X.200 Digital Production Console
FAQ
9
Q. Can I run my Mackie d8b UFX plug-ins inside the Digital X Bus?
A. As mentioned before, the Digital X Bus is a VST-supported mixer by use of a single, native processor (the Pentium
4). In contrast, the Mackie d8b used a proprietary UFX card that had Motorola™ DSP chips to run the plug-ins.
Since these two protocols are entirely different from each other and utilize completely different “shells” to perform
their function, they are not compatible.
SECTION III: System Information
Q. I am a Mackie d8b owner…what additional features would I get with the Digital X Bus?
A. The Digital X Bus is the perfect “next step” for a Mackie d8b owner. Why? Because the Digital X Bus was designed
to support the d8b style of working, while adding a signifi cant number of new features such as:
• Completely custom I/O formats and signal routing
• Support for higher sampling rates up to 192 kHz
• Touch sensitive and higher resolution faders
• VST plug-in support, including use of UAD-1
• Direct digital streaming via FireWire Option Card
• Greater channel DSP (64 EQs/Comp/Gates at 96 kHz, plus more DSP for VST plug-ins)
• Confi gurable Control Room with Surround Monitoring
• 24-fader control surface with full MCU emulation
• USB connections for peripherals, such as drives and keyboard/mouse
• Upgradeability using standard, off-the-shelf hardware components
Additionally, the same interface concepts that made the d8b a revolutionary product have been incorporated into
the Digital X Bus. One look at the main mixer screen will make former d8b owners feel right at home. Plus, the
feedback we’ve received over the years from the d8b community has allowed us to design the Digital X Bus so we
(and our customers) can benefi t from that experience.
Q. I’m a Pro Tools guy…so why would I want to own a Digital X Bus?
A. For the price, features, and integration, the Digital X Bus is a great companion for any Pro Tools system. Primarily,
it offers not only a 24-fader control surface for Pro Tools but also provides tons of additional processing, mixing,
automation, and routing possibilities right alongside your Pro Tools system that can interface digitally at 96 kHz via
the AES cards using the single wire (“double-fast”) protocol.
You can use the mixer as much or as little as you like…for example, you can capture all your microphone inputs
with the Digital X Bus, route all those inputs out digitally to your HD hardware, do all your capturing, editing,
processing, etc., in Pro Tools, and then mix down everything back through the mixer, using the same AES connec-
tions, in case you want to make some fi nal touches before print. Or, you can have the Digital X Bus simply monitor
your HD outputs for routing to multiple speaker matrixes, maybe with some plug-ins strapped across those output
channels. Either way, the Digital X Bus adds more processing, mixing, and control power to your studio without
interfering with your Pro Tools workfl ow…all for a little more than a ProControl™.
NOTE:
Digidesign has posted the “Legacy MIDI Controllers” update for all Pro Tools versions 6.x. on their web
site (www.digidesign.com). You must have this update installed in your Mac or PC in order to use the HUI profi le
in conjunction with the Digital X Bus. If you don’t see the HUI as an option in the Setup>Peripherals>MIDI Con-
trollers area, then you need the update.
