Waves Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card User manual

Hear Back PRO
SoundGrid Card
UserGuide
6/17/2022

Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card User Guide page 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction .................................................................................................................. 3
About SoundGrid and the Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card Audio Interface ........ 3
Typical Uses ............................................................................................................ 5
Native/SoundGrid Comparison Table ...................................................................... 7
1. Hardware and Connectors ...................................................................................... 8
2. Installation and Configuration Overview ................................................................ 10
2.1 Installing the Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card ............................................... 10
2.2 Configuring the Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card in MultiRack SoundGrid .... 10
2.3 Configuring the Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card in SoundGrid Studio .......... 13
2.3.1 Setting up SoundGrid Studio.............................................................................13
2.3.2 Firmware Status and Updates...........................................................................16
3. Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card Control Panel .................................................. 18
3.1 Clock Page ...................................................................................................... 18
3.2 About Page ...................................................................................................... 20
3.3 System Info Page ............................................................................................ 20
3.4 Saving, Loading, and Identifying ...................................................................... 21

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Introduction
Thank you for choosing a Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card audio interface for
SoundGrid systems. In order to get the most out of your Hear Back PRO SoundGrid
Card product, please take some time to read this user guide. We also suggest that
you become familiar with the Waves support site (http://www.waves.com/support),
where you’ll find an extensive answer base, the latest tech specs, detailed
installation guides, software updates, and current information about licensing and
registration.
About SoundGrid and the Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card Audio
Interface
SoundGrid is a scalable infrastructure that provides a variety of cost-effective, high-
quality solutions for recording studios and live applications. It can be configured in
many ways—with many hardware possibilities—to provide a very flexible work
environment. This framework is managed by the SoundGrid Studio Application,
eMotion LV1, or MultiRack SoundGrid. Each of these applications can configure
the network, assign and manage I/Os, controllers and servers, and patch audio
throughout the system. Any user, anywhere on the SoundGrid network, has access
to the network’s I/O devices. Adding a SoundGrid DSP server enables recording and
monitoring with very low latency and moves processing away from the host computer
to the server.
The Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card for Hear Technologies personal monitor
mixers enables integration with Waves SoundGrid systems via a single Ethernet
cable. This provides SoundGrid networking technology for low-latency plugin
processing, multitrack recording and playback, and audio networking. Hear Back
PRO SoundGrid Card also features Sync-over-Ethernet for clocking multiple
personal monitor mixers and performing digital splits. Other benefits of a SoundGrid
network include:
• Super-low-latency networking platform for processing, playback, and
recording

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• SoundGrid-compatible devices and SoundGrid systems connect via a single
Cat 5e or Cat 6 Ethernet cable. Compatible with standard computers and
switches
• Each Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card allows 32 channels of one-directional
audio. Use two cards for 32 channels of bidirectional sound.
• ASIO/Core Audio drivers for recording and playback
• 1 built-in port for direct connection
• Provides redundancy and recovery options
• Works with MultiRack SoundGrid, SoundGrid Studio, and eMotion LV1
software for setup and control

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Typical Uses
The Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card can be used in both SoundGrid and Native
configurations.
SoundGrid
In a SoundGrid configuration, the Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card connects to a
SoundGrid network that has a SoundGrid DSP server. This provides a high plugin
count with super-low latency processing. It also enables other networking
capabilities, including the option of adding an additional DSP server for backup.
Please note: A SoundGrid DSP server is required for SoundGrid configurations.

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Native – In a Native configuration, the Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card is used to
connect a personal monitor mixer to the SoundGrid ASIO/Core Audio driver for
plugin processing and/or DAW playback/recording. Since the Native configuration
utilizes the computer’s CPU to power plugin processing, plugin count and overall
system latency depend on the computer’s CPU and sound driver capabilities.
Please note: A SoundGrid DSP server is not required for Native configurations.

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Native/SoundGrid Comparison Table
Features
Native
SoundGrid
Low Latency
Processing
Recording
Simultaneous
Recording and
Processing
CPU Load
DAW computer's
CPU Dedicated SoundGrid DSP server
Backup DSP Server
Networking
I/O Interface
Hear Back PRO
SoundGrid Card Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card
Plugin Host
Software MultiRack Native
MultiRack SoundGrid, SoundGrid
Studio, or eMotion LV1 Mixer
Plugin Licenses
Native
SoundGrid

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1. Hardware and Connectors
The card’s SoundGrid port (Ethernet) connects to the SoundGrid Network.
There are two LEDs on the port itself, and a third LED to the right of it.
The two LEDs on the port itself indicate network status:
• Link/Activity Flashing green
• GigE connection Solid orange
The LED to the right of the port (“STATUS”) indicates card status:
• Blue: Card is recognized by the SoundGrid network.
• Red: Card is not recognized by the SoundGrid network.
• Yellow: While updating – Card is updating properly
Other conditions – Firmware did not load properly, or the unit did not
boot properly.
• Cycling through colors: The LED is also used to identify the card from the
control panel. The ID button on the SoundGrid device rack activates the card
status LED. When the ID button is pressed, the card status LED changes
colors repeatedly to help identify the card.

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Resetting the Unit
If, after an unsuccessful firmware update, the Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card is not
recognized by MultiRack or SoundGrid Studio (that is, the device does not appear in
the inventory panel), you can use the Reset button to try to recover the unit. The
Reset button is on the front panel of the Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card. Follow
these steps:
•Turn off the unit.
•Press and hold the Reset button.
•Restart the unit while holding the button.
•Release the Reset button once the device has fully booted.
The unit is now in “force update” mode, and a new firmware update can be
performed.

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2. Installation and Configuration Overview
The ASIO/Core Audio drivers and control panel for the Hear Back PRO SoundGrid
Card interface—as well as most other Waves products—are installed using the
Waves Central application. When you download the drivers and interface, Waves
Central also installs the latest version of the SoundGrid driver and the SoundGrid
Studio Application, which are required for DAW recording and playback.
Download Waves Central here:
http://www.waves.com/downloads/central
2.1 Installing the Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card
Please refer to the Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card section of your Hear
Technologies manual for installation instructions.
2.2 Configuring the Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card in MultiRack
SoundGrid
Access the Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card control panel from the Inventory
window in the MultiRack SoundGrid application.
1. Launch the MultiRack SoundGrid application.
2. Enter the Preferences window by typing Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+,
[comma] (Mac), or from the appropriate application menu.
3. Under Local LAN Port, choose the adapter connected to the SoundGrid
network and the Hear Back PRO SoundGrid Card. Network adapters are
displayed as MAC addresses and port names.