M-WAVES AUDIO INTERFACE 1 1 ALLEN & HEATH M-WAVES CARD USER GUIDE
M-WAVES AUDIO INTERFACE Table of Contents Introduction 3 1. Hardware and Connectors 7 2. Installation and Configuration Overview 8 2.1 Installing the M-Waves Card 8 2.2 Configuring the M-Waves in MultiRack SoundGrid 9 2.3 Configuring the M-Waves in SoundGrid Studio 10 2.3.1 Setting Up SoundGrid Studio 10 2.3.2 Firmware Status and Updates 14 3. M-Waves Control Panel (V2 only) 15 3.1 Clock Page 15 3.2 About Page 16 3.3 System Info Page 17 3.4 Saving, Loading and Identifying 17 4.
M-WAVES AUDIO INTERFACE INTRODUCTION Thank you for choosing an Allen & Heath M-Waves Card for SoundGrid systems. In order to get the most out of your M-Waves product, please take some time to read this user guide. We also suggest that you become familiar with the Waves support site (www.wavesupport.net), where you will find an extensive answer base, the latest tech specs, detailed installation guides, software updates, and current information about licensing and registration.
M-WAVES AUDIO INTERFACE ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ edundancy and recovery options R Built-in 3-port Gigabit switch for direct connection to multiple devices ASIO/Core Audio drivers for recording and playback Works with MultiRack SoundGrid software for setup and control Networks with consoles installed with M-Waves V1 Typical Uses The M-Waves card can be used in both SoundGrid and Native configurations, as follows: SoundGrid: In a SoundGrid configuration, the M-Waves card is used in order to connect to a SoundGrid netw
M-WAVES AUDIO INTERFACE Native: In a Native configuration, the M-Waves card is used in order to connect a console to the SoundGrid ASIO/Core Audio driver for plugin processing and/or DAW playback/recording. Since the Native configuration utilizes the computer’s CPU to power the plugin processing, plugin count and overall system latency depend on the computer’s CPU and sound driver capabilities. Please note: A SoundGrid DSP server is not required for Native processing.
M-WAVES AUDIO INTERFACE 6 Native/SoundGrid Comparison Table Features Native SoundGrid ■ Low Latency Processing ■ ■ Recording ■ ■ ■ Simultaneous Recording and Processing CPU Load Your DAW computer's CPU Dedicated SoundGrid DSP server Backup DSP Server ■ Networking ■ I/O M-Waves M-Waves Plugin Host Software MultiRack Native MultiRack SoundGrid Plugin Licenses Native SoundGrid
M-WAVES AUDIO INTERFACE 1. HARDWARE AND CONNECTORS Network Ports Network Activity Led Gigabyte Connection Indicator SoundGrid Ports 1-3 (Ethernet) connect the SoundGrid Network. Status LED: SoundGrid Ports 2 and 3 have a network activity led only. Only SoundGrid Port 1 has a Gigabyte connection indicator.
M-WAVES AUDIO INTERFACE 2. INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION OVERVIEW The ASIO/Core Audio drivers and control panel for the Allen & Heath M-Waves are installed using the Allen & Heath M-Waves installer, which also installs the SoundGrid driver and the SoundGrid Studio Application required for DAW recording and playback. Allen & Heath M-Waves downloads page: http://www.waves.com/downloads/allen-heath 2.1 Installing the M-Waves Card 1. Turn your console OFF. 2.
M-WAVES AUDIO INTERFACE 2.2 Configuring the M-Waves in MultiRack SoundGrid Access the M-Waves control panel via the Inventory window in the MultiRack SoundGrid application. 1. Launch the MultiRack SoundGrid application. 2. Enter the Preferences window by typing Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+ (Mac), or from the appropriate application menus. 3. Under Local LAN Port, choose the adapter connected to the SoundGrid network and the M-Waves card. Network adapters are displayed as MAC addresses and port names. 4.
M-WAVES AUDIO INTERFACE 2.3 Configuring the M-Waves in SoundGrid Studio This is a quick overview of what you need to know about SoundGrid Studio software to get your network up to speed. There’s enough here to configure a simple network, assess network status, and set up your I/O devices. For more complex configurations, please refer to the SoundGrid and SoundGrid Studio user guides. 2.3.
M-WAVES AUDIO INTERFACE When SoundGrid Studio opens you will see the System Inventory page. The first time you launch SoundGrid Studio, the Wizard will open. This is a tool that scans the network, inventories its assets, and then configures the relevant devices. If the Wizard does not start automatically, click the SCAN button, which is located next to the Network Port window. Once it scans the system, the Wizard will offer to configure the SoundGrid network. Choose NEXT to start automatic configuration.
M-WAVES AUDIO INTERFACE If the Wizard cannot locate the requested SoundGrid network devices, this means you may have chosen an incorrect network port on your computer. Check the physical connections and then click SCAN. When configuration is complete, close the window. If there is still a problem, you can configure your system manually. Use the System Inventory page to assign devices, control the network, and manage clock.
M-WAVES AUDIO INTERFACE 13 To add another SoundGrid device, click on the arrow in an empty rack slot. From the list of available devices, choose the one that you want to add—in this case, a second M-Waves card. In this image, M-Waves V2-1 is grayed out (and therefore unavailable) since it is already claimed. The new device is visible in the rack slot. Unless changed by the user, it remains the clock slave and is colored green.
M-WAVES AUDIO INTERFACE 2.3.2 Firmware Status and Updates On the left of the device icon are two buttons: FW indicates the status of the device’s firmware. The user is given the choice to update it. Status indications are color-coded: Grey Compatible firmware Blue Compatible firmware, but a newer version exists Red Firmware not compatible and must be updated in order to use Click on the FW button to launch the Reflasher. This will initiate a scan of the hardware and then offer options.
M-WAVES AUDIO INTERFACE 3. M-WAVES CONTROL PANEL (V2 ONLY) If you are working with MultiRack SoundGrid, access the M-Waves V2 Control Panel via the Inventory window. If you are using SoundGrid Studio, click on the Gear symbol in the device slot to open the M-Waves V2 Control Panel. 3.1 Clock Page When you launch the M-Waves V2 control panel, it will load the Clock tab. The following settings are available in the Clock Settings window. SOURCE sets the clock source.
M-WAVES AUDIO INTERFACE 16 STATUS displays synchronization status (Sync or No Sync). CURRENT CLOCK SOURCE IS displays the current sync method. SOE displays Sync-over-Ethernet status (On or Off ). LOAD and SAVE (at the top left corner of the control panel window) allow you to save and load your M-Waves V2 settings. 3.2 About Page The About page displays an overview of the device’s specifications.
M-WAVES AUDIO INTERFACE 3.3 System Info Page The System Info page displays the device’s connection status, manufacturer, model, MAC and SoE Master MAC addresses, and firmware version. 3.4 Saving, Loading and Identifying LOAD and SAVE (at the top left corner of the Control Panel window) allow you to save and load your M-Waves settings. IDENTIFY (at the top right corner of the Control Panel window) allows you to identify connected devices if multiple M-Waves s are being used.
M-WAVES AUDIO INTERFACE 4. WORKING WITH TWO M-WAVES CARDS You can use M-Waves V1 and V2 Cards in the same setup. The only limitation is that a first-generation M-Waves card, an M-Waves V1, cannot be an Ethernet clock (SoE) slave. It must provide clock sync to a second-generation card, an M-waves V2. Setting up the clock master for the network is done in either MultiRack SoundGrid or SoundGrid Studio applications.
M-WAVES AUDIO INTERFACE 2. If you want the iLive system to get its source from Port B: (a) On the iLive system, set Audio Clock Source to Port B. (b) On the SoundGrid Inventory window, click on the Settings for the M-Waves V2 card assigned to 1, and set it to Internal. (c) Click on the Settings for the M-Waves V2 card assigned to 2. It will be set automatically as Slave and the source will automatically be synced over Ethernet.
