Installation guide

HDX Card Installation Guide22
Connecting Audio Interfaces
Each Avid HD audio interface provides several
different input and output options. For exam-
ple, HD OMNI supplies up to 8 channels of input
and output to your Pro Tools system, HD I/O
supplies up to 16 channels of input and output,
and HD MADI provides up to 64 channels. Au-
dio interfaces can be connected directly to HDX
cards, or through the Expansion ports on other
HD audio interfaces.
Each HDX card supports up to 64 channels of
audio input and output. To get a full 64 channels
of I/O, you can connect up to four 16-channel
HD I/O to an HDX card. Two of the interfaces
connect directly to DigiLink Mini Ports 1 and 2,
and the other 2 HD I/O connect to the Expansion
ports on first two HD I/O.
You can also get a full 64 channels of I/O with a
single HD MADI connected to an HDX card us-
ing 2 DigiLink Mini cables.
Refer to the HD OMNI Guide, HD I/O Guide, or
HD MADI Guide for specific details regarding:
• Front and back panel connectors and indi-
cators
• Installation of optional expansion I/O cards
(HD I/O only)
To connect HD audio interfaces:
1 Do one or more of the following depending on
the audio interface you are connecting:
• If you are using a single HD OMNI or
HD I/O, connect its Primary Port to Di-
giLink Mini Port 1 on the first HDX card in
your system using the provided DigiLink
Mini cable.
• If you are connecting an additional HD au-
dio interface (such as HD I/O), you can
connect its Primary Port to DigiLink Mini
Port 2 on the first HDX card in your system
using the provided DigiLink Mini cable.
• If you are connecting HD MADI to your sys-
tem, connect HD MADI Primary Port 1 to
DigiLink Mini Port 1 on the HDX card using
a DigiLink Mini cable (included). For the
full 64 channels of I/O possible with HD
MADI, connect HD MADI Primary Port 2 to
DigiLink Mini Port 2 on the HDX card using
a DigiLink Mini cable (included).
2 Connect additional HD audio interfaces to
subsequent HDX cards, or daisy-chain the inter-
faces (by connecting the Primary Port of the sec-
ondary interface to the Expansion Port of the
primary interface).
You can also connect up to two HD interfaces di-
rectly to each HDX card in your system using the
provided DigiLink Mini cables. (Note that there
is no advantage or disadvantage to this configu-
ration over daisy-chaining interfaces.)
In an expanded system, you should connect au-
dio interfaces only to the first 4 HDX cards in
your system.
At least one HD audio interface must be
connected to the first port on the first HDX
card in your system.
Pro Tools HD supports only one HD OMNI
per system. If you are connecting HD OMNI
to your system, it is generally recommended
that you connect it directly to the first port
on the first HDX card in your system.
Connecting the DigiLink Mini ports of the
HD MADI to separate HDX cards is not sup-
ported.