High End 24-bit/192kHz Audio/MIDI Interface System Manual
ESI - Copyright © 2005-2008 Revision 3, June 2008 www.esi-audio.
MaXiO series System Manual INDEX 1. Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 5 1.1 About this manual .................................................................................................................. 5 1.2 Key Features........................................................................................................................... 6 1.2.1 MaXiO PCI/PCIe host card .................
MaXiO series System Manual 5.1 Pull Down Menu .................................................................................................................. 27 5.2 Input Section......................................................................................................................... 28 5.2.1 Input signal path block diagram...................................................................................... 30 5.3 Output Section...........................................................
MaXiO series System Manual 1. Introduction Thank you for choosing the ESI MaXiO. The MaXiO System Manual covers the MaXiO PCI host card, the PCIe version of it and all extensions such as the EX8000 rack unit and the MaXiO 032 breakout box. MaXiO is a complete 24-bit / 192 kHz recording system designed to handle up to 32 input channels and 32 output channels simultaneously.
MaXiO series System Manual 1.2 Key Features 1.2.1 MaXiO PCI/PCIe host card · · · · · · · · · · · · PCI or PCIe Interface card 24bit /192 kHz audio interface maximum 32 input and 32 output channels Full Duplex – simultaneous record / playback 4 E.D.I & 1 M.D.I connectors Coaxial digital I/O support up to 24-bit / 192 kHz (built on M.D.I breakout cable for MaXiO XD only) Word Clock I/O: Fs / 256*Fs, BNC connector (built on M.D.I breakout cable for MaXiO XD only) 1 in / 1 out, 16 channel MIDI (built on M.D.
MaXiO series · · · · · · · · · · System Manual Mic/Line/Hi-Z selection switch and gain control for each analog input channel 2 balanced analog outputs with XLR connectors (+4dBu) 2 balanced/unbalanced analog outputs with TRS connectors (-10dBV) Headphone amplifier with volume control 2 channel digital I/O in coaxial S/PDIF (RCA connectors) format, supports up to 24-bit / 192 kHz resolution/sample rate 32 channel ADAT optical digital I/O Supported sample rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.
MaXiO series System Manual 2.1.2 M.D.I connector The M.D.I connection can handle 32 digital input and 32 digital output streams for the extension of MaXiO 032 breakout box. * In the basic MaXiO XD system, the MaXiO PCI/PCIe card connects to the special M.D.I breakout cable (described below). 2.2 EX8000 2.2.
MaXiO series System Manual can be amplified with 48dB maximum, line level signals with up to 30dB. 4 Analog Input / Output Level Meter The two level meters indicate the signal level for the analog inputs and outputs. The level meter on the left shows the input signal; the level meter on the right shows the output signal of the corresponding channel. A range from 0dB to 60dB in 10 dB-steps is displayed. 2.2.
MaXiO series System Manual PCI/PCIe host card. 12 Clock Select Button 2 When EX8000 is working in stand alone mode, you can choose the sample rate with this button (44.1 ~ 192 kHz). This function is not available when EX8000 is connected to the MaXiO PCI/PCIe host card. 2.2.5 Back Panel Clock Section 21 Word Clock Input The Word Clock input allows you to synchronize EX8000 with other devices. When EX8000 is connected to a Word Clock source, EX8000 will synchronize to it. 2.2.
MaXiO series System Manual 2.2.7 Digital I/O (Back Panel) 17 E.D.I Connector E.D.I Connector IN: connection to MaXiO PCI/PCIe (with a standard IEEE1394 cable). E.D.I Connector THRU: this connector is reserved for future expansion. 18 ADAT Optical Input / Output EX8000 has 8 channel ADAT optical I/O connectors. You can connect EX8000 to devices such as digital mixers or ADAT multichannel recorders equipped with optical ADAT connectors. One ADAT cable transfers 8 channels with max. 48 kHz.
MaXiO series System Manual 2.3 M.D.I breakout cable (for MaXiO XD only, not included in MaXiO 032) 2.3.1 Word Clock I/O This connector allows you to synchronise the MaXiO PCI/PCIe host card via Word Clock (BNC) with other audio devices. You can synchronise other devices via the Word Clock output (FS / 256xFS) and you can also synchronise the MaXiO PCI/PCIe host card to other devices via the Word Clock input. This is controlled via the MaXiO XD Control Panel software. 2.3.
MaXiO series System Manual 2.4 MaXiO 032 breakout box 6-7 1-5 1. Front Channel Section MIDI indicator & Phontom power 8 9 MIDI I/O 11 8 x ADAT Digital I/O 12-13 Headphone S/PDIF & Word Clock 10 M.D.I connector 14 13 Analog outputs (XLR & 1/4“) 2.4.
MaXiO series 4 System Manual Input Gain Control Controls the amount gain applied to the input signal from the XLR or TRS connector of specific channel. Microphone signals can be amplified with 48dB maximum, line level signals with up to 30dB. 5 Analog Input Level Meter LEDs The meters indicate the signal level for the analog inputs. 2.4.2 MIDI signal LEDs & Phantom power 6 7 MIDI signal LEDs.
MaXiO series System Manual 2.4.4 Digital I/O 11 MaXiO 032 has 32 channel ADAT optical I/O connectors. You can connect MaXiO 032 to devices such as 4 ADAT compatible devices. One ADAT cable transfers 8 channels with max. 48 kHz. 11 12 12 13 Digital S/PDIF (RCA) Input / Output MaXiO 032 has stereo S/PDIF inputs and outputs (RCA) for coaxial digital connection.
MaXiO series System Manual 3. Hardware Installation 3.1 Installation of MaXiO PCI/PCIe host card The MaXiO PCI/PCIe host card and other components in your computer can easily be damaged by electrical shocks. You need to use an anti-static device that can discharge the static electricity of your body to avoid potential static damage to the cards. The MaXiO PCI/PCIe card is packaged in an anti static plastic pouch. Do not open the pouch until you’re ready to install the card. 1.
MaXiO series System Manual removing the PCI/PCIe slot faceplate Put the MaXiO PCI/PCIe host card into the slot and make sure it is placed in correctly. Insert the card into the slot and then tighten the screw. Then you can close the computer case. MaXiO PCI/PCIe host card installed in a PCI/PCIe slot 4. You can finish the installation of the PCI/PCIe host card by connecting the M.D.I breakout cable to the M.D.I port (if you use no other M.D.I compatible device like the MaXiO 032 breakout box). 3.
MaXiO series System Manual 3.3 MaXiO 032 connection After the MaXiO PCI/PCIe host card is installed in the PCI/PCIe slot, you should connect MaXiO 032 to the card using the supplied M.D.I cable. Start by connecting the MaXiO breakout box with the M.D.I In connector on MaXiO breakout box with the M.D.I port on the MaXiO PCI/PCIe host card as shown on the picture below. If you have EX8000 units too, connect it to the E.D.I port and so on.
MaXiO series System Manual 19
MaXiO series System Manual 4. Driver Installation After completing the hardware installation of your MaXiO, you need to install its driver. The installation steps in Windows 2000 and Windows XP vary, but they are similar between the different versions of Windows. The installation steps shown below are based on Windows XP installation. ! CAUTION Depending on your system, you may need your Windows installation CD. Because of the driver characteristic, the MaXiO driver installs several devices.
MaXiO series System Manual 3. During installation, you will be prompted with a message warning that the driver software has not passed Windows Logo testing. Select Continue Anyway and proceed with the installation. The driver is completely tested and verified by ESI, and safe to use. 4. The MaXiO EWDM Controller driver will be installed.
MaXiO series System Manual 5. Keep going to install follow the instructions on screen. Other devices (such as MaXiO EWDM Wave-1) are installed now after each other. Check the screen shots for reference.
MaXiO series System Manual 23
MaXiO series 24 System Manual
MaXiO series System Manual When the system asks you to restart the computer (which happens on some computers), just ignore the requests and continue to install. When all the necessary device drivers are installed and the system is not asking you to install any further drivers, restart the computer manually. 6. Now you can check if the installation was successful.
MaXiO series After you restart Windows, please confirm if the task bar. System Manual icon is visible in the system tray of the Then go to My computer -> Control panel -> System -> Device Manager. Check the devices under Sound, video and game controllers, if they are installed correctly.
MaXiO series System Manual 5. MaXiO Control Panel After you completed the hardware and driver installation for your MaXiO XD system, you need to learn about the MaXiO Control Panel. This control panel allows you to control your setup for MaXiO XD. icon on the After successfully installing the MaXiO XD hardware and driver, you can see the system tray of the task bar. Clicking on this icon will launch the MaXiO Control Panel. 5.
MaXiO series System Manual Config – Latency Here you can choose between different buffer sizes. There are 2 different sections: First buffer sizes from 128 samples (3 milliseconds with 44.1 kHz) to 2048 samples (48 milliseconds with 44.1 kHz). Secondly there are the ultra latency settings: buffer sizes from 96 Samples (2,5 milliseconds) to 32 Samples (0.75 milliseconds). A lower latency is achieved by selecting a smaller buffer size.
MaXiO series System Manual Port Selection The 32 input channels of the MaXiO XD system are grouped into 4 sections (ports) with 8 input channels each. For each group of 8 channels (each port), you can select either the corresponding E.D.I input (1 to 4) or the signals from the M.D.I connector by clicking on the IN PORTx label. When you change the selection of a port, the same change will be made for the output channels. When a port is set to M.D.
MaXiO series System Manual Please note that when you select the analog or S/PDIF input channels, the input signals from that specific channel pair from the E.D.I or M.D.I multichannel ports are no longer used. Please keep in mind that the M.D.I analog and S/PDIF input selection buttons should not be used if you do not want to use the S/PDIF or analog input signals from the device or cable connected to the M.D.I port – use them only when you are using the M.D.
MaXiO series System Manual 5.3 Output Section Port Selection Master Output Select E.D.I Device Detection Master Fader Output Level Meter MME Channel Mapper M.D.I Analog Output M.D.I S/PDIF Output Output Monitor Buttons Master to Analog & S/PDIF Button The right section of the control panel windows shows the status and the control features for the output channels. The layout is very similar to the input section (described in the previous section).
MaXiO series System Manual the MaXiO 032 breakout box provides two analog output channels and a digital S/PDIF output. The M.D.I breakout cable that is supplied with the basic MaXiO XD system provides a digital S/PDIF output but no analog output channels. One channel pair each can be assigned to these analog outputs and to that S/PDIF output. The button assigns the specific channel pair to the analog output channels, the button assigns the the channel pair to the S/PDIF output.
MaXiO series System Manual : Monitoring enabled, signal will be mixed to mono With the circle on the right, you can disable/enable monitoring for all input (or playback) channels simultaneously. 5.3.2 Master & Output signal path block diagram E.D.I Connector #2 E.D.I Connector #1 E.D.I 1 E.D.I 2 OUT PORT1 1/2 ` 3/4 5/6 7/8 OUT PORT2 8 ch. audio stream same structure as port 1 M.D.I Connector M.D.I [1/4] Master Output Ch. selection (CH1/2) M.D.I [2/4] X X M.D.I [3/4] M.D.
MaXiO series System Manual 5.4.1 MaXiO State This panel shows you the -currently active- most important settings of the MaXiO PCI/PCIe host card. 5.4.2 System Clock Internal: selects the internal clock generator on the MaXiO PCI/PCIe host card to provide the system clock for the complete MaXiO XD system. You need to use this setting when MaXiO is used alone or if all other digital devices connected to the MaXiO XD system are configured as clock slave.
MaXiO series System Manual the device connected to the Word Clock input is configured as clock master. You can choose between FS (Word Clock) or 256FS (Super Clock) settings. 5.4.3 I/O Config Analog: This where you adjust the analog output level of the analog output channel of the MaXiO PCI/PCIe host card. This analog output is only available when you have connected a device to the M.D.I port with analog outputs (such as the MaXiO 032 breakout box).
MaXiO series System Manual Word: this setting allows you to define if you want to send out a standard Word Clock (FS) or a Super Clock (256FS) signal via the Word Clock output of the M.D.I connection, e.g. the M.D.I breakout cable. CH. Limit: The CH. Limit setting allows you to limit the maximum number of channels that are transferred via the PCI/PCIe bus. If you select 32Ch, all 32 input and 32 output channels are active at the same time.
MaXiO series System Manual 5.5 The EX8000 control panel Each EX8000 connected to the MaXiO PCI/PCIe host card has its own control panel windows that you can access by double clicking on its name in the MaXiO Control Panel. Clock Setting: Defines the system clock of the specific EX8000 unit. Internal: Use the internal clock inside EX8000. EDI: Use the clock from the MaXiO PCI/PCIe host card (recommended default). DIGITAL 1~4: Use the clock from the digital inputs of EX8000.
MaXiO series System Manual ETC Setting ADAT S/MUX Mode: - Normal (44 kHz ,48 kHz – 8 channels) - SMUX 1 (96 kHz – 4 channels) - SMUX 2 (192 kHz – 2 channels) LED Display: - Mode 1 (shows a continuous graphical representation of the level) - Mode 2 (continuous display with level meter peak hold) - Mode 3 (shows a dot representation of the level) - Mode 4 (the level meter will hold the maximum level that was reached) Routing Table: This is where you can route input ports and output ports of EX8000.
MaXiO series System Manual Digital Audio Input Port Select: This is where you can switch between the coaxial S/PDIF digital input and the XLR AES/EBU digital input for each of the 4 digital inputs available in each format. PLL status: Shows if an S/PDIF (or AES/EBU) connection is made. If Lock is displayed, an S/PDIF (or AES/EBU) signal is detected at the specific input. If Unlock is displayed, no signal is detected. Format: - Professional (IEC 958 Type 1): EX8000 digital in/out format is AES/EBU.
MaXiO series System Manual 6. Applications Setup This chapter contains basic configuration examples for some popular software applications. Please also refer to the manual of the audio software you use for detailed information. 6.1 Windows Multimedia setup The Windows Multimedia setup is required if you want to use your MaXiO system as the main sound device for Windows multimedia applications. Go to My computer-> Control panel -> Sounds and Audio Device Properties -> Audio.
MaXiO series System Manual 6.2 Cubase and Nuendo After launching Cubase or Nuendo, go to Device -> Device Setup -> VST Multitrack. Select ASIO 2.0 –MaXiO as ASIO device. Then go to Default MIDI Ports and select MaXiO MIDI. Note: clicking the ASIO Control Panel button will not do anything here. Make sure you click the Apply button after changing the settings.
MaXiO series System Manual 6.3 Cakewalk SONAR There are few steps to configure SONAR, which supports either WDM or ASIO drivers. After launching SONAR, go to Options > Audio. If you prefer the WDM/KS mode, change the settings as shown in the following picture: Note that the input and output drivers have to match each other. Restart SONAR after the settings have changed. If you prefer the ASIO mode (which is supported in SONAR 2.
MaXiO series System Manual Then change all the settings as shown on the following picture: · Note: enabling SONAR’s software input monitoring may introduce feedback loops. You MUST disable / mute MaXiO input monitoring before using SONAR’s software input monitoring.
MaXiO series System Manual 6.4 Wavelab After launching Wavelab, go to Options -> Preference -> Audio Card. Select either MME-WDM MaXiO Stereo Wave(SPDIF/PCM) or ASIO 2.0 –MaXiO.
MaXiO series System Manual 6.5 Tracktion The MaXiO XD system comes bundled with the full version of Tracktion – a professional recording and MIDI production software by Mackie / Raw Material Software. After launching Tracktion, select Settings then go to the audio devices tab. Choose ASIO 2.0 - MaXiO as playback and record device as shown below.
MaXiO series System Manual 7. DirectWIRE 3.0 7.1 What is DirectWIRE? DirectWIRE is a 100% purely digital wire! DirectWIRE is a driver technology, developed by ESI, which can be used for routing audio streams internally within applications using EWDM Audio MIDI Drivers. With the DirectWIRE router, an application can record from other application’s audio outputs without external wiring or any loss of data when they are running at the same time.
MaXiO series System Manual The number on the row represents the input or output port. The columns represent ins and outs (on and off) of the respected drivers. Patch the virtual cables from one point to another as you drag the mouse. INPUT section is a new feature of DirectWIRE 3.0. It is used to route signals from MaXiO's hardware inputs. MME section represents general application's I/O: Ex.) WinAmp, WaveLab (non ASIO mode), Cakewalk, Audition, Vegas, etc.
MaXiO series Example 2. Recording from WinAmp(MME) to SONAR(WDM): Example 3. Recording from WinAmp(MME) to Cubase, Logic, Nuendo(ASIO): Example 4.
MaXiO series System Manual Example 5. Recording from GigaStudio(GSIF) to Cubase(ASIO): Example 6. Let's say you want to quickly dub some vocal over an audio track. It's very simple with DirectWIRE 3.
MaXiO series System Manual 8. Technical Specifications MaXiO PCI host card y General PCI Interface Audio System Clock Support 32bit, PCI Bus-Mastering support PCI slot compatibility – designed to suit +3.3V and/or +5V PCI slot Total 32-in / 32-out, 24bit, audio interface Full Duplex - Simultaneous Record / Playback Internal (44.1, 48.0, 88.2, 96.0, 176.4, 192.0 kHz), Word clock, Digital In, E.D.
MaXiO series System Manual EX8000 y General Type 19" rack mounted, digital audio interface Audio Total 8-in / 8-out, 24bit, audio interface System Clock Support Internal (44.1, 48.0, 88.2, 96.0, 176.4, 192.0 kHz), Word Clock, Digital In, E.D.I WORD Clock IN FS / 256*FS, BNC Connector Power AC IN 100V ~ 240V, 50Hz ~ 60Hz, 30W Weight 3.5kg Dimensions 482(mm) x 180(mm) x 86(mm) y Analog Inputs Type Balanced 1/4” TRS (Balanced XLR ) Input Level +4dBu Nominal (@-16.2dBFS) , +20.
MaXiO series System Manual MaXiO 032 breakout box y General Type Half rack type, M.D.I Based Digital audio interface Audio Total 32-in / 32-out, 24bit, audio interface System Clock Support Internal (44.1, 48.0, 88.2, 96.0, 176.4, 192.0 kHz), Word Clock, Digital In, E.D.I MIDI I/O 1-in / 1-out 16 MIDI channel , Standard MIDI 5-pin DIN WORD Clock I/O FS / 256*FS, BNC Connector Power M.D.I Cable Power y Analog Inputs Type Balanced 1/4” TRS (Balanced XLR ) Input Level +4dBu Nominal (@-16.
MaXiO series System Manual 9. General Information Trademarks ESI, and MaXiO are trademarks of Ego Systems Inc. and ESI Audiotechnik GmbH. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Other product and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. The FCC and CE Regulation Warning This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
