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The most recent questions answered...
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| Q: |
Is iLive an all-in-one mixer? |
| A: |
No, iLive is a system of components including separate mix rack and control surface providing the benefit of much greater system flexibility with distributed control and audio. |
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| Q: |
What is the iDR-64? |
| A: |
iDR-64 refers to the DSP module that provides all the audio processing needed for 64 input channels mixing to 32 output buses. As part of the separate iDR10 or iDR0 MixRack it is the mix engine, the heart of the system. |
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| Q: |
What is the iDR-64 ‘RackExtra’ module? |
| A: |
iDR-64 DSP module introduced with iLive provided 2 internal effects engines. The more recent iDR-64 RackExtra module has updated hardware to support up to 8 effects engines. It can be thought of as a virtual rack with 8 slots available to be configured from a selection of effects and processing devices. |
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| Q: |
What is the iDR10? |
| A: |
iDR10 is the model number for the 9U rack that holds the iDR-64 mix engine, RAB module, and the CPU module. It is called ‘10’ because it also has 10 card slots available for any combination of I/O (input/output) modules to be fitted. The rack is more than simply a box of I/O. With the DSP and control built in it is the mixer itself. That is why we refer to it as the ‘Mix Rack’. |
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| Q: |
What is the iDR0? |
| A: |
iDR0 is the same as the iDR10 but in a smaller 2U frame as it does not have any audio I/O card slots available. It is known as the MiniRack. It is the mixer ‘brain’ getting its audio via the EtherSound network. It provides an affordable solution as part of a FOH/Monitor system using EtherSound as a digital mic splitter, or matched with an iLive surface fitted with local I/O can function as a compact small format mixer. |
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| Q: |
What does the 144 mean in iLive-144? |
| A: |
iLive-144 is the model number of one of several control surfaces available. The 144 refers to the number of fader control strips available to the user. This is the number of physical faders multiplied by the 4 layers. The iLive-144 has 36 faders each with 4 layers so providing 144 strips which may be configured by the user to control input channels, mix masters, DCA masters and more. Similarly the compact iLive-80 has 20 faders x 4 layers, iLive-112 comes with 28 faders x 4 layers, and the larger iLive-176 has 44 faders x 4 layers. |
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| Q: |
Where is the audio processed? |
| A: |
In the iDR-64 module. The DSP is in the rack not the surface. This means that the audio is processed at source on stage. This maintains very low latency as the audio does not need to be transported to the iLive surface and back. It also means that the mixer is independent of the surface and may be controlled by some other means such as a laptop. |
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| Q: |
How does the iLive surface control the iDR-64 mix engine? |
| A: |
Standard Ethernet (TCP/IP network) control over a CAT5 cable is used. The rack, iLive surface and the touch screen controller built into the surface each have their own IP address to identify them on the network. The rack and surface each include a 3 port network switcher so that additional network devices may be connected. |
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| Q: |
Can the iDR10 rack be used on its own as a 64x32 matrix mixer? |
| A: |
Yes, the I/O, DSP, control ports and power supplies are built into the rack. Just like the Allen & Heath iDR-8, the iDR-64 can be configured and controlled in many different ways, for example you could use one or a network of laptops or PL-Anet remote controllers instead of an iLive surface. This will make the iDR-64 suited to many other installed sound applications. The firmware and PC software needed to support this application is not yet available and is part of the ongoing development of the iLive system. |
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| Q: |
How many mic inputs can I load into the iDR10 rack? |
| A: |
There are 10 I/O card slots available. Each slot handles 8 signals. Up to 8 input cards would typically be loaded providing from 0 to 64 local mic/line inputs at the iDR-64 leaving the remaining slots loaded with outputs or blanks. These or additional inputs can also be used independent of the 64 channels as insert returns or mix bus external inputs. |
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| Q: |
How many mic inputs can I load into the iDR0 rack? |
| A: |
None, there are no I/O slots in the iDR0 MiniRack. Instead the iDR0 interfaces its audio with other devices via the EtherSound network. |
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| Q: |
Is there any audio at the i-Live surface? |
| A: |
Yes, there can be if required. Up to four 8-channel I/O cards may be fitted in a card frame built into the rear of the surface. These provide combinations of inputs and outputs up to 32 maximum for local audio such as walk-in music, sound effects players, additional effects and inserted processing. The audio is not processed in the surface. It is transported to and from the iDR-64 mix engine and other devices via EtherSound. The ES connection also transports the PAFL and talkback mic signals. |
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| Q: |
Are the I/O modules for the surface and rack the same? |
| A: |
Yes, they are interchangeable. Note that they should not be ‘hot plugged’. |
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| Q: |
What I/O modules are available? |
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Six options are available at the time of print: 8-input analog mic/line preamp, dual input 8 channel mic/line preamp allowing connection of 16 sources, 8-output XLR analog line output, 8-input digital, and 8-output digital. The digital cards provide four pairs of SPDIF, AES3 or optical signals. There is also a two slot wide multi-out digital module providing 16 signals in a variety of industry standard digital formats (Adat, Aviom, Hearback, IDR expander). |
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| Q: |
What about an interface to the Aviom personal monitoring system? |
| A: |
A 16-channel multi-output digital module is available. This takes up two slot positions in the rack and provides interfaces compatible with Aviom and Hearback personal monitoring systems as well as ADAT and the Allen & Heath 8-output iDR expander unit. |
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| Q: |
What is the RAB module? |
| A: |
RAB stands for Remote Audio Board. It is the module that provides the interface for distributing networked digital audio between the rack and remote locations such as the surface or breakout boxes. The EtherSound options are fitted here. The module also provides the PAFL and headphones signals. A RAB module is needed at each end of the network. The surface RAB module is different to the rack RAB module. |
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| Q: |
Do I need EtherSound for audio at the surface? |
| A: |
Networked audio such as EtherSound offers the convenience of a single CAT5 cable replacing the traditional multi-core over long distances. However, you could run a small multi-core to the surface for local audio and to interface the PAFL and talkback signals using standard audio cables and the surface analog XLR connections provided. In this case ES is not used and the RAB module is therefore not needed at the surface. A RAB module is still needed at the rack but it does not need the ES option fitted. |
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| Q: |
Is EtherSound an option? |
| A: |
Yes, as above. You do not need EtherSound if you transport your surface audio (PAFL and talkback) via a regular copper multi-core. |
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| Q: |
What audio is available over EtherSound? |
| A: |
EtherSound carries 128 signals = 64 channels of bi-directional audio (to and from the rack). It is configured for ‘loop back’ so 64 signals are available, configured as any combination of sends and returns. The input and output slots on the rear of the iLive are mapped to the first 32 channels of the ESA network. The surface PAFL (headphones) and talkback signals use channels 62-64. The remaining signals may be routed to/from external breakout boxes. The ESB network is used when linking racks to expand the number of channels, for FOH/monitor operation or for multitrack recording to an ES equipped recorder. |
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| Q: |
Will Allen & Heath offer EtherSound breakout boxes? |
| A: |
Possibly in the future as the system develops. Note that the iLive system can interface with third party EtherSound breakout boxes or devices. It is likely many will become available in time. |
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