RME HDSP 9632 User's Manual

[Page 1] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall ® DSP System HDSP 9632 PCI Busmaster Digital I/O Card 2 + 8 + 2 Channels SPDIF / ADAT / Analog Interface 24 Bit / 192 kHz Digital Audio MIDI I/O Tota...

[Page 2] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 2 Contents 1 Introduction............................................................ 4 2 Package Contents .................................................. 4 3 System Requirements...........

[Page 3] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 3 16 The Matrix 16.1 Elements of the Surface.................................... 33 16.2 Usage................................................................ 33 16.3 Advantages of the M...

[Page 4] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 4 1. Introduction Thank you for choosing the Hammerfall DSP. This unique audio system is capable of transferring digital audio data directly to a computer from practically any device equippe...

[Page 5] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 5 5. Technical Specifications 5.1 Analog AD – Line In • Resolution AD: 24 Bit • Signal to Noise ratio (SNR): 109 dB RMS unweighted, 111 dBA @ 44.1 kHz • THD @ -3 dBFS: -101 dB, ...

[Page 6] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 6 5.2 Digital • Clocks: Internal, ADAT In, SPDIF In, optional Word Clock In • Low jitter design: < 1 ns in PLL mode, all inputs • Internal clock: 800 ps jitter, random spread spect...

[Page 7] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 7 6. Hardware Installation Before installing the PCI card, please make sure the computer is switched off and the power cable is disconnected from the mains supply. Inserting or removing a PC...

[Page 8] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 8 7.3 Flash Update The Flash Update Tool updates the HDSP 9632's hardware to the latest version. It requires an already installed driver. Start the program fut_xxx_xxx.exe. The Flash...

[Page 9] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 9 8. Operation and Usage 8.1 External Connections HDSP 9632 consists of the main PCI board and optional Expansion Boards. The main board's bracket has one ADAT optical input, a ...

[Page 10] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 10 8.2 Internal Connections CD / AEB / SYNC IN This internal digital input can be used with both SPDIF and ADAT. SPDIF: • Connection to an internal CD-ROM drive with digital audio outp...

[Page 11] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 11 8.3 Playback The HDSP system can play back audio data in supported formats only (sample rate, bit resolution). Otherwise an error message appears (for example at 22 kHz and 8 bit). In...

[Page 12] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 12 8.4 DVD-Playback (AC-3 / DTS / Multichannel) under MME AC-3 / DTS When using popular DVD software player like WinDVD and PowerDVD, their audio data stream can be sent to any AC-3/DTS cap...

[Page 13] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 13 8.5 Low Latency under MME (Buffer Size Adjustment) Using Windows 95 or 98 the MME buffer size was nothing to worry about. Latencies below 46 ms were not possible. Meanwhile both computers...

[Page 14] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 14 8.7 Digital Recording Unlike analog soundcards which produce empty wave files (or noise) when no input signal is present, digital I/O cards always need a valid input signal to start recor...

[Page 15] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 15 8.8 Recording analog For recordings via the analog inputs the corresponding record device has to be chosen (HDSP Analog (x+x)). The desired sample rate has to be set within the recording ...

[Page 16] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 16 8.10 Analog Outputs The short circuit protected, low impedance line outputs are available as unbalanced outputs via a phono breakout cable. The optional analog XLR breakout cable provides...

[Page 17] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 17 9. Configuring the HDSP 9632 9.1 General Information Configuring the HDSP 9632 is done via its own settings dialog. The panel 'Settings' can be opened: • by clicking on ...

[Page 18] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 18 MME Check Input verifies the current input signal against the settings in the record program. When de-activated a recording will always be allowed, even with non-valid input signals. TMS...

[Page 19] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 19 9.2 Clock Modes - Synchronization In the digital world, all devices are either the ‘Master’ (clock source) or a ‘Slave’ synchronized to the master. Whenever several devices are li...

[Page 20] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 20 If several digital devices are to be used simultaneously in a system, they not only have to operate with the same sample frequency but also be synchronous with each other. This is why digit...

[Page 21] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 21 The end of these problems should have been the so called Superclock, which uses 256 times the word clock frequency. This equals the internal quartz frequency, so no PLL for multiplying is n...

[Page 22] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 22 10.3 General Operation The green ‘Lock’ LED at the Expansion Board will light up when the input detects a valid word clock signal. Selecting ‘Word Clock’ in the ‘Clock Mode’ f...

[Page 23] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 23 13. Operation under ASIO 2.0 13.1 General We will use Steinberg’s Cubase VST as an example throughout this chapter. All information provided can easily be adaptated to other programs...

[Page 24] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 24 14. Operation under GSIF (Gigasampler Interface) Windows 2000/XP The GSIF interface of the Hammerfall DSP allows direct operation with Gigastudio, with up to 16 channels, 96kHz and 24b...

[Page 25] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 25 15. TotalMix: Routing and Monitoring The Hammerfall DSP system includes a powerful digital real-time mixer. RME’s unique TotalMix technology allows for nearly unlimited mixing and routi...

[Page 26] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 26 15.1 Elements of the Surface The visible design of the TotalMix mixer is mainly determined by the architecture of the HDSP system: • Upper row: hardware inputs. The level shown is t...

[Page 27] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 27 15.2 Tour de TotalMix In the following chapters we will explain all functions of the mixer surface step by step. Starting up TotalMix, the last settings are recalled automatically. When e...

[Page 28] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 28 15.3 Submix View Such a wide range of possibilities make it difficult to maintain the overview. Because practically all hardware outputs can be used for different submixes, as shown (up t...

[Page 29] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 29 Using the hotkeys I, O and P the complete row each of Input, Playback and Output channels can be toggled between visible and invisible. Hotkey S switches Submix view on/off. Those four hotk...

[Page 30] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 30 15.7 Presets TotalMix includes 8 factory presets, stored within the program. But the presets can be changed at any time, because TotalMix stores and reads the changed presets from the fil...

[Page 31] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 31 15.8 Monitor The Monitor section of the Quick Access Panel is only valid for our Windows MME driver, i.e. when using programs like WaveLab, Soundforge, Sonar or Samplitude. Monitor of...

[Page 32] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 32 15.10 Level Meter Having set a new standard with the level meters of DIGICheck, Hammerfall DSP goes even further: The calculation of the Peak, RMS and Over is realized in hardware, in or...

[Page 33] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 33 16. The Matrix The mixer window of TotalMix looks and operates similar to mixing desks, as it is based on a conventional stereo design. The matrix display presents a different method of a...

[Page 34] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 34 16.3 Advantages of the Matrix The Matrix not always replaces the mixer view, but it significantly enhances the routing capabilities and - more important - is a brilliant way to get a fast...

[Page 35] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 35 17.2 Selection and Group-based Operation Click on the white name label of channel 1 and 2 in TotalMix. Be sure to have channel 3's fader set to a different position and click on its...

[Page 36] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 36 18. SteadyClock The Hammerfall DSP 9632's SteadyClock technology guarantees an excellent performance in all clock modes. Its highly efficient jitter suppression refreshes and cleans ...

[Page 37] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 37 Crackle during record or playback: • Increase the number and size of buffers in the ‘Settings’ dialog or in the application. • Try different cables (coaxial or optical) to rule ...

[Page 38] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 38 20. HDSP Software 20.1 DIGICheck 4.0 The DIGICheck software is a unique utility developed for testing, measuring and analysing digital audio streams. Although the DIGICheck software is...

[Page 39] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 39 21. Accessories RME offers several optional components. Additionally parts of the HDSP 9632, like the special breakout cables, are available separately. Part Number Description OK0...

[Page 40] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 40 23. Warranty Each individual Hammerfall DSP undergoes comprehensive quality control and a complete test in a PC environment at RME before shipping. This may cause very slight signs of wea...

[Page 41] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 41 25. Diagrams 25.1 Block Diagram HDSP 9632 ...

[Page 42] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 42 25.2 Channel Routing ASIO at 96 kHz This diagram shows the signal paths in ASIO double speed mode (88.2 / 96 kHz). The devices available under ASIO have been implemented so that they equa...

[Page 43] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 43 25.3 Channel Routing MME at 96 kHz This diagram shows the signal paths in MME double speed mode (88.2 / 96 kHz). The devices available via wave driver have been designed to avoid conflict...

[Page 44] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 44 25.4 Pin Assignment D-sub Connectors The 9-pin D-sub connector for the digital breakout cable is identical to the one used in the DIGI96 series (so the cable is identical too). Pin ass...

[Page 45] RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632

User’s Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME 45 26. CE and FCC Compliance Statements CE This device has been tested and found to comply with the EN55022 class B and EN50082-1 norms for digital devices, according to the European Co...