Delta R-BUS Manual Table of Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 What’s in the Box? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 About the Delta R-BUS PCI Audio Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Product Features & Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction Congratulations on your purchase of the Delta R-BUS PCI Audio Card designed and built by M Audio. R-BUS is a 24-bit, 8-channel format created by the Roland Corporation, and is compatible with R-BUS equipped products such as Roland’s VM-7000 Series and VM-3100 Pro V-Mixers, VS-2480 24track Digital Studio Workstation, VSR-880 Digital Studio Recorder and XV5080 128-Voice Synthesizer/Sample Playback Module. Even if you are experienced in digital recording, please take the time to read this manual.
output signal is sent to both the Analog and S/PDIF outputs simultaneously. The Delta R-BUS PCI Audio Card gives you the highest quality digital I/O available -- at up to 24-bit data width at any sampling rate from 8kHz to 96kHz. The Delta R-BUS allows seamless transfers between your computer and R-BUS capable devices, while receiving R-BUS sync. The Delta R-BUS PCI Audio Card’s included breakout cable provides the Analog and S/PDIF input and output connections, plus a BNC wordclock output.
• Comprehensive digital mixing, routing, and monitoring capabilities with included Delta Control Panel software. • Hardware sample-accurate sync will allow linking of multiple Delta units. • Windows 95/98/ME/2000 multi-card/multi-client drivers with ASIO1 and ASIO2 multi-card, GSIF and EASI drivers included; Windows NT multi-card and Mac OS drivers with ASIO 1&2 also included.
Delta R-BUS PCI Audio Card: 1. Delta R-BUS Audio Card: This is the PCI “host card” that installs into your computer’s PCI slot. 2. 15-pin D-sub connector: This 15-pin D-sub connector attaches to the supplied breakout cable, which provides additional I/O connectors. This breakout cable is a proprietary cable, manufactured by M Audio. 3. R-BUS I/O on 25-pin D-sub connector: This 25-pin D-sub connector attaches via R-BUS cable to an R-BUS capable device. 4.
4. 5. 6. 7. variety of external target devices. This jack is RCA female and is compatible with RCA male audio cables. Analog In “Left” RCA jack: This jack inputs analog audio from a variety of external sources. This jack is RCA female and is compatible with RCA male audio cables. Analog In “Right” RCA jack: This jack inputs analog audio from a variety of external sources. This jack is RCA female and is compatible with RCA male audio cables.
. Screw the Delta R-BUS PCI host card’s metal bracket down into the bracket hole on the back of your computer using the screw you removed in step 5 above. 8. Place the cover back on your computer. Now it is time to connect the Delta R-BUS’s breakout cable to the PCI host card that you have just installed. Never attach the break-out cable with the computer turned on. Doing so could damage the PCI card, and void your warranty.
6. The Wizard reports that Windows has finished installing the software. Click ‘Finish’. Your Delta R-BUS is ready for action. After completion of the driver installation, Windows may require you to restart Windows. If it does request a restart, remove the Drivers CD Disk from the CD drive and respond “Yes.” The system will restart and your Delta R-BUS is ready for play. Windows ME or 98 Installation 1. After installing the Delta R-BUS hardware, boot your system and start Windows.
After completion of the driver installation, Windows may require you to restart Windows. If it does request a restart, remove the Drivers CD Disk from the CD drive and respond “Yes.” The system will restart and your Delta R-BUS is ready for play. Windows 95 Installation 1. After installation of the Delta R-BUS hardware, boot your system and start Windows. During the Windows boot procedure, new hardware will be automatically detected. 2.
Macintosh Installation 1. Open the System folder on your Macintosh hard drive. In the System folder, locate the Extensions folder. 2. On your Drivers CD disk, open the Delta R-BUS folder. Place the extension file "Delta R-BUS Driver" in your Extensions folder by clicking on it and dragging it to the Extensions folder. 3. If you are using a music program that uses ASIO drivers, it will also have an ASIO folder within the application’s folder.
Panel | System | Device Manager. With the Device Manager displayed, click on the "+" next to "Sound, video and game controllers" to open a list of devices, the Delta R-BUS being a device of that nature. Below is an example view of the Device Manager. This example shows the M Audio Delta R-BUS and M Audio Audiophile 2496 entries in the Windows Device Manager device list. The Delta R-BUS is properly installed with no conflicts, as is the Audiophile 2496.
desktop using your mouse or trackball. After completing the drag operation, a dialog box will ask you if you wish to create a shortcut -- click on ‘Yes’. Once the shortcut is installed, all you have to do is double-click on the shortcut icon on your desktop to launch the Delta Control Panel software. On the Macintosh: The Delta Control Panel may be placed anywhere on your hard drive, or any partition of your hard drive that you find convenient.
connector is a wordclock output which may be used to synchronize other digital devices to the Delta R-BUS board. Wordclock is a sampling clock signal which automatically operates at the present Delta R-BUS sample rate, whether that sample rate is derived from the Delta R-BUS’s internal clock, S/PDIF input, or R-BUS internal or external input. Analog jacks on the Delta R-BUS breakout cable, two for input and two for output, are RCA phono type female jacks.
Delta R-BUS’s outputs may accept audio from software sources (these output devices are visible in your audio software applications) or from hardware sources such as the analog and digital inputs (R-BUS or S/PDIF), or the monitor mixer. This capability makes the Delta R-BUS quite flexible for WAV or AIFF output, monitoring, or directly connecting inputs to outputs for system test purposes or input monitoring.
In situations where the Delta R-BUS is synching to an external R-BUS device, such as a clock from a Roland digital multitrack or digital mixer that has R-BUS I/O, the Delta R-BUS Audio Card should similarly be configured to get its master clock from the external R-BUS wordclock data stream, labeled “R-BUS In.
Using the Delta R-BUS with your Music Software Application Once the Delta R-BUS’s hardware and driver software are properly installed, it is ready for use with your music application software. Some of these applications may require you to highlight or enable the Delta R-BUS drivers within the program, and others may have a utility that analyzes or profiles the audio cards in your system and enables the drivers. Your software should have an audio device driver setup page, as well as a MIDI driver setup page.
WINDOWS MME AUDIO OUTPUT DEVICES: All of the Delta R-BUS Audio Card’s analog and S/PDIF outputs may be used simultaneously for a total of 10 output channels.
The Delta R-BUS Audio Card is by nature a multichannel card. You can see how using only the Sound Manager drivers can be limiting. Therefore, we recommend the use of a music program that is ASIO compliant. ASIO DRIVER INPUT DEVICES: When using the ASIO audio drivers with PC or Macintosh music programs that support ASIO-style audio, the input devices are displayed as mono devices.
sent out the Delta R-BUS. This also enables you to use the Delta R-BUS with the sound applets included with Windows. To set this up, go to Control Panel | Multimedia. In the Audio Properties page, set the Playback and Recording devices to the Delta R-BUS input and output devices of your choice. The most practical choice may be the SP/ANA output, using the Delta R-BUS’s analog outs to monitor the system sounds.
Monitor Mixer Page The Monitor Mixer is the first page that appears when the Delta Control Panel is opened, and controls the digital mixer built into the Delta R-BUS’s PCI controller chip. As described in previous sections, the output of this mixer may be assigned to the OUT1/OUT2 R-BUS outputs, and to the Analog and S/PDIF outputs simultaneously (this selection is made in the Patchbay Router page). At the same time, the mixer outputs may be recorded in stereo by software by selecting “Mon.
PEAK METERS Each peak meter indicates an audio signal level in "dB relative to full-scale." This means that a full-scale signal is referred to as "0 dB" and a signal that is 12dB "quieter" than full-scale is referred to as "-12dB." The meters are vertically color-coded into three sections: green, yellow and red. The green section represents a safe zone, ranging from approximately -48dB to -12dB. Most audio signals should appropriately fill this section of the meter.
sent from your software application (or Windows) to the driver devices with those same names. Each name begins with "WavOut" to remind you that these are software streams and may not necessarily be routed to any physical outputs (see Patchbay/Router Page). ON THE MAC, these inputs are labeled “SM/ASIO,” as these software streams will be receiving their digital audio either from the Sound Manager or the ASIO driver, depending on your selection.
activating the Stereo Link checkbox will link (or "link") the left/right faders so that both channels may be adjusted together as a stereo pair. Patchbay/Router Page The Patchbay/Router page allows you to connect each of the Delta R-BUS’s hardware outputs (4 pairs of R-BUS outputs and 1 pair of analog output channels that is identical to the S/PDIF digital output) to specific audio sources within the Delta R-BUS board. To display this page, click the "Patchbay/Router" tab of the Delta Control Panel.
The next three vertical columns of the Patchbay/Router page (from left to right), "H/W Out 3/4," "H/W Out 5/6," and "H/W Out 7/8," connect these hardware R-BUS outputs to one of seven sources. Since the three columns function identically, we’ll use "H/W Out 3/4" as the example: 1. The default setting, "WavOut 3/4", connects R-BUS ports OUT3 and OUT4 to your music software or Windows/Macintosh multimedia applet.
S/PDIF input on the Delta R-BUS’s breakout cable. This selection, Analog or S/PDIF, is made in the control panel’s Hardware Settings page (see section, “Hardware Settings Page”). The left channel of the selection (Analog In or S/PDIF In) is routed to the left channel of Analog Outs and S/PDIF Out and the right channel of the selection (Analog or S/PDIF In) is routed to the right channel of Analog Outs and S/PDIF Out. 4. The fourth option, "SP/ANA In (L/R Rev.
R-BUS wordclock, and R_BUS PCI if you wish to synchronize internally with another Delta R_BUS card using the internal hardware connectors and the supplied cable to connect the two cards. NOTE: If "S/PDIF In" is selected as the master clock source, be sure to supply a valid S/PDIF signal to the board’s active S/PDIF input. Otherwise, erratic timing and/or improper sample rates will be experienced.
sample rate at or above 44.1 kHz while using the monitor mixer. This is accomplished by enabling "Reset Rate When Idle" and selecting a sample rate of 44.1 kHz or greater. S/PDIF SAMPLE RATE When using S/PDIF In as your master clock, this section tells the driver what the expected S/PDIF input sample rate is. The section is only displayed when the board is set to use S/PDIF In as the master clock source. From the list, select the sample rate closest to that of the S/PDIF input data.
audio software application to this same sample rate or else the application will display an error message. NOTE: When R-BUS PCI is the master clock source, the digital monitor mixer will run at the sample rate received at the R-BUS internal sync connector. Since frequency response and sample rate are directly related, the mixer frequency response will be directly related to the sample rate of the S/PDIF input data.
or pops in the audio stream as some data may be lost. Larger buffers cause slightly more latency but prevent the pops and clicks that might occur with smaller buffer sizes – the default settings are recommended but you may desire to tweak these default settings to suit your tastes. This buffer size must be set in the Delta Control Panel before you launch your music software. When using ASIO with the Delta R-BUS, set the buffer size in the control panel, then exit the control panel.
Manager, if and when you choose the Delta as the Sound Manager input and output device. If you go to the Apple menu | Control Panel |Sounds and highlight the Delta icon for Sound In and Sound Out, then your Apple system sounds will be routed to the Delta hardware output that you have selected here, and Alert Sounds, if you choose to record, will receive their input from the Delta hardware input that you select here.
R-BUS’s S/PDIF receiver is capable of recognizing a valid input signal versus an invalid, corrupt or non-present one. When a valid signal is detected at S/PDIF In, this group box displays "Valid Input Detected." When an invalid signal is detected or no signal is present, the group box displays "Invalid or Not Present." Below this message are two ‘grayedout’ buttons: "Coax(RCA)" and "Optical.
CONSUMER FORMAT ADVANCED SETTINGS (Emphasis) This status bit is used to indicate if pre-emphasis has been applied to the outgoing digital audio signal. The default is "None" and rarely will any user want to set the value to "50/15uSec" unless the transmitted audio has been encoded with 50/15uSec pre-emphasis. PROFESSIONAL FORMAT ADVANCED SETTINGS (Data Type) The user may assign the outgoing data as audio or non-audio data. Many devices ignore this setting.
longer need a particular configuration, click the ‘Delete’ button. Highlight the name of the configuration file that you wish to delete, and click the ‘OK’ button. To recall or reload a saved configuration, click the ‘Load’ button. Highlight the name of the configuration file that you wish to recall, and click ‘OK’. Those settings will now appear in the Delta Control Panel and the driver will automatically update the hardware. H/W INSTALLED Up to four Delta cards may be installed in a system at one time.
R-BUS to computer, and back to R-BUS. Here, we’ll be using the Delta R-BUS Audio Card’s 25-pin R-BUS I/O, plus the analog output stereo pair for monitoring. NOTE: Because improper connections can potentially make very loud noises, it’s a good idea to have monitor levels turned down while hooking up audio equipment -- you may even choose to turn your computer off before making the connections.
headphones. Set the line level switch in the Hardware Settings page for the analog outputs to be compatible with that sound system’s inputs (see section, “Hardware Settings Page”). 3. Because you will be recording from the R-BUS input, you will need to set up the Delta R-BUS to synchronize its master clock with the R-BUS input. To do this, open the Hardware Settings page of the control panel software. Under Master Clock, select "R-BUS In." 4.
6. In the Monitor Mixer page, scroll to the right until you see the H/W inputs for R-BUS channels 1/2, 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8. Unmute tracks in succession, and raise the fader level until you begin to hear sound from the analog outputs through your sound system. You may choose to engage the “Stereo Link” switch, and raise or lower faders in stereo pairs. You may pan tracks, and basically set up a mix for monitoring purposes. These levels are “pre-fader,” and will not affect your recording levels.
If recording from the S/PDIF output, make sure the S/PDIF output format is correct. Open the S/PDIF page of the control panel software. Under Digital Output Format, choose "Consumer." Uncheck "Advanced" if it is checked previously. Now click on the "Restore Defaults" button to set the default S/PDIF outgoing status bits. This will disable copy protection and also set the emphasis to "none," allowing the DAT to accept and record the audio properly.
4. In order to verify proper output routing, open the Patchbay/Router page of the control panel software. In the "H/W Out 1/2, 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8" columns, select the radio buttons named "WavOut 1/2, 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8." Now everything that is sent by your software to the "WavOut 1/2 through 7/8" devices will be routed to the hardware R-BUS output, and consequently to the Roland Multitrack. 5. Setting the Roland tracks to “record ready” will allow us to monitor the Delta R-BUS signal at the Roland inputs.
Let’s say that we’re recording a band. We’ve got eight mics on the drum set, with the guitar and bass going ‘direct’ into the digital mixer. We’re going to combine some of the drums while recording, just to make it a little more interesting. We have 8-busses in our digital mixer, and the R-BUS connection on the Delta R-BUS PCI Audio Card is capable of eight audio input and output streams.
4. Open the Delta Control Panel to the Patchbay/Router page. For the H/W Out 1/2 (the leftmost column), select H/W In 1/2 as the source. Doing so will allow you to monitor the digital mixer’s buss out 1 and 2 through the Delta R-BUS hardware inputs, and back to the digital mixer’s tape returns. On H/W Out 3/4 select H/W In 3/4 as the source, set H/W Out 5/6 to H/W In 5/6, and set H/W Out 7/8 to H/W In 7/8 as their monitoring sources.
set your digital mixer to receive external sync. See Appendix C for more information on this, and other choices you may have for synchronizing the Delta R-BUS with your digital mixer. We suggest that you use the Delta R-BUS’s Wordclock output on the breakout cable to send clock to the digital mixer (if it has wordclock input), and set the external sync in the digital mixer to receive its clock from the wordclock input. Use a good quality, 75-ohm BNC to BNC cable. 6.
Once this is done, we are set up and ready to record. Close or minimize your software’s meter view at this point. 10. Arm tracks one through eight for recording and press the record button on your music software’s transport bar. 11. Once you have a take that you think is worth listening to, stop recording and rewind. Maximize the Delta Control Panel from your Windows taskbar. 12. Click the Patchbay/Router tab.
Transferring from DAT to Computer 1. Connect the DAT’s coaxial S/PDIF output to the S/PDIF In of the Delta R-BUS breakout cable, using a good quality digital cable. 2. Connect the Delta R-BUS’s analog outputs to some type of amplified sound system. The sound system should be equipped with speakers or headphones. The line level output settings in the Delta Control Panel’s “Hardware Settings” page may be set to be compatible with that sound system’s inputs. 3.
5. In order to monitor the digital signal coming into the R-BUS, switch to the Patchbay/Router page of the control panel software. In the "H/W Out SP/ANA" column, select the radio button named "SP/ANA In." This will copy all S/PDIF input audio directly over to the analog outputs – therefore in this example, the monitor mixer will be completely bypassed. Once this assignment is made, you may play the DAT material at any time and verify that the signal is making it into the Delta R-BUS successfully.
left and right inputs (see the section, “Using the Delta R-BUS with your Music Software Application”). 7. Start your software recording and then start your DAT material playing. You should be able to hear the DAT material through your sound system. 8. Once you have recorded your tracks, set the music software’s output port to WavOut SP/ANA. Go into the Delta Control Panel “Patchbay/Router” page, and set the H/W Out SP/ANA column to play “WavOut SP/ANA.
4. 5. 6. 7. Panel software and under Master Clock, selecting "Internal Xtal." Also, under the Codec Sample Rate section you may uncheck "Rate Locked" if it is previously checked. This allows for more flexible sample rate playback. In order to verify proper S/PDIF Output routing, open the Patchbay/Router page of the control panel software. In the "H/W Out SP/ANA" column, select the radio button named "WavOut SP/ANA.
1. Plug the guitar into the channel-1 Line input of the pre-amp. Plug the microphone into the channel-2 Mic input. 2. Plug the outputs 1 & 2 of the pre-amp into the Delta R-BUS’s analog inputs. Use a high quality shielded cable with a 1/4” phone plug on one end, and a male RCA plug on the other. You’ll need to open the Delta Control Panel (when your computer is powered up) to the Hardware Settings page. Select “Analog” as the input (deselecting “S/PDIF”) to activate the Delta R-BUS’s analog inputs. 3.
5. Open the Delta Control Panel by double clicking the icon in your Windows Control Panel (or, on the Mac, wherever you’ve placed your control panel), and then click on the ‘Hardware Settings’ tab. 6. Select ‘Internal Xtal’ as the master clock source. This allows the Delta R-BUS to derive its sample rates from its internal clock oscillator. ‘Internal Xtal’ is the default setting for the Delta Control Panel, so selecting it may not be necessary (it may already be selected). 7.
Now click on the Delta Control Panel’s "Patchbay/Router" tab. In the very last column of the Patchbay/Router page, click the radio button "Monitor Mixer" to connect the monitor mixer’s stereo output directly to Delta analog outputs. Now, everything that we hear at the analog outputs will reflect our settings in the Monitor Mixer page. Select the "Monitor Mixer" tab of the Delta Control Panel.
9. In the Mixer Input column labeled "WavOut SP/ANA," click on each fader handle and drag it up to the 0dB setting. Also, deactivate (uncheck) each WavOut SP/ANA mute box to unmute the channels. This will allow us, once we’ve recorded into a music software program, to hear those software outputs upon playback. 10. Using the scroll bar at the bottom of the control panel, scroll to the right until you see the column labeled "H/W In SP/ANA.
Track one is now set up to record the guitar, and track two the microphone. If your software requires this, set the software’s clock source to ‘Audio.’ 16. Press record on your software’s transport bar. Record a take of your guitar and vocals. Understand that while recording, you are monitoring the Delta inputs by way of the Monitor Mixer settings for H/W In SP/ANA, and according to the selection of ‘Monitor Mixer’ within the Patchbay/Router page.
We’re set up to do so and there’s no reason to change these inputs. Let’s set ourselves up to overdub these next two tracks. We will record the next two tracks of material to tracks 3 & 4 of the music software: 19. Back in your music program, set the ‘source’ or ‘input port’ to "Left PCM In SP/ANA Delta-R-BUS" on track three, and "Right PCM In SP/ANA Delta-R-BUS" on track four. Arm the tracks for recording. Track three is now set up to record the guitar, and track four the microphone.
developing. As we add more tracks within our music software, we set them to the next pair of Delta software outputs (1/2, then 3/4…), and bring up the faders of those software inputs in the monitor mixer (WavOut 1/2, WavOut 3/4…). We continually monitor from the Delta analog outs, via the ‘Mon. Mixer’ setting as the monitor ‘source’ in the Patchbay/Router page, and adjusting our mix of the software outputs (and the way we monitor our guitar and vocal at the inputs) via the Monitor Mixer settings.
installed, see the "Verifying Windows Driver Installation" section of this manual. If a yellow exclamation point does appear over your Delta R-BUS icon, you may have a resource conflict. There are several ways to approach this problem. NOTE: When resolving conflicts between PnP and non-PnP devices, it is recommended to re-adjust the resource settings of the non-PnP device first.
Sometimes it is possible that a resource problem is not showing up in the conflicting resource list or as a yellow exclamation point in the Device Manager. If you have any doubt about the configuration of your device (or just want to double-check), you can view all of the devices and their assigned resources by highlighting "Computer" at the top of the Device Manager list and clicking the Properties button.
IRQ for each PCI slot on the motherboard. This may be very handy in resolving IRQ assignments for PCI devices. Also, sometimes a BIOS is configured to direct a particular IRQ to an ISA legacy device (non-PnP ISA card), and needs to be told to look for a PCI/ISA PnP device (some systems default to this, especially with IRQs 3 and 4). Consult your computer or motherboard manual for advice on how to do this.
Troubleshooting Tips for Frequently Asked Questions Problem: No Sound. Possible Cause 1: The Delta R-BUS hardware or software device drivers are not properly installed. See the installation sections of this manual for further information. Possible Cause 2: There is a resource conflict between the Delta R-BUS and another device in your computer. Check the Delta R-BUS configuration (Address, IRQ) against those of the other installed devices.
input distortion. Make sure you have the proper signal levels set on the inputs to the Delta R-BUS. If you find that you are still clipping, you will need to turn down the audio at the source. Possible Cause 2: If you are recording from the S/PDIF input, but you have the Delta R-BUS’s master clock set to something other than the S/PDIF input, you are recording an out-of-sync S/PDIF stream. This can result in lost or bogus samples being recorded.
Appendix A - Technical Specs Analog Audio Peak Analog Signal: +2dBV(consumer setting), -2dBV(-10 setting). THD: less than 0.002% @ 0dBFS Freq. Response: 22Hz-44kHz, -0.4,-0.4dB (96kHz sample rate) Dynamic Range (a-weighted): D/A 104.0dB, A/D 100.4dB Input Impedance: 10k ohms minimum. Connectors: Gold-plated RCA female, on break-out cable. Digital Audio R-BUS Sample Rate: 8kHz to 48kHz R-BUS I/O Format: 8x8 simultaneous (parallel) input and output. R-BUS Connector: DB25 female on PCI board.
Limited Lifetime Warranty MIDIMAN warrants that this product is free of defects in materials and workmanship under normal use so long as the product is: owned by the original purchaser; the original purchaser has proof of purchase from an authorized MIDIMAN dealer; and the purchaser has registered his/her ownership of the product by sending in the completed warranty card. This warranty explicitly excludes power supplies and included cables which may become defective as a result of normal wear and tear.
