192 I/O Features
? 16 discrete channels of input and output,
with 4-segment LED Meters to monitor input
and output on each channel. Input and Output
channels can include:
? Eight channels of 24-bit D/A and A/D converters
for superior analog input and output
at sample rates of 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz,
88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, and 192 kHz
? Ten channels of 24-bit-supported AES/EBU
I/O. Eight-channel AES/EBU I/O supports
sample rates of up to 96 kHz on all channels,
and of up to 192 kHz on four channels
simultaneously. Two-channel AESEBU
I/O supports sample rates of up to
96 kHz.
? Sixteen channels of Optical I/O, through
two pairs of Lightpipe (ADAT) connectors;
one pair of optical ports can be switched to
two channels of optical S/PDIF I/O
? Two 24-bit-capable S/PDIF I/O supporting
sample rates of up to 96 kHz
? Real-time sample rate conversion on inputs of
eight channels of either AES/EBU, Optical, or
TDIF.
? External Clock input and output for synchronizing
192 I/O with external 1x Word Clock
or 256x (Slave Clock) devices.
? Legacy Port for Digidesign-qualified
Pro Tools|24 MIX audio interfaces.
? Optional addition of cards to expand analog
or digital I/O.
? Simultaneous use of multiple Pro Tools|HD
audio interfaces to further expand system input
and output. For more information
Digidesign
Company developing ProTools, a software and hardware based system for audio and MIDI recording.
Used Input and Output Processors
Input/output processors are used for multichannel sound recording in real time. Capable of studio-grade fidelity, these specialized soundcards are used in professional sound engineering and make use of an audio stream input output protocol.
These kinds of I/O audio processor soundcards are fitted with multiple input and output connections, usually USB, FireWire or some kind of optical interface so that a larger amount of data can be carried than with a normal sound card. Input/output processors also emphasize higher fidelity and sampling rates, as they are intended for real-time audio mixing and multi-channel recording.
Due to their highly specialized nature, input/output processors are not considered practical for home users, as they lack certain features common in consumer soundcards, such as real-time ambience effects, environmental audio extensions and the ability to accelerate hardware in video games, as these are considered to be undesirable.
Input/output processors feature a specially designed protocol that is capable of handling numerous inputs and outputs for audio, as consumer soundcards have a sampling latency that is comparatively large, and therefore unsuitable for professional applications. Consumer soundcards simply take too long to convert and transfer a sound sample to the hard drive of a computer, and they are also limited in the amount of bit depths and effective sampling rates they can process. Input/output processors typically have multiple channels, rather than just the two provided on most consumer soundcards, and there connectors are more accessible.
