Each Red range device has the capacity to accommodate [8/16/8/16] analogue inputs, two independent 8-channel ADAT inputs, a 2-channel S/PDIF input plus 32 Dante input channels. Additionally, an internal 2-channel loopback signal can be added as an extra stereo input.
Analogue inputs can be assigned to the Line, Instrument or Mic input connectors. The table shows which channels can be assigned for each Red range unit:
|
Unit |
Instrument |
Microphone |
Line |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Red 4Pre |
Ch. 1-2 |
Ch. 1-4 |
Ch. 1-8 |
|
Red 8Pre |
Ch. 1-2 |
Ch. 1-8 |
Ch. 1-16 |
|
Red 8Line |
Ch. 1-2 |
Ch. 1-2 |
Ch. 1-8 |
|
Red 16Line |
Ch. 1-2 |
Ch. 1-2 |
Ch. 1-16 |
Input selection and configuration for the assignable channels is carried out using the Preamp Select buttons and the Input Encoder.
The illuminated Select button identifies the channel being controlled.
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Pressing a Select button makes that channel the active channel
Power-up always selects channel 1
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Pushing (’clicking’) the Input Encoder selects menu options or operates the Toggle function.
Press any Select button to recall the Overview screen on the Left LCD display. It shows the input assignment, the gain value and the phantom power status for the device’s input channels.
The highlighted number indicates the currently active channel.
A clipping channel will be indicated by its gain level bar changing to red–clear by pressing that channel’s Select button.
Settings for the configurable input channels – input Type and function options – are selected via the Config Menu screen.
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To enter the Config Menu press and hold a channel’s Select button
To exit this screen press any of the channel Select buttons – or rotate the Input Encoder to the ‘Back’ option and then click.
The following channel functions can be set, or toggled On/Off, from the Config Menu screen:
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Type selects the signal input type to be used for a channel: Instrument › Mic › Line
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Level (Red 8 Line and 16Line) sets the operating level for the selected channel. Note that all other function settings will be greyed-out when input Type is set to ‘Line’
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+48V enables phantom power for the microphone input
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Phase applies phase inversion to the selected channel
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HPF switches in the 80Hz high-pass filter
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Air changes the microphone and instrument input characteristics to ‘Air’ mode. See Appendix 4, page 44 for further information
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Link combines adjacent odd/even channels so they operate as a stereo pair. When linked, Gain and Input Type changes to either of the paired channels will be applied to both
When linked, any difference in gain settings between the two channels will be maintained.
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Back exits the Config Menu screen and returns to the Overview display
Pressing any of the channel Select buttons will also exit the Config menu screen
To change an input function:
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Rotate the Input Encoder until the required function is highlighted.
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Push the Input Encoder to step through the input types or toggle the selection.
The Input Encoder can be programmed to toggle any one of the input functions with a single push (ie., without having to enter the Config Menu screen). This can be very useful when, for example, experimenting with microphone phasing.
To select a function for the Input Encoder toggle feature:
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Enter the Config Menu screen
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Scroll to the function required for the toggle feature
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Press and hold the Input Encoder until the confirmation message appears in the input display
The selected function will now toggle on/off each time the Input Encoder is clicked*. If ‘Type’ (default) is selected, clicking the Input Encoder will step through the available inputs.
*Selecting a function that is not available for the current input type will have no effect, but the function will be stored and become active when an appropriate input type is selected.
Although some analogue input channels can be assigned to the Mic and Instrument connectors, the remaining Line inputs are always available on the DB25 connector(s) on the rear panel.
Red 16 Line only
The operating level for each Line input can be switched between +18 dBu and +24 dBu to correctly match additional studio equipment.
To set the level:
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Press and hold the Input button until the Level Selection menu appears on the Input Display
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Scroll to the required channel number for individual selection or to All for global selection
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Click the Input Encoder to toggle between +18 dBu and +24 dBu
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Press the Input button again to exit
Input and output operating level selection can be linked or unlinked. Refer to: Global Settings.
ADAT inputs 1 and 2 are accessed via the rear panel connectors. Signals will be available if the source is connected and the system is synced to a common clock.
Each In/Out connection provides:
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8ch at 44.1/48kHz
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4ch at 88.2/96kHz
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2ch at 176.4/192kHz
A two-channel S/PDIF I/O connection is accessed via the RCA/Phono connectors on the rear panel, or via the optical TOSLINK™️ connector (Port 1).
Virtual Loopback inputs allow you to record any mix back into your DAW. This could be the audio output of another software application or an entire monitor mix including analogue or digital inputs mixed with any playback signals you wish to capture in your DAW.
Loopback uses virtual inputs, which have no physical connectors on the hardware interface itself. However, it may be selected in the DAW as a signal source for recording the same way as any other input.
Two RJ45 connectors for the Dante network are located on the rear panel. Use standard Cat 5e or newer network cables to connect to the Dante audio network. Incorporated into each socket are LEDs which illuminate to indicate a valid network connection and network activity.
The ports can be configured as either:
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Switched Mode – a two-port switch, to allow the daisy-chaining of additional units, or
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Redundant Mode (default) – the primary and secondary paths of a redundant system, where two independent networks are available
The configuration of the ports is set from the Dante Controller application.
For more information on Dante networks, see Audinate’s website: audinate.com
Monitor outputs, at line-level, are provided via the 1/4” balanced jack outputs on the rear panel.
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The Output Encoder will adjust the monitor output level whenever the Monitor button is illuminated
The monitor display shows the current volume level and whether either Dim or Mute is active. ‘Dim’ attenuates the signal by 18dB.
The L/R meter display shows a pre-fade level (the signal level present before the Output Encoder).
The display also shows the Global Host and Sync settings and their lock status flags.
Mute and Dim functions are individually enabled via the Monitor Setup menu. Additionally, the Output Encoder can be programmed to toggle either the Dim or Mute (default) function when clicked.
Menu activation:
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Press and hold the Monitor button to enter the Setup menu
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Rotate the Output Encoder to highlight either Dim or Mute
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Click to select On or Off
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To exit, press Monitor again (or select the ‘Back’ option)
Toggle Function programming:
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Enter the Monitor Setup menu as above
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Rotate to highlight the function to be programmed
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Press and hold the Output Encoder until the confirmation message appears
The selected function will now toggle on/off each time the Output Encoder is clicked.
Two independent stereo headphone outputs are available on the front panel.
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To adjust a headphone’s volume level, or to activate Dim or Mute for that output, press one of the Headphone Select buttons
For Dim and Mute activation and programming, refer to the ‘Mute and Dim’ section but substitute the ‘Monitor button’ with the appropriate Headphone Select button.
The centre LCD screen displays eight level meters. These indicate the internal signal level after A-D conversion (or pre-D-A conversion when monitoring outputs), with 0 dBFS being at full scale.
A red clip indicator is displayed on channels that reach the clipping point.
The method of signal selection differs between each unit type
To select the source for the LCD display:
-
Press the Meter button on the front panel to access the Meter Source-List
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Use the Output Encoder to scroll to the required input or output
-
Click the Output Encoder to make the selection
-
Press Monitor or one of the Headphone Select buttons to exit
Analogue inputs:
-
Press Analogue to display analogue signals 1-8 on the centre screen
-
Press Analogue again to toggle the display between inputs and outputs
Digital inputs:
-
Press Digital to display digital signals on the centre screen; the meter source is selected using the Meter switch and the Output Encoder – see Meter Source Selection - Red 4Pre and Red 8Pre, above
-
Press the Digital button again to toggle the display between inputs and outputs
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|
|
The left and centre LCD screens can both display level meters. These indicate the internal signal level of channels 1–16, after A-D conversion (or pre-D-A conversion when monitoring outputs), with 0 dBFS being at full scale.
A red clip indicator is displayed on channels that reach the clipping point.
Pressing the METER button toggles the displays between preamp-info and meter-level displays.
The meter source is selected as follows:
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Press the Input button to display input channels 1–8 and 9–16.
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Press the Output button to display output channels 1–8 and 9–16.
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Press both the Input and Output buttons simultaneously to select the combined I/O view.
The Output screen normally shows the Monitor or Headphones 1 or 2 level meters (as well as the interface status flags).
This screen is also used to select the meter source for displays 1 and 2.
To select the signal source for the Left and Centre LCD displays:
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Press the Meter button on the front panel twice to access the Meter Source-List
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Use the Output Encoder to scroll to the required input
-
Click the Output Encoder to make the selection
-
Press Monitor or one of the Headphone buttons to exit
Analogue outputs are provided on DB25 female connector(s) on the rear panel.
The Line outputs for Red 4Pre and Red 8Pre are at a fixed gain, where 0 dBFS corresponds to a signal level of +18 dBu.
Confirm that your unit’s Host setting is set to ‘Thunderbolt’, see Host in Global Settings.
Two Thunderbolt 2 or Thunderbolt 3 connectors are located on the rear panel. Connect to the host, or into a chain, using standard Thunderbolt 2 or Thunderbolt 3 cables (one supplied).
|
Thunderbolt 2 |
Thunderbolt 3 |
Confirm that your Red unit’s Host setting is set to ‘Pro Tools’, see Host.
Connect both rear panel PRIMARY ports to a Pro Tools | HDX card or HD Native system using Mini DigiLink cables.
Each Pro Tools | HDX PCIe card provides two Mini DigiLink ports (giving the card a capacity of 64 inputs and 64 outputs), thus one Red unit may be connected to each card.
A Red unit will appear as four devices in Pro Tools:
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A: 1-16 (Port 1)
-
B: 1-16 (Port 1)
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C: 1-16 (Port 2)
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D: 1-16 (Port 2)
A maximum of three* Red range units can be connected, giving a total I/O capability of 174 inputs and 192 outputs.
*Or one if using an HD Native system.
Note
Both ports are Primary connectors; this means that an additional Pro Tools interface cannot be added in series – the ports do not operate in Expansion mode.
Pro Tools | HD I/O audio interfaces may be used on the same Pro Tools system as your Red unit. Pro Tools interface units can be added by using additional Pro Tools | HDX PCIe interface cards.
Connection to a Pro Tools | HD system would require the use of DigiLink-to- Mini DigiLink adapter cables.
Each unit will appear as four devices using HDX or HD Native, which is the maximum per card.
It is important when using additional I/O devices that the Loop Sync connection is complete between all units:
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Using 75Ω BNC cables, connect each LOOP SYNC OUT connector to the LOOP SYNC IN connector on the next I/O unit
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Complete the chain by connecting LOOP SYNC OUT on the final I/O unit back to LOOP SYNC IN on the first unit
From the Pro Tools menu bar:
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Go to >
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Select HDX or HD Native as appropriate for your system.
The following steps are optional but will simplify signal routing:
From the Pro Tools menu bar:
-
Go to >
-
Ensure your input and output routing tables are routed as follows by selecting the tab at the bottom left of the page.
Note
The number of input and output channels available is dependent on the sample frequency (see channel allocation tables).