Focusrite ISA One User manual

1
This installation guide provides instructions on how to install the card into your ISA One, ISA 428 MkII or ISA 828
MkII mic preamp, and how to configure the card using the RedNet Control software application.
NOTE: Fitting should only be carried out by someone competent to do so; if in doubt, please refer to qualified
service personnel.
A video guide showing the card installation can be found here: pro.focusrite.com/help-centre
Should either User Guide not provide the information you need, be sure to consult:
https://pro.focusrite.com/technical-support, which contains a comprehensive collection of common technical
support queries.
Dante® and Audinate® are registered trademark of Audinate Pty Ltd.
Box Contents
• ISA ADN2(8) card
• 3 x M3 screws
• Safety information cut sheet
• Focusrite Pro Important Information Guide, which provides links to:
RedNet Control
RedNet PCIe drivers (included with RedNet Control download)
Audinate Dante Controller (installed with RedNet Control)
Dante Virtual Soundcard (DVS) Token and download instructions
Tools required
• Pozidrive No.1 (Standard ANSI Type IA) screwdriver
 Tip:Haveacuporlidavailabletocontainthetopcoverxingscrewsastheyareremoved.
Safety Warning
The unit must be switched off AND the IEC power lead disconnected from the mains inlet on the rear
panel BEFORE carrying out the installation.
Caution
The unit should be removed from any rack enclosure and placed on a clear, flat surface.
Allow the unit to cool before removing the top cover.
Anti-static precautions should be taken when handling the card once removed from its anti-static
bag. Only handle the card by gripping its edges and avoid touching any component parts other than
the cable or connector.
A-D expansion cards with Dante®for the ISA One
ISA 428 MkII and ISA 828 MkII Mic Preamps
Installation and User Guide
www.pro.focusrite.com
FFFA002302-01

2
Installation – ISA One Unit
CONFIRM THAT THE MAINS POWER LEAD IS REMOVED FROM THE REAR OF THE UNIT
Remove the Top Cover
Remove the 10 pozi screws fixing the top cover to the top and sides of the unit.
Ifthecoverisattachedtothemainunitwithachassisearthstrap,thismustnotbedisconnected.
Remove the Blank on the Rear Panel
Undo the 3 crosshead screws (circled) and remove the blanking plate.
Retainthescrewsastheywillbeusedtosecurethedigitalcardontotherear
panel.
The blanking plate can be discarded.
Install the ADN2 Card
Position the card into the unit so that its ribbon cable points towards
the PCB plug J14A below the card.
Align the three mounting holes in the card (circled) with the holes in
the brackets below and loosely fit the screws supplied with the kit.
Refit the screws retained from the blanking plate into the rear of the card
and then fully tighten all screws.
Connect the Ribbon Cable
The PCB mounted ribbon plug is fitted with two mating latches. With the
latches fully apart, the A-D connector should be pressed firmly down in
place until the latches click closed.
Note.Thecableconnectoristtedwithanorientationtabthatmustalign
withthecorrespondingnotchinthePCBPlug.Ifthesearenotproperlyaligned
theconnectorswillnotmate.
Replace the Top Cover
Refit the 10 pozi screws taking care not to pinch the earth safety strap against the A-D card.
Initialise the ISA One Unit with A-D Installed
The ISA One will need to be initialised to recognise the addition of the A-D card.
Switch on power to the unit whilst holding down any of the front panel switches. Once the front panel illuminates,
the switch can be released – the digital card will now be active.
Thisisaone-timeactionandtheunitwillcontinuetorecognisethepresenceoftheA-Dcard.
PCB
Plug
J14A
(below)
Rear Panel
Top View

3
Installation – ISA 428/828 MkII Units
CONFIRM THAT THE MAINS POWER LEAD IS REMOVED FROM THE REAR OF THE UNIT
Remove the Top Cover
Remove the 11 Pozi screws fixing the top cover to the top and sides of the unit.
Ifthecoverisattachedtothechassiswithanearthstrap,thisshouldnotberemoved.
Remove the Blank on the Rear Panel
Undo the 2 crosshead screws (circled) and remove the blanking
plate. Retainthesescrewsastheywillbeusedtosecurethedigitalcardonto
the rear panel.
The blanking plate can be discarded.
Install the ADN8 Card
Position the card into the unit so that its ribbon cable points towards the
PCB plug: J42/J47 (ISA428/828MkII).
Align the two mounting holes at the rear of the card with the holes
in the brackets below and loosely fit two of the screws supplied with
the kit.
Refit the screws retained from the blanking plate through into the rear of
the card and then fully tighten all screws.
The 3rd screw supplied with the kit will be installed through the top cover.
Connect the Ribbon Cable
The PCB mounted ribbon plug is fitted with two mating latches. With the latches fully apart, the A-D connector
should be pressed firmly down in place until the latches click closed.
Note.ThecableconnectoristtedwithanorientationtabthatmustalignwiththecorrespondingnotchinthePCB
Plug.Ifthesearenotproperlyalignedtheconnectorswillnotmate.
Replace the Top Cover
Refit the 11 Pozi screws taking care not to pinch the safety earth strap against the A-D card. Install the screw
through the top cover.
Initialise the ISA 428/828 MkII Unit with A-D Installed
The ISA 428/828 MkII unit will need to be initialised to recognise the addition of the A-D card.
Switch on power to the unit whilst holding down any of the front panel switches. Once the front panel illuminates,
the switch can be released – the digital card will now be active.
Thisisaone-timeactionandtheunitwillcontinuetorecognisethepresenceoftheA-Dcard.
PCB
Plug
Rear Panel
Top View

4
REDNET CONTROL 2
RedNet Control 2 is Focusrite’s customisable software application for controlling and configuring Red, RedNet
and ISA interfaces. A graphical interface for each device shows: control and function settings, signal meters,
signal routing and mixing.
After installation of the ADN interface card, audio from your ISA preamp can be added to a Dante network.
First Use and Firmware Updates
Your ADN card may require a firmware update* when it is first installed and switched on. Firmware updates are
initiated and handled automatically by the RedNet Control application.
*Itisimportantthatthermwareupdateprocedureisnotinterrupted–eitherbyswitchingoffpowertotheISA
preamporthecomputeronwhichRedNetControlisrunning,orbydisconnectingeitherfromthenetwork.
From time to time Focusrite will release RedNet firmware updates within new versions of RedNet Control. We
recommend keeping all Focusrite Pro units up to date with the latest firmware version supplied with each new
version of RedNet Control.
ISA ADN2/8 GUI
The device windows for the ADN interface cards are shown below:
Each display shows the audio level for each channel. At full scale, 0 dBFS is indicated by a red bargraph
segment on each level meter.
Status Icons
Status icons for the network are shown at the left edge of the device window:
Networks – Each illuminates if a valid connection is present
Locked – Unit is successfully locked to the network (changes to the red cross if not locked)
Network Master – Illuminates if a unit is the network master
ID (Identification)
Clicking on the ID icon will identify the device being controlled by flashing its front panel ‘Lock’ LED.
ADN2 Graphical Interface ADN8 Graphical Interface

5
RedNet Control – Tools Menu
Clicking on the Tools icon will open the System Settings window.
The A-D card’s hardware and firmware details, as well as the current network and sync settings, are displayed
in the left pane of the window:
Preferred Master – The ADN2/8 A-D card will automatically lock to a valid Network Grand Master via its Dante
connection. Alternatively, Preferred Master can be enabled so that it becomes the Network Grand Master.
IfmorethanonedevicehasthePreferredMasteroptionset,thenthedevicewiththelowestMACaddresswillbe
chosen as Grand Master.
ISA Clock Source – Select either:
• Internal – Set via the front panel Clock Select switch
• Word Clock Input
Also see Note 1on page 6.
Word Clock Input Termination – Terminates word clock input BNC with 75Ω.
TerminationshouldbeenablediftheADNcardisthelastdeviceintheWordClockchain.
Word Clock Output – Select either:
• Network – Output matches the network rate
• Network (Base Rate) – 44.1kHz or 48kHz, dependant on whichever multiple has been selected

6
NOTES
1. External Clock Input – Unit Differences
The way in which ISA One, Two and 428 MkII units respond to an external clock selection will vary slightly
depending on the unit’s revision.
On earlier units, the EXT clock input options will include a 256X setting rather than the Dante Clock setting on
the later units.
All ISA 828 MkII units will be of the ‘Dante Clock’ version.
Front Panels Marked 256X
The front panel EXT LED indicators only follow the rate selected if the change is made using the front panel
switch. If a change to the external clock is made over the network, the front panel LED won’t update, and the
LOCK LED will start flashing.
Note that the unit will still operate correctly – it will still follow the RNC2 or the front panel switch selection –
but it won’t update the front panel indication.
When a change is made from the front panel, the unit will always toggle to whichever would be the next
selection. For example: if the front panel is set to 48k, and the setting is changed to 44.1k via RNC2, 88.2k will
still be the next sample rate selected by pressing the button on the front panel. This behaviour is the same for
the sync source.
Front Panels Marked Dante Clock
On newer units the EXT LEDs will always indicate the correct setting whether changes are made from the front
panel or via the network.
2. Asynchronous Clock Inputs
On ISA ADN2 and ADN8, If an external Word Clock, which is asynchronous to the Grand Master, is used whilst
there is a Dante Network attached, there will be audio glitches on outputs. This can be resolved by disconnecting
the network, or by placing the ISA ADN2/ADN8 on a different network/subnet.

7
PERFORMANCE AND SPECIFICATIONS
Digital Performance
Supported sample rates 44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96 /176.4 / 192 kHz (-4% / -0.1% / +0.1% / +4.167%) at 24 bit
Clock Sources Internal or from Word Clock
Connectivity
Dante
Primary & Secondary Ethernet standard RJ45 connectors (Compatible with Cat 5e and above).
AES3
Channel Count 2 x AES3 Channels (ADN2)
8 x AES3 Channels (ADN8)
Output 1 x XLR-3 male (ADN2)
1 x DB25 female; AES59 Combined I/O / Tascam Digital (ADN8)
0 dBFS reference level 22 dBu
Frequency response 20 Hz – 20 kHz ± 0.1 dB
THD+N -105 dB (0.0006%) unweighted, 20 Hz – 20 kHz; -1 dBFS input
Dynamic range 121 dB ‘A’-weighted (typical), 20 Hz – 20 kHz
ADAT
Channel count / Output 2 x ADAT Channels (ADN2)
8 x ADAT Channels (ADN8)
Output 1 x TOSLINK connector (ADN2)
2 x TOSLINK connectors (ADN8)
Channel assignments:
(ADN2:) 44.1 / 48 kHz
88.2 / 96 kHz
176.4 / 192 kHz
(ADN8:) 44.1 / 48 kHz
88.2 / 96 kHz
176.4 / 192 kHz
Port 1: Channels 1–2
SMUXI: Port 1: Channels 1–2
SMUXII: Port 1: Channels 1–2
Port 1: Channels 1–8 , Port 2: Channels 1–8
SMUXI: Port 1: Channels 1–4, Port 2: Channels 5–8
SMUXII: Port 1: Channels 1–2 , Port 2: Channels 3–4
S/PDIF (ADN2Only)
Channel count / Output 2 x S/PDIF channels / 1 x RCA phono socket
Frequency response 20 Hz – 20 kHz ± 0.1 dB
THD+N -105 dB (0.0006%) unweighted, 20 Hz – 20 kHz; -1 dBFS input
Dynamic range 121 dB ‘A’-weighted (typical), 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Word Clock
Input 1 x BNC 75Ω port
Output 1 x BNC 75Ω port

8
Focusrite Pro Warranty and Service
All Focusrite products are built to the highest standards and should provide reliable performance for many
years, subject to reasonable care, use, transportation and storage.
Many of the products returned under warranty are found not to exhibit any fault at all. To avoid unnecessary
inconvenience to you in terms of returning the product please contact Focusrite support.
In the event of a Manufacturing Defect becoming evident in a product within 3 years from the date of the original
purchase, Focusrite will ensure that the product is repaired or replaced free of charge.
A Manufacturing Defect is defined as a defect in the performance of the product as described and published by
Focusrite. A Manufacturing Defect does not include damage caused by post-purchase transportation, storage
or careless handling, nor damage caused by misuse.
Whilst this warranty is provided by Focusrite the warranty obligations are fulfilled by the distributor responsible
for the country in which you purchased the product.
In the event that you need to contact the distributor regarding a warranty issue, or an out-of-warranty
chargeable repair, please visit: www.focusrite.com/distributors
The distributor will then advise you of the appropriate procedure for resolving the warranty issue. In every
case it will be necessary to provide a copy of the original invoice or store receipt to the distributor. In the event
that you are unable to provide proof of purchase directly then you should contact the reseller from whom you
purchased the product and attempt to obtain proof of purchase from them.
Please do note that if you purchase a Focusrite product outside your country of residence or business you will
not be entitled to ask your local Focusrite distributor to honour this limited warranty, although you may request
an out-of-warranty chargeable repair.
This limited warranty is offered solely to products purchased from an Authorised Focusrite Reseller (defined
as a reseller which has purchased the product directly from Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited in the UK, or
one of its Authorised Distributors outside the UK). This Warranty is in addition to your statutory rights in the
country of purchase.
Registering Your Product
For access to Dante Virtual Soundcard, please register your product at: www.focusrite.com/register
Customer Support and Unit Servicing
You can contact our dedicated RedNet Customer Support team free of charge:
Email: pr[email protected]om
Phone (UK): [phone]
Phone (USA): [phone]
Troubleshooting
If you are experiencing problems with your ISA ADN2/8, we recommend that in the first instance you visit our
Support Answerbase at: www.focusrite.com/answerbase