User manual FOCUSRITE ISA430MKII

[. . . ] Introduction Thank you for purchasing the ISA 430 MKII brought to you by the Focusrite team ­ Ian, Trevor, Peter, Martin, Tom, Mick A'C, Phil, Chris G, Micky, Pauline, Melissa, Chris W, Rob J Snr, Simon J, Vernon, Giles, Rob J Jnr, Mick G, Tim, Dave, Paul and Simon. The chaps at Focusrite are a jolly hard working bunch and take a great deal of pride in designing, building and delivering products which are considered to be the best audio units around; we hope your new Focusrite unit lives up to that reputation and that you enjoy many years of productive recording. If you would like to tell us about your recording experiences, please email us at: sales@focusrite. com Important Safety Instructions Please read all of these instructions and save them for future reference. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the unit. [. . . ] The card features an ADATTM-type `lightpipe' output and SPDIF Toslink output connectors. ADATTM lightpipe cables are available from your local dealer, or in the UK from Studiospares (tel +44 (0)20 7482 1692): stock number 585-510. The ISA 430 MKII can be used as a high quality two-channel ADC to convert analogue signals to the digital domain, by adding the optional ISA 430 MKII digital output board. The two external ADC inputs and the main channel inputs can all be fed to the ADC, via the soft limiter, ensuring superclean, protected, high-quality digital conversion. Alternatively, two ISA 430 MKII units with a single A/D option can be used to create a stereo tracking/mixdown to digital system (see `Stereo ISA 430 MKII Units' on page 20). Digital formats available on the ADC are AES, SPDIF (optical and coaxial RCA phono) and ADATTM optical format. (The ADATTM outputs can also operate in high speed SMUX mode for 96kHz transfer speeds, but are muted during 192kHz operation. ) N. B. If RCA phono (SPDIF) or XLR (AES) connections are required, the relevant 9-pin D-type to RCA phono or XLR breakout cable is required. For installation details, see separate A/D option user guide. 24-bit/192kHz AES/SPDIF operation The card also provides AES and SPDIF format outputs via a 9-pin D-type connector on the rear panel. The full range of sample rates (up to 192kHz) and bit depths are available. To access the digital signals from the 9-pin D-type output connector, the A/D card must be purchased with either an AES or SPDIF D-type conversion cable as follows: AES cable: 9-pin D-type to 4 male XLR SPDIF cable: 9-pin D-type to 4 male RCA phono ADC Input 1 and 2 With the ADC Input 1 and 2 switches both unlit, whatever is connected to the mic, line or instrument input feeds the main analogue output, and also feeds the left side of the A/D converter. A pre-processed signal is fed to the post-mic output, and this pre-processed signal is also fed to the right side of the A/D converter. With the ADC Input 1 switch lit and ADC Input 2 switch unlit, whatever is connected to ADC input 1 cuts 13 Note: cables need to be purchased separately. Since there are two different cable options ­ XLR for AES and RCA phono for SPDIF ­ these are not included with the A/D converter options. Focusrite cables may be purchased from your local dealer. If you experience difficulty in obtaining these cables, contact your local distributor as listed in the back of this manual. makes the ISA 430 MKII useable with both old and new equipment. Word Clock In and Out The internal ADC can be synchronised to an external word clock. By pressing the front panel Ext Sync switch, the ISA 430 MKII can be switched to lock to either standard external word clock or 256X external word clock. Either type of external word clock should be connected to the ISA 430 MKII ADC card at the WORD CLOCK IN BNC connector. The WORD CLOCK OUT BNC connector either regenerates the external word clock connected at the word clock input connector (if locked to an external clock source) or transmits the internal sample frequency of the ADC card (if the ISA 430 MKII is acting as word clock master). Where the ISA 430 MKII is being used as a slave device within a larger digital system, the WORD CLOCK OUT BNC connector can be used to pass on the external word clock signal to the next device. When the unit is not slaved to another device and is in internal clock mode, the word clock output connector outputs the sample frequency selected on the ISA 430 MKII front panel. AES/SPDIF Connector Configuration The 9-pin D-type connector labeled AES/SPDIF can be configured either as an AES or SPDIF dedicated output using the AES/SPDIF switch next to it. When operating the connector in AES mode an AES cable is required. When operating in SPDIF mode the SPDIF RCA cable should be used, which automatically sets the output stream to consumer mode. [. . . ] The soft limiting of the MKII can be used on analogue and digital outputs simultaneously. The MKII's shelving includes 2 extra frequencies per band: 20 and 655Hz for LF and 1. 5 and 2. 2kHz for HF. The mic pre-amp transformer features an optional inductor circuit for boosting HF and adding `air' to the signal, and its gain controls are identical to the ISA 428. There are two inserts on the MKII, both being "splitconfigurable" with movable routing facilities. [. . . ]