Focusrite Red 16Line User Manual

Focusrite Red 16Line User Manual

64 in / 64 out thunderbolt 3 audio interface – with pro tools, hd and dante network audio connectivity
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Red 16Line
64 in / 64 out Thunderbolt™ 3 audio interface – with Pro Tools | HD
and Dante™ network audio connectivity
User Guide
FFFA001540- 01
www.pro.focusrite.com

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Summary of Contents for Focusrite Red 16Line

  • Page 1 Red 16Line 64 in / 64 out Thunderbolt™ 3 audio interface – with Pro Tools | HD and Dante™ network audio connectivity User Guide www.pro.focusrite.com FFFA001540- 01...
  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Red 16Line Controls and Connections ........
  • Page 3 ConneCtIon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Using Red 16Line with other Pro Tools | HD interfaces ......18 Loop Sync .
  • Page 4: About This User Guide

    User Guide This user guide applies to the Red 16Line Thunderbolt Interface. It provides information about installing and operating the unit and how it can be connected into your home or studio system. Audinate® is a registered trademark of Audinate Pty Ltd.
  • Page 5: Introduction

    IntRoDUCtIon Thank you for purchasing the Focusrite Red 16Line. Red 16Line is a dual Thunderbolt 3 & Pro Tools | HD audio interface and preamplifier, suitable for a wide range of audio integration applications. The Red 16Line features Mic, Line and Instrument analogue inputs and 22 analogue output channels –...
  • Page 6: System Block Diagram

    system block Diagram Meters 1-8 Meters 9-16 Output Control Input Function, Input Select Gain & Reference Monitor Instrument Headphones Analogue 1&2 Outputs Line 18/24 -1 / 4 Analogue Line 9-16 Inputs 18/24 Line Thunderbolt 1-16 -1 / 4 9-16 Host Select ROUTER Pro Tools...
  • Page 7: Red 16Line Controls And Connections

    • The Meter button calls up the selection menu for the level meters onto the output Display. • The Monitor button assigns the output encoder to the monitor loudspeaker functions. Pressing the Meter and Monitor buttons simultaneously enters Red 16Line’s Global configuration menu, where host, clock, power-up and network settings are assigned.
  • Page 8: Rear Panel

    • Word Clock – output provides an output of the chosen system clock reference. • Loop sync I/o sockets allow Red 16Line to integrate with a standard Pro Tools system I/O chain. • Dual thunderbolt 3 Connection. Two ports allow either direct or chained connection to your workstation.
  • Page 9: Physical Characteristics

    Red 16Line dimensions are illustrated in the diagram above. Red 16Line requires 1U of vertical rack space and at least 400mm of rack depth, to allow for cables. Red 16Line weighs 5.04kg and for installations in a fixed environment (eg., a studio), the front-panel rack mountings will provide adequate support.
  • Page 10: Operation

    Inputs Red 16Line has the capacity to accommodate sixteen analogue inputs, two independent 8-channel ADAT inputs, a 2-channel S/PDIF input plus 32 Dante input channels. (Additionally, an internal 2-channel loopback signal can be added as an extra stereo input – see page 13 for details.) analogue Inputs Analogue input channels 1 &...
  • Page 11: Input Configuration

    Input Configuration The settings for input channels 1 & 2 – its input type and function Type Line options – are selected via the Config Menu. +24dBu +18dBu Level +48V • To enter the Config Menu, press-and-hold a channel’s Select Phase button To exit this screen, press any of the channel Select buttons (or, rotate...
  • Page 12: Encoder Toggle Function

    encoder toggle Function The Input Encoder can be programmed to toggle any one of the input Type functions with a single push (ie., without having to enter the Config +24dBu +18dBu Level Menu screen). This can be very useful when, for example, experimenting with +48V microphone phasing.
  • Page 13: Digital Inputs

    TOSLINK connectors. Loopback Input The Red 16Line’s virtual Loopback inputs allow you to record any mix within Focusrite Control back into your DAW. This could be the audio output of another software application, or an entire monitor mix within Focusrite Control including analogue or digital inputs mixed with any playback signals that you wish to capture in your DAW.
  • Page 14: Monitoring

    • To adjust a headphone’s volume level – or to activate Dim or Mute for that output – press one of the headphone select buttons Also see: Focusrite Control – Monitor Controls, on page 22 For Dim and Mute activation and programming, refer to the ‘Mute and Dim’...
  • Page 15: Meter Displays

    Meter Displays Level Meters 1–8 and 9–16 The left and centre LCD screens each display level meters. These indicate the internal signal level of channels 1–16, after A-D conversion, with 0 dBFS being at full scale. A red clip indicator is displayed on channels that reach clipping point.
  • Page 16: Analogue Outputs

    analogue outputs 16 analogue outputs are provided on the two DB25 female connectors on the rear panel. operating Level selection The operating level for each Line input can be switched between +18 dBu and +24 dBu to correctly match additional studio equipment. Press and hold the Input button until the level selection menu appears on the Input Display Scroll to the required channel number for individual selection...
  • Page 17: Thunderbolt Connection

    Connection Confirm that Red 16Line’s Host setting is set to ‘Thunderbolt’, see Global Host Settings on page 20. Two Thunderbolt 3 connectors are located on the rear panel. Connect to the host or into the chain using standard Thunderbolt cables (one supplied).
  • Page 18: Pro Tools Connection

    Connection Confirm that Red 16Line’s Host setting is set to ‘Pro Tools’, see Global Host Settings on page 20. Connect both rear panel PRIMARY ports to a Pro Tools | HDX card using Mini DigiLink cables. Each Pro Tools | HDX PCI/PCIe card provides two Mini DigiLink ports (giving the card a capacity of 64 inputs and 64 outputs), thus one Red 16Line may be connected to each card.
  • Page 19: Pro Tools Setup

    1. The number of input and output channels available is dependent on the sample frequency (see channel allocation tables in Appendix 2, pages 26–28 2. The Loopback input is not available in the Pro Tools host mode 3. Output routing using Focusrite Control is not available in the Pro Tools Host mode...
  • Page 20: Global Settings

    48kHz Rate Reset Dante Devices sync Global Settings Menu Selects the Red 16Line’s sync source: Thunderbolt • Internal – Internally generated. This is the default selection Internal • Word Clock – Received via the BNC Word Clock In connector Monitor •...
  • Page 21: Focusrite Control

    • Follow the on-screen instructions, entering the “Bundle Code” into the form where prompted. Your Bundle Code can be found on the back of the Important Information Guide packed with Red 16Line. • Enter the unit’s serial number, which can also be found on the back of the Important Information Guide.
  • Page 22: Device Settings Gui

    Channel Function Input Type sync Indicator – Will be illuminated if Red 16Line is locked to a valid clock source. Channel Gain – Sets the input gain on analogue channels 1 & 2; click-and-drag to change. Channel Function – Click to select an input function. See page 11 for Function descriptions.
  • Page 23: Input Routing

    ADAT inputs 5-6 are being sent to DAW channels 1–2. This means that when selecting inputs 1–2 on a track in a DAW, ADAT inputs 5-6 on the Red 16Line will be recorded. Each DAW input channel pair can be allocated independently.
  • Page 24: Appendices

    appenDICes appendix 1 – Connector pinouts Db25 (aes59) Connector signal Connector type: DB25 Female Channel 8 Channel 8 – Applies to: Analogue Line Input / Line Output Ground Channel 7 Channel 7 – Ground Channel 6 Channel 6 – Ground Channel 5 Channel 5 Ground...
  • Page 25: Pro Tools Interface

    appendix 1 – Connector pinouts Continued... pro tools Interface Connector type: Mini DigiLink receptacle Applies to: PRIMARY 1 & 2 bnC Connectors Connector type: 75Ω BNC Socket Applies to: WORD CLOCK IN/OUT LOOP SYNC IN/OUT ethernet Connector Connector type: RJ-45 receptacle Cat 6 Core Applies to: Ethernet (Dante)
  • Page 26: Appendix 2 - Default Channel Allocation

    appendix 2 – Default Inputs Outputs Channel allocation Mic/Line/Inst Line (Monitor/HP1) 1 (L) 2 (R) Line Line sample Rate: 44 .1 / 48 khz Note Output channel allocations are only fixed when operating on Pro Tools | HD host mode. Loopback Headphone 2 S/PDIF...
  • Page 27: Sample Rate: 88.2 / 96 Khz

    Inputs Outputs appendix 2 – Default Channel Mic/Line/Inst Line (Monitor/HP1) 1 (L) allocation 2 (R) Continued... Line Line sample Rate: 88 .2 / 96 khz Note Output channel allocations are only fixed when operating on Pro Tools | HD host mode. Loopback Headphone 2 S/PDIF...
  • Page 28: Sample Rate: 176.4 / 192 Khz

    appendix 2 – Default Channel Inputs Outputs allocation Mic/Line/Inst Line (Monitor/HP1) 1 (L) Continued... 2 (R) Line Line sample Rate: 176 .4 / 192 khz Note Output channel allocations are only fixed when operating on Pro Tools | HD host mode. Loopback Headphone 2 S/PDIF...
  • Page 29: Appendix 3 - Air Information

    appendix 3 – air information Air is the name we give to the sonic signature of the classic transformer ISA Preamp. Our customers first coined this name as a simple description of the effect the ISA preamp added to their sound recordings.
  • Page 30: Performance And Specifications

    peRFoRManCe anD speCIFICatIons Microphone Inputs Gain Range 0-8 to 63 dB in 1dB steps Maximum Input Level >+19dBu Input Impedance 6.2 kΩ, electronically balanced | Air Mode: 2.2 kΩ Dynamic Range 119 dB ‘A’-Weighted (typical), minimum gain Frequency Response 20 Hz – 35 kHz ±0.2dB | Air Mode: 2dB boost at 10 kHz and -2 dB at 20 kHz (ref. 1 kHz) THD + N -101dB (0.0009%) @ -1 dBFS -3 dB @ 80 Hz, 12 dB/octave...
  • Page 31 Monitor outputs 0 dBFS Reference Levels +18 dBu Dynamic Range 120 dB ‘A’-Weighted Frequency Response 20 Hz – 35 kHz ±0.2 dB THD + N -80 dB (0.01%) @ -1 dBFS headphone outputs Maximum Output Level +16 dBm ±0.5 Dynamic Range 114 dB ‘A’-Weighted Frequency Response 20 Hz –...
  • Page 32 Compliance (These are the recommended cables based on EMC testing) Analogue Ports Good quality screen cables (24AWG) Clock Ports High quality BNC cables e.g. F-CT100 type cables and adapters Thunderbolt Ports Supplied Focusrite Thunderbolt 3 cable, or quality 20Gbps 60W Thunderbolt 3 cable Ethernet Ports Cat 6FTP cable...
  • Page 33: Focusrite Red 16Line Warranty And Service

    You can contact our Customer Support team: Email: focusriteprosupport@focusrite.com Phone (UK): +44 (0)1494 836 384 Phone (USA): +1 (310) 450 8494 troubleshooting If you are experiencing problems with your Red 16Line, we recommend that in the first instance, you visit our Support Answerbase at: https://pro.focusrite.com/technical-support...

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