F. A. Q. - Frequently Asked Questions

Product

PHASE 88 incl. PHASE 88 Rack

Status

01.10.2006

Version

1.2

Questions and Answers

19

Please make sure that you are using the latest driver version.

You can find them on our web pages or you can obtain them from the Terratec Support Department by sending an envelope stamped with €1.44 in postage.

Internet

TerraTec Electronic GmbH

http://www.terratec.com

Herrenpfad 38

ftp://ftp.terratec.de

D-41334 Nettetal

Overview of questions...

Question 1:
What operating systems are supported?

Question 2:
What resources does the PHASE 88 audio system use after installation in my system?

Question 3:
Does the MIDI Interface require its own IRQ?

Question 4:
Can the board be fitted with a Wavetable?

Question 5:
How much can the input regulation of the PHASE 88 audio system be regulated?

Question 6:
What products can be cascaded or synchronized with the PHASE 88 audio system?

Question 7:
What is the signal-noise ratio of the PHASE 88 system?

Question 8:
What is the max. level of the analog inputs and outputs?

Question 9:
Where is the AD/DA conversion made in the PHASE 88 system? On the PCI board or in the breakout box?

Question 10:
Why is the circuit board red?

Question 11:
What programs can the PHASE 88 audio system be used with?

Question 12:

What computer configuration is recommended and how high must the through-rate of the hard disks be to make full use if the board?

 

Question 13:

Is it possible to replay different channels simultaneously with different sampling frequencies?

Question 14:
How many stereo tracks can be routed to the 8 outputs and simultaneously played back?

Question 15:
How does DirectMonitoring work in connection with an ASIO 2.0 audio sequencer in the PHASE 88 audio system?

Question 16:
Can I run the PHASE 88 audio system for an ASIO application and GigaSampler (GSIF) simultaneously?

Question 17:
Is it possible to use the board as a mixing console at events? This requires functions such as influencing the sound by channel for all channels and (automatic) fade-over of different channels.

Question 18:
The recorded audio signal crackles.

Question 19:
I have cascaded several PHASE 88 systems and find that not all audio devices (WavPlay, WaveRec,...) are listed when using the WDM driver.

 

 

Question 1:

What operating systems are supported?

Answer 1:

·         Windows 2000

·         Windows XP

·         MAC OSX


y

Question 2:

What resources does the PHASE 88 audio system use after installation in my system?

Answer 2:

The PHASE 88 system requires an IRQ and various memory ranges. Please read the section "About IRQs and other interrupts“ in the manual.


y

Question 3:

Does the MIDI Interface require its own IRQ?

Answer 3:

No, the MIDI interface does not require a separate IRQ.


y

Question 4:

Can the board be fitted with a Wavetable?

Answer 4:

No, this is not possible.


y

Question 5:

How much can the input regulation of the PHASE 88 audio system be regulated?

Answer 5:

PHASE 88 :      Gain: 0 to + 18dB analog
Attenuation: -90dB to 0dB digital

PHASE 88 Rack: Adjustment range: –18dBu (ca. 100mV) to +15dBu (ca. 4,4V)

 


y

Question 6:

What products can be cascaded or synchronized with the PHASE 88 audio system?

Answer 6:

The PHASE 88 system can be synchronized with the following products over the EWS Connect terminal:

 

 

and the audio system can also be operated in parallel with other sound cards in a PC or Mac without any problems (cascading). However, note that internal synchronization is not possible.

     y

Question 7:

What is the signal-noise ratio of the PHASE 88 system?

Answer 7:

PHASE 88:

24Bit / 96kHz A/D converter with 100dB (A) SNR*, measured typically 100dB (A) 

24Bit / 96kHz D/A converter with 110dB (A) SNR*, measured typically 106dB (A)

 

PHASE 88 Rack:

24Bit / 96kHz A/D converter with 100dB (A) SNR*, measured typically 100dB(A)

24Bit / 96kHz D/A converter with 110dB (A) SNR*, measured typically 108dB(A)

 

*)   This information depends on the specifications of the converters used


y

Question 8:

What is the max. level of the analog inputs and outputs?

Answer 8:

PHASE 88:

2,1Vrms @ 1kHz Input und Output

 

PHASE 88 Rack:

–18dBu (ca. 100mV) bis +15dBu (ca. 4,4V) - Input

2,1Vrms @ 1kHz - Output


    y

Question 9:

Where is the AD/DA conversion made in the PHASE 88 system? On the PCI board or in the breakout box?

Answer 9:

The converters are in the breakout box and thus are protected against interference from other PC components.


y

Question 10:

Why is the circuit board red?

Answer 10:

Red is the color for life force, energy, action, love and hate, rage, happiness and anger. Red increases blood circulation and is used for all circulatory disorders. It is used in color therapy where life force must be strengthened or renewed; it tends to increase the flow in blood vessels to allow blocked life energy to flow harmoniously. Red encourages speech, makes people excited, cheerful, ambitious and passionate. Our PHASE 88 also has these characteristics. That is why it is red.


y

Question 11:

What programs can the PHASE 88 audio system be used with?

Answer 11:

The PHASE 88 audio system is basically compatible with all standard programs. The comprehensive driver support, such as ASIO 2.0, GSIF, WDM, MME and DirectSound, covers virtually all standards. The PHASE 88 audio system has been tested with the following programs:

 

·         Steinberg Cubase SX 1.x

·         Steinberg Cubase VST 5.x

·         Emagic Logic 5.x/6.x

·         Ableton Live

·         Steinberg Wavelab 4.x

·         Cool Edit Pro 2.x

·         Nemesis Giga Sampler/Giga Studio

·         Cakewalk Sonar 2.x

·         Magix Samplitude 7.x

·         Magix Sequoia

 

And of course with the standard little helpers like Winamp, Windows Media Player, Intervideo WinDVD, Cyber Link PowerDVD, etc.


y

Question 12:

What computer configuration is recommended and how high must the through-rate of the hard disks be to make full use if the board?

Answer 12:

System requirements PC:

 

System recommendation PC:

 

System requirements MAC:

 

System recommendation MAC:

 

 

The average required data throughput is calculated as follows:

 

((((Number of tracks x resolution in bits x sampling rate in Hz) / 8) / 1024) / 1024) = MB/s

 

Therefore, 40 tracks (full system equipment) at 32 Bit / 96 kHz yields a data throughput of 14.65 MB/s, which the hard disk and the controller must manage. Fast UDMA hard disks will have no problems.

For explanation with 32 bits in the formula (instead of 24 bits): All drivers of the board can transfer 24-bit audio data as 32-bit data to the recording software. This feature greatly reduces the load on the main processor, because unlike the conventional "packed byte" process only 24-bit data are sent in "stacked" form through the 32-bit wide bus.

When selecting components for a hard disk recording system with the PHASE 88 Audio Interface following hard disk controllers are recommended in descending order:

·         UDMA IDE

·         SCSI (as PCI controller)

·         IDE

In general, note that other PCI boards can influence the performance of the PCI bus and therefore the operation of the PHASE 88 system. The influence is of course greater at 24 Bit / 96 kHz that at lower settings.


y

Question 13:

Is it possible to replay different channels simultaneously with different sampling frequencies?

Answer 13:

The PHASE 88 hardware is basically always synchronized with the same sampling frequency, so playback is only ever possible at one frequency. However, DirectSound applications use the integrated DirectX sampling rate conversion. Now, when using the WDM driver, sampling rates can also be converted for MME applications. This allows playback with different sampling frequencies.


y

Question 14:

How many stereo tracks can be routed to the 8 outputs and simultaneously played back?

Answer 14:

4 stereo totals can be played back over 4 separate drivers on 8 single outputs. If the digital S/PDIF interface to the analog inputs and outputs is also used, 5 stereo tracks can also be played back from the disk plus 5 stereo inputs (analog+S/-DIF) over one stereo output (OUT1/2 or S/PDIF OUT).


y

Question 15:

How does DirectMonitoring work in connection with an ASIO 2.0 audio sequencer in the PHASE 88 audio system?

Answer 15:

ASIO 2.0 allows direct "monitoring" over suitable audio hardware like the PHASE 88 system. If this function is enabled inside the audio application (e.g. Emagic Logic: Disabling the "Soft monitoring" option, in Cubase VST: Enable the "DirectMonitoring" option in the system settings), the corresponding channel in the DigitalMixer of the PHASE 88 ControlPanel is "demuted" as soon as recording is enabled. Volume and panorama settings are also continuously sent from the sequencer mixer to the DigitalMixer of the PHASE 88 audio system. The playback path (not the recording path) no longer runs over the sequencer. Instead the incoming input signals are sent via the DigitalMixer to the output 1/2 and/or S/PDIF (once the routing of the PHASE 88 system has been set accordingly in the setting window of the ControlPanel). Because the signals are sent directly to the PHASE 88 hardware, absolutely latency-free monitoring is possible .


y

Question 16:

Can I run the PHASE 88 audio system for an ASIO application and GigaSampler (GSIF) simultaneously?

Answer 16:

The drivers include a "GSIF/ASIO multi-client" mode. If this mode is enabled, both programs can access the same hardware and, depending on the computing power, real-time resampling of the GigaSampler is possible in the ASIO application. Enable the "GSIF/ASIO multi-client" mode and start the sequencer (e.g. Cubase VST) from the GigaSampler. GigaSampler has a special start button for this purpose. Then in the sequencer select the MIDI-Out driver "GigaSampler/Endless Wave" or "Nemesys MidiOut: Portx".


y

Question 17:

Is it possible to use the board as a mixing console at events? This requires functions such as influencing the sound by channel or for all channels and (automatic) fade-over of different channels.

Answer 17:

To a limited extent only; the board does have a digital mixer that can be operated from the ControlPanel but has no automation and no equalizer.


y

Question 18:

The recorded audio signal crackles.

Answer 18:

In most cases this problem is the result of the assignment of the interrupts (IRQ). For more information and suggestions for solutions see the manual in "On IRQs and other interrupts“.

If the problem is not the result of a resource conflict, increase the buffer sizes in the ASIO ControlPanel or in the host applications (Wavelab, Cool Edit Pro, etc.).

If this does not eliminate the problem, try exchanging the connecting cable between the PCI board and the breakout box as a test (if you have use the internal cable for the breakout box, please use the external cable and vice versa).

.
     y

Question 19:

I have cascaded several PHASE 88 systems and find that not all audio devices (WavePlay, WaveRec,...) are listed when using the WDM driver.

Answer 19:

Unfortunately the Windows WDM driver concept for audio still has some problems. Among other difficulties there is a basic restriction of the maximum possible device classes. For example, a maximum of only 10 audio input devices, 10 audio output devices, etc. is possible and only the first 10 devices are displayed (one audio device per stereo pair is available for the PHASE 88 system, e.g. PHASE88 WavePlay 1/2, PHASE88 WaveRec 1/2, etc.). This restriction is less of an issue for Windows XP, because the maximum number of device classes has been increased to 32. Fortunately this restriction does not influence the operation of ASIO or "WDM kernel streaming" applications. In this case all inputs and outputs of cascaded systems can be used simultaneously.


y


TerraTec Electronic GmbH
Herrenpfad 38
D-41334 Nettetal

tel: +49-2157-81790
fax: +49-2157-817922
hotline: +49-2157-817914
ftp: ftp://ftp.terratec.de
web: http://www.terratec.com