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MARIAN TRACE PRO AE User Manual

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TRACE PRO AE
User's Guide

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Summary of Contents for MARIAN TRACE PRO AE

  • Page 1 TRACE PRO AE User’s Guide...
  • Page 2 All trademarks are the property of the respective owners. MARIAN is not liable for any damage to the software, hardware and data and costs resulting from it, which are caused by improper handling or installation of the hardware. Technical changes are reserved.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    What is it all about? The channels Specialities of digital channel strips The master channel Adaptable – changing the view of the TRACE PRO AE Mixer The number of aux sums Further functions The Output Control What is it all about?
  • Page 4 The settings Synchronization Latency Audio Options ASIO Device Setup The TRACE PRO AE in the connection with digital devices Background What is a clock? The rules in the digital audio world Important notes on TRACE PRO AE and digital clock.
  • Page 5 In a Project Studio Situation Hardware routing Software routing Volume settings Finalizing The TRACE PRO AE as hard-disk-recording-system Situation What’s there to care about? The TDM SyncBus – Example 1 The situation The solution The TDM SyncBus – Example 2...

  • Page 6: Welcome

    We are proud to present to you: the TRACE PRO AE. With this fine piece of high technology you are well equipped for the future of digital audio signal processing. That is because the TRACE PRO AE is not just simply a recording system with professional connections in crystal- clear audio quality of 24 bit and 192 kHz –...

  • Page 8: Features

    Features Your TRACE PRO AE comes with a lot of great functions. Here you can find a small list of properties and capabilities. PCI Busmaster card Full duplex support and Multi-Client Support 2 analog, balanced in- and outputs with switchable reference level...

  • Page 9: Installation

    At the end of this manual you will find the different ways of contacting us. Scope of supply After opening the package of the TRACE PRO AE, please check if the following components are included and undamaged. 1 x TRACE PRO AE PCI slot card...

  • Page 10: Connectors On The Trace Pro Ae

    Connect the Wordclock or SuperClock output of a digital clock device here, if the TRACE PRO AE is to be synchronized externally. Analog Inputs and Outputs The stereo analog in- and output is connected to the TRACE PRO AE using a breakout cable.

  • Page 11: S/Pdif Input

    TDM SyncBus If other MARIAN sound systems with TDM SyncBus option are installed, they can be connected here using a TDM SyncBus cable. Other MARIAN sound systems with SyncBus option only, can be connected using an adapter cable. Both cables can be ordered at the MARIAN web shop.

  • Page 12: The Trace Pro Ae In Detail

    Detail The first contact After the successful installation the symbol of the TRACE PRO AE manager appears in the Windows™ taskbar of your computer. It offers you direct access to important driver settings, the clock status display, the DSP-based 20 channel Mixer and the Output Control of the TRACE PRO AE.

  • Page 13: The Mixer

    TRACE PRO AE Mixer. You can see physical inputs (analog and digital), the channels of the TDM SyncBus (TDM In 1 to 4) and the playback channels of an audio application. (Play 1-2 to 7-8) The TRACE PRO AE offers an application with 16 playback channels as Play 1-2 to 15-16.

  • Page 14: The Channels

    Examples on how to “-60” while still a signal reaches the Output use pre buttons and aux Control of the TRACE PRO AE via the affected sums correctly please refer to the “hands on”- aux knob.
  • Page 15 If the “Solo”-button is active in one or more The solo button has no channels, the mix out of the TRACE PRO AE influence on the aux sums! provides the signal of these channels only.

  • Page 16: Specialities Of Digital Channel Strips

    AES/EBU input or “CD” for an internal CD/DVD drive. This ends our little overview on the input channels of the TRACE PRO AE Mixer. Now, you know how to set up the volume of a channel on the master sum or the aux sums. The only thing that’s missing is a possibility to control the...

  • Page 17: Adaptable - Changing The View Of The Trace Pro Ae Mixer

    Of course, apart from all these functions, the window can be sized horizontally. If multiple TRACE PRO AE have been installed, you can bring up the Mixer of every sound system using the drop-down list in the top bar of the window.

  • Page 18: The Number Of Aux Sums

    The number of aux sums The TRACE PRO AE can be operated in 3 section “The different modes. Depending on the mode, only a TRACE limited number of aux-sums will be available. settings” you get to know, how to switch between...

  • Page 20: The Output Control

    The Output Control So far, we have taken a look at signals, which either entered the TRACE PRO AE via a physical input or as a playback signal of a software. The Output Control allows controlling all signals, leaving the TRACE PRO AE.

  • Page 21: What Is It All About

    This is how you do it: Example: you wish to Aux 1 and aux 2, aux 3 monitor the sum “AUX 1-2” at the analog output and aux 4 and so on are of the TRACE PRO AE. Thus, push the “AUX grouped stereo- couples.

  • Page 22: Adaptable - Changing The View Of The Output Control

    Furthermore, you may hide or display certain rows of the Output Control via “parts”. If multiple TRACE PRO AE have been installed, you can bring up the Output Control of every sound system using the drop-down list in the top bar of the window.
  • Page 23 “load”-button situated beneath the previously saved snapshot. Now you should have gained an extensive overview for your daily work with the two most important windows of the TRACE PRO AEmanager. For in-depth comprehension we recommend you to read the articles of the “hands on”...

  • Page 24: The Clock Status Panel

    The clock status panel What is it all about? The TRACE PRO AE clock status panel quickly reports about sample rates, clock- sources, validity of a clock and the state of the sample rate-converter of every installed TRACE PRO AE. If multiple TRACE PRO...

  • Page 25: Samplerate Converter

    PRO AE, if a clock can be extracted on this input. It shows the frequency, which is coming in on this input and the current setting of the TRACE PRO AE manager as seen and set up in “Synchronisation” under “WC/SC input”.

  • Page 26: Saving And Loading Setups

    Saving and loading setups Within the TRACE PRO AE manager the Choose very clear and options “Save Setup…” and “Load Setup…” direct names for your setups, can be found. With those you can save all e.g. the date of a session like “recording...

  • Page 28: The Marian Tdm Syncbus

    With the help of the TDM SyncBus all signals of an audio system featuring the TDM SyncBus may be send out to other Marian sound cards with TDM SyncBus option or returned to an audio application again. The principle of operation of the TDM SyncBus can be compared quite well with the pneumatic dispatch or tube system within one or between several office buildings.
  • Page 29 In order to record the signal of this TDM channel, you need to choose the input “TRACE PRO AE 9-10” in the software application, whereas “TRACE PRO AE 9-10” to “TRACE PRO AE 15-16” correspond to the TDM channels “1” to “4”.

  • Page 30: The Settings

    The settings The following chapter is all about the system settings of the TRACE PRO AE. You open the corresponding window via the TRACE PRO AE symbol on the taskbar. Should questions remain, we recommend taking a look at the “hands on”-part of this manual. Especially the section “The TRACE PRO AE in connection with digital devices”...

  • Page 31: Synchronization

    Let’s suppose you wish to play back two stereo audio tracks from an audio application on different devices of the TRACE PRO AE (“TRACE PRO AE 1-2” to “TRACE PRO AE 3-4”). If all devices would be started and stopped asynchronously, it could happen, that track one (here: “TRACE PRO AE 1-2”) starts first with playing back, and track two (here: “TRACE...

  • Page 32: Clock Source

    ASIO driver. Thee settings will be done by this application. Commonly there is a drop down list showing all available clock sources of the TRACE PRO AE besides the field where the “ASIO TRACE PRO AE” driver is chosen. After quitting the ASIO application the clock settings of the TRACE PRO AE manager will be restored.
  • Page 33 If “Internal Clock” is chosen, the TRACE PRO AE itself generates the clock. External devices can receive this clock signal via the digital output or the SyncBus of the TRACE PRO AE. This lifts the TRACE PRO AE to clock master status. If external devices are configured as clock slaves, they will work synchronously to the TRACE PRO AE.
  • Page 34 For example, if you use the TRACE PRO AE purely as a digital mixer. In choosing “last used rate”, the sample rate, which was used last by a...

  • Page 35: Latency

    Via the upper slider you can adjust the minimal The DMA buffer size is always simultaneously tency of the TRACE PRO AE. Here, the size changing the latency for of the buffer, shown in samples, is changed for the GSIF interface.

  • Page 36: Audio Options

    On Windows™ XP, the MME drivers function via WDM. This may result in certain disadvantages. By activating this option, all in- and outputs of the TRACE PRO AE can be used via the “classical” MME interface. They appear with the suffix “(MME)” on recording and playback devices within an audio application.
  • Page 37 Clock/Sample rate/Device Conflicts As you can see in chapter ”Important notes on TRACE PRO AE and digital clock”, situations can occur, where certain requirements to the TRACE PRO AE can not be met. For example: Using the classical MME drivers, encountering a situation, which can not be established, the driver of the TRACE PRO AE can inform you about this with an appropriate error message or warning.

  • Page 38: Asio Device Setup

    ASIO driver is selected – a click on it opens the ASIO device setup. In this window you can see all in- and outputs the TRACE PRO AE offers. If one entry is checked, then the corresponding in- or output is activated and usable for the audio application.
  • Page 39 “TRACE PRO AE AES/EBU In” to “From CD- Hint: some audio applications re-quire yer”. Now you can see in the audio program additional steps first glance, which signal origins from the CD- activation, so the in- or player. outputs of the TRACE...

  • Page 40: The Trace Pro Ae In The Connection With Digital Devices

    The TRACE PRO AE in the connection with digital devices Background As you probably already know, there is one big difference between analog and digital audio signals: analog audio signals are continuous. That means at any given time you can measure this signal and retrieve a defined measuring value.

  • Page 41: The Rules In The Digital Audio World

    Level metering in the TRACE PRO AE Mixer In order for the TRACE PRO AE Mixer to show the levels of a digital input signal, it has to use the clock of this input. That means: If the clock source is not read from this input, no digital input signal can be used or shown, save you activate the sample rate converter for this digital input.
  • Page 42 Samplerate on record/playback Please note, that a certain samplerate for the TRACE PRO AE can only be set, if the used clock-source is the internal clock. If synchronized externally (Clock is being read from an AES/EBU input or from the SyncBus), the samplerate will be defined by the connected devices.
  • Page 43 Overview The following shows the recording and level capturing of one or more inputs in a chart. The input signal is not synchronized with the current clock of the TRACE PRO AE. Recording/Level-metering of: Current clock- source: Analog input Digital inputs...

  • Page 44: The Channel References

    The channel references The following charts show you the different physical input and output channels of the TRACE PRO AE and how they are assigned to devices available to an audio application. Playback line Software Mixer Output Control Playback device „TRACE PRO AE 1-2“...

  • Page 45: Pci Bus Master Technology

    That’s why it could happen, that e.g. a network card or a hard drive controller might hinder the operation of the TRACE PRO AE, if the PCI Latency Timer for this component is set up very high.

  • Page 46: Hands On The Trace Pro Ae

    For every analog signal you’d like to record with the TRACE PRO AE, you have to start with adjusting the level! This happens within the TRACE PRO AE Mixer, with the help of the gain knob.

  • Page 47: Setting Up The Latency

    AE, these buffers have to be send from audio application to the driver of the TRACE PRO AE. This one takes care, that the buffers find their way via the PCI socket (PCI Controller) to the TRACE PRO AE. If a recording is to be managed with the TRACE PRO AE, all of the mentioned happens in reverse.

  • Page 48: Setting Up The "Dma Latency

    Setting up the “DMA Latency” 1. Connect your monitor to the analog output Please note: on the TRACE PRO AE smaller the latency, the higher the system load to 2. Activate “Play Test Tone at “TRACE PRO your AE 1-2”” in the settings window.

  • Page 49: Setting Up The Audio Driver Latency

    1. Open the audio application 3. Start playing back a simple signal (e.g. a stereo track) and control it via the TRACE PRO AE. 4. Go to the audio setup of the audio application 5. For DirectSound- and MME applications, there is a setup field for the buffer size, defining the latency, mostly within the application.

  • Page 50: In A Project Studio

    Its output goes to the digital input of the TRACE PRO AE. Software routing In the Output Control of the TRACE PRO AE assign under “SOURCE” “AUX 1-2” to “Analog OUT”. On “Digital OUT” under “SOURCE” push “AUX 3-4”.

  • Page 51: Volume Settings

    “AUX 1” and “Aux 2” in his/her channel (analog input) in the TRACE PRO AE Mixer. For a portion of the signal going to the effect unit, “AUX 3” and “AUX 4” have to be pulled up. (Push the “LINK”-button between the knobs.)

  • Page 52: The Trace Pro Ae As Hard-Disk-Recording-System

    With the following example, we would like to show you, how to set up and optimize the TRACE PRO AE as a reliable hard disk recorder. Situation Let’s recall the example of producing a chart hit. The setup has advanced so far that your musician is ready to produce the best takes ever.
  • Page 53 Create the desired number of tracks in the software and assign them to the different inputs of the TRACE PRO AE. Put the tracks to record ready, push “record” and there you go…!

  • Page 54: The Tdm Syncbus - Example 1

    The solution Use another TRACE PRO AE and the TDM SyncBus! In the Output Control of card 1, click on “Master” in the TDM Out 1 and activate the bus with the “On”...

  • Page 55: The Tdm Syncbus - Example 2

    The situation You have created a nice mix down of input- and playback signal using the TRACE PRO AE. You wish to record this mix, but you don’t own a second recording the system with the required AES/EBU inputs. The solution Again the solution is named: TDM SyncBus! TDM channel are available as input signals to any audio recording application.

  • Page 56: Glossary

    Glossary ASIO ASIO stands for “Audio Streaming Input Output” and is a driver interface for soundcards developed by the company Steinberg. With ASIO very small latency times can be achieved. The ASIO driver is not multi-client capable. That means, different audio applications may not use the same audio device simultaneously.
  • Page 57 Latency is, in the field of digital audio signal processing, another word for “delay time”. Example: if you connect a microphone signal to the TRACE PRO AE, it takes some time until it comes from the TRACE PRO AEinput all the way to an audio application (e.g.

  • Page 58: Sample Rate

    Metering Or level metering. Means the visualization of volume relations of an audio signal. Pitch In the field of audio techniques, this means the difference of a sample rate from a pre-defined one. If several digital audio devices are present, this fluctuation of sample rate has to be supported by all devices.
  • Page 59 Wordclock Is the name for a synchronization signal for digital audio systems. It ensures, for all devices connected, to work with the identical sample rate (e.g. 44.1 kHz). Most digital audio formats transmit a clock besides the audio information. E.g. S/PDIF, AES/EBU or ADAT.

  • Page 60: Technical Facts

    Technical Facts General Hardware type PCI 2.3 card, 32 Bit, 3.3V / 5V Ambient temperature min. 0 … 45°C Operation conditions Ambient air humidity max. 90% RH Analog Inputs Max. input voltage +22 dbu 1x XLR via breakout cable Input voltage for +22 dbu 0 dbFs Impedance...

  • Page 61: Digital Inputs

    SNR DA @ 192 kHz 113db(A) THD+N @ -1dbFS < 0,001% / < -100 db Crosstalk < -108 db Frequency response +/- 0,2 dB; 20 Hz to 22 kHz @ 48 kHz; -0,5 db Frequency response +/- 0,2 dB; 20 Hz to 44 kHz @ 96 kHz;...
  • Page 62 Output voltage 3,5 Vss on 110 Ohm Sample frequency 28 kHz to 212 kHz in single wire mode Channel Phase Difference 20 Hz – 20 kHz: 0°...

  • Page 63: Service And Support

    Service and Support Warranty Each TRACE PRO AE leaving us is put under extensive functionality checks. We allow full 24 month of warranty. A copy of the receipt or bill serves as proof of purchase. If there is a deficiency occurring during the time of warranty, you can exchange the unit at your dealer.

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