The MIOConsole3d Application
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and data format of the incoming signal and report it here. In the example above, the only signal coming
into this box is on port #1 of the MADI Copper 4x EdgeCard. The incoming MADI stream protocol uses
the ‘
Base|Legacy
’ data format to identify the sample rate and channel frames, respectively. (MADI formats
are detailed at the end of this section.)
‘
Output Mode
’ is where you set the digital stream format for that particular port. This feature applies to the
MADI ports and Optical output ports. The cool thing here is, the ‘Output’ format you set here is completely
independent of the ‘Input’ format, so you can perform formats conversions on the fly using the same I/
O port.
Let‘s take a look at
Input Lock
states. In the previous example, most of the Input ports are colored dark
grey and say “Invalid / No Signal” - meaning there is no usable signal coming in that port.
Here we see three states of functional digital audio streams coming into 3d:
Figure 10.84: Digital I/O: Input States
‘Green’ and ‘Locked’ status displays indicate that the incoming signal is fully synced and locked to the
Domain system clock.
‘Yellow’ and ‘Wild’ means that the incoming signal is the same sample rate as the Domain system clock,
but is not fully synced and locked. Ok… here‘s the thing with ‘Wild’ digital signals and 3d: 3d has this
quirk where incoming digital signals tend to resolve cleanly without clocking artifacts, even when they are
technically not supposed to. So chances are pretty good if you are using reasonably modern gear, a ‘Wild’
digital input stream might sound just fine, and in a pinch be perfectly usable for auditioning unclocked
sources (like CD players). It's a cheat, yes, but quite convenient.
For this reason incoming ‘Wild’ signals are not muted by the system, and it is up to you whether or not
to use them as-is. What you need to keep in mind here is that, eventually, the difference in clock rates
absolutely will
drop samples.
Therefore, for any professional production, live and archival recording and critical listening, follow the rules
and make sure all your clocking is locked up nice and tight.
A ‘Red’ status display indicates that a legitimate incoming digital stream is present, but it is too far off
the Domain sample rate to resolve a lock. The display reports the foreign incoming sample rate as a
troubleshooting tool. ‘Red’ input ports are muted at the receiver to ensure that no digital artifacts or
clocking noises (a phenomenon more common with older digital gear) will get into the 3d Domain.
Note in the case of both MADI and ADAT/TOSLINK optical ports, the format of the incoming signal appears
in the ‘Input Lock’ display along with the lock status. If it can be read (even if it can not be synced), the
format will be displayed. For ADAT/TOSLINK optical, the format will either be ADAT or TOSLINK. SMUX
is automatic for ADAT at 2x and 4x sample rates, with the usual reduction to 4 channels and 2 channels,
respectively. Off-rate MADI signals will report the incoming signals ‘Base/Native’ and ‘Legacy/Long’ frame
and channel formats.
The MADI I/O has been built as much as possible to be compatible with legacy format machines as well
as modern MADI devices. To support this, both the optical and copper-based 3d MADI implementations
can be configured on the fly to match up with whatever interface you might come across.
