M-Audio Digipatch 12x6 User manual

Table of Contents
FCC Class B and CE Compliance ................................................ 2
Features............................................................................................. 3
Overview.......................................................................................... 4
Installation........................................................................................ 5
Panels - Fig. 1 ................................................................................... 6
Panel Description ............................................................................ 7
Front Panel ........................................................................... 7
Back Panel ........................................................................... 8
Operation ........................................................................................ 9
Creating a New Patch......................................................... 9
Editing Existing Patch ...................................................... 10
Editing MIDI Receive Channel........................................ 11
Turning MIDI Thru On and Off ...................................... 11
Bulk Data Dumps via MIDI............................................. 12
Appendix 1 - Diagnostic Test ..................................................... 12
Appendix 2 - MIDI Implementation ......................................... 15
Appendix 3 - Mac “Panel” Software ......................................... 16
Appendix 4 - PC “Panel” Software............................................ 18
Lifetime Limited Warranty ...........................................................19
Digipatch 12x6
™ MANUAL
version: Digi-061799
1

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Lifetime Limited Warranty .......................................................... 19
READ THIS ! ... READ THIS ! ....
Included with DigiPatch 12x6™are factory diskettes
containing Mac and PC DigiPatch applications. Either
of these programs can be installed on your computer in
the conventional manner .
FCC Class B and CE Compliance
WARNING: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the
limits for a CLASS B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and
can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accor-
dance with the instructions contained in this manual, may cause harmful
interference to radio and television communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.
If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on,
the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of
the following measures: 1) reorient or relocate the receiving antenna; 2)
increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver; 3) connect
the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that of the receiver;
4) consult the dealer or an experienced audio television technician.
NOTE: Connecting this device to peripheral devices that do not
comply with CLASS B requirements or using an unshielded
peripheral data cable could also result in harmful interference to
radio or television reception.
The user is cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s
authority to operate this equipment.
To ensure that the use of this product does not contribute to interference, it

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is necessary to use shielded I/O cables.
This product also complies with European CE requirements.
Features
The DigiPatch 12x6 is an automated patchbay which routes digital
audio connections between gear equipped with S/PDIF and Adat*
compatible digital audio connectors. The DigiPatch 12x6 has the fol-
lowing features:
•Twelve completely independent sources: six coaxial (RCA) inputs
and six optical (EIAJ) inputs.
•Six targets: one coaxial output and one optical output per target.
•50 non-volatile internal patch configurations can be programmed,
stored, and recalled at any later time.
•All connections are “format neutral” and can be used for S/PDIF
or Adat.
•Works with all digital audio format converters and swiss-army
knives.
•Performs simple coaxial-to-optical and optical-to-coaxial transla-
tions for S/PDIF signals.
•Built-in MIDI thru function for easy hook-up to any existing MIDI
setup.
•Multiple DigiPatch 2patchbays can be cascaded together for even
more ins and outs.
•DigiPatch can be programmed from the front panel, or controlled
remotely from a computer using DigiPatch Panel™ software for
Mac or PC included with the unit.
•The perfect companion for synthesizers, HD recorders, MDMs,
digital mixers, digital mic preamps, stand alone ADCs and DACs,
effects processors, etc.
•Single height, full rack mount enclosure.
•Rugged all steel construction.

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* Adat is a registered trademark of Alesis Corporation
Overview
Thanks for choosing a DigiPatch to automate your digital audio
routings. Like the name says, the DigiPatch 12 x 6 is a twelve by six
digital audio patchbay. It has twelve completely independent inputs
called sources, and six PAIRS of outputs called targets.
Patchbay connections are made from the perspective of the target. In
other words, you first choose which target to edit, and then choose
the source for that target. Once you have selected the sources for the
desired targets you can store this setup into a program and recall it
later.
If you’re already using digital audio gear you’ll find the DigiPatch to
be very easy to operate. If you are new to digital audio (and digital
audio connections) you’re facing a small learning curve. The most
important rule to remember is this:
Please Note: The DigiPatch is a simple switching matrix. It routes
digital ones and zeros from one connector to another. It can be
used for optical-to-coaxial and coaxial-to-optical conversions. It
does not “decode” or “listen to” the digital audio signals. In par-
ticular, it doesn’t know the difference between an S/PDIF signal
and an Adat signal. It will not prevent you from making nonsensi-

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cal connections between the two formats.
Installation
Your DigiPatch box should contain this manual, the power trans-
former, and the unit itself. Save all packing materials in case you
should ever want to ship the unit.
The DigiPatch takes up one space in a standard 19” equipment rack.
Install it as you would any other piece of gear, but keep in mind that
digital audio cable lengths should be as short as possible.
There are no special rules for deciding which of the DigiPatch’s con-
nectors to use with the various devices in your setup. You should
keep in mind however, that a DigiPatch target is a PAIR of output
connectors. This means that any signal that is transmitted from opti-
cal output N is also transmitted from coaxial output N. Even Adat
signals!
The most straightforward approach is to keep a one-to-one relation-
ship between devices and I/O numbers. For example: To hook up
an Adat, connect optical input 1 on the DigiPatch to the Adat’s digi-
tal out, then connect optical output 1 on the DigiPatch to the Adat’s

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digital in.
INOUT
MIDI OPTICAL IN
OUT
▲
9VDC
IN6 1 2 3 4 5 6OUT 6OUT 5IN5OUT 4IN4OUT 3IN3OUT 2IN2OUT 1IN1
COAXIAL
DigiPatch 12x6™
DIGITAL AUDIO PATCHBAY
l
PROGRAM TARGET SOURCE
POWER
PROGRAM TARGET SOURCE
MIDI STORE
▲ ▼▼▼
▲▲

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Panels - Fig. 1
Panel Description
Front Panel
1. Program indicator: This normally displays the current program
number, but when the MIDI button is held it will display the
midi channel.
2. Target indicator: This normally displays the current target num-
ber, but when the MIDI button is held it will display the midi
thru ON / OFF status.
3. Source indicator: This displays the current source number.
When the MIDI button is held it will go blank.
4. Program Inc / Dec buttons: This pair of buttons is normally used
to select a new program, but when the MIDI button is held they
are used to select the midi channel.
5. Target Inc / Dec buttons: This pair of buttons is normally used to
select the current target, but when the MIDI button is held they
are used to select the midi thru ON / OFF status.
6. Source Inc / Dec buttons: This pair of buttons is used to select
the current source, but when the MIDI button is held they do
nothing.
7. MIDI button: This button behaves like a dead-man switch.
When you press and hold it the indicators and buttons perform
their alternative midi functions.
8. Store button: When you press this button the first time it will tell
the DigiPatch that you want to store the current program. If you
press it a second time the DigiPatch will execute the store opera-
tion. See the Operation section for more details.

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Rear Panel
9. Power connector: Use only the power transformer that came
with your DigiPatch.
10. MIDI In connector: This is a standard MIDI in jack. The
DigiPatch can respond to program change and system exclusive
messages.
11. MIDI Out: This is a standard MIDI out jack. It can also function
like a standard midi thru connector if the MIDI thru feature is
enabled. See the Operation section.
12. Optical digital audio connectors: Use these to hook up S/PDIF
or Alesis Adat™ compatible devices.
13. Coaxial digital audio connectors: Use these to hook up S/PDIF
compatible devices which use RCA type connectors.

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Operation
The digital audio outputs of the DigiPatch are arranged in pairs. If
you look at the unit’s rear panel you will see six coaxial (RCA) out-
puts, and six optical outputs. Each of these like-numbered output
pairs are called a target. For example, coaxial output 1 together
with optical output 1 make up target 1. With DigiPatch any signal
that is patched to a target appears at both the optical AND coaxial
output of that target. In other words, the optical and coaxial outputs
of a given target are paired together and not separately addressable.
So DigiPatch has six selectable targets.
Asource is any DigiPatch digital audio “input” or “receiver” on the
rear panel. There are thirteen of these sources: six coaxial sources,
six optical sources, and an “Off” position. Unlike targets, sources are
completely independent of one another. For example: coaxial source
1 can be routed to target 1 while optical source 1 is routed to target 2.
Whenever a DigiPatch optical source is selected, a decimal point
will appear next to the source indicator on the front panel. When the
Off position is selected the source indicator will display “0”.
The DigiPatch organizes each custom patch setup into programs.
The DigiPatch will store 50 programs which are numbered 0 through
49. Each program remembers the desired source for each target.
Programs can be selected using the Program Inc (▲) and Dec (▼)
buttons, or from MIDI by way of MIDI program change messages.
Creating a New Patch
To create a new patch from the front panel first use the Target Inc (▲)
and Dec (▼) buttons to select the target you wish a given source to
go to. Next, use the Source Inc (▲) and Dec (▼) buttons to select the
desired source for that target. After setting the desired source you
may move to the next target you wish to activate and then select its
source. Continue on in this manner until all of the targets you want
activated are patched to the desired source. IMPORTANT: If you
don’t want to assign a given target any source you may turn it off

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by pressing the Source Inc (▲) and Dec (▼) buttons until a “0” (for
“0ff”) appears in the Source window.
Whenever any kind of edit of a patch is performed a decimal point
will immediately appear next to the program indicator as a reminder
that the program has been modified.
After you have finished setting up all of the target and source infor-
mation, you may store this patch information as an internal program.
This is done by first pressing the Store button. After doing this the
program indicator will flash slowly, and the source and target indica-
tor will blank out. You now have two options. You can: 1.) store the
new patch in the program location shown in the program window
by simply pressing the Store button a second time; or 2.) select a dif-
ferent program location for this patch by pressing the Program Inc
(▲) and Dec (▼) buttons until the new location is displayed and then
again press the Store button. After you press the store button a sec-
ond time, the program indicator will flash really fast for a moment
telling you that the store process is complete.
IMPORTANT: If you have pressed the Store button once and then
decide to abort the Store process you may do so by pressing any
unrelated button including the MIDI button, the Source Inc and
Dec buttons or the Target Inc or Dec buttons.
Editing an Existing Patch
If you have already created a patch and wish to edit it you may do so
by first using the Program Inc (▲) and Dec (▼) buttons to select
patch you want to edit. Now, use the Target Inc (▲) and Dec (▼)
buttons to select the you want to edit. Next, use the Source Inc (▲)
and Dec (▼) buttons to edit the desired source for that target. When
all of the target-sources have been edited to reflect the desired
changes, you can go ahead and store the edited patch by simply
pressing the Store button twice. Since you have not changed the
selected program number since you started editing the patch, the