DD4MR-FX
10 / 24
rev. 2.1
Device Description
Congratulations on your purchase of a DD4MR-FX Optical Digital Network Device with Cat5 based SANE, MADI,
video Ethernet and data interfaces. The DD4MR-FX manual will quickly demonstrate the advantages of the
device and help to ease your day-to-day workload in a professional audio-visual environment.
The DD4MR-FX is a digital I/O unit and interface to the OPTOCORE
and SANE
DIGITAL NETWORK
SYSTEM. The unit provides two coaxial MADI input and two coaxial MADI output ports, allowing the transmission
of up to 128 input and 128 output digital audio channels. Device can operate in sample rates up to 192 kHz
(sample rates above 96 kHz are available upon request). Each MADI port can be adjusted by OPTOCORE
CONTROL software to handle different formats according to the standards AES10-1991/AES10-2003. BNC
coaxial cables are used at the MADI ports. It is perfectly suitable for 3
rd
party equipment integration, especially
with AVID and DiGiCo digital consoles as well as recording and playback machines.
Redundant fibre Optocore connections can be established using the two provided SFP-based LC multimode or
singlemode optical LINK-interfaces. The dual redundant ring structure provides maximum safety in a network with
an outstanding low latency. It facilitates the use of the advantages of fibre optical transmission in all sorts of
temporary and permanent applications, especially when long distance connections and high-quality audio are
required.
The DD4MR-FX enables connectivity to the SANE network via RJ45 ports. It is possible to use SANE as a Cat5
based cost-efficient extension to the optical core system. SANE ports may be used as point-to-point MADI over
Cat5 or as a bridge interface between SANE and OPTOCORE, providing in total up to 128 input and 128 output
additional channels.
Two built-in Ethernet ports can be used to establish 100Mbit Ethernet LAN through the OPTOCORE and SANE
networks. The DD4MR-FX together with R-Series devices, YG2 and DD6NE behaves like one 100Mbit Ethernet
switch. SANE ports can be used for Ethernet transport as well, so up to four ports can be used to provide Local
Ethernet connection via single DD4MR-FX.
The DD4MR-FX provides both word clock input and output. It includes also bi-directional composite video
interfaces. Additionally four RS485 ports allow the transport of a wide range of standards such as RS422, DMX,
MIDI, and CAN-Bus (bi-directional, requires special firmware version). In addition to the audio signals, video and
data signals are transmitted through the common fibre connection. The dual power supply unit, with automatic
switchover, permits a redundant power supply and safeguards against malfunctions in the event of a power
supply failure.
The DD4MR-FX is the perfect I/O unit for a wide range of professional audio devices with MADI inputs and
outputs such as digital consoles and I/O systems. The high number of channels exchanged by one DD4MR-FX
makes it the ideal and most cost effective interface for digital console systems. The number of input channels can
be defined in groups of eight by the OPTOCORE CONTROL software. Only this number of channels is allocated
for transmission via fibre optical connection. This keeps the system highly flexible in order to build the network
exactly suiting the application needs. A DD4MR-FX, for example, can transmit 128 channels to a digital console
system from various Optocore devices such as DD32R-FX, X6R-FX or V3R-TP. If only eight return channels from
the console are required, only those eight channels instead of 128 inputs can be received at the DD4MR-FX and
transmitted via fibre optical connection, leaving the other channels to be shared by the other network devices.
Networks with several DD4MR-FX and other Optocore devices allow the transport of a huge amount of digital
data, e.g. 768 audio channels with a sample rate of 48 kHz, 32 RS485 channels and three video channels.
Depending on the type of fibre optic transceiver, distances from 700 m up to 120 km can be covered.
The dual optical interfaces with data transfer rates up to 2 Gbps are equipped with LC-connectors, commonly
used and absolutely reliable in permanent installations. For rough applications such as touring and live
productions the 1U OptoCon panel, with rugged and secure fiber optic connectors can be added to the rack.
All Optocore devices are designed and built using the latest programmable microprocessors and FPGA (field
programmable gate array) logic circuitry. This allows the devices internal logic to be updated, in the field, ensuring
a continual state-of-the-art device.
Optocore devices, and complete networks, are configured and operated using the OPTOCORE CONTROL
software. The software provides access to all configuration parameters and controls needed to operate the
system, including: naming channels, setting gains and phantom power, routing as well as recall and capture of
partial or full system configurations. The software can be operated offline as well as online with level meters for all
channels on the network.
