Expanded Systems Guide Version 6.7 for HD Systems on Windows or Macintosh Digidesign 2001 Junipero Serra Boulevard Daly City, CA 94014-3886 USA tel: 650·731·6300 fax: 650·731·6399 Technical Support (USA) 650·731·6100 650·856·4275 Product Information (USA) 650·731·6102 800·333·2137 International Offices Visit the Digidesign Web site for contact information Web Site www.digidesign.
Copyright This guide is copyrighted ©2004 by Digidesign, a division of Avid Technology, Inc. (hereafter “Digidesign”), with all rights reserved. Under copyright laws, this guide may not be duplicated in whole or in part without the written consent of Digidesign. DIGIDESIGN, AVID and PRO TOOLS are trademarks or registered trademarks of Digidesign and/or Avid Technology, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
contents Chapter 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Pro Tools Expanded Systems Without an Expansion Chassis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Pro Tools with an Expansion Chassis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Compatibility Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
iv Expanded Systems Guide
chapter 1 Introduction You can expand your Pro Tools TDM system by adding Pro Tools TDM cards to your computer, either directly in the computer or using an expansion chassis. Expanding your Pro Tools system will provide an increased track count, add to the amount of possible plug-in and mixer processing, and let you connect additional audio interfaces. For Pro Tools|24 MIX systems, refer to the previous version of this guide, published with Pro Tools 6.1 software.
13-slot expansion chassis support up to seven Pro Tools|HD-series cards. See Chapter 3, “Expansion Chassis” for more information about card slot order and installing Pro Tools cards in an expansion chassis. Powering Up Expansion Chassis Make sure to have the expansion chassis cable connected to both the expansion chassis and the computer before powering up.
chapter 2 Expanded Pro Tools|HD Systems To ensure maximum track counts and troublefree operations, it is important that PCI cards are installed in the appropriate slot locations. For maximum track count with Pro Tools|HD Accel systems, 64-bit PCI is required. If using a CPU with mixed slot types, the 64-bit slots should be used first for the HD Core and subsequent HD Accel or HD Process cards, then use the 32-bit slots for any remaining HD Accel or HD Process cards.
Any audio interfaces connected to inactive cards will go offline. Adding Cards to Your System The maximum number of HD-series cards supported in a single system is seven. However, there may be further restrictions depending on sample rate, your operating system, and the specific model of your expansion chassis. For the most current information, visit the Digidesign Web site (www.digidesign.com/compato).
Be very careful when opening or closing the case of a “Mirrored Door” G4 computer. Any PCI cards installed in the higher-numbered slots may be damaged if they touch the top of the computer case. PCI slot 4 PCI slot 3 PCI slot 2 PCI slot 1 (video card) AGP slot 1 (video card) PCI slot 2 PCI slot 3 PCI slot 4 PCI slot 5 Power Macintosh Single Processor G4 9 Install HD Accel cards (if any) in the next slots. Group similar cards together (for example, put all HD Accel cards next to each other).
Connecting Pro Tools|HD Cards Digidesign TDM FlexCable Digidesign TDM FlexCable cables connect one Pro Tools|HD card to another. You will need an additional TDM FlexCable for each additional card. 2 Slide the FlexCable into the notch of the first card, so that the Port B connector of the FlexCable can be aligned with Port B of the first card; and the Port A connector of the FlexCable can be aligned with Port A of the second card, as shown below.
5 For systems with more than two cards, con- 3 Slide the FlexCable into the notch of the sec- nect each additional card to its preceding card. Use FlexCables to connect card pairs together, as described above, until all cards are connected. (Each HD Accel card is packaged with a FlexCable.) ond card, so that the Port B connector of the FlexCable can be aligned with Port B of the first card; and the Port A connector of the FlexCable can be aligned with Port A of the second card as shown below.
8 Proceed to “Connecting Audio Interfaces” on page 9. To connect HD cards with the TDM FlexCable on Power Macintosh “QuickSilver” and earlier G4 computers: 1 Shape the FlexCable before installing it on your HD cards by grasping the cable with both hands and moving the Port A portion of the cable straight towards you and inwards, as shown below. Do not bend the cable more than you need to, as you may damage the traces in the cable.
Connecting Audio Interfaces All HD-series audio interfaces require DigiLink connections. When using multiple interfaces, you must also connect Loop Sync between all HD-series audio interfaces. When using multiple Legacy interfaces (MIX-series I/O such as the 888|24 I/O and 882|20 I/O) you must connect Slave Clock to all MIX-series audio interfaces.
To make DigiLink connections to Digidesign audio interfaces: Loop Sync 1 Connect the primary audio interface to the HD Core card with the provided 12-foot DigiLink cable. To connect Loop Sync: 2 Connect a secondary HD-series audio interface to the Expansion port on the primary audio interface using the 18-inch DigiLink cable (included with the audio interface). See Figure 2 on page 11.
HD Core 18-inch DigiLink cable 12-foot DigiLink cable Loop Sync cables Figure 2. Two 96 I/Os, 32-channel HD Core 18-inch DigiLink cable 12-foot DigiLink cable Loop Sync cables TDM FlexCable Loop Sync cables HD Accel or HD Process 12-foot DigiLink cable Figure 3.
Using Legacy Audio Interfaces Each 192 I/O, 192 Digital I/O, and 96 I/O can support 16 channels of audio to and from Digidesign legacy audio interfaces, or Legacy I/Os. These include the 888|24 I/O, 882|20 I/O, 1622 I/O, 24-bit ADAT Bridge I/O, and the original ADAT Bridge I/O. The 888 I/O and 882 I/O interfaces are not supported with Pro Tools|HD. (The 96i I/O does not provide a Legacy port.) The Legacy Peripheral port functions like the Expansion port.
chapter 3 Expansion Chassis This chapter provides information for configuring Digidesign-qualified expansion chassis. For a complete and current list of supported configurations of computers, expansion chassis, and hard drives for maximum voices with Pro Tools systems, see the compatibility page of the Digidesign Web site (www.digidesign.com/compato). Not all chassis are supported on all Pro Tools systems.
Digidesign 64-Bit Expansion Chassis and Magma 64-Bit 7Slot Expansion Chassis Slot Layout for Digidesign 64-Bit Expansion Chassis and Magma 64-Bit 7-Slot Expansion Chassis The Digidesign 64-Bit Expansion Chassis and Magma 64-bit, 33 MHz model P7R464-D1 and P7R464C1.5-D1 chassis have slots that are numbered sequentially, right-to-left from the front (1–7). Power Supply 2 Open the computer case. For additional de- tails on installing a card in your computer, refer to its documentation.
Installing the Digidesign Cards Install the Digidesign audio cards: Magma 32-Bit 7-Slot Expansion Chassis 1 Install the Pro Tools HD Core card in the first slot (numbered slot 4 in Magma models P7R-D1 and P7RQ-D1) of the expansion chassis. Slot Layout Magma 32-Bit 7-Slot Expansion Chassis 2 Install the remaining cards in successive PCI The Magma 32-bit, 33 MHz model P7R-D1 and P7RC1.5-D1 chassis have slots that are numbered sequentially, right-to-left from the front (4–10).
2 Open the computer case. For additional details on installing a card in your computer, refer to its documentation. Before removing cards from their antistatic bags or handling any card, discharge any static electricity that may be on your clothes or body by touching a grounded metal surface (such as the power supply case inside your computer). 3 Install the host card in the lowest numbered slot in your computer.
Pro Tools 13-Slot Expansion Chassis and Magma 13-Slot Expansion Chassis (Macintosh Only) Configuring the Pro Tools 13-Slot Expansion Chassis or Magma 13Slot Expansion Chassis Connecting the Expansion Chassis 13-slot expansion chassis will support up to seven Pro Tools|HD-series cards. Install the chassis host card: Full track counts are not possible with this and other 32-bit chassis. For track/voice count details, refer to the compatibility page of the Digidesign Web site (www.digidesign.compato).
5 If using a SCSI HBA, install it in the highest numbered remaining slot in your computer. Example 2, Pro Tools 13-Slot Expansion Chassis Install the chassis controller card: Chassis cards with multiple audio interfaces: 1 Install the Controller card in the Expansion Slot Card Slot of the expansion chassis. This is the slot nearest the power supply. Exp.
Pro Tools 7-Slot Expansion Chassis and SBS 7-Slot Expansion Chassis These chassis do not have a Backplane Controller slot. Instead, they have a built-in chassis controller with a connector on the back of the expansion chassis. (Macintosh Only) Pro Tools 7-Slot Expansion Chassis The Digidesign Pro Tools 7-Slot Expansion Chassis is identical to the SBS 32-bit model DD007-R. For compatibility and configuration details, refer to the information that pertains to that model.
2 Open the computer case. For additional details on installing a card in your computer, refer to its documentation. Before removing cards from their antistatic bags or handling any card, discharge any static electricity that may be on your clothes or body by touching a grounded metal surface (such as the power supply case inside your computer).
