Dspecialists Aubion X.8 User manual

User Manual
DSPECIALISTS
Digitale Audio- und Messsysteme GmbH
Helmholtzstr. 2-9 L D-10587 Berlin
http://www.dspecialists.de

User Manual AUBION X.8
Table of contents
1Introduction 1
2Scope of delivery 2
3System requirements 2
4Installation and quickstart 2
5Hardware 3
6Configuring the X.8 5
6.1 Entering settings in the X.8 GUI 5
6.1.1 Device list 6
6.1.2 Connecting to an X.8 6
6.1.3 Line-Out settings 7
6.1.4 Mic/Line-In switchover 8
6.1.5 Mic settings 8
6.1.6 In 7/8 settings 9
6.1.7 Line-In settings 9
6.1.8 S/PDIF settings 10
6.1.9 Selecting the monitoring channel 10
6.1.10 Setting the audio cycle and the synchronization source 11
6.1.11 Loading and saving settings 11
6.1.12 Manually updating the X.8 software 12
6.1.13 Automatic recognition of outdated firmware 12
6.1.14 Advanced settings 13
6.1.15 Device information 14
6.1.16 GUI information 14
6.2 Settings on the X.8 15
6.2.1 Configuration of the input and output amplifications 15
6.2.2 Level displays 16
6.2.3 Line-Out mute 16
6.2.4 Status of the phantom power supply 16
7General ASIO operation 17
8Working in SysTune and EASERA 17
9Technical reference 18
9.1 Technical data 18

User Manual AUBION X.8
9.2 Connections 19
9.2.1 Power supply 19
9.2.2 Network interfaces 20
9.2.3 Line-Outs 21
9.2.4 Mic-/Line-In 1 to 4 22
9.2.5 Line-In 1 to 8 24
9.2.6 S/PDIF input and output 25
9.2.7 Headphone socket 26
9.3 ASIO and X.8 channel assignment 26
9.4 Connection logic and status change 27
9.5 Configurations in X.8 GUI vs. X.8 device 27
9.6 Block diagram of X.8 28
10 Contact / Imprint 29

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1 Introduction
Thank-you for choosing an AUBION X.8!
The X.8 is a professional multi-channel audio AD/DA converter with integrated microphone
amplifiers and real-time transport for eight Mic/Line/SPDIF input ports and four Line/SPDIF
output ports via a conventional Ethernet network (100 Mbit/s or 1 Gbit/s) from and to your
PC.
In combination with measuring software tools from AFMG (e.g. EASERA, SysTune) the X.8
is a measurement device for high-precision acoustic measurements. It therefore provides
you with a measurement solution on which you can carry out simultaneous measurements of
(room) impulse responses, frequency responses, echo times, STI, SPL, LEQ and NC in real
time on eight input ports.
The X.8 presents the audio channels on your PC in the form of a multi-client ASIO device
driver. In addition, the X.8 installation software installs a graphic user interface (X.8 GUI) on
your PC which does not require further configuration as well as an X.8 service (Windows
service) that exchanges all control information with the X.8 in the background. This means
that the X.8 can be used by all ASIO-capable audio applications on the market.
In summary, the AUBION X.8 has the following features:
·Two fast Gigabit network interfaces (1000BaseT) with integrated network switches
provide for extremely simple cabling even across distances of up to 100 metres with
standard CAT5e cables for your measurement device, measurement PC and
network.
·The integrated Zeroconf technology configures the IP network settings automatically.
In connection with the X.8 drivers, which are included in the package, you can
concentrate immediately on your measurement work without having to be a network
expert – a real plug-and-play system!
·The included AUBION X.8 Multiclient ASIO driver allows you to use any, as well as
several, active PC measurement applications which you need for the simultaneous
real-time analysis of the eight AUBION X.8 input ports and the four output ports.
·Synchronous sampling of the analog signals on all input connectors with premium
192 kHz/24 bit A/D and D/A converters and simultaneous presentation of the audio
data on your PC’s time line in your measurement application.
·Sampling rates of 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz and 96 kHz can be set. Primed for the
higher sampling rates 176.4 kHz and 192 kHz.
·Four high-quality microphone preamplifiers with accurate dB amplification of up to
65 dB and excellent sound properties with down to 0.0003% THD+N.
+48V phantom power can be activated for connection to high-quality condenser
measurement microphones.
·Primed for the audio synchronisation of several X.8 in a network for smooth scaling
of the audio channels.
·Very robust and compact construction for mobile use. In addition to all audio
interfaces, the ½ 19“ / 1HE form factor of the casing contains a front panel that can
be operated intuitively and you can set all important measurement parameters
independent of your PC.

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2 Scope of delivery
Your AUBION X.8 package includes the following components:
·AUBION X.8 device
·Mains adapter (power supply)
·X.8 driver CD
3 System requirements
Minimum hardware requirements:
·1.5 GHz processor speed or higher (multi-core processors are recommended)
·1 GB RAM (2 GB or more recommended, especially for Vista and Windows 7)
·900 x 500 display resolution (1024 x 768 or higher recommended display resolution)
·100 Mbit/s or 1000 Mbit/s Ethernet port
Minimum software Requirements:
·Windows XP (SP3), Windows Vista (SP2), Windows 7
·Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0 (or later)
4 Installation and quickstart
If you want to use the X.8 for the first time, you first of all have to install Bonjour, a PC
service provided by Apple to automatically recognize compatible devices, as well as the X.8
device driver with the control software on a compatible PC.
1. Download the software (Bonjour Print Services for Windows) from the following
website and install it: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL999
(Make sure that your firewall settings allow you to use the UDP port 5353.)
2. The X.8 device driver and control software (X.8 GUI) can be found on the CD
provided. Start the setup.exe file on the CD and follow the instructions that appear
on your screen. After the software has been successfully installed, the X.8 GUI
(Aubion.X8.exe) can be found in the \AUBION\X.8\bin folder in Program
Files. Start the software by clicking the desktop symbol or go to the Windows start
menu, to the AUBION\X.8 folder and click AUBION X.8.
3. Connect the network cable to one of the two X.8 network interfaces and connect the
device to the network in which the software installation is also located. Connect the
mains adapter provided to the X.8 and switch it on. Two lines (--) first of all appear on
the two-digit display and, after ten seconds, a numerical value is displayed. The
network activity LEDs on the back of the device should flash.
4. If everything has been correctly installed, the X.8 name appears in the main window
of the X.8 GUI in max. 60 seconds after you have switched on the X.8 device list
(Device:)
5. After selecting the X.8 in the list, you can configure it using the X.8 GUI. An ASIO-
capable application (e.g. EASERA SysTune) can be started to carry out
measurements after the X.8 ASIO driver has been selected in this application (ASIO:
AUBION X.8).

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5 Hardware
Front panel of the X.8:
·Setting and display of the input and output gains, the phantom power supply and the
signal level.
·Port for stereo monitoring headphones; electrically asymmetric
Rear side of the X.8:
·Ethernet ports 1+2: a 10/100/1000BaseT each on two RJ45 sockets;
oThe two network ports can be seen as connections of a 2-port Ethernet
switch; this means, for example, that the X.8 can be connected between PC
and network.
oThe connections serve to transmit eight audio channels from the X.8 and four
audio channels to the X.8 and are also used for configuration, and firmware
updates via an Ethernet network.
·Input channels 1 to 8:
o4 symmetric Mic/Line inputs to 4 XLR/TRS combo sockets (in 1 to 4)
o4 Line inputs (IN 1 to 4) as well as 4 more symmetrical Line inputs to D-
SUB25 socket (IN 1 to 8)
oAlternatively to Line-In 7/8, you have the option of S/PDIF-In 7/8; S/PDIF-In
can be connected to an RCA/cinch socket; the status of the current setting for
In-7/8 is shown by an LED on the rear side (IN 7/8: off = Line-In / on = S/PDIF-
In)
oMic/Line changeover switch (for In 1 to 4) in X.8-GUI
oThe gain regulator (for IN 1 to 8) can be controlled on the front panel of the
X.8 or in the GUI
§For MIC IN: 0, +10, +11, ..., +65 dB
§For LINE IN: 0, +9, +15, +18 dB

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·Output channels 1/2:
o2 line outputs to 2 TRS jack plugs
oReference level for digital full scale level (0 dBFSpeak): +3 dBu, +6 dBu,
+12 dBu and +21 dBu can be adjusted in the X.8 GUI
oThe gain regulator (0..-100 dB) can be controlled on the front panel of the X.8
or in the GUI
·Sampling rates and synchronization:
oSynchronization either on internal master (44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz and
96 kHz can be set in the X.8 GUI) or on the S/PDIF-IN master clock1.
oThe synchronization status is shown by an LED on the rear side (EXT SYNC:
off = internal / on = S/PDIF-In).
·Mains connection 17 to 27 VDC for the mains adapter provided: max. 20W
The technical data for the X.8 can be found in section 9.1.
An enlarged block diagram can be found in section 9.1.
1The synchronisation source S/PDIF-In will be available in a future firmware version.

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6 Configuring the X.8
An X.8 can be extensively configured on the device's front panel or on your PC. While the
X.8 GUI shows you all setting options and status displays, gain settings can be done on the
front panel and some of the operating states are displayed there.
Gain changes can be made at the same time on the front operating panel of the X.8 and in
the X.8 GUI. The gain settings are displayed simultaneously on both.
All settings, no matter whether you have activated them in the X.8 GUI or on the front
operating panel, are always saved on the X.8 device. As such, an X.8 always starts with the
last settings when you switch it on.
6.1 Entering settings in the X.8 GUI
The X.8 GUI is set up like a typical graphic user interface for controlling external sound
cards. It consists of the following elements:
·Settings for input and output gains with slide controls for individual channels and the
corresponding level displays.
·A number of individual configuration switches.
·A menu with additional functions.
·A status display along the bottom shows information on the GUI version and the X.8
service as well as on the hardware and firmware of any device connected.
On the left-hand side there is a drop-down list in which the X.8 devices available in the
network are shown. As soon as the X.8 GUI or the X.8 service working in the background is
connected to an X.8, the levels of the input and output channels as well as all device
configurations are displayed in real time.
The slide control, which can be used to set the input and output amplification on every
channel individually, is on the right-hand side. On the slide controls for the two analog output
channels, you can use the Mute button to mute both channels simultaneously.
Above each of the slide controls for the input channels, there are two switch elements - one
ON/OFF switch for the phantom power supply and one switch for configuring the respective
channel as a Line or Mic channel.
The SPDIF In 7/8 button is located above the last pair of channels. As soon as this is activated,
channels 7 and 8 instead of the last two Line-In channels are occupied by the two S/PDIF
input channels.

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If the X.8 GUI is closed by clicking the [X] button in the corner of the window, the software
does not terminate, but is only minimized in the Windows system tray. Clicking the X.8
Systray symbol with the left-hand mouse button opens the software again. With the right-
hand mouse button, click Exit or File / Exit in the menu in the main window to terminate the
application.
6.1.1 Device list
After the X.8 GUI has started, the control software lists all
X.8 devices found in the network in the Device List
(Device:) . The devices are each displayed with the prefix
"AubionX8_" and the last three octets of their MAC
addresses as a suffix, for example, "00-00-48".
X.8 devices separated from or added to the network are updated in the Device List within
max. 60 seconds.
When this happens, the X.8 icon in the System Tray automatically gives you information
about the change in the connection statuses:
·New X.8 in the network
·Previously connected X.8 has returned to the network
·Previously connected X.8 no longer in the network
·X.8 has been transferred to another X.8 GUI
All status changes are shown in section 9.4.
6.1.2 Connecting to an X.8
You can select exactly one X.8 you have found in the Device List (see section 6.1.1)
manually so that the X.8 service running in the background connects immediately to this
device. As soon as the connection has been established, the X.8 GUI shows you all
currently set device parameters (input and output gains, source selection, etc.) and the signal
level in real time. In addition, further X.8 GUI devices and GUI information are shown at the
bottom (6.1.15 and 6.1.16).
If the X.8 is already connected at the moment of selection to another PC or X.8 service, the
connection will not take place immediately; a selection window (Device is busy) will appear
informing you about what PC-IP address the X.8 in question is currently connected to. If you
answer the question Do you want to take over? with Yes, the local X.8 service takes over the
device. On the active X.8 GUI of the remote PC, a System Tray information appears (Device
has taken over by User IP <IP-Address>) saying that the X.8 has been taken over by your PC,
stating the corresponding IP address and informing the users the X.8 has been separated
from the remote X.8 service.
If a connected X.8 is physically cut off from the network, your activated X.8 GUI informs you
about this. The System Tray message Device disappeared appears. However, the X.8 service
notes the previously connected X.8 and connects itself automatically to this X.8 as soon as
it is re-connected physically to the network. In this case, the System Tray message Device
appeared is displayed.
You can find an overview of all possible status changes in section 9.4.
It is important to know that, for measurements or other audio processes based on your X.8
ASIO driver, the X.8 GUI does not have to be active or open. This means you can connect
to an X.8 device in the X.8 GUI and close the GUI (System Tray: Exit or X.8 GUI: File/Exit) –
the X.8 remains connected with the X.8 service in the background and the ASIO driver