User Manual

BLACKBOX BBR64MADI & BBR64DANTE RECORDER - User Manual v3.0 Page | 31
Linking multiple BlackBox Recorders together
It is possible to link multiple BlackBox MADI or DANTE Recorders together to make
recordings with more than 64 channels, or to make redundant copies by duplicating
the signal path completely. Each BlackBox Recorder will still require its own USB2 disk
drive as only 64 channels of data will be recorded to each drive.
As stated earlier in this manual, ensuring that the units are synchronised with both
the clocking and starting sample of each recording being locked together is vital for
being able to replay the material later in a DAW environment. However, in a
BBR64MADI system it is vital that the audio data is properly recovered from the
incoming data stream. You will therefore want to use MADI or DANTE as your
reference clock.
The BBR will then use the S/PDIF link (labelled “Ext Clk” on the RCA sockets on the
rear panel) to pass control data and timecode information between the master unit
and the slave(s). The Master unit embeds this control data and timecode into the
sub-code of the SPDIF data stream. In this mode the digital audio clock signal
between units is ignored. The Slave units can either be daisy chained together from
the Master unit, or preferably be fed their clocking and control signals from a
distribution amplifier. You will need short RCA (phono) jumper cables to connect
each subsequent unit.
Using an AES/EBU Distribution Amplifier
Master Ext Clk Out feeds Distribution Amplifier input
Distribution Amplifier feeds Ext Clk In on all slave units
Daisy Chaining Units
Master Ext Clk Out feeds Slave1 Ext Clk In
Slave1 Ext Clk Out feeds Slave2 Ext Clk In
Slave2 Ext Clk Out feeds Slave3 Ext Clk In
Slave3 Ext Clk Out not used.
In the SETUP; CONTROL menu, select Link Mode. Select Master for the recorder you
want to act as the master controller (which will always record channels 1-64). The
Slave units should be set to Slave. When linking machines, you can easily exceed the
two digit track numbering scheme so the BBR64MADI and BBRDANTE systems
automatically adopt a three digit track number scheme when switched into master /