The
HDSPe AES is a short-length PCI Express card with AES/EBU interfaces.
It provides eight AES inputs (16 channels) and eight AES outputs (16
channels) at 192 kHz sample rate. The card is also equipped with two
MIDI I/O ports, word clock I/O, and can be used with the optional TCO
module for synchronization to LTC and video.
The HDSPe AES is RMEs reaction to requests from audio
professionals for an AES-based solution with the typical RME features
and quality. This audio card is a perfect all-in-one solution for
professional users in the fields of broadcast, TV, theater, stage/PA -
and in any professional studio.
The card's mainboard contains word clock I/O and a
25-pin D-sub connector, providing four AES inputs and four AES outputs
via standard digital breakout cable (Tascam pinout). The word clock
input is galvanically isolated via transformer and operates on Single,
Double and Quad Speed signals automatically. The expansion board adds
audio channels 9-16 and a connector for a MIDI breakout Cable with two
MIDI I/Os (four 5-pin DIN connectors). It does not require a PCIe slot.
The card is not based on a PCI to PCI Express bridge,
which would simply add PCIe to existing PCI technology. It is a newly
developed genuine PCI Express solution, which consequently takes full
advantage of the new format, achieving significant performance gains in
multitrack audio and lowest latency.
Differences to HDSP AES-32
- PCI Express interface
- even lower latencies
Features
The AES' remarkable features include:
- Support for 192 kHz at full channel count
- Native support for Double and Quad Wire transfer
- Direct conversion between these formats
- SteadyClock for highest jitter suppression and clock regeneration
- Intuitive and clearly laid-out user interface
- TotalMix: 512 channel mixer with 42 bit internal resolution
- 48 level meter Peak/RMS, hardware-computed
The DSP-based TotalMix mixer enables the AES to route
and mix all 16 inputs and 16 playback channels to all 16 physical
outputs freely, offering extraordinary monitoring capabilities. Up to 8
fully independent stereo submixes can be created. Routings can be
copied and pasted, faders ganged and grouped, which, along with the
amazing matrix window, turns the AES-32 into a powerful and easy-to-use
redistributor, patchbay, router, converter, and splitter. The
hardware-based mixer is fully MIDI-controllable. Furthermore, the DSP
hardware calculates RMS and peak level meters for all 48 audio
channels, with no measurable CPU load.
The Time Code Option can be used with the HDSPe AES
to sync to LTC and video. Thanks to SteadyClock(TM), the TCO not only
extracts absolute positions from LTC, but also a very clean low-jitter
word clock from LTC and video.
The card's most important settings are stored on the
card itself. Rather than operating in a default mode from the moment
the computer is switched on until the driver is loaded, the card will
immediately activate the last used sampling rate, master/slave
configuration and AES format, thus eliminating any startup noise or
problems in the clock network, both at system start and reboot.
An optional 19" breakout box is also available. Its
innovative design features XLR I/Os that can be accessed from the front
or rear in a rack, according to the user's choice. BOB-32 provides
D-sub connectors with Tascam and Yamaha pinout, therefore can be used
with other devices as digital rack breakout box as well.
Included software:
- DIGICheck for Windows: Spectral Analyser,
professional level meter for 2, 8, or 16 channels, Vector Audio Scope,
various other audio analysis tools.
- Drivers:
Windows 2000/XP/Vista/64 (full ASIO multi-client operation of WDM, GSIF
2.0 and ASIO 2.0), Mac OS X Intel (Core Audio and Core MIDI).
Thanks to RME's flash update technology, future
firmware improvements, adjustments, and bugfixes can be installed
easily at any time.
The PCI Express interface of the HDSPe system is
based on the PCI Express Base Specification v 1.1. It represents a
1-Lane PCI Express Endpoint Device and supports 2.5 Gbps line speed.
Thanks to the packet-based full duplex communication, the card provides
a transfer rate of up to 500 MB/s - 250 MB/s in every direction.
Settings
Just click on the hammer symbol in the systray of the
taskbar and the settings dialog of the HDSPe AES comes up. The clear
structured, easy to understand window plus the unique informative
status windows for input signal, clock mode and sample rate make your
work with Hammerfall DSP to a real pleasure.
When working with several digital sources it is not only necessary to
know if these are properly locked, but also if they are totally
synchronized. RMEs exclusive SyncCheck�� checks all input signals and
displays their actual state, and thanks to our new Intelligent Clock
Control (ICC) concept you have all clocks and states under control -
with ease.
SteadyClock(TM)SteadyClock��, RMEs unique sync and
clock technology allows the HDSPe AES to control the sample rate freely
on its own. The Settings dialog includes a direct choice of the video
and audio world's most often used sample rates. Additionally, two
faders can be used to set the sample rate freely and in real-time,
within the range of +/- 4% and +/- 0.4%.
Up to 3 cards of the HDSPe series can be used simultaneously, in any possible combination.
Technical Specifications
- 1-Lane PCI Express Endpoint device (no PCI Express to PCI Bridge), revision 1.1.
- 2.5 Gbps line speed
- Packet-based full-duplex communication (up to 500 MB/s transfer rate)
- All settings: changeable in real-time
- Automatic and intelligent master/slave clock control
- Enhanced Zero Latency Monitoring for latency-free submixes and perfect ASIO Direct Monitoring
- Sync sources: 8 x AES, word clock, internal
- Varipitch: by input signal or word clock
- Sample rates: 32 kHz up to 192 kHz, variable (Sync/word clock)
- Sample rate range: AES: 28 kHz - 204 kHz, word clock: 28 kHz - 204 kHz
- Jitter: < 1 ns, internal and all inputs
- Jitter sensitivity: PLL operates even at 100 ns Jitter without problems
- Comes with DIGICheck: the ultimate measurement, analysis and test tool
- Input 8 x AES, 2 x MIDI, word clock (BNC)
- Output 8 x AES, 2 x MIDI, word clock (BNC)
- Input word clock: BNC, Signal Adaptation Circuit (functional from 1.2 Vpp input signal), termination via jumper
- Output word clock: BNC, low-impedance driver stage, 4 Vpp into 75 Ohms, short-circuit-proof
- MIDI input and output: via four 5-pin DIN jacks
Connectivity
- PCI Express interface
- 16 input channels / 16 output channels
- 8 x AES/EBU I/O
- 2 x MIDI I/O
- Word Clock I/O
- TotalMix
- optional: HDSP TCO
- optional: BOB-32
