most Windows computers, this will be the slot farthest from the graphics card. To install Digidesign audio cards in the chassis: • In most Mac computers, this will be the slot closest to the graphics card. To ensure proper grounding, make sure the Expansion|HD is connected to a power source (such as a power strip or wall outlet), using the supplied AC cable.
4 Connect all Pro Tools cards with TDM FlexCa- bles. See “Connecting Pro Tools|HD Cards” on page 6. After connecting cards with FlexCables, connect audio interfaces. See “Connecting Audio Interfaces” on page 7. After connecting audio interfaces, return here and complete the Digidesign Expansion|HD installation process. Connecting the Chassis to the Computer To connect the chassis to the computer: 1 Connect one end of the Expansion|HD cable to the Expansion|HD cable port on the chassis.
Starting Up Your System Whenever you start your system, turn on all of your system components in a specific order. To start your Pro Tools system: 1 Make sure all your equipment is off (including your computer). On the front panel of the Digidesign Expansion|HD, the Power switch LED should be flashing to confirm that the unit is in Standby mode. 2 Press the Power switch on the front panel to turn on the Digidesign Expansion|HD. The Power switch LED remains lit when fully powered and ready for operation.
chapter 4 Expansion Chassis Reference This chapter provides information for configuring Digidesign-qualified expansion chassis. For information on configuring the Digidesign Expansion|HD chassis, see Chapter 3, “Digidesign Expansion|HD Chassis.” For a complete and current list of supported configurations of computers, expansion chassis, and hard drives for maximum voices with Pro Tools systems, visit the Digidesign website (www.digidesign.com). Not all chassis are supported on all Pro Tools systems.
Configuring the Magma PE6R4 6-Slot Expansion Chassis Connecting the Expansion Chassis To install the PCIe host card in the computer: 1 Turn off the expansion chassis, your com- puter, and any peripherals. To ensure proper grounding, connect the expansion chassis to a power source (such as a power strip or wall outlet), using the supplied AC cable. 2 Open the computer case. For additional de- tails on installing a card in your computer, refer to its documentation.
Magma PE6R4 (Example Configuration) Chassis cards with multiple audio interfaces Slot Card Slot 1 HD Core (Interface #1 and #2) Slot 2 HD Accel (Interface #3 and #4) Slot 3 HD Accel (Interface #5 and #6) Slot 4 HD Accel (Interface #7 and #8) Slot 5* HD Accel (or Process) (Interface #9 and #10) Slot 6* HD Accel (or Process) * Card only available at 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.
2 Open the computer case. For additional de- tails on installing a card in your computer, refer to its documentation. Before removing cards from their antistatic bags or handling any card, discharge any static electricity that may be on your clothes or body by touching a grounded metal surface (such as the power supply case inside your computer). 3 Install the host card in the lowest numbered slot in your computer.
Magma 64-bit 7-Slot (Example Configuration) Magma 32-Bit 7-Slot Expansion Chassis Chassis cards with multiple audio interfaces: Slot Card Exp. Slot Chassis Controller card (not all models) Slot 1 HD Core (Interface #1 and #2) Slot 2 HD Accel (interface #3 and #4) Slot 3 HD Accel (Interface #5 and #6) Slot 4 HD Accel (Interface #7 and #8) Slot 5* HD Accel (or HD Process) (Interface #9 and #10) Slot 6* HD Accel (or HD Process) Slot 7* HD Accel (or HD Process) * Card only available at 44.
2 Open the computer case. For additional de- Installing the Digidesign Cards tails on installing a card in your computer, refer to its documentation. To install Digidesign audio cards in the chassis: Before removing cards from their antistatic bags or handling any card, discharge any static electricity that may be on your clothes or body by touching a grounded metal surface (such as the power supply case inside your computer). 3 Install the host card in the lowest numbered slot in your computer.
Pro Tools 13-Slot Expansion Chassis and Magma 13-Slot Expansion Chassis (Mac Only) Configuring the Pro Tools 13-Slot Expansion Chassis or Magma 13-Slot Expansion Chassis Connecting the Expansion Chassis The 13-slot expansion chassis will support up to seven Pro Tools|HD cards. To install the chassis host card in the computer: Maximum track counts are not possible with this and other 32-bit chassis, and it supports a maximum of 8 audio interfaces.
5 If using a SCSI HBA, install it in the highest numbered remaining slot in your computer. Install the chassis controller card in the chassis: Pro Tools 13-Slot Expansion Chassis (Example Configuration) Chassis cards with multiple audio interfaces 1 Install the Controller card in the Expansion Slot Card Slot of the expansion chassis. This is the slot nearest the power supply. Exp.
Pro Tools 7-Slot Expansion Chassis and SBS 7-Slot Expansion Chassis (Mac Only) Pro Tools 7-Slot Expansion Chassis The Digidesign Pro Tools 7-Slot Expansion Chassis is identical to the SBS 32-bit model DD007-R. For compatibility and configuration details, refer to the information that pertains to that model.
2 Open the computer case. For additional de- 2 Install the remaining cards in successive PCI tails on installing a card in your computer, refer to its documentation. card slots in the chassis, in the following order: Before removing cards from their antistatic bags or handling any card, discharge any static electricity that may be on your clothes or body by touching a grounded metal surface (such as the power supply case inside your computer).
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