I/O Capabilities - Solid State Logic XLogic Alpha-Link LIVE-R User Manual

I/O Capabilities

The number of channels available on each audio interface provided by the Alpha-Link LIVE-R is determined by the
sample rate and in certain circumstances by the mode of operation chosen.
The LIVE-R can operate at the following sample rates; 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz and 192kHz and if
locked to an external clock source, it can also operate at a deviation of up to 10% from these rates. Throughout
this guide we will often refer to the lowest set of sample rates (44.1kHz, 48kHz) collectively as 'Fs', medium rates
(88.2kHz, 96kHz) – being twice the lowest set – as '2Fs' and the highest sample rates (176.4kHz, 192kHz) as '4Fs'.
Early digital audio interfaces designed to run at 2Fs rates did so by modifying the way that data is packed into the
digital audio stream without increasing the actual transmission rate. This leads to a lower channel count for a given
interface but results in a 2Fs interface that is broadly compatible with the original Fs rate interface. Later improvements
for some interface types lead to 'proper' double speed 2Fs interfaces that did not compromise the channel count but
were no longer compatible with older Fs rate interfaces. These developments resulted in two different modes of
operation at the higher rates; 'Legacy' (SMUX2/SMUX4) and 'High Speed'. The channel count differences are loosely
summarised in the following table and further information will be found towards the rear of this guide.
Sample Rate and Mode
Audio 2Fs 2Fs 2Fs 4Fs
Interface Fs (High Speed) (Legacy/SMUX2) (High Speed) (Legacy/SMUX4)
AES/EBU 24 Channels 24 Channels 12 Channels 24 Channels 6 Channels *
Analogue 24 Channels – irrespective of sample rate
MADI 56/64 Channels 28/32 Channels 28/32 Channels 14/16 Channels 14/16 Channels
* Uses a pair of AES/EBU ports per channel
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