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- AutoSelect
When using only one input AutoSelect will find the used input automatically.
As long as no valid input signal appears (No Lock) the card switches every
0,5 s to the next input and looks for an input signal. AutoSelect stops
when it finds a valid signal and starts again when losing it.
- AutoSync
With AutoSync activated DIGI96 continuously searches for a valid input signal
to lock on the signals clock. So starting a recording on-the-fly is possible
(as well as anytime during playback, thanks to Full Duplex) without first
having to synchronize the card to the input signal. When using more than
one card synchronizing is easy, just spread an input signal to all inputs.
Vari-speed is possible over the whole supported sample rate range. In case
of 'local loop-back' operation (for example DAT) AutoSync leads to a loss
of the digital carrier. Because of this AutoSync can be disabled, the card
then works in master mode.
- Bitclock PLL
The DIGI96 series always uses RME's bitclock PLL (already in its second
generation, with improved HF noise suppression), whether it is synchronized
via Optical In or via word clock. Thanks to the high resolution, this remarkable
circuit is capable of following the entire range of an ADAT recorder's Varipitch
without losing a single sample. Compare this with the much coarser wordclock
PLL, where any rapid changes in sample frequency can cause several false
reads, before the next impulse finally arrives, letting the PLL track the
current sample frequency. This behavior leads to dropouts and clicks.
- Enhanced Full Duplex
Usual digital audio cards offer Full Duplex operation (simultaneous record
and playback.) RME's DIGI96 series is one step ahead. As record and playback
circuits are totally separated the DIGI96 series can operate in Enhanced
Full Duplex mode. This allows simultaneous record and playback even with
different sample rates at input and output.
- Enhanced ZLM®
The direct pass through of digital data requires the input and output to
carry the same AND synchronous sample frequency. In most cases a monitoring
is only possible in clock mode slave (AutoSync.) Enhanced ZLM®
removes those restrictions and allows a monitoring of the input signal completely
independent from clock mode and sample frequency, even with totally different
data rates at input and output.
- Hardware Selftest
When loading the driver (while booting Windows) the DIGI96 series performs
a hardware selftest. This test is used in production test procedure, but
as it lasts only a few hundredths of a second we decided to integrate it
into the Windows driver. So when working with any Digi96 you can always
be sure that all bits are fully functional. In case of an error a message
displays.
- Hi-Performance
Normally the hardware does not have any influence in the functions of his
product, because all features are the result of the chips used. This is
not only true for several features, but also for the data format between
hardware, PC and software, which has to be mapped by the driver. But all
actions of the driver are also actions of the CPU, ending in additional
system load. The DIGI96 series is made out of a FPGA, a completely programmable
chip. Thus a piece of hardware was created which works exactly the way a
perfect digital I/O card should do. So the main task of the driver of the
DIGI96 series is just to set the user's options.
- Latency Fast Change™
RME's ASIO drivers have become reference. They were the first and only (beginning
with the Hammerfall, followed by the DIGI96 series) to allow a change of
the latency while under operation (on the fly.) No manual reset, no re-boot
- simply continue when using Cubase.
- Mixed Mode
Due to the complete separation of record and playback circuits both can
be used in any possible format, independent of each other. So a record of
up to 8 channels using ADAT® optical at simultaneous playback
of 2 channels using SPDIF and vice versa is possible. Thanks to the incredible
PLL and clock control of the DIGI96 series it's even possible to let S/PDIF
synchronize on ADAT and vice versa! This is also true for double/half sample
rates, for example a playback in 96 kHz using SPDIF can be synced from an
48 kHz ADAT input signal.
- SyncAlign®
SyncAlign includes several methods and techniques to guarantee absolute
data alignment with regard to time and channels. No RME digital audio card
will ever swap channels, not in stereo nor in multi channel mode, regardless
what you do with the card and the signals it gets. SyncAlign also controls
the timing among the channels, no matter how much are used, they will always
start sample-aligned. When the record while play mode is activated, the
corresponding software first starts record and then playback (or playback
then record.) SyncAlign can compensate the time difference so that an exact
simultaneous start of record and playback in the record while play mode
is guaranteed. In asynchronous mode (different programs use different stereo
devices of one card) this part of SyncAlign is automatically deactivated.
- Track Marker Support (TMS)
TMS is a new solution from RME to allow the transfer of track IDs from CD
and start IDs from DAT directly into the PC and into the recording software.
The method used is part of our DIGICheck technology and free to software
companies. TMS is currently supported by Samplitude (since version 5.21)
and WaveLab (version 3.0.)
- Zero Latency Monitoring (ZLM®)
ZLM brings real tape machine feeling to the PC. Each cassette recorder and
tape machine passes the input signal of the track in record to the output
when record starts. On the PC such a kind of track dependent pass through
wasn't available. Often all channels are put in monitoring or pass through
mode all together. Or the monitoring is handled by the software, resulting
in a big delay (latency) between the signal at the input and the output.
After all the pass through mode is activated at record, not at Punch-in.
ZLM now solves all these problems with a simple technique. At Punch-in the
corresponding track is switched into bypass directly in the hardware, at
Punch-out it switches back to playback. Thus the PC behaves exactly like
a 'normal' tape machine. ZLM is already available with SEKD's Samplitude
and Sequoia, and SAWStudio. It is included as ASIO Direct Monitoring in
ASIO 2.0.
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