Connections
Network Ports
The slot bracket features two RJ45 connectors labeled PRI and SEC. The supported link speeds are 1 Gb/s and 100 Mb/s.
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A yellow LED (left, LINK) signals a successful link.
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A green LED (right, ACT) signals network traffic (blinking).
Both straight and crossover cables can be used (Auto MDI-X). Cable lengths of up to 100m are supported when using Cat 5e or higher classification.
The network ports are used to send and receive up to 512 audio channels when connected to a Dante® network.
| At the time of writing, this card does not pass network traffic from its Ethernet ports via PCIe to the computer. To control the Dante® connections and individual devices on the network, it is therefore necessary to add an additional network adapter to the host computer and connect it to the Dante® network using a switch (or, in case the internal ports are in switch configuration, to one of its network ports). |
Combine ethernet ports (Switched mode)
The two ethernet ports can be configured with the Dante Controller in Device View > Network Config > Dante Redundancy. If both ports are connected to the same network, for example to create a daisy-chain of several HDSPe AoX-D devices, then the setting must be changed to Switched. In the default mode, the device is configured so that each port connects to one of two separate networks (Redundancy).
If the unit has been configured to connect the primary and secondary port internally (switched mode), devices attached to the two ports can communicate both with each other and with the HDSPe AoX-D.
Line - Headphones
The HDSPe AoX-D offers a hi-quality analog monitor output. The short circuit protected stereo line output provides high output level, low impedance, and is available via a 6.3 mm (1/4") TRS jack. Therefore it is also suitable for a direct use with headphones.
The analog output receives its signal from any of the host computers 512 software playback channels or any TotalMix submix. The channel can be selected in the Settings Dialog.
The analog output does not include speaker protection. When switching the computer on and off, noise may occur at the analog outputs.
In case the output should operate as line out, an adapter TRS plug to RCA phono plugs, or TRS plug to TS plugs is required.
The pin assignment follows international standards. The left channel is connected to the tip, the right channel to the ring of the TRS jack/plug.
AES/EBU
The XLR AES/EBU input and output are transformer-balanced and ground-free. The incoming channel status is ignored. Connection is accomplished using balanced cables with XLR plugs.
AES/EBU (and SPDIF) can contain Emphasis information. Audio signals with Emphasis have a strong high frequency boost, requiring high frequency attenuation on playback.
| An Emphasis indication gets lost as there exists no standardized interface on computers to handle this information! |
Input
Thanks to a highly sensitive input stage, the SPDIF coaxial signal can also be received using a simple phono-to-XLR cable adapter. To accomplish this, pins 2 and 3 of a male XLR plug are each connected to the two pins of a phono (Cinch/RCA) plug. The cable shielding is connected only to pin 1 of the XLR plug and not to the phono plug.
Output
Using the cable adapter XLR/phono described above, devices with coaxial SPDIF interface can be connected to the AES output of the HDSPe AoX-D as well. Note that most consumer equipment with phono (SPDIF) inputs will only accept signals having a Channel Status 'Consumer' format. The Consumer status is activated in the Settings dialog. In Consumer mode the output voltage is reduced as well, as SPDIF calls for a lower voltage than AES/EBU.
The output signal coding of the HDSPe AoX-D has been implemented according to AES3-1992 Amendment 4:
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44.1 / 48 kHz, 88.2 / 96 kHz, 176.4 / 192 kHz depending on the current sample rate
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Audio use
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No Copyright, Copy permitted
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Format Professional or Consumer
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Category General, Generation not indicated
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2-Channel, No Emphasis
MIDI
The HDSPe AoX-D offers one MIDI I/O via 5-pin DIN connectors. The MIDI port is added to the system by the driver. Using MIDI capable software, the port can be accessed under the name MADI MIDI.
The MIDI port supports multi-client operation. A MIDI input signal can be received from several programs at the same time. Even the MIDI output can be used by multiple programs simultaneously. However, due to the limited bandwidth of MIDI, this kind of application will often show various problems.