You may need to connect to audio devices that have different connector types, different audio data formats, or both. This chapter is designed to help you determine what you need. It discusses
![]() | Note: AES3-1992 is also called AES/EBU. See the release notes for your Silicon Graphics server for the latest information about compliance to specific standards. |
Figure 2-1 shows one version of the BaseIO (also known as the IO6G) board panel, the Onyx2 system's interface to external devices such as keyboards, mice, SCSI devices, audio devices, ASCII terminals, printers, and modems. This panel is standard in the Onyx2 chassis and is optional in the Origin2000 chassis.
All audio and video is transferred to and from main memory via the board's XIO interface. The DIVO and DIVO-DVC option boards support audio embedded in video; they also support video through the DIVO or DIVO-DVC board synchronized with audio going through the BaseIO board (SMPTE 272M). In each case, the video goes through the DIVO or DIVO-DVC board, but the audio may or may not.
![]() | Note: If you disconnect a cable from a peripheral device, you should also disconnect it from the I/O connector on the I/O panel. Doing so helps prevent the system from picking up external electrical noise. |
Table 2-1 summarizes the BaseIO connector types and functions.
Table 2-1. BaseIO Panel Connectors
Description | Function | Type |
---|---|---|
Digital audio output and input (AES3-1992) | Audio output to digital audio device | BNC 75-ohm |
Video sync loopthrough (two) | Video sync in/loopthrough | BNC 75-ohm |
Single +10 V jack | Power for Silicon Graphics supplied speakers | 2.5 mm tip-sleeve speaker power jack |
ADAT output and input | 24-bit digital eight-channel input; can also be used for consumer-grade two-channel SPDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) digital audio | Optical |
Audio line in plugs and out plugs | Analog stereo inputs and outputs, respectively | 2.5 mm RCA-type (L & R) |
Single-jack audio output | Analog headphone or Silicon Graphics-supplied speakers | 3.5 mm tip-ring-sleeve jack |
Single-jack audio input | Analog microphone input | 3.5 mm tip-ring-sleeve jack |
PC-compatible male serial ports | Serial RS-232 or 422 data transfer and receipt | 9-Pin sub-D (1-4) |
Mouse and keyboard connectors | Mouse and keyboard signals, respectively | 6-Pin mini-DIN (1-2); PS/2-compatible |
Parallel port | Parallel printer signals to and from external device | 36-Pin IEEE 1284-C |
FAST-20 SCSI or SCSI-2 | Single-ended SCSI | 68-Pin SCSI single-ended |
Single jacks (two) | Interrupt in and interrupt out, respectively | 3.5 mm tip-ring-sleeve jack |
Ethernet | Ethernet | RJ-45 |
Note the following for synchronization:
If you are syncing audio and video (that is, the audio on the BaseIO panel with the DIVO or DIVO-DVC board), use a common sync source connected to either BaseIO Video Sync connector and the board's GEN IN connector.
If you are not syncing audio to the DIVO or DIVO-DVC board, but are syncing audio to another device, use a BaseIO Video Sync connector.
If you use one BaseIO Video Sync connector, you must attach a 75-ohm terminator to the unused Video Sync connector.
The DIVO or DIVO-DVC board does not provide sync out. Its GEN IN and GEN OUT connectors are passive loopthrough inputs only; GEN OUT is a loopthrough of GEN IN. Syncing either board or the BaseIO to each other or to external equipment requires an external source of video sync.
This section discusses
Figure 2-2 shows cabling between the AES3-1992 out (upper) BNC on the BaseIO panel and an XLR balun connector for digital AES3-1992 output to XLR connections.
The balun (balance-unbalance) converters are passive devices for cabling different connector types while maintaining signal integrity; they are used in male-female pairs. These converters do not change the audio data format.
Note the following:
Cabling is required to connect these baluns to BaseIO panel connectors. Use 75-ohm coax cable, not balanced cable, in accordance with AES-3id-1995.
Connect the balun at the balanced (XLR) side of the cable.
Table 2-2 lists some suppliers of this equipment.
Table 2-2. AES3-1992 BNCs to AES3-1992 XLR Equipment Pairs
Manufacturer | Product | Web Site |
---|---|---|
Energy Transformation Systems | Male: PA-810 (no pad) Female: PA-811(no pad) Male: PA-813 (includes 10-dB attenuator) Female: PA-812 (includes 10-dB attenuator) | www.etslan.com |
Graham-Patten Systems | Male: DATS21 Female: DATS10 | www.gpsys.com/dats.html |
Canare Cable, Inc. | Male: BCJ-XP-TRA Female: BCJ-XJ-AIOTR | www.canare.com/catalog.html |
Figure 2-3 shows cabling between XLR balun connectors for digital AES3-1992 input from XLR connections to the AES3-1992 in (lower) BNC on the BaseIO panel. The balun (balance-unbalance) converters are passive devices for cabling different connector types while maintaining signal integrity; they are used in male-female pairs. These converters do not change the audio data format.
Coax cabling is required to connect these baluns to BaseIO panel connectors.
See Table 2-2 for suppliers of this equipment.
Figure 2-4 shows connections between the optical ADAT out (upper) connector on the Onyx2 BaseIO panel and XLR connectors. This converter supports up to four or up to eight XLR connectors, depending on the equipment. This connection does not change the audio data format (AES3), but does change the subcode (ancillary data), because ADAT and AES3 use different subcode formats.
Table 2-3 lists some suppliers of this equipment.
Table 2-3. ADAT to XLR Format Converters (AES3-1992)
Manufacturer | Product | Web Site |
---|---|---|
Spectral | Translator Plus and XLR fanout adapter | www.spectralinc.com/products/translator/ |
Otari Corporation | UFC-24/8 | www.otari.com/products/ufc24.htm |
Figure 2-5 shows connections between XLR connectors and the optical ADAT in (lower) connector on the BaseIO panel. This converter supports up to four or up to eight XLR connectors, depending on the equipment. This connection does not change the audio data format (AES3), but does change the subcode (ancillary data), because ADAT and AES3 use different subcode formats.
See Table 2-3 for suppliers of this equipment.
This section discusses
Figure 2-6 shows cabling between the AES3-1992 out (upper) BNC on the BaseIO panel and a digital/analog converter. This connection changes the format of the outgoing data from digital to analog.
Table 2-4 lists some suppliers of this equipment.
Table 2-4. AES3-1992 Out BNC to Digital/Analog XLR Converter
Manufacturer | Product | Web Site |
---|---|---|
Spectral, Inc. | ADDA-2218 | www.spectralinc.com/products.htm |
Grass Valley Group | M9402-B, M9422-B | www.tektronix.com/Grass_Valley/Products |
Sony, Inc. | DABK 1512 (plugs into DAF-1500 8-slot box) | www.sel.sony.com/SEL/bppg/proaudio |
Table 2-5 lists some suppliers of distribution amplifiers.
Table 2-5. Distribution Amplifiers
Manufacturer | Product | Web Site |
---|---|---|
Grass Valley Group | M9131 distribution amplifier | www.tektronix.com/ Grass_Valley/ |
Sony, Inc. | BKPF-103 (plugs into 14-slot PFV-D100A box) | www.sel.sony.com |
Figure 2-7 shows cabling between an analog/digital converter and the AES3-1992 in (lower) BNC on the BaseIO panel. This connection changes the format of the incoming data from analog to digital.
Table 2-6 lists some suppliers of this equipment.
Table 2-6. Analog/Digital XLR Converter to AES3-1992 In BNC
Manufacturer | Product | Web Site |
---|---|---|
Spectral, Inc. | ADDA-2218 | www.spectralinc.com/ products.htm |
Grass Valley Group | M9401-B, M9421-B | www.tektronix.com/ Grass_Valley/Products |
Sony | DABK 1512 (plugs into DAF-1500 8-slot box) | www.sel.sony.com/bppg/proaudio |
Figure 2-8 shows connections between the ADAT out (upper) optical connector on the BaseIO panel and a digital/analog converter. This connection changes format from digital to analog. The equipment can have up to eight XLRs.
Table 2-7 lists some suppliers of this equipment.
Table 2-7. ADAT to D/A for XLR Connections
Manufacturer | Product | Web Site |
---|---|---|
Mytek Digital | 8x20 DAC with ADAT option | www.mytekdigital.com/8x20.htm |
Studer | D19 MultiDAC | web.eunet.ch:80/studer/pages/sales002.htm#D19-Series |
Figure 2-9 shows connections between an analog/digital converter and the ADAT in (lower) optical connector on the BaseIO panel. This connection changes format from analog to digital. The equipment can have up to eight XLRs.
Table 2-8 lists some suppliers of this equipment.
Table 2-8. ADAT to D/A for XLR Connections
Manufacturer | Product | Web Site |
---|---|---|
Korg | 880A/D (TRS-style input; first two channels are XLR and TRS) | www.korg.net/pages/eng/ |
Studer | D19 MicAD | web.eunet.ch:80/studer/pages/ sales001.htm#D19 |
Mytek Digital | 8x20 DAC with ADAT option | www.mytekdigital.com/8x20.htm |
Figure 2-10 shows connections between the ADAT out (upper) optical connector on the BaseIO panel and a tip/ring/sleeve (TRS) quarter-inch digital/analog converter. This connection changes format from digital to analog. The equipment can have up to eight connectors.
Table 2-9 lists A/D and D/A converters.
Table 2-9. TRS A/D and D/A Converters
Manufacturer | Product | Web Site |
---|---|---|
Korg | 880D/A | www.korg.net /pages/eng/eprod/edrs.htm |
Korg | 880A/D | www.korg.net /pages/eng/eprod/edrs.htm |
Figure 2-11 shows connections between the ADAT in (lower) optical connector on the BaseIO panel and a tip/ring/sleeve (TRS) quarter-inch digital/analog converter. This connection changes format from analog to digital. The equipment can have up to eight connectors.
See Table 2-9 for a supplier.
Table 2-10 summarizes information for audio equipment manufacturers listed in this chapter.
Table 2-10. Audio Equipment Manufacturer Contact Information
Category | Information |
---|---|
Manufacturer
Address | Canare Cable, Inc. |
Manufacturer | Energy Transformation Systems |
Manufacturer
Address | Graham-Patten Systems, Inc. |
Manufacturer | Grass Valley Group (a Tektronix Company) |
Manufacturer
Address | Korg USA, Inc. |
Manufacturer
Address | Mytek Digital, Inc. |
Manufacturer
Address | Otari Corporation |
Manufacturer | Sony Professional Audio |
Manufacturer | Spectral, Incorporated |
Manufacturer
Address | Studer Professional Audio AG |