Note: The 2408mk3 connects to computer via the PCIe-424 card (not included).

24 simultaneous inputs and outputs

The 2408mk3 I/O is a single-space, rack mountable chassis with gold-plated analog and digital audio connectors on its rear panel and status LEDs on the front. The rear panel has seven banks of 8-channel I/O at 44.1 or 48 kHz in the following formats:

■ One bank of 8 balanced (+4 dB) analog quarter-inch (TRS) inputs and outputs.

■ Three Tascam DA-88 ‘TDIF’ 8-channel digital I/O connectors.

■ Three Alesis ADAT optical ‘light pipe’ 8-channel digital I/O connectors.

Three banks of 8-channel I/O at 44.1/48 kHz

Internally, the 2408mk3 has three 8-channel I/O busses (A, B and C) for a total of 24 simultaneous inputs and outputs at 44.1 or 48 kHz. Using the included console software (available for both Mac and PC), you can freely choose any I/O format for each bank. For example, you can choose analog for Bank A, ADAT optical for Bank B, and Tascam TDIF for Bank C. Or you can choose ADAT optical for all three banks.

Three banks of 4-channel digital I/O at 88.2/96

At 88.2 or 96 kHz, the 2408mk3 interface offers 4 channels of I/O per bank for the ADAT optical and Tascam TDIF formats, along with 8 channels of 96 kHz analog input and output. Therefore, the 2408mk3 interface offers a maximum of 16 channels of input and output at 96 kHz (2 banks of 4-channel digital I/O plus 8 channels of analog I/O). The maximum number of digital inputs and outputs at 96 kHz is 12 (3 banks of 4-channel I/O).

Analog bank

The analog inputs are equipped with 24-bit, 96 kHz 64x oversampling A/D converters. The analog outputs have 24-bit, 96 kHz 128x oversampling D/A converters. The entire analog section of the circuit board inside the 2408mk3 is physically isolated from the rest of the board to help ensure quiet analog performance. Each of the 2408mk3’s eight analog stereo input pairs can be switched between -10 dB and +4 dB operating levels to support a wide variety of input sources, including synths, samplers and other equipment.

Main Outs

For main stereo output, analog outputs 1 and 2 are duplicated on the rear panel as a stereo pair of balanced, +4dB quarter-inch TRS jacks. A dedicated knob on the front panel gives you volume control of the main outs.

SPDIF

The 2408mk3 rear panel has three SPDIF stereo pairs. The SPDIF output on the right is dedicated to duplicating the stereo main out so that you can, for example, conveniently record a stereo mix to your DAT deck without swapping cables with other SPDIF devices. The other two SPDIF connectors serve as independent stereo inputs/outputs. They can be used with any SPDIF compatible device, such as an effects processor or other device.

Word Clock

BNC Word clock connectors (in and out) are provided for synchronization with standard word clock devices. Via software, the word output can be made to either double or halve the 2408mk3’s system word rate. For example, if the 2408mk3 is running at 96 kHz, it can generate 48 kHz word clock output.

Video sync

The BNC input connector can be switched via software to become a dedicated video input, allow you to slave your PCI-424 system to NTSC or PAL/SECAM video (or blackburst) without a dedicated synchronizer. The PCI-424 card provides a DSP-driven phase-lock engine with sophisticated filtering that provides fast lockup times and sub-frame accuracy.

SMPTE time code

The RCA jacks for SPDIF input/output can be switched via software to become a dedicated SMPTE time code (LTC) input and output, allowing you to slave your PCI-424 system to time code and/or generate time code. If you prefer to use them for SPDIF digital I/O, you can use any analog input to receive SMPTE time code. Any active channel, digital or analog, can be chosen as a SMPTE time code output.

Level Meters

The front panel of the 2408mk3 I/O displays several banks of status LEDs. On the left are three banks of eight LEDs (A, B and C) that show audio signal on the 2408mk3’s three ADAT/TDIF digital I/O buses. On the right are eight vertical, five-segment LEDs that show input level from the eight analog inputs measured from -40 dB to 0 dB. A similar bank of dedicated five-segment LEDs is provided for the analog outputs. These LEDs also provide status information, such as the system clock sample rate and other settings.

Stand-alone Format Conversion

Finally, several additional LEDs, along with accompanying set/select buttons, allow you to access the 2408mk3 I/O’s stand-alone format conversion features. With these controls, you can bounce any I/O format to any other format without a computer.

Headphone output

The 2408mk3 front panel includes a quarter-inch stereo headphone output jack and volume knob. The headphone output matches the main stereo outs, which have their own volume knob.