System User Guide
Contents
1. 14 System 2 Single Control Room and Live Room setup analogue 2 x RedNet 2 Control Room 2 x RedNet 4 live room Control Room Live Room Mac PC O O ma GBit GBit 8 Channel Mic Pre Switch Switch CAT 6 Ethernet 16 Channel AD DA 8 Channel Mic Pre 5 Cables Analogue Mixing Desk This small studio system would allow up to 48 sources to be recorded simultaneously 16 of these could be from mic or line sources in the live room with another 32 from line sources in the control room via the RedNet 2 units Up to 32 outputs could also be made available via the RedNet 2 s outputs System 3 Single Control Room and Live Room setup digital As above but RedNet 3 replaces RedNet 2 in CR for interface to digital mixer Control Room Live Room Ki m TIN 32 Digital I O er 8 Channel Mic Pre GBit GBit Mac PC zo Switch Switch CAT 6 re E Ethernet 32 Digital I O 8 Channel Mic Pre w Cables This would be a suitable system if the mixing desk In use was digital rather than analogue RedNet 3 replaces RedNet 2 in System 2 This would provide up to 64 digital inputs into the system via RedNet 3 s ADAT format inputs If analogue sources were required in the control room as well a RedNet 1 2 or 4 as appropriate could simply be added to the network Dante Virtual Soundcard setup RedNet 4 only no switch straight to host Ethernet port CAT 6 Ethernet Cable 8 Channel Mic Pre2. This shows the very simple network required if your system does not include a RedNet PCle card The host computer would instead have the Dante Virtual Soundcard installed and a single Cat connection between RedNet 4 and the host s resident Ethernet port would suffice This system would be ideal for basic high quality recording but would require monitoring to be through an amplifier speaker system connected directly to the host computer s resident audio output 16 RedNet audio distribution system no DAW RedNets 1 4 in different rooms audio networking only Recording Room Recording Room Machine Room Daw RedNet Host PCle Card M GBit Switch aa GBit Switch T LIXMIILD GBit Switch trol R Digital 2 ntrol R Anal Control Room Digita GBit Switch Control Room Analogue GBit Switch Digital Mixing REE Console Analogue Mixing Console In this more complex centralised system users In any room would be able to access audio sources from any other room Each room has its own local Ethernet switch and each is connected in turn back to a central switch in the machine room The host computer which may or may not be a DAW platform is connected to this central switch In such a system the routing of any physical input to any physical output somewhere else in the system would be set up using Dante Controller which permits specific per channel routings to be made at will OPERATION WITH R
3. 18 Dragging a second unit into the ROUTED area in the same way and placing it below the first unit will assign the second block of routings again the number of additional channels routed will be determined by RedNet type In the example shown below the first unit to be assigned the top panel is a RedNet 4 and the second a RedNet 2 Thus the host computer will have its Audio Inputs 1 8 mapped to the physical inputs of RedNet 4 and Audio Inputs 9 24 mapped to the physical inputs of RedNet 2 Audio Outputs 1 16 will only be available from RedNet 2 because RedNet 4 Is an input only device eoo Rednet Control RedNet units may be unassigned in the same manner by dragging them from the ROUTED area to the AVAILABLE area Note that right clicking anywhere in the RedNet Control window except the metering areas will open the utility menu which contains the option UNROUTE ALL Selecting this will unassign all units in the system See Utility menu on page 21 If you hover the cursor over the channel number of any unit in the ROUTED area you will see tooltip text confirming which input or output channel of the RedNet PCle card the unit channel is mapped to In the example given above if you hover over Input 2 of the RedNet 2 s virtual panel you will see a tooltip indicating gt PCIe Channel 10 In the case of outputs the tooltip arrow position Is reversed thus PCIe Channel 2 gt Other routing possibilities are avail
4. The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance servicing instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance WARNING TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS TO RAIN OR MOISTURE AND OBJECTS FILLED WITH LIQUIDS SUCH AS VASES SHOULD NOT BE PLACED ON THIS APPARATUS ENVIRONMENTAL DECLARATION Compliance Information Statement Declaration of Compliance procedure Product Identification Focusrite RedNet Responsible party American Music and Sound Address 4325 Executive Drive Suite 300 Southaven MS 38672 Telephone 800 431 2609 This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules Operation is subject to the following two conditions 1 This device may not cause harmful interference and 2 this device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation For USA To the User 1 Do not modify this unit This product when installed as indicated in the instructions contained in this manual meets FCC requirements Modifications not expressly approved by Focusrite may void your authority granted by the FCC to use this product 2 Important This product satisfies FCC regulations when high quality shielded cables are used to connect with other equipment Failure to use high quality shielded cables or to follow the installation instructions within
5. as many interfaces as required e Pristine audio quality with low latency e Round trip latency less than 3 ms with RedNet PCle card e Based on Dante proven reliability and robustness e 24 bit up to 192 kHz sample rate e Very simple to configure e Hot swappable interfaces e Remote control of all interfaces via included RedNet control software e Supports any open DAW package including ProTools Logic and Nuendo e Mac and Windows compatible REDNET SYSTEM COMPONENTS A RedNet system requires both hardware and software components The RedNet hardware range currently consists of various models of I O interface and a PCle digital audio interface card which is installed in the system s host computer All the I O units can be considered as Break Out and or Break In boxes to from the network and all are built in mains powered 2U 19 rackmounting housings There are three software Items for installation on the host computer RedNet Control Dante Controller and Dante Virtual Soundcard RedNet Control is required for all systems and Dante Controller is a useful accessory but familiarity with it s not absolutely essential for operation of simpler systems Dante Virtual Soundcard is an optional software alternative to the RedNet PCle card and allows the creation of RedNet systems without a dedicated computer interface card Systems based on Dante Virtual Soundcard have a lower channel capacity and a slightly inferior latency perform
6. indicators and rear panel connections of the various RedNet hardware interfaces will be found in the separate User Guide supplied with each unit Rednet PCle card 1 RJ45 network socket Connect this to the Gigabit network switch local to the computer The port is the primary interface for all the channels of audio on the RedNet network The socket has integral LEDs which illuminate to indicate connection to an active network port and network activity 2 SYS multi colour LED indicating the card s Dante system status e Green normal operation e Orange system failure 3 CLK multi colour LED indicating the card s sync status e Green steady confirms card is a Dante PTP slave the card will sync to the clock embedded In the Incoming Dante bitstream e Green blinking confirms card is a Dante PTP master the card is set in Dante Controller to generate the Dante clock which will be used by other units e Orange sync failure 4 ERR reserved for future use NOTE additional LED displays are thus e AllLEDs red card has entered failsafe mode If this situation occurs users are recommended to contact Focusrite Customer Support e All LEDs blinking green identify function has been activated from Dante Controller The RedNet PCle card is a standard single width PCle card which will fit an empty card slot in a PC or Mac The slot used must be 4 lane minimum though 16 lane is necessary to achieve maximum perfor
7. this manual may cause magnetic interference with appliances such as radios and televisions and void your FCC authorization to use this product in the USA 3 Note This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a commercial environment This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions may cause harmful interference to radio communications Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense For Canada To the User This Class A digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES 003 Cet appareil num rique de la classe A est conforme a la norme NMB 003 du Canada RoHS Notice Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited has conformed where applicable to the European Union s Directive 2002 95 EC on Restrictions of Hazardous Substances RoHS as well as the following sections of California law which refer to RoHS namely sections 25214 10 25214 10 2 and 58012 Health and Safety Code Section 42475 2 Public Resources Code TABLE OF CONTENTS IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 23 ociccaconnes radar race 25644046 AAA 2 INTRODUCTION 5c ae hap e rs tee ahha a Se ae tae at
8. will see that moving units from AVAILABLE to ROUTED in RedNet Control and or rearranging their order in ROUTED gives a channel by channel confirmation in Dante Controller of the routing thus established Custom routings The simple default routings established from RedNet Control will probably suffice for most recording situations However you can alter the routing setup at any time by clicking at any of the intersections in the Dante Controller matrix When you do so the default one to one channel routings made in RedNet Control are lost and the side panes of all routed units in RedNet Control will no longer display any channel numbers Other Dante Controller options Various other facilities are available in Dante Controller which are not specific to its use as the transmission platform for RedNet A full set of Help files is installed with the application Click Help gt Contents for further information 23 APPENDIX REGISTERING YOUR PRODUCT For technical support please register your product at www focusrite com register CUSTOMER SUPPORT You can contact Focusrite Customer Support at Email supportteam dfocusrite com Phone 44 0 1494 462246 TROUBLESHOOTING If you are experiencing problems with your RedNet System we recommend that in the first instance you visit our Support Answerbase at www focusrite com answerbase 26 21 28
9. with strict priority e A managed switch is also recommended to provide detailed information about the operation of each network link port speed error counters bandwidth used etc Additional information on switch requirements can be found at www focusrite com rednet A note about Latency No digital audio system is instantaneous the term latency is used to express the time by which the audio is delayed in travelling through the system In practice latency only becomes a problem when mixing signals from systems having significantly different delays The Dante protocol used by RedNet exhibits very low latency and you should not experience any problems In normal recording practice when using it for multichannel audio transport between a DAW and sources or monitoring With the RedNet PCle card in use round trip latency can be less than 3 ms depending on buffer size and sample rate If you are using Dante Virtual Soundcard instead of the RedNet PCle card additional processing time Is required by the computer However you should achieve the same order of latency as with a FireWire interface The precise latency of any given system will be determined by a number of factors including the processing speed of the computer the number of switches in the network the make model of switch used and the network topology INSTALLATION GUIDE UNIT CONNECTIONS AND FEATURES RedNet 1 0 interfaces Full details of the front panel controls
10. EDNET CONTROL When RedNet Control is launched it interrogates the network to discover which RedNet units are connected This may take a few moments after which a set of virtual front panels is displayed When RedNet Control is launched for the first time the screen display should be similar to that shown below Each RedNet unit on the network will have a corresponding virtual front panel on screen so the display on your system will probably differ from that above where the example system has one each of RedNets 1 2 and 4 Audio routing Note that the virtual rack is divided into two areas the upper is labelled ROUTED and the lower is labelled AVAILABLE Initially all RedNet units on the network will be AVAILABLE because no routings have yet been established Note that the left hand inputs and right hand outputs grey panes of each panel are un numbered at this stage To route audio to or from a RedNet unit left click on the units panel and drag it upwards into the ROUTED area After a few seconds the side panes will indicate that the first available block of audio inputs and outputs have been assigned to that unit starting at Input 1 and Output 1 The number of inputs and outputs assigned in this way will depend on the RedNet unit type as shown below RedNet 1 Inputs 1 to 8 Outputs 1 to 8 RedNet 3 Inputs 1 to 32 Outputs 1 to 32 RedNet 2 Inputs 1 to 16 Outputs 1 to 16 RedNet 4 Inputs 1 to 8
11. Macs or in A11 Programs in Windows or by selecting Edit Routing from the right click Utility menu In RedNet Control 22 AAA PAE ontroller o Vi aap eeeianiees File Device Help I Dante Transmitters A Device Status Clock Status Events HE Dante Receivers Filter Transmitters Filter Receivers Nemacpro PCle QO HHA gt Rednetl HAH AM PM 1 The Dante Controller window has four tabs Routing Device Status Clock Status and Events The Routing tab is where custom audio routings can be set up The routing page is arranged as a matrix with audio inputs listed horizontally Dante Transmitters and audio outputs listed vertically Dante Receivers The symbol against each RedNet device may be clicked to expand the full set of inputs or outputs Note that in the case of an input only interface le g RedNet 4 no outputs are listed Clicking the symbol against the horizontal vertical titles Dante Transmitters and Dante Receivers simultaneously expands all audio inputs and outputs respectively clicking the symbol collapses them In addition to the RedNet devices on the network all 128 inputs and 128 outputs available through the RedNet PCle card are listed 23 The matrix displays graphically how the physical inputs and outputs on the RedNet units are currently mapped to the audio channels of the RedNet PCle card Consider a simple situation where a single Red
12. Net 1 unit is on the network Rednet Control Expanding the RedNet PCle card inputs vertical axis Dante Receivers and the RedNet 1 audio inputs horizontal axis Dante Transmitters will give a display like this 600 Dante Controller Network View File Device Help Master Clock Nemacpro PCle A Device Status Clock Status Events A d L t 1 Filter Transmitters Filter Receivers Dante Receivers E AL Es e 7 o o o Dante Transmitters er Ut A bd AS e k 1 H V 24 You can see that the Dante Controller confirms that each of the RedNet 1 s Inputs 1 to 8 is mapped to Inputs 1 8 on the RedNet PCle card by a green tick Similarly expanding the RedNet PCle card outputs horizontal axis Dante Transmitters and the RedNet 1 audio outputs vertical axis Dante Receivers gives a display like this 600 Bu Dante Controller Network View File Device Help Master Clock Nemacpro PCle E Device Status Clock Status Events AAA Dante Transmitters E Audinate Filter Receivers Dante Receivers Tr 7 y a a mew a a aaa E M MEE AAA aaa Again the Dante Controller confirms that each of the RedNet 1 s Outputs 1 to 8 is mapped to Outputs 1 8 on the RedNet PCle card This basic graphic principle extends to all RedNet units on the network if you have more than one RedNet unit in your system you
13. REDNET System User Guide Focusrite FA0458 02 www focusrite com IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 1 Read these instructions Keep these Instructions Heed all warnings Follow all instructions Do not use this apparatus near water Clean only with dry cloth oe eo ae IN Do not block any ventilation openings Install in accordance with the manufacturer s instructions 8 Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators heat registers stoves or other apparatus including amplifiers that produce heat 9 Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding type plug A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet 10 Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs convenience receptacles and the point where they exit from the apparatus 11 Only use attachments accessories specified by the manufacturer 12 Use only with the cart stand tripod bracket or table specified by the manufacturer A or sold with the apparatus When a cart is used use caution when moving the cart AZ apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip over 13 Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of tim
14. able from Dante Controller see Using Dante Controller on page 22 for more Information 19 Virtual panel layout REGHET g 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 INPUTS OUTPUTS 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 16 CHANNEL AD DA As well as duplicating the controls and indicators on the individual units physical front panels the virtual front panels have a number of features common to all RedNet types 1 Input pane when the unit is ROUTED this shows the range of input channels the unit s physical inputs are mapped to Output pane when the unit is ROUTED this shows the range of output channels unit s physical outputs are mapped to Minimize icon click this to reduce the virtual front panel to a nominal size The controls and indicators are no longer available when the panel is minimized ID icon click this to flash the meter LEDs on the physical unit The LEDs flash for approx 9 seconds This is a useful feature when you have multiple units of the same type Use it to identify a unit and then name the unit according to its usage see item 7 below Tools icon clicking this will open a menu whose contents will depend on the RedNet unit type Various unit settings may be controlled More details are given in the RedNet hardware manuals Busy Warning Fault icons if the network is re interrogating as it will when a unit is moved between ROUTED and AVAILABLE for example a blue rotating clock symbol appears here If there is a co
15. ah n 5 ABOUT TAIS User G de suc eier 9 OVE VIEW iea an Ae ee aa bed oe ene a eG Cate en E 6 RedNet System ComponentS 0 0c ccc eens 6 MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 2 2 2 2 A 8 Network Requirements 222232420 a a LE he IE I se 8 INSTALLATION GUIDE puerro ee 10 Unit Connections and Features occccccoccco eens 10 BEINE ota Olano ES A ae 11 AOS LUO CIN Ces ee E ea ee II 11 Constructing a RedNet system we ramiro hdd ha dw en 12 Example RedNet studio SetupS 0 eee 14 OPERATION WITH REDNET CONTROL 18 Using Dante Virtual Soundcard seen Ad dec Ae EA aoe Se ech 22 Using Dante Controle icc einai rasieren bees awa 22 APPENDIX SH 200202 26 Registering your PrOQUEL user as are ern da A AAA ARALAR 26 Customer SUPPO eer sacs her An Nee 26 MEO UML SINOIO UI Gh ser ne re EEE EEE EHRE 26 INTRODUCTION Thank you for investing in the Focusrite RedNet system RedNet is a powerful low latency digital audio networking system designed specifically for music recording studio and broadcast applications It is based on Audinates Dante a well established audio networking technology known for its extreme robustness Dante and the RedNet system is capable of transporting up to 512 channels of bidirectional audio at 48 kHz sample rate over a single Ethernet link The number of channels available in your DAW will depend on the host method being used RedNet brings Dante technology into the studio as the basis of a complet
16. ance compared to systems using the PCle card RedNet I O interfaces A variety of audio interfaces is available for the RedNet system including mic preamps analogue line level I O and various interfaces catering for digital protocols For more information please visit www focusrite com rednet Full details of each RedNet interface can also be found In the User Guides supplied with each unit RedNet PCle card Dante a The RedNet PCle PCI Express card is an optional hardware interface between the Ethernet network interconnecting the various I O units in a RedNet system and the host computer When installed in a 4 lane minimum PCle card slot in either a PC or Mac it allows up to 128 channels to be sent to from the DAW through its on board Ethernet port A system latency of less than 3 ms is possible with the PCle card but to achieve this we recommend the use of a 16 lane PCle card slot Note also that system latency in all cases will be dependent on buffer size sample rate and processor power The computer into which the card Is fitted will require RedNet Control to be installed The Ethernet port on the PCle card should be connected to the network via a Gigabit Ethernet switch and the host computers native Ethernet port should be connected to another port on this same switch In this arrangement the PCle cards Ethernet port handles all the audio and the native port handles the control data between RedNet Control and the remo
17. ble at a typical latency of 7 ms buffer size and sample rate dependent Dante Virtual Soundcard can be downloaded directly from www audinate com On line registration is required Using RedNet with other Dante compatible products As RedNet is based on Audinate s Dante system it is compatible with Dante enabled devices from other manufacturers However note that when using RedNet devices with other Dante enabled products you may be limited to sample rates of 48 or 96 kHz as many other devices do not support the full range of sample rate options offered by RedNet 7 MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS In general terms computers running the following operating systems will allow a RedNet system to deliver satisfactory performance but see important note below Mac Apple Mac with OSX 10 7 Lion 10 8 Mountain Lion or later Please note that RedNet is not supported by Mac PPC Min 2 GB RAM Dual core Intel Processor Quad core recommended PC PC running Windows 7 or Windows 8 32 or 64 bit Please note that RedNet is not supported by Windows Vista Min 2GB RAM Dual Core processor Quad core recommended IMPORTANT Focusrite have evaluated a number of specific models of computer for use with RedNet systems and recommend the use of one of these if highest system performance is essential i e lowest latency at maximum channel count Users should check www focusrite com rednet for the latest Information regarding specif
18. e 14 Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way such as power supply cord or plug Is damaged liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture does not operate normally or has been dropped 15 No naked flames such as lighted candles should be placed on the apparatus The appliance coupler is used as the disconnect device the disconnect device shall remain readily operable Do not use a damaged or frayed power cord If the mains plug supplying the apparatus Incorporates a fuse then it should only be replaced with a fuse of identical or lower rupture value The apparatus shall be connected to a mains socket outlet with a protective earthing connection Laite on liitett v suojamaadoituskoskettimilla va rustettuumpistorasiaan Apparatet ma tikoples jordet stikkontakt Apparaten skall anslutas till jordat uttag CAUTION CAUTION TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT REMOVE COVER RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK OR BACK NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL DO NOT OPEN The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol within equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated dangerous voltage within the product s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons
19. e If you have installed a RedNet PCle card connect its Ethernet port to a port on the Gbit switch with a second Cat Ethernet cable Connect the Ethernet ports on the rear of each RedNet I O interface in the system to further ports on the Gbit switch with Cat Ethernet cables The recommended order of powering the components in a RedNet system is as follows e Power up the Gbit switch e Power up all RedNet units on the networks one by one power on sequence takes approx 40 s per unit e Boot the host computer When your computer has booted up launch RedNet Control Audio setup in your DAW with RedNet Control Whatever DAW you are using it will provide a method of selecting which RedNet audio channel feeds each track Please refer to your DAW s documentation or Help files if you are unsure about this The RedNet PCle card will be detected automatically by your DAW and added to the list of available audio sources Depending on your particular DAW t may be necessary to select it as the active I O device manually other systems may set it as the default device on detection From the Audio I O Setup name will differ between DAWs you can select which of RedNet s 128 input channels constitutes the audio source for each track in use Similarly you can route each track to any of the 128 output channels available Please note to operate RedNet PCle with Pro Tools you will need to activate Pro Tools Mode in RedNet Control The i
20. e system RedNet is a range of extremely high quality analogue and digital audio interfaces and components that do a great deal more than simply allow you to connect your digital studio through an Ethernet network they will revolutionise the way you work in other ways too Importantly Dante is non proprietary this means it will work with any ASIO or Core Audio compliant DAW software including Pro Tools Logic Cubase and Nuendo If you are a musician or an engineer currently using USB or FireWire based interfaces RedNet will give youa more reliable powerful and professional system infrastructure RedNet is a great solution in facilities where long cable runs are involved and or there is a requirement to routinely reconfigure the various rooms making up a facility It also has the advantage of only needing a standard network cable to interconnect all the I O throughout the system minimising installation time and impact on a building RedNet allows system components to be controlled remotely via RedNet software on a host computer Input and output interfaces can be placed anywhere on the network and hot swapped RedNet automatically recognises and reconfigures replacement units as soon as they appear ABOUT THIS USER GUIDE A copy of this System User Guide is packed with each of the hardware interfaces in the RedNet range The Guide provides a detailed explanation of the RedNet system to help you achieve a thorough understanding of its capabilit
21. ernet connection will be required The Gbit switch must meet the specification at page 8 Installing the RedNet PCle Card The computer should be disconnected from the AC mains supply before attempting to install the PCle card Allow the computer to cool before Starting the installation Anti static precautions should be taken when handling the card once it is removed from Its anti static bag only handle the card by gripping the card by its edges and avoid touching any of the component parts Place the computer on a clean flat surface Open the computer as necessary to access the PCle card slots Install the RedNet PCle card carefully ensuring that it is firmly and securely in place Close the computer and re connect Its power supply 12 Installing RedNet Control All software required for a RedNet system is available for download from the Focusrite website having registered your purchase at www focusrite com register The Product Registration Card provided with your RedNet unit contains a validation code which you will need to enter in the Registration area This procedure ensures that you will have the most up to date software versions Download your software Can t get started There is no software CD included with your product Download the latest drivers If you have any trouble with this product and software by registering your product at www focusrite com register do not go back to the place of purchase Contact our support
22. gs which have been set up using the Dante Controller The Audio routings are restored to the default one to one mapping determined by the units layout in the RedNet Control window e Edit Routing clicking this option launches Audinate Dante Controller or if Dante Controller is already running opens its window on top of RedNet Control See Using Dante Controller on page 22 e Unroute All selecting this option deselects all inputs and outputs on every RedNet unit on the network consequently all on screen virtual front panels will move into the AVAILABLE area Per unit virtual front panels Please see the individual RedNet interface User Guides for information regarding the on screen features and facilities which are specific to each unit 21 USING DANTE VIRTUAL SOUNDCARD If your RedNet system Is to be based on Dante Virtual Soundcard instead of a RedNet PCle card you will need to download the application from the Audinate website www audinate com and install it Each RedNet 1 0 interface is supplied with Dante Virtual Soundcard download instructions and a software license Having registered your purchase with Focusrite you will be able to access the activation code for Dante Virtual Soundcard in the My Products area of the Focusrite website A comprehensive User Guide for Dante Virtual Soundcard is also available from the Audinate website Dante Virtual Soundcard users are recommended to download this document as we
23. ications of suitable computers NETWORK REQUIREMENTS The Audinate Dante protocol on which RedNet Is based uses standard Ethernet technology for the network Although RedNet traffic can be mixed with other network data we recommend that for maximum performance the Ethernet network used for RedNet audio should be self contained and not used for other IT purposes The network topology employed will be dictated by user requirements and building layout RedNet is compatible with both CAT 6 and CAT be cabling though CAT 6 SIP is preferred RJ45 connectors with metal screens should be used with the cable screen bonded to the connector screen Gbit Switch requirements The switches used in a RedNet network should be of the managed type and designed for use in 1000 Mbps Gigabit systems Un managed switches may prevent correct RedNet network configuration A switch with an internal PSU i e requiring direct connection to AC mains is also recommended the external plug top PSUs supplied with cheaper units may be prone to interference which could generate audible artefacts in the audio Numerous makes models of Gigabit switch have been found to operate satisfactorily with Dante systems Recommended manufacturers include Linksys Dell HP and Cisco Note the following features are required when Selecting a switch for use with a RedNet network e Gigabit 1000 Mbps ports e Quality of Service QoS with 4 queues e Diffserv DSCP QoS
24. ies this includes the installation and use of the RedNet PCle card which will be a central component in many RedNet systems We recommend that all users including those already experienced in digital audio networking take the time to read through this Guide so that you are fully aware of all the possibilities that RedNet and its software has to offer If the Guide does not provide the information you need be sure to consult www focusrite com rednet which contains a comprehensive collection of common technical support queries Note that this System User Guide does not include a detailed description of the various interfaces a separate User Guide specific to each interface is supplied with every unit in addition to the System User Guide Much of the installation and operation of a RedNet system revolves around setting up and configuring the system itself these are factors which are common to all RedNet components The examples used in this System User Guide necessarily use particular RedNet units but you should not be concerned If your system does not include the same units the principles of operation as far as the overall system concept is concerned Is applicable to all RedNet hardware OVERVIEW Focusrite RedNet Audio Networking key features e Digital audio networking developed specifically for studios e Scalable up to 512 bidirectional audio channels per link lat 48 kHz e Choice of various analogue and digital I O interfaces e Supports
25. indows PC see page 8 for computer specifications e RedNet I O Interfaces as required e Either ea RedNet PCle Card or e Dante Virtual Soundcard software e Up to six RedNet 5 HD Bridges Pro Tools HD systems only e Gigabit Ethernet Switch see page 8 for switch specification Ethernet cables e one cable between each RedNet interface and the switch e one cable between the host computer and the switch and e if a RedNet PCle card is in use one further cable between the card and the switch RedNet Control software RedNet Control software can be downloaded from www focusrite com downloads having registered the product using the codes on the Product Registration Card supplied with each RedNet hardware item Users are recommended to check periodically thereafter to ensure that they have the latest version and update If necessary Details on how to download Dante Virtual Soundcard and a unique activation code can be found in the System User Guide Using Dante Virtual Soundcard You will require Dante Virtual Soundcard if your system does not include a RedNet PCle Card or one or more RedNet 5 units Technical Requirements In addition to meeting the specifications on page 8 your Mac or PC must have at least one vacant Ethernet port If you are installing the RedNet PCle Card it must also have a spare PCle Card slot To download software either Dante Virtual Soundcard or the latest version of RedNet Control an Int
26. ll and read it thoroughly Once Dante Virtual Soundcard is installed your RedNet system will operate in avery similar manner to that already described for systems using the RedNet PCle card Note that RedNet Control will still need to be installed for a Dante Virtual Soundcard based system There will be no differences in RedNet Control s operation The fundamental difference between a Dante Virtual Soundcard based system and a RedNet PCle card based system is that Dante Virtual Soundcard imposes certain restrictions on the system s maximum capabilities The most important of these are e Dante Virtual Soundcard only supports sample rates of 48 kHz and 96 kHz e Dante Virtual Soundcard only supports up to 64 bidirectional audio channels e Dante Virtual Soundcard will impose higher latency on system operation but is a good alternative for mobile recording IMPORTANT NOTE Dante Virtual Soundcard is a product of Audinate Pty Ltd and is NOT a Focusrite product As such variation to the specification and development of the product Is subject to change which is out of the control of Focusrite Intending Dante Virtual Soundcard users are recommended to obtain any additional information required from www audinate com USING DANTE CONTROLLER Audinate Dante Controller is installed on your computer as part of the RedNet Control installation You can launch Dante Controller either by navigating to its shortcut in Finder gt Applications on
27. mance Please check your computer s motherboard documentation if you are unsure of the Slot specification The RedNet PCle card is powered by the computer in which it is installed It conforms to the PCle card supply voltage standard and provided your computer s PSU is working normally you should experience no power related issues with any computer 10 GETTING STARTED The Getting Started Guide which is included with the RedNet PCle card provides a brief overview of the steps you need to take to establish a working RedNet system and if you haven t already done so we suggest you read through this document now Refer to the documentation supplied with your Gigabit switch You will be able to access the switch configuration once you have connected the switch to your computer s Ethernet port by opening your usual Internet browser and entering the IP address this will be given in the switch documentation into the browser s URL field Most switches will be pre configured in a suitable state for use with RedNet but it is important to check that QoS Quality of Service is enabled This step should be straightforward but if you have difficulties please refer to the Answerbase on the Focusrite website www focusrite com answerbase HOSTING REDNET RedNet can be hosted i e supported by your system computer either with or without the RedNet PCle card Focusrite recommends using the RedNet PCle Card to get the best performance from y
28. mmunications problem with the unit an orange exclamation mark appears instead This will occur if the RedNet unit cannot be found on the network because for example it has been turned off An error condition is indicated by a red cross This might occur if there is insufficient network bandwidth available Hovering over the icon will bring up a tooltip giving more information about any problem Unit names displays default unit names which will be RedNet 1 2 3 or 4 as applicable Clicking on the name allows the unit to be renamed e g Studio A 20 Utility menu Right clicking in most areas of the RedNet units virtual front panels opens a pop up menu with the following options Upgrade Firmware Get Info Reset Routing Edit Routing Unroute All e Upgrade Firmware select this option when you have downloaded a firmware update from the Focusrite website A standard Open window opens allowing you to navigate to the saved firmware update file Select the filename to initiate the upgrade procedure Once a firmware upgrade has commenced a progress bar will appear It is very important that you do not interrupt the upgrade process either by shutting down the computer or powering down a unit or you risk permanent damage to the unit e Get Info opens a window providing system information including firmware and software versions e Reset Routing this is effectively an undo command for any custom routin
29. nput and output channels available via the RedNet PCle card will be listed in your DAW s Audio I O Setup as Input n or Output n where n will have a value of between 1 and 128 RedNet will automatically route the physical inputs and outputs of the RedNet units available on the network to the DAW inputs and outputs in a one to one numerical sequence taking into account the order in which the units are sorted on screen in RedNet Control To give a simple example if you have a RedNet 1 8 line inputs 8 line outputs and a RedNet 4 8 mic line inputs on the network and you sort the units in RedNet Control so that the RedNet 4 becomes the first unit then its eight physical inputs will be available to your DAW as Inputs 1 to 8 and the eight RedNet 1 inputs as Inputs 9 to 16 The eight physical outputs of the RedNet 1 will be available as Outputs 1 to 8 of your DAW The operation of the RedNet Control software is covered in greater detail on page 18 EXAMPLE REDNET STUDIO SETUPS REDNET WITH A DAW System 1 Simple setup RedNet 1 and RedNet 4 record mic and playback CAT 6 Ethernet Cables 8 Channel AD DA Mac PC Switch 8 Channel Mic Pre Using a simple system of two RedNet units up to 16 sources could be simultaneously recorded and up to 8 of them could be via the Focusrite microphone preamplifiers in the RedNet 4 Up to 8 outputs could be created for monitoring or downmix purposes
30. our RedNet system With the card your system will have the lowest audio latency possible and Support the maximum number of channels See note below regarding use of RedNet with Pro Tools HD systems If you are not using the RedNet PCle Card a RedNet system can be hosted on any compatible computer with one Ethernet port using the Dante Virtual Soundcard This is a software application which may be downloaded from www audinate com Please consult the User Guide section Using Dante Virtual Soundcard With the Dante Virtual Soundcard system performance and capacity will be reduced compared to a system using the RedNet PCle card With Dante Virtual Soundcard the system channel count at the sampling frequency in use the maximum number of audio channels available is half that achievable with the RedNet PCle card Overall system latency will vary with the specification of the host computer in use but in most cases will be similar to the latency experienced when using Focusrite FireWire interfaces This Is likely to be more than adequate in the majority of situations For more information www focusrite com rednet NOTE Pro Tools HD users can interface to a RedNet system with one or more RedNet 5 HD Bridge In this case RedNet 5 itself acts as the system host and neither a RedNet PCle card nor Dante Virtual Soundcard are required to operate the RedNet system 11 CONSTRUCTING A REDNET SYSTEM Necessary equipment e Compatible Mac or W
31. te RedNet I O units RedNet Control RedNet Control is the software application which lets the user configure the RedNet system and control each individual RedNet I O device whatever its physical location RedNet Control versions for both PC and Mac are available as downloads from the Focusrite website see Installing RedNet Control on page 13 All RedNet devices on the network are auto detected by the RedNet Control software and visualised on screen along with their various controls and settings Blocks of audio channels can be re routed and system configurations can be saved and reloaded as required Dante Controller Dante Controller software is Audinate s proprietary generic audio routing application for use with Dante digital audio networked devices Installation of Dante Controller is automatic it will be installed as part of the RedNet Control software installation Many simple RedNet configurations will not require its use as the control capabilities of RedNet Control will be adequate However additional advanced routing possibilities which cannot be achieved with RedNet Control alone are possible with Dante Controller Dante Virtual Soundcard Dante Virtual Soundcard is a software alternative to the RedNet PCle card It allows users who do not require the extremely low latency and high channel count possible with the RedNet PCle card to implement and control RedNet systems A maximum of 64 channels lin each direction is possi
32. team on US 1 855 24 FOCUS 1 855 243 6287 Support available Monday Friday 8am 6pm PST UK amp 44 1494 462246 International Support available Monday Friday 9 30am 6pm GMT BST NR al re ee ue Online www focusrite com support www novationmusic com support EN lt g V A SS P Q A PLACE SERIAL NUMBER STICKER HERE PLACE PRODUCT BUNDLE CODE HERE Go to www focusrite com register and follow the instructions on the card to register your product and download RedNet Control and associated software When all downloads are complete installthe RedNet Control application in the usual manner Follow all on screen instructions from this point Audinate Dante Controller This software application is automatically installed when RedNet Control is installed Dante Controller is a useful addition to but not essential for simpler systems Most RedNet functions can be controlled from RedNet Control but non standard routings can be be defined in Dante Controller Dante Controller can also be downloaded from www audinate com Register first then download and install Connecting your RedNet audio network Remove any Ethernet cables connected to your computer these can be reconnected after setting up RedNet either to the Gbit switch or to any additional vacant Ethernet ports you have on your computer Connect a vacant Ethernet port on your computer to a port on your Gbit Switch with a Cat Ethernet cabl
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