RME Audio Digiface Ravenna User Manual

Usb 3.0 digital i/o system

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User's Guide

Digiface Ravenna

Portable RAVENNA via USB!

USB 3.0 Digital I/O System

128 Channels RAVENNA / AES67 Interface

64 Channels MADI Interface

2 Channel Analog Stereo Monitor

24 Bit / 192 kHz Digital Audio

128 x 128 Matrix Router

Stand-Alone Operation

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Page 1 User's Guide Digiface Ravenna Portable RAVENNA via USB! USB 3.0 Digital I/O System 128 Channels RAVENNA / AES67 Interface 64 Channels MADI Interface 2 Channel Analog Stereo Monitor 24 Bit / 192 kHz Digital Audio 128 x 128 Matrix Router...
Page 2 (see warranty statement on page 72). Proper Use The Digiface Ravenna is a digital interface for professional audio applications for use with CE approved class B computers. To comply with the European CE standard, the Digiface Ravenna must be used with CE approved Class B computers.
Page 3: Table Of Contents
DIGICheck NG Mac ..........29 Hotline – Troubleshooting ........30 TotalMix FX TotalMix: Routing and Monitoring 18.1 Overview .............. 32 18.2 The User Interface ..........34 18.3 The Channels ............35 18.3.1 Settings ............37 User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 4 24.1 Firmware .............. 65 24.2 General..............65 Technical Background 25.1 USB Audio ............66 25.2 MADI Basics ............68 25.3 Terminology ............68 Miscellaneous Warranty ..............72 Appendix ..............72 Declaration of Conformity ........73 User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 6: Introduction
1. Introduction Thank you for choosing the Digiface Ravenna. This unique, compact and portable audio interface is capable of transferring USB digital audio data and MADI from/to Mac or PC to the professional media network RAVENNA. Numerous unique features, a well thought-out configuration dialog, an outstandingly versatile mixer and monitoring solution, and a complete integration of RAVENNA guarantee a quick, comfortable and efficient use of the Digiface Ravenna.
Page 7: First Usage - Quick Start
USB 2 the channel count is reduced to 64 channels (no MADI). The Digiface Ravenna uses USB bus power. In case of USB 3 this is usually sufficient to run the interface. But using all 4 network connections plus headphones can draw more current than the USB 3 spec suggests (900 mA).
Page 8: Quick Start
5.2 Quick Start After the driver installation (chapter 6 / 13) the Digiface Ravenna has to be connected to a RAVENNA network. A RAVENNA network consists of a connection to at least one other RAVENNA equipped device. The web browser based GUI, RAVENNA Remote, enables config- uration of the RAVENNA module.
Page 9: Installation And Operation - Windows
User's Guide Digiface Ravenna Installation and Operation - Windows User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 10: Driver And Firmware
Start rmeinstaller.exe and follow the instructions of the installer. After installation connect com- puter and Digiface RAVENNA using a USB 3.0 cable. Windows detects the new hardware as Digiface Ravenna and installs the drivers automatically.
Page 11: Firmware Update
If so, then simply press the 'Update' button. A progress bar will indicate when the flash process is finished (Verify Ok). After the update the unit needs to be reset. This is done by unplugging the Digiface Ravenna for a few seconds. A reboot of the computer is not necessary.
Page 12: Configuring The Digiface Ravenna
7. Configuring the Digiface Ravenna 7.1 Settings Dialog Configuration of the Digiface Ravenna is done via its own settings dialog. The panel Settings can be opened:  by clicking on the fire symbol in the Task Bar's notification area The mixer of the Digiface Ravenna, TotalMix FX, can be opened: ...
Page 13 MADI coaxial. Iso(chronous) Streaming (USB 3 only) The Digiface Ravenna uses a special transmission mode with error correction in record mode. In case the default mode does not work Isochronous Streaming can be tried. This is the standard’s native mode for audio transmission and should work with any USB 3 controller.
Page 14: Wdm Configuration
The screenshot to the right shows the ste- reo WDM devices available with the Digiface Ravenna. Here the first four stereo devices had been activated. Any can be ac- tivated. Also only higher numbered devices might be active. For example using 25+26 for system based audio does not require to activate the prior stereo devices.
Page 15 Windows sees their new properties. In the Windows Sound control panel the modes Stereo and 7.1 can now be checked by selecting the playback device and clicking the Configure button. User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 16: Ravenna Remote
The Digiface Ravenna is basically a USB audio interface. The RAVENNA Remote requires ac- cess to a network to be accessed via browser. For this, the accessing computer must be part of the network to which the Digiface Ravenna is connected.
Page 17: Operation And Usage
The sample rate must be set to 48 kHz in the RAVENNA Remote, or the software will only playback a stereo 2-channel downmix via SPDIF. In some cases the Digiface Ravenna output device has to be selected in >Control Panel / Sound / Playback< and be set as Default, or the software will not recognize it.
Page 18: Multi-Client Operation
A digital system can only have one master! If the Digiface Ravenna’s clock mode is set to 'Internal', all other devices must be set to ‘Slave’.
Page 19: Operation Under Asio
Start the ASIO software and select ASIO MADIface USB as the audio I/O device or the audio driver. The Digiface Ravenna supports ASIO Direct Monitoring (ADM). 9.2 Channel Count under ASIO In Single Speed Speed (44.1 and 48 kHz) 128 input and output channels each are available.
Page 20: Known Problems
 If the Digiface Ravenna is set to clock mode internal, all others have to be set to clock mode slave, and have to be synced from the master. The clock modes of all units have to be set up correctly in the MADIface Settings dialog.
Page 21: Digicheck Windows
 Completely multi-client. Open as many measurement windows as you like, on any channels and inputs or outputs! DIGICheck is constantly updated. The latest version is always available on our website www.rme- audio.com, section Downloads / Software. User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 22: Hotline - Troubleshooting
 Check that there is a valid signal at the input. If so, the current sample frequency is displayed in the Settings dialog.  Check whether the Digiface Ravenna has been selected as recording device in the audio ap- plication.
Page 24: Driver And Firmware
Fireface USB.pkg. During driver installation the programs Fireface USB Settings and Totalmix (TotalMix FX) are copied to the Applications folder. They will automatically start into the dock if a Digiface Ravenna is connected. A reboot of the computer is not required.
Page 25: Firmware Update
If so, simply press the 'Update' button. A progress bar will indicate when the flash process is finished (Verify Ok). After the update the unit needs to be reset. This is done by unplugging the Digiface Ravenna for a few seconds. A reboot of the computer is not necessary.
Page 26: Configuring The Digiface Ravenna
14. Configuring the Digiface Ravenna 14.1 Settings Dialog Configuring the Digiface Ravenna is done via its own Settings dialog. Start the app Fireface USB Settings. The mixer of the Digiface Ravenna can be configured by starting the app Totalmix. The following is available in the Settings dialog: ...
Page 27: Ravenna Remote
Bus (USB 3 only) The Digiface Ravenna uses a special transmission mode with error correction in record mode. In case the default mode does not work Isochronous Streaming can be tried. This is the standard’s native mode for audio transmission and should work with any USB 3 controller (chapter 25.1).
Page 28: Channel Count Under Core Audio
(by feeding synchronized signals).  If the Digiface Ravenna is set to clock mode Master (Internal), all others have to be set to clock mode Slave, and have to be synced from the master. The clock modes of all units have to be set up correctly in the MADIface Settings dialog.
Page 29: Digicheck Ng Mac
 Completely multiclient. Open as many measurement windows as you like, on any channels and inputs or outputs! DIGICheck is constantly updated. The latest version is always available on our website www.rme- audio.com, section Downloads / Software. User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 30: Hotline - Troubleshooting
 Check that there is a valid signal at the input. If so, the current sample frequency is displayed in the Settings dialog.  Check whether the Digiface Ravenna has been selected as recording device in the audio ap- plication.
Page 32: Totalmix: Routing And Monitoring
The Digiface does not have a DSP, so there are no FX available. Here are some typical applications for TotalMix:  Setting up delay-free submixes (headphone mixes). The Digiface Ravenna allows for up to 65 fully independent stereo submixes. On an analog mixing desk, this would equal 130 Aux sends.
Page 34: The User Interface
The visual design of the TotalMix mixer is a result of its capability to route hardware inputs and software playback channels to any hardware output. The Digiface Ravenna provides 128 input channels, 128 software playback channels, and 130 hardware output channels: TotalMix can be used in the above view (View Options 2 Rows).
Page 35: The Channels
The arrow symbol at the bottom minimizes the channel width to that of the level meters. Another click maximizes it again. A mouse click with held Ctrl key causes all channels to the right to en- large and minimize at once. User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 36 The gain (fader knob position) of the currently active routing (the submix selected in the third row) is shown as white triangle. Background: TotalMix has no fixed channel fader. In case of the Digiface Ravenna there are 65 stereo Aux sends, shown alternately as single fader within the channel strip. The high number of Aux sends enables multiple and fully independent routings.
Page 37: Settings
Main Out. With this any hardware output can be controlled and listened to through the monitoring output very conveniently. Using the option Assign / Cue to in the Control Room section, Cue can also be used with any of the Phones outputs. User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 38: Section Control Room
Phones outs. The listbox includes all 130 hardware output channels. The output for the Cue signal, which is usually Main, can also be set to one of the Phones out- puts 1-4. This setting also controls the PFL mon- itoring. User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 39: The Control Strip
Device selection. Select the unit to be controlled in case more than one is installed on the computer. FX. Not functional with the Digiface Ravenna. Undo / Redo. With the unlimited Undo and Redo changes of the mix can be undone and redone, at any time.
Page 40: View Options
Level Meters  Post FX. Not functional with the Digiface Ravenna.  RMS Level. The numerical level display in the channels displays peak or RMS. Show ...
Page 41: Snapshots - Groups
Instead signals can be muted on specific submixes by the push of a button. A solo group operates exactly like the global solo, signals outside the current routing are not affected. User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 42: Channel Layout - Layout Presets
A double click onto any line opens the edit field for the Name (User) column. Enter jumps to the next line. The names of the channels in the Control Room section can only be changed this way. User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 43: Scroll Location Marker
When the TotalMix FX window is intentionally made small in width, so only a few channels are shown.  When some or all Settings panels are open. Then all settings are always visible, but require a lot of space horizontally. User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 44: Preferences
When connecting to a computer TotalMix FX will immediately load its settings into the Digiface.  Count MADI Channels per port. Not available for the Digiface Ravenna.  Disable ASIO Direct Monitoring. Disables ASIO Direct Monitoring (ADM) for the Digiface Ravenna within TotalMix FX.
Page 45: Store For Current Or All Users
Ravenna1.xml, which results in a complete reset to that file’s content whenever TotalMix FX is restarted. The xml-file is updated on exit, so simply set up TotalMix as desired and exit it (right mouse click on the symbol in the notification area). User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 46: Settings
 Exclusive Solo/PFL Mode. Only a single Solo or PFL can be active at a time. Activating a different one automatically deactivates the previous one.  2-Row Mode with only Input in first row. The Software Playback channels are shifted to the lower row, beside the Hardware Outputs. User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 47: Midi Page
TotalMix level meters in the preferences. Note: When MIDI Out is set to NONE then TotalMix FX can still be controlled by Mackie Control MIDI commands, but the 8-channel block is not marked as remote target. User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 48: Osc Page
 Number of faders per bank. Available choices are 8 (default), 12, 16, 24, 32 and 48. Note that when working in underper- forming networks, especially wireless, a higher number of faders might not work as smooth as expected. User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 49: Aux Devices
ADAT, AES/EBU and MADI, plus 4 channels of DA-conversion for moni- toring. It can be used as universal front-end for the Digiface Ravenna and other inter- faces. To simplify operation the most important pa- rameters of the XTC (gain, 48V, phase, mute, AutoSet) can be controlled directly from the TotalMix FX input channels.
Page 50: Hotkeys And Usage
DIGICheck). The dialog Preferences is opened with F3. Alt-F4 closes the current window. Alt and number keys 1 to 8 (not on the numeric keypad!) will load the corresponding Workspace from the Workspace Quick Select feature (hotkey W). User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 51: Menu Options
 Clear all submixes. Deletes all submixes.  Clear channel effects. Not valid for the Digiface Ravenna.  Set output volumes. All third row faders will be set to 0 dB, Main and Speaker B to -10 dB.
Page 52: Menu Window
A right mouse click on the labels brings up the context menu with the same options as in the mixer view: Copy / Mirror / Paste /Clear input channels and submixes. User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 53: Operation
The easiest and quickest way to delete complex routings is by selection of the according output channel in the mixer view by a right mouse click, and selection of the menu entry Clear Submix. As TotalMix FX includes an unlimited undo the delete process can be undone easily. User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 54: Copy And Paste Everywhere
The risk of feedbacks, a basic problem of loopback methods, is low, because the feedback can not happen within the mixer, only when the audio software is switched into monitoring mode. User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 55: Ms Processing
Expander, Compressor or Delay. The most basic application is the manipulation of the stereo width: a change of the level of the side channel allows to manipulate the stereo width from mono to stereo up to extended. User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 56: Midi Remote Control
Additionally, the stereo output faders (lowest row) which are set up as Main Out in the Control Room section can also be controlled by the standard Control Change Volume via MIDI channel 1. With this, the main volume of the Digiface Ravenna is controllable from nearly any MIDI equipped hardware device.
Page 57: Setup
Mackie compatible remote. Setting the main remote as number 2 and the extender as number 1 will cause the extender to be on the left side. Using this function the remotes will be shown as one fader block and navigate as one. User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 58: Midi Control
21.5 MIDI Control The hardware output set up as Main Out can be controlled by the standard Control Change Volume via MIDI channel 1. With this, the main volume of the Digiface Ravenna is controllable from nearly any MIDI equipped hardware device.
Page 59: Loopback Detection
RME offers a free iPad template for the iOS app TouchOSC (by Hexler, available in the Apple App-Store): http://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/tosc_tm_ipad_template.zip The RME forum hosts further information, more templates (iPhone…) and lots of useful user feed- back. User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 60: Daw Mode
 Talkback, External Input  Phones definition and handling with Talkback  Speaker A / B  All FX (EQ, Dynamics, Echo, Reverb – not for the Digiface Ravenna)  Mute and Solo  Cue / PFL User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 61: Totalmix Remote
TotalMix Remote is a remote control for TotalMix FX v1.50 and up, to control the hardware mixer and effects in RME audio interfaces. TotalMix Remote mirrors the current state of the host system on the iPad and Windows/Mac computers - the entire mixing state, the complete routing, all FX settings, up to the level meters, and everything in real-time.
Page 62 • State. Is shown in the upper right corner (offline or connected), or the Mac/Windows title bar. Downloads Remote Windows http://www.rme-audio.de/download/tmfx_win_remote.zip Remote Mac http://www.rme-audio.de/download/tmfx_mac_remote.zip iPad From the Apple App Store, search for 'TotalMix Remote'. This app is free. User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 64: Technical Specification
 Output level at 0 dBFS, 1 kOhm load: +9.5 dBu  Max power @ 0.1% THD: 50 mW Digital  Clocks: Internal, RAVENNA (PTP), word, MADI  Supported sample rates: 44.1 kHz up to 192 kHz User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 65: Firmware
At the time of writing this manual the Digiface Ravenna is shipped with firmware 56. The firmware version is displayed in the Settings dialog as well as the Firmware Update Tool.
Page 66: Technical Background
Digiface Ravenna hardware, detecting errors during transmission via USB 2 and 3, and displaying them in the Settings dialog. Additionally the Digiface Ravenna provides a special mechanism to continue recording and playback in case of drop-outs, and to correct the sample position in real-time.
Page 67 USB devices, including the Digiface Ravenna. By recon- necting to a different port this view shows at which of the two controllers the Digiface Ravenna is connected. With multiple devices it can be checked if they are connected to the same controller.
Page 68: Madi Basics
Controversially discussed way of ensuring hi-end audio quality and processing by quadrupling the sample frequency. 128 kHz is non-existent, 176.4 kHz is rare, if at all then 192 kHz is used, e.g. for DVD Audio. User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 69 Frame using S/MUX: the receiver can detect the real (double) sample rate on its own and imme- diately. With 48K Frame and S/MUX, the user has to set up the correct sample rate in all involved devices manually. User's Guide Digiface Ravenna © RME...
Page 72: Warranty
Audio AG does not accept claims for damages of any kind, especially consequential damage. Liability is limited to the value of the Digiface Ravenna. The general terms of business drawn up by Audio AG apply at all times.
Page 73: Declaration Of Conformity
Synthax United States, 6600 NW 16th Street, Suite 10, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33313 T.:754.206.4220 Trade Name: RME, Model Number: Digiface Ravenna This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.

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