Pro Tools® Expanded Systems Guide Version 8.0.
Legal Notices This guide is copyrighted ©2009 by Avid Technology, Inc. (hereafter “Avid”), with all rights reserved. Under copyright laws, this guide may not be duplicated in whole or in part without the written consent of Avid.
Contents Chapter 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Pro Tools Expanded Systems Without an Expansion Chassis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Pro Tools with an Expansion Chassis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 1: Introduction You can expand your Pro Tools|HD® system by adding Pro Tools|HD cards, either directly in the computer or using an expansion chassis. Expanding your Pro Tools® system will provide increased track count, add to the amount of possible plug-in and mixer processing, and let you connect additional audio interfaces. For a list of system requirements for maximum track count, visit our website (www.avid.com).
Chapter 2: Expanded Pro Tools|HD Systems This chapter covers the following: • Slot order and sample rate information for all expanded systems. • Instructions for installing an expanded system into slots in your computer (without an expansion chassis). • Instructions for connecting Pro Tools|HD cards together using their FlexCables. These instructions apply to all systems. • Instructions for connecting audio interfaces. These instructions apply to all systems.
Expansion Chassis Configuration (PCI) Card Type Order 1 HD Core (PCI) card 2 HD Accel (PCI) cards 3 HD Process (PCI) cards Session Sample Rate and Multiple Cards Pro Tools|HD supports sample rates of 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, and 192 kHz. However, due to the processing load required for 176.4 kHz and 192 kHz sessions, a maximum of four Pro Tools|HD cards can be used at these higher sample rates. The maximum number of Pro Tools|HD cards supported in a single system is seven.
Install HD Process cards (if any) in remaining slots. Make sure the first card is the core card for your system. Expansion cards (HD Accel or HD Process) cannot occupy the lowest-numbered slot. 8 Connect all Pro Tools|HD cards using TDM FlexCables (see “Connecting Pro Tools|HD Cards” on page 4). 9 If installing a SCSI HBA card in a system or expansion chassis that supports it, install it in the highest numbered remaining slot.
Connecting Pro Tools|HD Cards Each Pro Tools|HD card has two ports along the top of the card, labelled Port A and Port B. The FlexCable has two connectors, also labeled Port A and Port B, to ensure proper connection. Data communication across cards is achieved by connecting Port B of the first card to Port A of the next card with a TDM FlexCable. The first FlexCable always goes from Port B on the core card to Port A on the first expansion card, as described in the following steps.
Connect the Port A connector of the FlexCable to Port A on the second card. Push down gently but firmly until the cable is fully connected to the card. Attach the other end of the FlexCable (labeled Port B) to Port B on the first card. 4 HD Accel (or Process) card in PCI slot 3 Port Port B B PortAA Port Port Port B B PortAA Port HD Core card in PCI slot 2 Top view of TDM FlexCable connections for two Pro Tools|HD cards Verify the connection.
DigiLink Connections The DigiLink cable connects Pro Tools|HD cards and audio interfaces. A single Digi-Link connector carries up to 32 channels of bidirectional audio information. These 32 channels are broken up into 2 groups of 16 channels: Group A = Channels 1–16, Group B = Channels 17–32. The maximum number of DigiLink cables supported on a single system is ten (for session sample rates up to 96 kHz) or eight (for session sample rates of 176.4 kHz or 192 kHz).
To make DigiLink connections to audio interfaces: 1 Connect the primary audio interface to the HD Core card with the provided 12-foot DigiLink cable. 2 Do one of the following: • Connect a secondary Pro Tools|HD 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 7. – or – • Connect a secondary Pro Tools|HD interface to the DigiLink on the next card (HD Accel or HD Process).
To connect Legacy audio interfaces: 1 Connect one end of a Pro Tools|24 MIX peripheral cable to the Legacy port on a 192 I/O, 192 Digital I/O, or 96 I/O. 2 Connect the other end of the cable to your MIX-compatible audio interface. 3 Connect the External Clock Out of the primary interface to the Slave Clock In of the Legacy audio interface using a BNC cable.
The 96 I/O and standard 192 I/O are examples of symmetrical I/O, where there are the same number of input channels as output channels. For example, there are 8 analog inputs and 8 analog outputs. Though these I/Os provides many analog and digital connectors on their back panels, they support a total of 16 channels of simultaneous, discrete input and output.
Powering Up An Expanded System This section provides general information for powering up expanded systems. Make sure to have the expansion chassis cable connected to both the expansion chassis and the computer before powering up. If the cable becomes disconnected from the computer while the system is powered on, shut down power to the computer and then the expansion chassis before reconnecting.
Chapter 3: Digidesign EB-7 PCIe-to-PCIe Expansion Chassis The Digidesign EB-7 PCIe-to-PCIe Expansion Chassis is a 7-slot expansion chassis for Pro Tools|HD systems. The PCIe-to-PCIe Expansion Chassis lets you install up to seven Pro Tools|HD (PCIe) cards for additional plug-in and mixer processing, and for connecting additional audio interfaces to the system.
Specifications This section provides slot layout and technical specifications for the Digidesign PCIe-to-PCIe Expansion Chassis. Slot Layout The PCIe-to-PCIe Expansion Chassis has slots that are numbered sequentially, right-to-left when viewed from the front (1–7).
Ventilation Requirements Ventilation space is required at the front and rear of the unit. Do not block the front or back of the unit, and always be sure there is adequate air flow when mounting this equipment into racks or studio furniture. Installing the PCIe Host Card To install the PCIe host card: 1 Turn off your computer and any peripherals. Open the computer case. For additional details on installing a card in your computer, refer to its documentation.
Connecting Power to the Chassis The AC Power connector on the rear panel of the PCIe-to-PCIe Expansion Chassis accepts a standard AC power cable. The chassis is auto power-selecting (100V to 240V) and will automatically work with a standard modular cable to connect to AC power receptacles in any country. To connect power to the chassis: Connect the supplied AC cable to the AC connector on the back panel of the chassis.
Install the Pro Tools Accel Core card in the first PCIe slot of the expansion chassis. (This is the first slot on the right when the chassis is viewed from the front.). 4 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Slot numbering for the PCIe-to-PCIe Expansion Chassis 5 Install the remaining HD Accel cards in successively numbered card slots in the chassis. 6 Connect all Pro Tools cards with TDM FlexCables. See “Connecting Pro Tools|HD Cards” on page 4. After connecting cards with FlexCables, connect audio interfaces.
Example The following table shows one possible configuration of cards (and audio interface connections), using all slots in the PCIe-to-PCIe Expansion Chassis. Table 4. Chassis cards with multiple audio interfaces Slot Card Slot 1 Accel Core (Interface #1 and #2) Slot 2 HD Accel (Interface #3 and #4) Slot 3 HD Accel (Interface #5 and #6) Slot 4 HD Accel (Interface #7 and #8) Slot 5* HD Accel (Interface #9 and #10) Slot 6* HD Accel Slot 7* HD Accel * Card only available at 44.
Connecting the Chassis to the Computer To connect the chassis to the computer: Connect the x4 end of the iPass cable to the iPass cable port on the chassis. Make sure the connection is secure. 1 x4 connector x8 connector Detail of iPass cable connectors iPass cable port Connecting the iPass cable to the chassis 2 Connect the x8 end of the iPass cable to the port on the PCIe host card in the computer. Make sure the connection is secure.
2 Move the power switch on the back panel of the PCIe-to-PCIe Expansion Chassis to the On position. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Power switch Location of the back panel power switch 3 Press the power switch on the front panel of the PCIe-to-PCIe Expansion Chassis to turn on the chassis. The Power switch LED lights when the chassis is fully powered. Power switch Location of the front panel power switch 4 Turn on any external hard drives. Wait approximately ten seconds for them to spin up to speed.
Chapter 4: Magma PE6R4 6-Slot Expansion Chassis Magma PE6R4 6-Slot Expansion Chassis The Magma PE6R4 expansion chassis is a six-slot PCI expansion chassis with a PCIe host card for Pro Tools|HD systems. The PE6R4 lets you install up to six Pro Tools|HD (for PCI) cards for additional plug-in and mixer processing, and for connecting additional audio interfaces to the system.
Configuring the Magma PE6R4 6-Slot Expansion Chassis Connecting the Expansion Chassis To install the PCIe host card in the computer: Turn off the expansion chassis, your computer, and any peripherals. To ensure proper grounding, connect the expansion chassis to a power source (such as a power strip or wall outlet), using the supplied AC cable. 1 Open the computer case. For additional details on installing a card in your computer, refer to its documentation.
Magma PE6R4 (Example Configuration) Table 5. Chassis cards with multiple audio interfaces Slot Card Slot 1 HD Core (Interface #1 and #2) Slot 2 HD Accel (Interface #3 and #4) Slot 3 HD Accel (Interface #5 and #6) Slot 4 HD Accel (Interface #7 and #8) Slot 5* HD Accel (or Process) (Interface #9 and #10) Slot 6* HD Accel (or Process) * Card only available at 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, and 96 kHz Connecting Audio Interfaces See “Connecting Audio Interfaces” on page 6.
Chapter 5: Digidesign and Magma 64-Bit Expansion Chassis Digidesign 64-Bit Expansion Chassis and Magma 64-Bit 7-Slot Expansion Chassis The Digidesign 64-bit Expansion Chassis and the Magma 64-bit 7-slot Expansion Chassis are PCI expansion chassis with a PCI host card for Pro Tools|HD systems. They let you install up to seven Pro Tools|HD (for PCI) cards for additional plug-in and mixer processing, and for connecting additional audio interfaces to the system.
Configuring the Digidesign 64-Bit Expansion Chassis or Magma 64-Bit 7-Slot Expansion Chassis Connecting the Expansion Chassis To install the chassis host card in the computer: Turn off the expansion chassis, your computer, and any peripherals. To ensure proper grounding, connect the expansion chassis to a power source (such as a power strip or wall outlet), using the supplied AC cable. 1 Open the computer case. For additional details on installing a card in your computer, refer to its documentation.
Magma 64-bit 7-Slot (Example Configuration) Table 6. Chassis cards with multiple audio interfaces: Slot Card Exp. Slot Chassis Controller card (not all models) Slot 1 HD Core (Interface #1 and #2) Slot 2 HD Accel (interface #3 and #4) Slot 3 HD Accel (Interface #5 and #6) Slot 4 HD Accel (Interface #7 and #8) Slot 5* HD Accel (or HD Process) (Interface #9 and #10) Slot 6* HD Accel (or HD Process) Slot 7* HD Accel (or HD Process) * Card only available at 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.
www.digidesign.com DIGIDESIGN 2001 Junipero Serra Boulevard Daly City, CA 94014-3886 USA TECHNICAL SUPPORT (USA) Visit the Digidesign Online Support Center at www.digidesign.com/support PRODUCT INFORMATION For company and product information, visit us on the web at www.digidesign.
