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Prism Sound Orpheus Operation Manual

Firewire audio interface
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  • Page 3 Orpheus Operation Manual by Ian Dennis This manual is also available as 'on-line help' from the Orpheus Control Panel applet. You can access the on-line help from the 'Help' button in the top right-hand corner of the applet.

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Part 1 General information Part 2 Introduction to Orpheus Features ..........................6 System requirements ..........................7 About this manual ..........................7 Part 3 Quick start guides Quick start for Mac ..........................10 Quick start for Windows ..........................10...
  • Page 5 Input Setup tab ............................... Output Setup tab ............................... Mixer tabs ............................... ADAT tab ............................... Orpheus drivers ..........................40 Part 7 Technical topics Stability and latency ..........................42 Clocking and jitter ..........................43 Dither and noise-shaping ..........................45 Analogue interconnections ..........................48...
  • Page 7 Part General information...

  • Page 8: General Information

    Email: tech.support@prismsound.com Web: http://www.prismsound.com Or contact your local Prism Sound distributor as detailed on the website. WARNING! TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARD DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. DO NOT REMOVE THE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
  • Page 9 Prism Sound Orpheus Operation Manual Revision 1.05 Statements of conformity 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. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against interference in a residential area.
  • Page 11 Part Introduction to Orpheus...

  • Page 12: Introduction To Orpheus

    MIDI interface as well as a host of advanced synchronization and monitoring facilities. In short, Orpheus is intended to provide 'studio in a box' functionality for the digital audio workstation (DAW) user. That's not so unusual - there are many other interfaces on the market which provide similar functionality.

  • Page 13: System Requirements

    The printed version of the manual is also provided in 'electronic' format, as a 'pdf' file, on the Orpheus software disc. The pdf file can be viewed and printed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded free at www.adobe.com.
  • Page 15 Part Quick start guides...

  • Page 16: Quick Start Guides

    WDM audio ports, and a bidirectional MIDI port. Note that only the first two ADAT ports (if enabled by the Orpheus Control Panel applet) are visible in the WDM case. NOTE: Do not connect the Orpheus unit to the FireWire port of the PC until instructed to do so during the installation process.
  • Page 17 Part Installation procedures...

  • Page 18: Installation Procedures

    The full installation procedure is as follows: · Connect your Orpheus to the mains supply with the power-cord provided. DO NOT connect it to the Mac yet. · Insert the installation disc into a DVD-ROM drive on your Mac.
  • Page 19 Prism Sound Orpheus Operation Manual Revision 1.05 · A copy of the Orpheus EULA will appear, which you should read: · Agree to the EULA by clicking 'Agree': © 2008 Prism Media Products Ltd 1.13...
  • Page 20 Prism Sound Orpheus Operation Manual Revision 1.05 · Select a destination volume for the installation, if necessary: · Click 'Upgrade' to perform a basic installation:: © 2008 Prism Media Products Ltd 1.14...
  • Page 21 · You may need to enter an administrator's name and password. Click 'OK': · The installation process will then complete: · When software installation is complete, close the box and connect the Orpheus unit to the FireWire port of the Mac.
  • Page 22 Prism Sound Orpheus Operation Manual Revision 1.05 routine Tiger online update process. A copy of the patch can be found on the Orpheus installation disc. Before installing the patch, ensure that your Mac has been updated to at least version 10.4.11. This should happen automatically if online updates are enabled.

  • Page 23: Windows Installation

    Windows PC. You must have Windows XP, Vista (32-bit) or later, and a spare FireWire 400 (IEEE1394A) port. · Connect your Orpheus to the mains supply with the power-cord provided. DO NOT connect it to the PC yet.
  • Page 24 Operation Manual Revision 1.05 · You will be asked to agree to the Orpheus EULA - if you agree, click 'Yes': · Choose the installation folder location by clicking 'Browse', if required, or else use the default (recommended); click 'Next': ©...
  • Page 25 Revision 1.05 · Installation will then proceed: · Orpheus' drivers are have not been submitted for Windows Logo testing, and so warnings of this will be issued during installation. Select 'Continue anyway' when these occur: © 2008 Prism Media Products Ltd...

  • Page 26: Cascading Multiple Units

    Operation Manual Revision 1.05 · During installation, you will be prompted to connect the Orpheus to the FireWire port of the PC. Do so, then click 'Next': The Orpheus device's ports should now be visible to Windows and any applications as both ASIO and WDM audio ports, and a bidirectional MIDI port.
  • Page 27 Part Orpheus hardware...

  • Page 28: Orpheus Hardware

    The figure above is a simplified block diagram of the Orpheus audio signal paths. Orpheus is basically a sound card, with all inputs made available to the host computer via the FireWire bus, and all outputs likewise driven from the FireWire bus. However, Orpheus' signal paths contain a range of enhanced processing and mixing functions, which are described in the following sections.

  • Page 29: Overkiller

    Note that there is no explicit stereo width control provided in the matrix; however width can be adjusted by balancing the gains of the mid and side inputs - the gain steps of the Orpheus microphone preamplifiers are fine and precise. In line input mode, no fine gain adjustment is available, so if the Orpheus MS matrices are used with external preamplifiers, these must have fine and accurate gain control if width adjustment is required.

  • Page 30: Sample-Rate Converter

    In normal operation, the eight analogue outputs are fed directly with individual signals from the host PC or Mac; however, it is possible to feed the outputs from local digital mixers within the Orpheus hardware if desired - this is described in the Output mixers section below.

  • Page 31: Digital Outputs

    Word-length It is possible to control the word-length of the S/PDIF output using the word-length control, uppermost in the DO1/2 strip in the Output Setup tab of the Orpheus Control Panel applet. The control operates as follows: © 2008 Prism Media Products Ltd...

  • Page 32: Do Synchronization

    5.1.4.3 DO synchronization Note that it is necessary to ensure that the sample clock of any digital audio device to which Orpheus' digital outputs are connected is synchronous with Orpheus' own sample clock. This is usually achieved by synchronizing the receiving equipment to Orpheus' S/PDIF, ADAT or Wordclock output, but can be achieved by synchronizing Orpheus to the receiving device's clock or house sync (by setting DI or Wordclock as Orpheus' sync source).

  • Page 33: Assignable Level Control

    Second, the headphone outputs cannot be assigned to the assignable gain control. This is because they already have dedicated volume controls on the front panel. 5.1.8 Metering system Orpheus' front panel meters can meter the level of either inputs or outputs as selected in the Unit Settings tab of the Orpheus Control Panel applet.

  • Page 34: Synchronization

    In the former case, the SRC simply converts any incoming digital signal of whatever sample rate to the sample rate of the Orpheus system. But if the SRC is in the digital output, it is necessary to specify what the output sample rate must be. Furthermore, it may be necessary to lock the output rate to an arbitrary external reference.

  • Page 35: Front Panel

    · Standby button: puts the unit into a low-power standby state. Note that the FireWire interface is still active in standby mode, so the Orpheus unit can still be recognised by the host, although its inputs and outputs are inactive. The LED in the standby button flashes to identify the unit in multi-unit setups when the 'Identify' button in the Control Panel applet is clicked.

  • Page 36: Rear Panel

    S/PDIF output (if lit when the meters are in output mode. Rear panel Orpheus' rear panel contains all Orpheus' connections, except for the instrument inputs and headphone outputs, which are on the front panel. From left to right (viewed from rear): ·...

  • Page 37: Fuses And Ratings

    It is possible to operate Orpheus without a FireWire connection to a host computer. This is done by setting up the unit as required using the Orpheus Control Panel applet whilst it is connected to a host computer via its FireWire interface, then placing the unit in standby by pressing the standby button, before disconnecting the unit from the host and power source.

  • Page 38: Rack Mounting

    The hub can be initially raised with a small flat-bladed screwdriver. Retain the feet for later use. If Orpheus units are rack mounted, an empty 1U gap should be left above each Orpheus to ensure effective cooling.
  • Page 39 Part Orpheus software...

  • Page 40: Orpheus Software

    Orpheus Control Panel. Accessing the Orpheus Control Panel The Orpheus Control Panel can be run directly like any other Mac or Windows program, or it can be accessed from the operating system itself, from the "Sound and Audio devices" dialogue in the Windows' Control Panel (or from the Device Manager) or from the Audio MIDI Setup in Mac OS X.
  • Page 41 Prism Sound Orpheus Operation Manual Revision 1.05 © 2008 Prism Media Products Ltd 1.35...

  • Page 42: Unit And Global Settings

    Unit Settings Global Settings. Unit Settings are applied only to the Orpheus unit which the Control Panel is currently assigned to control, whereas Global Settings apply to all connected Orpheus units as a whole. The upper area also contains buttons for...
  • Page 43 NOTE: It is not possible to change the sample rate in a Windows system whilst any of Orpheus' ports are in use in WDM mode. In this case it is necessary to disconnect the ports from the application before changing the sample rate.

  • Page 44: Input Setup Tab

    UNLock and ASNC indicators are provided. UNLock is lit when no S/PDIF carrier is detected at the selected input; ASNC (asynchronous) is lit when the incoming carrier is not locked to Orpheus' selected sync source. All inputs have high-resolution peak metering, with overload indication 0.05dB below clipping;...

  • Page 45: Mixer Tabs

    ('DAW') or from a dedicated low-latency foldback mixer ('Mixer'). Each stereo mixer can mix any of Orpheus' analogue or digital inputs to the output pair, along with the DAW feed, as described in the following section. The headphone output pair has a third 'Bus' setting which allows it to monitor any of the other output pairs using the row of headphone bus radio buttons.

  • Page 46: Adat Tab

    It is not necessary to run the Orpheus Control Panel applet for applications to be able to use Orpheus; however, the applet is needed if any but the most basic control of Orpheus' functions is required.
  • Page 47 Part Technical topics...

  • Page 48: Technical Topics

    Revision 1.05 Technical topics The following sections contain detailed discussions of various relevant technical issues. The content of these sections is not required to operate Orpheus, but is provided merely as background information. Stability and latency Since audio production has found its way inside the computer, new problems concerning issues of stability and latency have arisen.

  • Page 49: Clocking And Jitter

    Operation Manual Revision 1.05 In the case of Orpheus, problems of latency and stability are improved by a couple of useful features: First of all, the operator can control the buffer delays within the Mac and Windows drivers directly, irrespective of what buffering is employed by the user's particular audio software. It is generally recommended that these buffer delays are set long, in order to provide best stability.
  • Page 50 Prism Sound Orpheus Operation Manual Revision 1.05 But why is clock jitter so important? Analysis of sampling jitter Analysis of sampling jitter (small variations in the sampling intervals of an A/D or D/A converter) shows that it produces a similar effect to phase modulation, where distortion components appear as ‘...

  • Page 51: Dither And Noise-Shaping

    Orpheus and CleverClox Orpheus is designed to source clocks which are as stable and accurate as possible, and also with the aim of being insensitive to the quality of incoming clocks. It is designed to remove jitter from any selected reference sync source before it is used as a conversion timebase, so as to eliminate any audible effects of sampling jitter, whatever sync source is used.
  • Page 52 Orpheus provides a comprehensive choice of dithering and noise-shaping processes. These comprise ‘flat’ dithering, plus a selection of four Prism Sound ‘SNS’ (‘Super Noise Shaping’) algorithms. All produce high-quality 16 bit output: the choice of which one to use is purely subjective.
  • Page 53 SNS2 is a good starting point for most situations. The Prism Sound SNS logo shown above is found on many of the world’s finest CDs, and is recognised as a standard of technical excellence. The logo, and accompanying sleeve note, is available by contacting sales@prismsound.com.

  • Page 54: Analogue Interconnections

    Revision 1.05 Analogue interconnections To maintain the high sound quality of Orpheus, it is important to follow some basic guidelines when making analogue connections to the unit. This section discusses some things to watch out for. © 2008 Prism Media Products Ltd...
  • Page 55 This is especially true for jacks, where unreliable tip connection can owing to the slightly non-conforming shape of some manufacturers' parts. Neutrik connectors are used in Orpheus, and these are recommended to ensure reliably-mating cables.
  • Page 56 (the outer of the instrument input jacks, or pin 1 of the mic input XLRs). Since no dedicated terminal exists on Orpheus, it is usually easiest to connect the wire to the outer of one of the deck's unbalanced output connectors. In some situations, a direct connection to local mains ground may work better.
  • Page 57 Prism Sound Orpheus Operation Manual Revision 1.05 · Ensure that signals passing between equipment do so at as high a level as is practical; · If switching interference is heard, try to identify the source equipment by unplugging things one by one.
  • Page 59 Part Specifications...

  • Page 60: Specifications

    Mac audio driver: Core Audio device WDM and ASIO devices Windows audio driver: Graphical user interface for control of single or multiple Orpheus units Control Panel applet: under Mac OS X or Windows © 2008 Prism Media Products Ltd 1.54...
  • Page 61 Prism Sound Orpheus Operation Manual Revision 1.05 Analog Line Inputs Electronically balanced, with fully-balanced analog signal path Configuration: Input sensitivity: Switchable ‘+4dBu’ (0dBFS=+18dBu) or ‘-10dBV’ (0dBFS=+6dBu) 14.5kR Input impedance: Unbalanced mode: Automatic -117dB (0.00014%, -0.1dBFS) Total harmonic distortion: THD+n: -111dB (0.00028%, -0.1dBFS)
  • Page 62 Full implementation, Consumer (S/PDIF) or Professional (AES3) Channel Status: Word-length: 24 bits, or reduction to 16 bits using flat TPDF dither or Prism Sound SNS (Super Noise-Shaping - four alternative shapes available) Via S/PDIF RCA, using RCA-XLR adapter (supplied) AES3 operation: Selectable at S/PDIF output;...
  • Page 63 Prism Sound Orpheus Operation Manual Revision 1.05 Physical Table-top (including feet): 440x290x50mm Dimensions: 1U rack-mount (including ears): 483x290x44.5mm Weight: 3.7kg. 90VAC-250VAC, 50-60Hz Mains voltage: Power consumption: Fuse rating: 0.5A(T), 20mm, glass 0 to 35ºC, 85% maximum relative humidity Operating ambient: ©...
  • Page 64 Prism Sound Orpheus Operation Manual Revision 1.05 Performance Plots © 2008 Prism Media Products Ltd 1.58...
  • Page 65 Prism Sound Orpheus Operation Manual Revision 1.05 Except where otherwise stated, audio performance data are typical, RMS, unweighted, 20Hz..20kHz figures, measured at 997Hz, using fs=96kHz and '+4dBu' sensitivity settings. In keeping with our policy of continual development, specifications are subject to amendment without notice.

  • Page 66: Index

    Index - D - Delay Device Manager - 2 - DI synchronization DI unlocked indicator 256x clock Digital inputs 23, 38 Digital outputs 25, 38 - A - Dither 25, 45 DO synchronizarion ADAT 27, 40 Drivers ADAT control ADAT Direct mode - E - ADAT input ADAT outputs...
  • Page 67 10, 12, 34 Phase-reverse Manual Phono cartridges 23, 48 Maximum number of channels Prism Sound, CleverClox Meter panel Prism Sound, SNS (Super Noise-Shaping) Meters Mic inputs 22, 38 - Q - Microphone preamplifiers Mixer controls Quick start guide, Mac Mixers...
  • Page 68 Ref sync 24, 26, 28 Windows 10, 17, 34, 40 Reference sync 24, 26, 28, 43 Wordclock 24, 26, 28, 43 RIAA de-emphasis filter 23, 38, 48 Word-length 25, 45 Rubber feet - S - S/PDIF input 23, 24 S/PDIF output Sample Rate control Sample-rate converter 24, 25...

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