I/O Module Connections

 

 

Analog IN

The Analog IN connector is found on these IO Modules:

 

8 Analog I/O + 8 Optical I/O

8 Analog I/O + 8 AES I/O

16 Analog In + 16 Optical Out

 

• Connect analog line level inputs to the Analog IN DB-25 connector, using an Apogee AD8-IFC breakout cable or equivalent.

• To match the reference level of Symphony I/O with that of the connected device, set Analog Ref Level in the Maestro Input and Output tab windows. For example, when connecting analog inputs and outputs to a professional console, set Analog Ref Level to +4 dBu.
• Connect “Instrument” level instruments (such as keyboards) to the Analog IN DB-25 connector using a DB-25 to 1/4” TRS breakout cable, and set Analog Ref level (in the Maestro Input tab window) to Variable.


 

 

Analog OUT

The Analog OUT connector is found on these IO Modules:

 

8 Analog I/O + 8 Optical I/O

8 Analog I/O + 8 AES I/O

16 Optical In + 16 Analog Out

 

• Connect analog line level outputs to the Analog OUT DB-25 connector, using an Apogee DA8-IFC breakout cable or equivalent.

• Connect powered speakers to the Analog OUT DB-25 connector, channels 1-2 (or 1-6 for 5.1 and 1-8 for 7.1 speaker configurations), using an Apogee DA8-IFC breakout cable or equivalent. Select the desired Speaker configuration in the Maestro Output tab window.

 

 

 


Optical IN

The Optical IN connector is found on these IO Modules:

 

8 Analog I/O + 8 Optical I/O

16 Optical In + 16 Analog Out

• Connect ADAT inputs to the S/PDIF-ADAT-SMUX In Toslink connectors.
• When using SMUX format devices (ADAT format at 88.2-96kHz sample rate), connect channels 1-4 to S/PDIF-ADAT-SMUX In and channels 5-8 to SMUX In.
• Connect S/PDIF optical inputs to the S/PDIF-ADAT-SMUX In Toslink connectors, and set Optical format (in Maestroʼs Device Settings tab window) to S/PDIF.

 


Optical Out

The Optical Out connector is found on these IO Modules:

 

8 Analog I/O + 8 Optical I/O

16 Analog In + 16 Optical Out

• Connect ADAT outputs to the S/PDIF-ADAT-SMUX Out Toslink connectors.
• When using SMUX format devices (ADAT format at 88.2-96kHz sample rate), connect channels 1-4 to S/PDIF-ADAT-SMUX Out and channels 5-8 to SMUX Out.
• Connect S/PDIF optical Outputs to the S/PDIF-ADAT-SMUX Out Toslink connectors, and set Optical format (in Maestroʼs Device Settings tab window) to S/PDIF.

 

 

AES In/Out

The AES In/Out connectors are found on these IO Modules:

 

8 Analog I/O + 8 AES I/O

• Connect AES inputs and outputs to the AES In/Out DB-25 connector, using an Apogee AES-IFC breakout cable or equivalent.


S/PDIF In/Out

The S/PDIF In/Out connectors are found on these IO Modules:

 

8 Analog I/O + 8 Optical I/O

8 Analog I/O + 8 AES I/O

16 Analog In + 16 Optical Out

16 Optical In + 16 Analog Out

 


• Connect S/PDIF coax inputs and outputs to the S/PDIF RCA connectors. Set S/PDIF Replaces and S/PDIF Mirrors (in Maestroʼs Input and Output tab windows).

 

Mic Pre I/O Module

 

 

Mic Pre I/O Modules must be installed in the Card 2 (upper) slot in conjunction with one of the following I/O Modules:

8 Analog I/O + 8 Optical I/O

8 Analog I/O + 8 AES I/O

16 Analog In + 16 Optical Out

 

Connect mics to the Analog IN connector of the lower I/O Module. When an input's Analog Level is set to Mic (or Instrument) in Maestro, the signal is routed from the lower I/O Module's Analog IN connector, through gain circuitry in the Mic Pre I/O Module, and back to the lower I/O Module's A/D conversion stage.

Connect instruments to the rear panel INSTRUMENTS 1/4" connectors.

 

 

 

Connect analog processing gear such as compressers and EQs (equalizers) to the INSERTS Send and Return.

 

 

To connect a one-channel compressor to the insert points, connect INSERTS Send 1 to the compresser input, then connect the compresser output to INSERTS Return 1. In Maestro, set Analog Level to Mic or Instrument, then choose Insert 1 on the desired Input channel. The insert points are not fixed to a specific input channel, thus any insert send/return pair may be assigned to any input channel. This allows you to connect your analog processing gear once, then use Maestro to "patch" the gear across any Symphony I/O input.



 

I/O Numbering with 2 IO Modules

When two IO Modules are installed, Card 1 (lower slot) inputs and outputs are numbered lower in Maestro software than Card 2 (upper slot) inputs and outputs. As an example, the resultant numbering of inputs and outputs for 2 8 Analog I/O + 8 Optical I/O Modules are shown below.

 

 

I/O Module Connections - Standalone Audio Interface Mode

 

When Audio Interface Mode is set to Standalone, I/O Module inputs may be routed directly to outputs in order to use Symphony I/O's A/D and D/A conversion stages with other interfaces or standalone digital devices. A USB connection between Symphony I/O and an Intel Mac provides the link between Apogee Maestro software and Symphony I/O, in order to make calibration, meter configuration, digital format and other settings. Once settings are made, the USB connection may be removed.

 

 

In Standalone audio interface mode its possible to connect Symphony I/O to a non-Mac computer equipped with AES, Optical or S/PDIF Coax I/O (often provided by an optional PCI card). For example, to connect Symphony I/O to an ADAT-equipped WIndows computer, make the following connections.