The MIOConsole3d Application
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USB: Satellite Computer Port (SCP) fundamentals
When your 3d box is connected and running as part of an MHLink domain, the USB port on the back of
each 3d device becomes a
Satellite Computer Port
(heretofore known as “
SCP
”).
Simply put, SCP turns each USB port in your MHLink daisy-chain into an extra digital I/O port, allowing
a direct computer interface from each 3d box in your domain to a ‘satellite’ computer, iOS or Android
device. (See
The USB Class Audio connection
for background on the mechanics behind this connection,
if you haven‘t already.)
Here‘s how it works:
ULN-8
MHLink:
Connected
USB:
Connected
SCP USB
MHLink Ether
net
computer 1
(MHLink Host)
Primary DAW
computer 2
(USB)
Satellite DAW
Figure 10.143: MHLink Host with Satellite computer
• On the left is the primary MHLink host computer (a Mac cylinder), in the middle is a ULN-8, on the
right is a Mac Mini satellite computer.
• The primary host is connected to the ULN-8 via MHLink Gigabit-Ethernet, in this example with MH-
Link domain I/O set to 64 channels (as shown in the blue macOS ‘Audio MIDI Setup’ graphic). The
MIOConsole3d application is controlling the ULN-8 from this primary MHLink host computer.
• The satellite Mac Mini on the right is connected to the USB port of that same ULN-8. Note the USB
connection in both the satellite Mac audio device graphic and the MIOConsole3d Unit Status Display
shows “Connected“ and set to 12 channels In and 12 channels Out.
So in this configuration, an audio app (such as a DAW) running on the primary Computer 1 will connect
to MHLink with 64 channels of I/O, and those channels will show up in the MIOConsole mixer routing
interfaces as “Host” routes 1-64 as usual.
A secondary audio application on Computer 2 connect to the USB “ULN-8” port with 12 channels of I/O.
Those channels are shown in the MIOConsole mixer routing interfaces as “#1 ULN-8/40263 SCP USB”
routes 1-12.
The key term to keep in mind here is “Satellite”. In all cases, the MIOConsole3d application on the MHLink
Host computer maintains total control over every aspect of all 3d boxes in the Domain. Software running on
the satellite computer will not be able to control the sample rate of the 3d connection. This is no different
from connecting any outboard digital processor or DAW to a hardware digital mixing console: the Console
controls everything.
