(Analog Expansion Board) adds four analog outputs in professional quality to all ADAT capable RME cards. Level adjustment +4 dBu/-10 dBV, 106 dBA SNR and a servo balanced output stage deliver perfect sound and sonic clarity.

The AEB4-O is designed for maximum flexibility. Jumpers allow to route channels 1/2 3/4 or 5/6 7/8 to the four analog outputs. Installation is done in a convenient manner using the supplied bracket, or - as no contact to any slot on the motherboard is needed - at any place inside the computer. Nuts for all TRS jacks and a drilling template are included.

The AEB8-O offers 8 outputs with 4 stereo TRS jacks. Usual insert cable can be used to split the connectors from stereo jack to mono jacks. It is also possible to drive up to 4 stereo headphones directly. Level adjustment +4 dBu/-10 dBV, 106 dBA SNR and highest suppression of PC-noise guarantee perfect sound quality

Operation of the AEB-O

Using the Analog Expansion Board is very simple. The AEB4/8-O operates like any other DA-converter with ADAT input, except that it is connected internally. Therefore 'Force Adat' should be activated in the DIGI96 series Settings Dialoges, to guarantee an ADAT output signal.

The card's optical ADAT output always works in parallel to the analog output of the AEB4-O. Two jumpers allow to choose, which of the 8 ADAT channels will be present at the 4 analog outputs.

Cards of the DIGI96 series include a freely assignable analog output. Therefore PST, PAD and PRO offer a total of 6 analog output signals with the AEB4-O.

Tech Specs

Output AEB4-O: 4 x 1/4" TRS jack, servo balanced

Output AEB8-O: 8 x 1/4" TRS jack, unbalanced

Dynamic ratio: 103 dB (RMS unweighted), 106 dBA

THD+N: -95 dB (0,0017 %)

Frequency response: -0,1 dB: 10 Hz - 21 kHz

Output level for 0 dBFS @ +4 dBu: +12 dBu

Output level for 0 dBFS @ -10 dBV: +2 dBV

Crosstalk > 110 dB

Supported sample rates: 32 kHz - 48 kHz

Output impedance: 75 Ohm

Power supply uses 3.5" floppy connector, 12/5 V DC, 190 mA

AEB needs no slot on the motherboard

Standard bracket, board dimensions AEB4: 85 x 95 mm, AEB8: 120 x 95 mm

1 internal cable 2-pin, 1 power adapter cable 5 1/4" to 2 x 3.5" included

The TEB The TEB (TDIF Expansion Board) adds an 8-channel TDIF interface to all ADAT-capable RME cards (see below). Special features include manual choice of clock reference, status LEDs and a word clock output.

The TEB is designed for maximum flexibility. Used with the Hammerfall series and the HDSP 9652, it can even be used at sample rates of 88.2 kHz and 96 kHz. Meeting the TDIF specification, Double Line mode uses two channels in single speed to get one channel in double speed. Therefore at 88.2/96kHz 4 channels are available.

Installation is done in a convenient manner using the supplied bracket. No PCI slot on the motherboard is needed. The integrated Clock Select Switch sets the TDIF reference clock, thus avoids any clocking problems even with 'problematic' TDIF devices

Operation of TEB

Using the Expansion Boards is very easy to do, thanks to the clearly structured and informative Settings Dialoges of RMEs cards. The TEB operates like any other converter with ADAT input and output, but is connected internally. Therefore the input selector has to be set to 'Internal'.

The TEB gets its clock either from the card or the external TDIF device. This is selected via the switch at the slot bracket.

The Input Status displays the selected input (Internal), the current sample rate (44.1/48) and format (Adat.)

The ADAT output of all cards operate in parallel to this TDIF output. When Hammerfall or HDSP 9652 are operated in Double Speed mode, the TEB automatically converts the audio data to Double Line mode.

Tech Specs

TDIF Port: Sub-D 25 pin

Supported sample rates: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, varispeed (33 - 57 kHz)

Double Line Mode: 4 channels at 88.2 kHz and 96 kHz (not with DIGI96 series)

Word Clock Output: BNC, low-impedance driver stage, 4 Vss into 75 Ohms, short-circuit-proof

Sync Source: ADAT (host/card) or TDIF

Power supply: uses 3.5" floppy connector, 5 V DC, 100 mA

TEB needs no slot on the motherboard

Standard bracket, board dimensions: 75 x 95 mm,

2 internal cable 2-pin, 1 internal cable 3-pin, 1 power adapter cable 5 1/4" to 2 x 3.5" included

adds a word clock input and output in professional quality to the DIGI96 series cards. A low jitter optimized PLL circuit, an integrated clock generator and a unique test mode extend the powerful capabilities of our digital audio cards in a way many professional users have asked for.

Like with our other products we were not satisfied with the commonly used standard circuits. Instead, thanks to a newly developed input stage, the WCM gains unsurpassed compatibility and reliability. LEDs for power, test mode and LOCK clearly tell what's going on. With this the WCM stands in the same tradition as our other products: easy to use, always reliable, best performance!

The improved and enhanced new Word Clock Module MKII offers additional modes, controlled by easy to operate DIP-switches. With these modes the WCM is fully compatible to all currently used word clocks. Input and output can be set to single or double speed mode independently. An internal termination can also be activated. Therefore T-connector and BNC-terminator are no longer necessary. The internal clock generator can operate not only at 44.1 kHz, but also at 48 kHz. Thanks to the single/double mode of the input those two sample rates extend to 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz and 96 kHz internally.

Operation of the WCM
Thanks to the intelligent co-operation of Word Clock Module and the DIGI96 series their combined usage is very easy. The activation is done by a simple mouse click on 'Word Clock' in the area 'Clock Mode' of the settings Dialoges. The area to the left, 'Output Status', allows to check whether the word clock is used by the card or not. When a valid input signal is present the third line changes from 'Clock Master' to 'Word Clock'. This display works exactly like the green LOCK LED at the BNC input. Therefore you'll see directly on the screen when a valid word clock signal is received and used by the WCM.

The display of the sample frequency in the second line of 'Output Status' does not represent the actual frequency in this mode, but the channel status set in the digital audio signal.

Tech Specs

Module needs no driver and no slot on the motherboard

Low jitter design: 2.5 ns typical in PLL mode (44.1 kHz)

PLL works without dropouts even at more than 40 ns jitter at input

High sensitive input stage works from 1 Vpp input level

Ignores DC offsets in the word clock net

Overvoltage protection at input and output

Short circuit protected output stage

Integrated clock generator, usable as master clock or for test purposes

Internal clock switchable: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz and 96 kHz

Frequency range PLL input: 27 kHz - 102 kHz

Frequency range output: 27 kHz - 102 kHz

Input BNC, switchable high impedance (10 kOhm) or terminated (75 Ohm)

Output BNC, low impedance (10 Ohm)

Power supply: from DIGI96 board, 12 V DC, 45 mA

Standard slot, board dimensions 97 x 55 mm

4 internal cables included

Unique Technologies in WCM

Test generator/Master clock Pushing the switch 'Test Mode' forces the WCM to generate its own quarz crystal controlled word clock, and to send it to all connected DIGIs. With this the internal generator provides two functions: Test mode (the internal word clock signal replaces the external at the BNC jack) and master clock. The master clock allows to synchronize all internally connected DIGIs. As the word clock signal of the test generator is available at the WCM's output too, it can also be used as house clock, synchronizing the complete network (studio.)

Low Jitter Design Devices using a common internal word clock PLL design often generate more than 10 ns of jitter. The WCM's PLL is jitter optimized and reaches typical 2.5 ns at 44.1 kHz. This value is achieved although the WCM's PLL is located on a separate board and stressed by electromagnetic fields inside the PC.

Wide Range The WCM is probably one of the first devices in the world that supports the whole frequency range of 27 kHz to 102 kHz! With this you get the technology of tomorrow today.

Signal Adaptation Circuit An ideal word clock signal is a 5 Vpp square wave. Usual word clock input circuits are build with simple TTL receivers. Unfortunately often errors appear, caused by wrong impedances (more than one termination resistor), bad cables, connectivity problems or abnormal capacitive load, which lead to a loss of level and signal deformation. Because of this the WCM was equipped with a special AC coupled input circuit with 1 Vpp sensitivity, which can use even a sine as input signal. While other devices often stop to work at 3 Vpp or at slightly unformatted signals, the WCM stays locked. Thus the reliability expected from a professional device can be guaranteed.

Protection Circuits To guarantee a long and successful operation the WCM's inputs and outputs are protected against DC, overvoltage and shorts