Calrec OMEGA Installation Manual Download Page 38

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3 Omega

with Bluefin

Hydra teCHnOlOgy

Gigabit Ethernet is founded on key prin-
ciples of preceding Ethernet technolo-
gies and provides a data rate of 1000
Mbps over copper or optical fiber.

Audio and control data is transferred
using the Ethernet frame format over
switched media in a network constructed
from standardised structured cabling.

Hydra I/O boxes providing fixed or
configurable I/O may be connected onto
the network, providing remotely located
sources and destinations that can be used
by any or all mixing consoles.

The Hydra Audio Network fabric is
constructed using low-cost off-the-
shelf hardware. The network topology
is similar to that of an office LAN, being
created out of a central Gigabit switch
with connections to each mixing console
and Hydra I/O box, in a star formation.
Connections may be made with Category
5e UTP, up to 90 metres, or with optical
fiber, up to 70 kilometres.

Hardware

There are many commercially available
Gigabit switches, repeaters and media
converters that can be used to build
the network, however some proprietary
hardware is required to interface the
consoles and Hydra I/O boxes to the
network. However, to ensure consistency
of performance and support, the Gigabit
switch should not be seen as an item
of IT technology, but an integral part of
the Calrec audio system. It is therefore
normally quoted and supplied as part of
the Hydra installation.

The diagram below shows a console
and racks connected to a network via a
Wide Area Bulk Card and Hydra Gigabit
interface unit. 3 Hydra fixed format I/O
boxes and 2 modular Hydra I/O boxes
are also shown, each making inputs and
outputs available to any console on the
network.

Connections to the modular Hydra I/O box
are via RJ45 connectors on the front of
the unit’s processor module. As this is a
copper interface, when using fiber cabling,

Power

Fault

hp Procurve
Switch 2824

Wide Area Bulk Card

DSP & Digital I/O Rack

Audio &

Control Data

from WAB

Console’s PC

Gigabit Switch

Modular Hydra I/O Box

To another console

on the network

GIG-E

Alpha Control Surface

The connection between the Digital
I/O Rack and the Gigabit Interface
Unit allows up to 128 channels to
be carried in both directions, via
cabling up to 5 metres (16.5 feet)
long.

Control
from
Console

POWER

FAN FAIL

Hydra Gigabit Interface Unit

3051-30-2A3

Hydra Network
Interface Hardware

Hydra

07/09/07

J Cunningham

Title:

Project:

Issue date:

Drawn:

Calrec Audio Ltd
Nutclough Mill
Hebden Bridge
West Yorkshire
HX7 8EZ

Tel: 01422 842159
Fax: 01422 845244

www.calrec.com

[email protected]

Control &
Display from/to
PC

CF / MD

USB

Power

Reset

I O

DVD ROM

HDD

USB

GIG-E

Choose either Fibre or Copper Connection

1000 Base T
1000 Base SX (Multimode Fibre)
1000 Base LX (Single Mode Fibre)
1000 Base LH (Long Haul Fibre)

(Please note that for fibre connections,

media converters must be used

between the Gigabit switch and the

Modular Hydra I/O Boxes)

GIG-E

Hydra I/O Box

Network Editor

For a network to be truly useful, it must be
easy to use and maintain. The console’s
Network Editor consists of a set of
screens for :

Configuration of modular Hydra I/O
boxes
Off-line editing of Hydra I/O and
Audio Network
Status representation of all devices
on the network
Utility for forcing ownership to be
dropped

The Network Editor can be run
independently of the Front End (console
application), allowing the modular Hydra
I/O boxes and audio network to be
configured off-line. During this time, any
operations which require a console are
disabled.

•

it is necessary for media converters to be
used between the Gigabit switch and the
modular Hydra I/O boxes.