The ability to set one SSL audio card as master device, and pre-select a clock source for each card according to its master/slave
device status, means that whenever a new card is set to master, the previous master automatically switches to slave and to the
corresponding pre-selected clock source. There is no need to change the settings of each card manually; it is all done
automatically according to your clock pre-selections.
Also, when used as a master device and slaved to an external clock signal, MX4 checks for changes to the sample rate of that
clock signal and changes its own sample rate setting accordingly. These sample rate changes are applied automatically to the
Soundscape slave devices.
Clock Source Selectors
Separate selection menus are provided to select the clock source for the card when used as a SSL Master Device or as a SSL
Slave Device.The selection menus provide the following options:
•
Internal: If this option is selected, MX4 locks to its own on-board clock generator. It also means that the BNC connector
operates as a WordClock output, suitable to provide a clock reference to the slave devices.
The Internal setting is only available when Master is selected.
•
Sync-in Word Clock: If this option is selected, MX4 will lock to a WordClock signal received via its BNC connector, which will
operate as an input.
•
MADI-A or MADI-B: If either of these options is selected, MX4 will lock to the MADI clock signal received via the
corresponding MADI input port.
Sample Rate Selection Menu
When the card is set as a SSL Master Device and the Internal clock setting is
selected, this menu allows a sample rate to be selected. The available
sample rates are 44100Hz, 48000Hz, 88200Hz, 96000Hz, 176400Hz and
19200Hz.
In all other cases, the Sample Rate menu is grayed-out and cannot be used.
MADI Format Settings
MADI Standard SMUX
When the MADI standard SMUX box is checked and the card is operating at
high sample rates (88200Hz or higher), the data for each audio channel is
transmitted or received over two or four channels of the MADI interface (i.e.,
two at 88200 or 96000Hz. The number of available channels is divided by
two or four accordingly at these sample rates.
When the MADI standard SMUX box is not checked, if operating at high
sample rates (88200Hz or higher), the frame rate is multiplied by two or four and the frame size divided by two or four. The
same restrictions to the number of channels apply as in SMUX mode. For MX4 these settings apply to both MADI ports – they
can not be set independently. For either Port, please ensure MX4 is set to the same mode as the external device(s) connected
to its MADI port(s).
MADI 56-Channel Mode
When the MADI 56-channel mode box is checked, the MADI interface can transmit or receive up to 56 audio channels (reducing
to 28 channels when operating at 88200 or 96000Hz. When the MADI 56-channel mode box is not checked, the MADI interface
can transmit or receive up to 64 audio channels (reducing to 32 channels when operating at 88200 or 96000Hz.
These settings apply to both MADI ports –
they can not be set independently.
Test Mode Selection (may not be present)
If this option is present, it should be set to Normal.
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