SoundCraft 328xd User manual

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RIGHT
STE-2STE-1
SELECT
MUTE
SOLO
MIX
dBFS
0dBFS = 18dBu
STEREO INPUTS
GROUP LINK
CHANNEL /
XDX D
EXIT
PARAMETER
FUNCTION
OUT
THRU
MIDI
IN OUT IN
IN
OUT
S/PDIF
OUT IN
AES/EBU
WORD
CLOCK CLOCK
WORD/SUPER
ALESIS ADAT AND BRC
328
XD

Soundcraft 328XD and Alesis ADAT and BRC
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328XD AND
328XD AND328XD AND
328XD AND
ALESIS ADAT
ALESIS ADATALESIS ADAT
ALESIS ADAT
AND BRC
AND BRCAND BRC
AND BRC
Connecting the system 2
328XD Configuration 4
BRC and ADAT Configuration 6
Notes on single ADAT operation 8

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CONNECTING THE SYSTEM
Audio Connections
Connect audio connections as shown in the diagram below. ADAT Optical cables must be connected from
the ADAT Out ports of both the ADATs to the ADAT In ports of the 328XD and vice versa.
The ADAT connections allow digital transfer of either direct outputs for input channels 1-16 to the ADATs,
or the 328XD’s 8 Group outputs.
Synchronization Connections
Besides the audio connections, a BNC Wordclock cable must be connected from the 328XD Wordclock
Out to the BRC 48kHz input to synchronize the transmission of the samples.
NOTE:
It must be decided whether MIDI Time Code (MTC) or Longitudinal Timecode (LTC or SMPTE) is
to be used to transmit the timecode from the BRC to the 328XD. If LTC is to be used, MIDI
connections must still be made, in order to enable the transmission of MIDI Machine Control
(MMC). MMC is responsible for the transmission of the Transport and Locate Controls between
BRC and 328XD.

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In the following diagram the MIDI cable from the BRC MIDI Out port is used to transmit the MIDI
Timecode to the 328XD.
To summarize, the connections required are as follows:
BNC Wordclock cable:
328XD Wordclock out
Î
BRC Wordclock In
MIDI Cables (required even if MIDI Timecode is not to be used):
328XD MIDI Out
Î
BRC MIDI In
BRC MIDI Out
Î
328XD MIDI In
SMPTE Cable (required only if SMPTE is to be used instead of MIDI Timecode)
BRC Timecode Out
Î
328XD Timecode In
Alesis Sync Cables:
BRC Sync Out
Î ADAT Master SyncIn ADAT
Master SyncOut Î ADAT Client Sync In
Optical Cables:
ADAT Master Optical Out
Î
328XD 8 Track A Optical In
328XD 8 Track A Optical Out Î ADAT Master Optical In
ADAT Client Optical Out Î 328XD 8 Track B Optical In
328XD 8 Track B Optical Out Î ADAT Client Optical In

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328XD CONFIGURATION
Wordclock
In a configuration using the BRC, the 328XD must be made to be the wordclock master device. Enter the
328XD Menu pages by pressing the <MENU> button on the right hand side of the LCD display. Using
the encoder beneath the display, scroll up or down until the ‘Clock Source Sel’ menu is highlighted, and
press <ENTER>. Here, either the internal sampling rate can be toggled between 44.1kHz and 48kHz.
As the BRC responds only to a 48kHz input, the 328XD must be set to Internal Clock at 48kHz. Use the
encoder to set the clock to 48kHz, press <ENTER> to set the sample rate and <MENU> to return to the
menu pages.
Tape Ports
To ensure that the 328XD Tape Ports are set to ADAT, enter the 328XD Menu pages by pressing the
<MENU> button on the right hand side of the LCD display. Using the PARAM encoder beneath the
display, scroll up or down until the ‘Tape Port Select’ menu is highlighted. Press <ENTER> and keep
pressing the Up cursor arrow until the ‘<Tape Ch17-24 >’ menu page is displayed. Using the PARAM
encoder, set the Bank Source to ADAT. Press the Down cursor arrow once, to set the wordlength. Newer
ADATs such as the XT-20 or LX-20 are capable of 20-bit recording, and so for optimum results, 20-bit
wordlength can be selected here. If using the black Classic ADAT, 16-bit should be selected. The ADAT
manuals should be consulted for further information. The wordlength is set on the 328XD with the
PARAM encoder.
Press the Down cursor arrow once to set the wordlength. Newer ADATs such as the XT-20 or LX-20 are
capable of 20-bit recording, and so for optimum results, 20-bit wordlength can be selected here. If using
the black Classic ADAT, 16-bit should be selected. The ADAT manuals should be consulted for further
information. The wordlength is set on the 328XD with the PARAM encoder. Press <MENU> to return to
the menu pages.

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MIDI
To configure the 328XD to send the MMC controls to the BRC and vice versa, the Alesis BRC must be
selected in the Tape Machine Setup menu. Enter the Menu pages by pressing the <MENU> button,
and scroll up or down with the PARAM encoder until the ‘Tape Mach Setup’ menu is highlighted. Press
<ENTER>, scroll until ‘Alesis BRC’ is highlighted and press <ENTER> again.
NOTE:
Once the BRC has been selected, the timecode source must be selected. If no SMPTE cable
has been connected, MTC must be selected; if a SMPTE cable has been connected, LTC
must be selected.
or
The frame rate must also be selected. The options are 24 frame, 25 frame, 30 drop frame and 30 non-
drop frame. Whichever is selected here must also be selected later when setting up the BRC.
Once the 328XD has been set up, it is very advisable to store a User Setup of the above settings. Enter
the Menu pages by pressing the <MENU> button and scroll through the menus until ‘User Setups’ is
highlighted. Press <ENTER> and scroll through to find a vacant setup location. Press <STORE> in the
328XD Snapshot panel. The User Setup will now be stored. To edit the parameters of the setup, while
the setup is highlighted in the display, press <ENTER>. To recall the setup, highlight it in the User
Setups menu in the LCD and press the <RECALL> button in the Snapshot panel.
NOTE:
Before proceeding to the ADAT and BRC setup, recall the User Setup as illustrated above
and switch off the 328XD.

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BRC AND ADAT CONFIGURATION
Firstly, turn on theClient ADAT. Allow a fewseconds for the ADAT to boot correctly. Next turn onthe
Master ADAT. Allow afewmore seconds for the ADAT to boot and recognize theClient ADAT. Then turn
on theBRC. Ensure that theBRC recognizes both ADATs. If it does not recognize theADATs, you will
need to turn off the BRC and reinitialize it, by holding down <RECORD> and <PLAY> and turning on the
BRC. You may need to repeat this procedure until the BRC recognizes thetwo ADATs.
Once theBRC and ADATs are stable, theBRC must be set up correctly.
BRC Setup
TIMECODE
To set the BRC to Timecode generation toeither MTC or SMPTE:
MTC: Press <EDIT>, <GEN SYNC>, <GEN SYNC> on the BRC. Using the <UPPERCASE> and
<LOWERCASE> cursor keys, select MTC.
SMPTE: Press <EDIT>, <GEN SYNC> on the BRC to select SMPTE timecode output. Using the
<UPPERCASE> cursor key select +4dB.
NOTE:
SMPTE should only be selected if the SMPTE cable is connected between the BRC and the
328XD.
WORDCLOCK
Press <EXT SYNC> on the BRC. Ensure that the <EDIT> button has remained lit, and use the
<UPPERCASE> and <LOWERCASE> cursor keys until the display reads
To leave the EDIT mode, press <EDIT>

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CONFIRMING THE SETTINGS
To implement the above settings made to the BRC:
Press
<GEN SYNC> then <EXT SYNC>
Then the
<GEN SYNC> (Generate Sync - MTC/SMPTE)
and
<EXT SYNC> (External Sync - Wordclock)
buttons should now be lit, indicating that the BRC is generating MIDI Timecode or SMPTE and sending it
to the 328XD, and is receiving 48kHz Wordclock from the 328XD on the BNC cable.
FRAME RATE
Press the <SMPTE> button on the BRC until the LED indicates the same Frame Rate as was selected in
the 328XD configuration.
ADAT Setup
BLACK CLASSIC ADAT:
Press <DIGITAL IN> (on both ADATs if two are connected)
LATER MODEL
Press <Digital Input> (on both ADATs if two are connected)
NOTE:
Do not do this from the BRC – the <DIGITAL I/O> button sets the BRC and connected ADATs
into track bounce mode.
To complete the setup, turn on the 328XD again.

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NOTES ON SINGLE ADAT OPERATION
The 328XD should be set up as outlined above, with a few notable exceptions. As an ADAT has no MIDI
capabilities or a SMPTE output, Timecode cannot be transmitted and the 328XD Transport Controls
cannot be used. The Tape Port should be set to ADAT as above, ensuring that if only one ADAT is
connected that the unused port is set to TDIF.
The ADAT(s) should be set to Digital Input, as outlined on the previous page, and also set to receive
external clock. To set the clock to external, press the <CLOCK SELECT> button on the front panel until
DIG 48K is seen in the display.
NOTE:
If 48K flashes in the display, the ADAT tape is formatted at 44.1kHz. The 328XD should now
be set to generate wordclock at 44.1kHz (see above). The sampling rate will now remain lit on
the ADAT display.
SOUNDCRAFT
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