LIO-8 Users Guide
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There are eight classes of connections you can make to the LIO-8 3d hardware:
1. Gigabit Ethernet (MHLink)
2. USB
3. Analog Audio
4. AES Digital Audio
5. Clock Sync
6. MIDI
7. SMPTE
8. Power
Computer Connections
•
MHLink (Gigabit Ethernet)
- The preferred method of connecting your computer to the LIO-8 (or
any Mobile I/O 3d audio device) is with a Gigabit Ethernet cable to one of the MHLink ports. This
method enables the full capabilities of the 3d/MHLink environment with 128 channels at 32bit inte-
ger resolution input and output at all sample rates up to 192kHz. Daisy-chaining additional MHLink
boxes dynamically and transparently integrates the new devices into the currently-running 3dCon-
sole mixer, making all the added I/O ports and DSP engine power immediately available for use.
MHLink requires the installation of the MHLinkDriver software. The latest MIOConsole3d installer
package is available from:
(this will require a restart). Please see
Driver Installation on macOS 10.13 and newer
With High Sierra (macOS 10.13) Apple introduced another layer of driver (system exten-
sion) software security.
In order for third-party drivers (system extensions) to be activated on new installs of High
Sierra, the user of the computer (you) must explicitly approve the activation, after the
installation has occurred.
You must do this before you will be able to use your hardware via MHLink.
The authorization process is the same for all third-party drivers. If you are unfamiliar with
the process, please read our FAQ answer here:
macOS Driver User Authentication
Note:
With MHLink, you need to launch MIOConsole3d to establish the routing between MHLink and
the attached box(es). The routing is established automatically as soon as you launch MIOConsole3d.
•
USB
- The secondary method of connecting to your LIO-8 is with USB. USB connections for audio
transport will be limited compared to MHLink. In a pinch, however, your LIO-8 can be seen as an
audio device by any computer with a UAC2 class-compliant USB port.
Please note:
Connection to any 3d unit by both USB and Ethernet is not currently supported. Future
updates to the driver and 3d platform may explore scenarios which allow dual-port connections.
Analog Audio Connections
The analog I/O connections on the LIO-8 have been engineered for maximum flexibility in that they support
both balanced and unbalanced connections with a wide range of input and output levels and a wide