[JTRJAMMERParticipant]

My experiences with USB-B to laptop and USB SQ-Drive:

– 1st attempt was multitrack via USB-B at 96kHz to Macbook Pro 2016: Using OS X High Sierra, Logix Pro-X, and the local SSD drive I couldn’t get more
than 10 tracks to record without locking up. Haven’t had time to experiment to see what limited this, or try another DAW like Digital Performer, or use
an external USB drive connected to the Macbook. Appreciate anyone else’s experience.
– 2nd attempt was via SSD, Seagate Backup Plus 1TB connected to SQ-Drive. Recorded 2 hours, 16 tracks, worked perfect, good recording
– 3rd attempt again with Seagate SSD, 16 tracks, little over 2 hour session, I pulled the drive too soon after stopping record so the SQ-Drive hadn’t finished
writing the tails on the files, ended up with 16 files of 512b, fail. However, connected the drive to WIN10 machine, ran error correciton and it rebuilt the files
successfully as raw wave files. Then had to import/export into/out of Audacity to create the final head/tail of the files to be recognized as wave files, success and
again good recording.

Lessoned learned, when using the SQ-Drive be sure and wait till the yellow USB activity light stops blinking before you pull the drive. This can seem to take forever. I’m now shopping for an UPS, but haven’t timed it to see how long it really takes to completely write out a 16-track 4 hour session so I can make sure the UPS will run long enough to complete as with UPS run time adds to cost of the unit. The only thing that seems a bit wonky at this point is the start/stop of recording, probably my own impatience, but it can get a bit confusing whether you are still running or not. Also, given the length of time to finalize the files I wouldn’t recommend trying to stop for a break and then re-start as the files my not have been written out by the time you need to start recording again, just my perception and again appreciate anyone else’s experience with this.

[JTRJAMMERParticipant]

Maybe not practical, but can’t you use the Dante card and connect to Aviom system via Dante from the SQ?

[JTRJAMMERParticipant]

Had thought about using an UPS, no longer thinking. Also agree with Ian that SSDs are the best option. Went through a couple of USB sticks with mixed results. Ended up using a Seagate 1 TB Backup Plus Slim, $50 from Fry’s Electronics. The Dante card for recording, recording backups and interfaces to other systems is very appealing.

[JTRJAMMERParticipant]

Friggin brilliant! Thanks for sending the link. Already rebuilt all of the files, now importing and exporting from Audacity. Somewhat time consuming, but hey, yesterday I had nothing, now
I have tracks. I think I pulled the drive too soon after the show ended…so question is how long does is take for the USB device to finalize headers and such after
you stop recording? Could be a challenge sometimes because most of the time they (you know them) want to pull power after the show.

[JTRJAMMERParticipant]

Correction, I meant SQ-Drive vice USB-B on the back of the console. I was recording via SQ-Drive. Yes all the channels in the display window were listed correctly and chosen correctly
in the I/O routing. The yellow light next to USB input was blinking/flashing the entire time once I started recording. Only way I know to confirm it’s recording is when you see the countdown
and the yellow light blinking. Level readings were also active. Beyond that I don’t know what else to check. Remains a mystery why there is no audio, just file headers. Regarding apology to the band, that will go along with returning the fee for the recording. They were doing a multi-camera video shoot and wanted the multi-track audio for post-production. Not sure I will ever work for them again, although I am going to offer to mix and re-record anytime/place of their choosing. At this point I’m not sure what I would do different, so that may not be something to even offer. As you said I hope the pending firmware update brings some stability to this process or maybe try and run some tests to figure out if/what I missed in the procedure.

[JTRJAMMERParticipant]

Dopf! Corrected copy….
According to Allen and Heath here:
https://www.allen-heath.com/media/DX-gigaACE-white-paper-1.pdf

States the DX protocol is running 32×32 channels over 100 Base-TX Fast Ethernet with a latency of 83us (microseconds). 1 microsecond = 0.001 milliseconds, so 83us = 0.083 milliseconds.
Ad that to the SQ’s stated .7ms (Milliseconds) + 0.083ms = .783ms, so even rounding up your at .8ms latency.

[JTRJAMMERParticipant]

According to Allen and Heath here:
<a href=”https://www.allen-heath.com/media/DX-gigaACE-white-paper-1.pdf

States the DX protocol is running 32×32 channels over 100 Base-TX Fast Ethernet with a latency of 83us (microseconds). 1 millisecond = 0.001 microseconds, so 83us = 0.083 milliseconds.
Ad that to the SQ’s stated .7ms (Milliseconds) + 0.0083ms = .783ms, so even rounding up your at .8ms latency. Someone please check my math, but I think this is accurate based on
Allen and Heath spec’s they’ve provided.

[JTRJAMMERParticipant]

So I did that. On the I/O screen I selected boxes for USB out for SQ-Drive Ip 1-14 and Ip 17 and 18, nothing recorded from those 2 channels. So I moved the inputs
that were on Ip17/Ip18 to Ip15/Ip16, re-selected Ip15 and Ip16 in the I/O matrix for USB and viola it recorded. Quite possible I missed something so
I’ll try it again and see what happens.

[JTRJAMMERParticipant]

Yes, all the start/pause/stop/arm buttons on the multitrack record window don’t respond. Maybe USB flash drives I tried don’t work. Couldn’t find the exact model for either
on the testing result spreadsheet. Will try a different flash drive today.

[JTRJAMMERParticipant]

Have one of these from EWI with the M32R MOD

C16U-P-22 | 16 SPACE HEAVY DUTY EXTRA DEEP RACK CASE WITH SLANT TOP MIXER RAILS

Is a little bit tight as the top of the mixer presses firmly into the foam, but it
fits. It Would be nice if the rack rail support arms were maybe 1/4″-1/2″ lower, but
it works as is.

Attachments:

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[JTRJAMMERParticipant]

Got to the board today and works perfect, only gain and 48V shared. Thanks Jens-Droessler.

[JTRJAMMERParticipant]

So if I understand that right I could patch physical input (say local 1/2 or DX 1/2) to input channels 1/2 and 3/4. Leave channels 1/2 clean, insert FX on channels 3/4. So from what
I read before only one mono/stereo input channel can control the preamp gain, so any changes to input gain would be mirrored on all the assigned channels? 48V? HPF?

[JTRJAMMERParticipant]

So as I have learned or at least think I understand…the DX168 was built as a pre-amp extension for the Dlive system, so it runs off of one of the
Dlive Stagebox/Brains, e.g. CDM32, DM64 etc. The processing is done by the FPGA in the stagebox. As a benefit you can use it in an SQ system and
it will use the SQ FPGA for processing. Unfortunately if you use the DX168 expansions you can’t use an ME systems. Believe you can do this with a Dlive. There are some
expansion cards in the works and maybe one of those will allow you to run the DX168’s and an ME system…dunno. What I’m curious about in using the DX168’s
is if the audio fidelity is comparable to the Dlive or there some minor losses in fidelity. Purchasing a Dlive CDM32 and running it off a laptop with a
fader expander is right about or just above the cost of an SQ and 2 of the DX168’s and also right in the neighborhood of a Waves LV1 and stageboxes. Decisions,
decisions…

[Author]

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