DiGiGrid DLS
DiGiGrid products are sold by Waves in the US and Canada. For other regions, please visit: www.digigrid.net.
Using any HD interface with Pro Tools 12.6 software requires a Pro Tools DigiLink I/O license.
Upgrade Your Pro Tools System
with SoundGrid Connectivity
The DiGiGrid DLS networking hub bridges Pro Tools HD/HDX/HD Native systems with Waves SoundGrid for real-time processing and networking. This ideal way to upgrade Pro Tools includes two DigiLink ports that deliver up to 64 ins and outs, a built-in SoundGrid DSP server, network switch, and two distinct operational modes.
I/O mode offloads plugin processing to SoundGrid servers. SGP mode controls DigiLink-enabled I/Os, bridges DAWs with SoundGrid/ASIO/Core Audio, and also offloads plugin processing.
- Built-in SoundGrid DSP server and network switch
- Bridges Pro Tools HD/HDX and HD Native systems with SoundGrid
- Enables using DigiLink-compliant I/O devices with any native DAW
- Dual DigiLink ports provide up to 64 digital inputs/outputs
- Compatible with eMotion LV1, SuperRack, and SoundGrid Studio
- Compliant with the SoundGrid Studio ASIO/Core Audio drivers
- Includes the complete SoundGrid Studio system software suite
- Connect SoundGrid components with a single Cat 5e or Cat 6 cable
Setups
Studio: One Computer, DSP Server, Pro Tools HDX
You may have a Pro Tools HDX system and want to take advantage of the extra power of a SoundGrid network, with real-time plugins processing and access to multiple I/O devices across the network.
- Pro Tools HDX system
- Avid I/O hardware (96, 192, OMNI, etc.)
- SoundGrid network with one or more Native DAWs
- DiGiGrid DLS (or DiGiGrid DLI + SoundGrid server)
*Some DigiLink-compatible I/Os cannot connect to the DLI/DLS via their secondary DigiLink port.
HDX Advanced Mixing Room
- Pro Tools HDX 2 system (2 HDX PCI cards)
- 4 Avid HD I/Os (96, 192, Omni, etc.)
- DiGiGrid DLS (with built-in SoundGrid DSP server)
This very powerful mixing system utilizes 2 HDX cards and 4 I/O interfaces for analog hardware processors and mixing desks.
By adding the DiGiGrid DLS and SoundGrid Studio System, you enhance your mixing system with additional 64 StudioRacks, each containing up to 8 plugins that are processed on the built-in SoundGrid DSP server. That's an addition of hundreds of plugins that are available for real-time mixing.
*Some DigiLink-compatible I/Os cannot connect to the DLI/DLS via their secondary DigiLink port.
HD 3 Professional Mixing Room
- Pro Tools HD 3 system (3 HD PCI cards)
- 2 Avid HD I/Os (96, 192, Omni, etc.)
- DiGiGrid DLS (with built-in SoundGrid DSP server)
This popular professional mixing system utilizes 3 HD cards and 2 I/O interfaces for analog hardware processors and mixing desks.
By adding the DiGiGrid DLS and SoundGrid Studio System, you enhance your mixing system with additional 64 StudioRacks, each containing up to 8 plugins that are processed on the built-in SoundGrid DSP server. That's an addition of hundreds of plugins that are available for real-time mixing.
*Some DigiLink-compatible I/Os cannot connect to the DLI/DLS via their secondary DigiLink port.
Studio: One Computer, DSP Server, Pro Tools HD System with DiGiGrid DLS
Bridging Pro Tools HD with SoundGrid – DiGiGrid DLS in I/O mode
Your solution when you have a Pro Tools HD system and want to take advantage of the extra power of a SoundGrid network, with access to multiple I/O devices across the network, low-latency recording and monitoring, extra plugin power, and more.
- Pro Tools HD system
- Avid I/O hardware (96, 192, etc.)
- SoundGrid network with one or more Native DAWs
- DiGiGrid DLS (or DiGiGrid DLI + SoundGrid server)
*Some DigiLink-compatible I/Os cannot connect to the DLI/DLS via their secondary DigiLink port.
Studio: One Computer, DSP Server, Pro Tools HD Native System with DiGiGrid DLS
Bridging Pro Tools HD Native with SoundGrid – DiGiGrid DLS in I/O mode
You have a Pro Tools HD Native system and you want to add the processing power. Using DiGiGrid DLS with its built-in SoundGrid DSP server along with the SoundGrid Studio System, you can get more processing power for plugins and access multiple I/O devices across the network.
- Pro Tools HD Native system
- Avid I/O hardware (96, 192, OMNI, etc.)
- SoundGrid network with one or more Native DAWs
- DiGiGrid DLS (or DiGiGrid DLI + SoundGrid server)
*Some DigiLink-compatible I/Os cannot connect to the DLI/DLS via their secondary DigiLink port.
Large-Facility Pro Tools HDX Mixing Room with Multiple I/Os, a Secondary DAW Computer, and a MADI-Enabled Device
Bridging Pro Tools with SoundGrid – DiGIGrid DLI and DLS in I/O mode – Multiple Studios
This configuration adds efficiency to large multifaceted mixing environments.
In this configuration, a SoundGrid network delivers flexibility to a control room equipped with a large Pro Tools HDX system. DiGiGrid DLI and DLS interfaces together provide 112 I/O channels to the HDX system, and the DLS provides a SoundGrid DSP server for plugin processing. An Avid Omni is the I/O for control room mixes.
All these devices are joined via DigiLink and clocked with Sync Lock. Everything else in the network is connected with Ethernet cables.
A DiGiGrid IOX supplies analog inputs with award-winning preamps, plus 4 separate headphone outs. This serves a voice-over booth, a broadcast stage, a live room, and more.
A secondary DAW system can be a backup recorder, an editing room DAW, and a recording station for the voice-over booth. Its DiGiGrid IOC provides many channels of I/O, which can be allocated to the main DAW.
A DiGiGrid MGB/MGO interface connects this network to a MADI source, for instance a console or a MADI distribution system. Audio can be routed to the main or secondary systems.
Inventory
- Pro Tools HDX 2 system
- Avid HD I/O (96, 192, Omni, etc.)
- Secondary host computer with a Native DAW
- DiGiGrid DLS
- DigiGrid DLI
- DiGiGrid IOX
- DiGiGrid IOC
- DiGiGrid MGB/MGO
- 1 GB network switch
*Some DigiLink-compatible I/Os cannot connect to the DLI/DLS via their secondary DigiLink port.
Integrating Avid Hardware Devices with Any DAW
You may have some older or unused Avid I/O devices. You can add these devices to a SoundGrid network in order to pick up extra I/O and A/D/A capacity.
In this configuration, a DLS I/O and server is the bridge connecting these interfaces to the SoundGrid network. Avid hardware is used for I/O and A/D/A conversion, while processing takes place on the server.
- DigiLink-enabled I/O hardware (96, 192, OMNI, Symphony, etc.)
- SoundGrid network with one or more native DAWs
- DLI/DLS interface
The DigiLink-enabled I/O will not appear in the DAW hardware device menu. Instead, you will see the SoundGrid ASIO/Core Audio driver. Patching of I/O channels and driver channels is done through the SoundGrid Studio Application. You can control the DigiLink-compatible I/O parameters using the DLS Control Panel which is accessible via the SoundGrid Studio Setup page.
Integrating Multiple Avid Hardware Devices with the SoundGrid Studio System Using Any DAW
DiGiGrid DLS in SGP Mode with Multiple DigiLink Interfaces – No PCI Card
You may have some older or unused Avid I/O devices. You can add these devices to a SoundGrid network in order to pick up extra I/O and A/D/A capacity.
In this configuration, DiGiGrid DLS I/O is the bridge connecting Pro Tools HD to the SoundGrid network. Avid hardware is used for I/O and A/D/A conversion, but processing takes place on the DLS’s built-in server. Now you can also add additional DiGiGrid I/O interfaces if necessary.
- 4 Avid I/O units (96, 192, OMNI, etc.)
- SoundGrid network with one or more native DAWs
- DiGiGrid DLS (or DiGiGrid DLI + SoundGrid DSP server)
Support
Specs
- Using Pro Tools HDX, HD or HD Native StudioRack SoundGrid is supported only with version 9.7. Download SoundGrid Studio and StudioRack 9.7.
- StudioRack V11 is not supported in SoundGrid mode in Pro Tools HDX, HD or HD Native.
- Internal SoundGrid DSP server (SoundGrid Server One equivalent – see benchmarks)
- 2 DigiLink ports; 64 channels in either SGP or I/O mode (32 channels per port). Compatible with the following DigiLink-enabled I/Os: Digidesign 192, Digidesign 96 (Digidesign 96i not supported), Avid HD Omni, Avid HD I/O, Apogee Symphony Marks I and II, Lynx Aurora 8, Lynx Aurora 16 (32 channel mode on DL port 1 only).
- I/O mode: DLS acts as an interface connected to HD Core, HD Accel, HDX or HD Native cards; supports Pro Tools TDM 10.x and 11.x
- SGP mode: DLS acts as a controller for DigiLink-enabled I/Os
- 2 operation mode switches
- 2 SoundGrid RJ45 Ethernet ports
- 1 AC input
- 1 Word Clock/Loop Sync I/O
- 1 USB port
- 2U rackmount
- Supported sample rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96 kHz (176.4 and 192 kHz will be supported in the future)
- Recovery switch
- Clocking options: Word Clock/Loop Sync, SoundGrid (Sync over Ethernet) or DigiLink
Dimensions
Width: 48.26 cm / 19 inches
Height: 8.81 cm / 2U
Depth: 35.6 cm / 14.01 inches
Device Weight: 5 kg / 11 lbs
Package Contents
DiGiGrid DLS unit
Power cord: 1 US, 1 EU, 1 UK
Ethernet cable: Cat 5e (2 meters)
Registration card
Benchmarks
DiGiGrid DLS has a built-in SoundGrid DSP server that provides unequaled offload capabilities. The table below indicates the number of plugins that can be inserted into StudioRacks and loaded to the SoundGrid servers inside our DiGiGrid DLS interface before the system fails to play audio fluently (clicks, dropouts, corruption).| DiGiGrid DLS (StudioRack – v9.7.90.10) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Plugin | 44.1kHz | 96kHz |
| API 2500 (Mono) | 369 | 123 |
| API 550 (Mono) | 512 | 250 |
| API 560 (Mono) | 68 | 55 |
| AudioTrack (Mono) | 512 | 359 |
| C6 Multiband Compressor (Mono) | 126 | 57 |
| CLA-2A Compressor / Limiter (Mono) | 244 | 91 |
| CLA-3A Compressor / Limiter (Mono) | 256 | 88 |
| CLA-76 Compressor / Limiter (Mono) | 512 | 182 |
| dbx® 160 Compressor / Limiter (Mono) | 55 | 59 |
| DeEsser (Mono) | 512 | 448 |
| Dorrough Stereo (Stereo) | 256 | 256 |
| H-Comp Hybrid Compressor (Mono) | 512 | 228 |
| H-Delay Hybrid Delay (Mono) | 328 | 101 |
| H-EQ Hybrid Equalizer (Mono) | 101 | 98 |
| H-Reverb Hybrid Reverb* (Stereo) | 10 | 7 |
| IR1 Convolution Reverb* (Stereo) | 56 | 16 |
| IR-Live Convolution Reverb* (Stereo) | 50 | 28 |
| InPhase** (Mono) | 512 | 246 |
| J37 Tape (Mono) | 50 | 52 |
| Kramer HLS Channel (Mono) | 142 | 58 |
| Kramer Master Tape (Mono) | 64 | 34 |
| L2 Ultramaximizer (Mono) | 456 | 187 |
| LoAir (Mono) | 350 | 130 |
| MaxxVolume (Mono) | 512 | 256 |
| NLS Non-Linear Summer (Mono) | 268 | 108 |
| PuigChild Compressor (Mono) | 254 | 102 |
| PuigTec EQP1A (Mono) | 186 | 72 |
| REDD 17 (Mono) | 80 | 38 |
| Renaissance Bass (Mono) | 403 | 185 |
| Renaissance Channel (Mono) | 393 | 192 |
| Renaissance Compressor (Mono) | 512 | 428 |
| Renaissance Equalizer (REQ6 Mono) | 512 | 512 |
| Renaissance Reverb (Stereo) | 111 | 37 |
| Renaissance Vox (Mono) | 512 | 460 |
| Scheps 73 (Mono) | 110 | 92 |
| SSL E-Channel (Mono) | 512 | 165 |
| SSL G-Channel (Mono) | 482 | 173 |
| SSL G-Equalizer (Mono) | 512 | 296 |
| SSL G-Master Buss Comp (Mono) | 464 | 185 |
| TG 12345 (Mono) | 38 | 39 |
| TransX Multi (Mono) | 286 | 122 |
| TransX Wide (Mono) | 512 | 438 |
| Vitamin Sonic Enhancer (Mono) | 176 | 75 |
The maximum number of plugins that can be tested given system limitations is 512 mono or 256 stereo (64 or 32 StudioRacks, respectively). Plugin benchmark results may vary slightly from one system setup to another. While most plugins perform most efficiently at 44.1 kHz, a few perform as or even more efficiently at 96 kHz thanks to their upsampling or to algorithms that do not depend on sample rates.
* Plugin's peak DSP usage level is much higher than its average level. Make sure to monitor peak levels on the DSP meter in the eMotion ST mixer.
** Plugin introduces high latency. Click here for a latency chart of all Waves plugins.
Comparison with Avid HDX
The benchmarks below illustrate the processing power of the DLS’s built-in SoundGrid DSP server compared with Avid HDX.| Plugin | DiGiGrid DLS | Avid HDX |
|---|---|---|
| Waves SSL G-Channel mono instances @ 44.1 kHz | Over 400 | Less than 160 |
| Waves SSL G-Channel mono instances @ 96 kHz | Over 170 | Less than 70 |
Comparison with UAD Apollo
The benchmarks below illustrate the processing power of DiGiGrid DLS’s built-in SoundGrid DSP server, compared with Universal Audio’s UAD-2 quad core DSP card. UAD benchmarks are taken from UAD’s website. The numbers in the chart refer to mono instances @ 44.1 kHz.| Waves Plugin | DiGiGrid DLS | UAD Plugin | Apollo (UAD-2 QUAD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| API 550 | 512 | API 550A EQ | 52 |
| API 560 | 68 | API 560 EQ | 40 |
| CLA-2A Compressor / Limiter | 244 | Teletronix LA-2A Gray/Silver | 24 |
| CLA-76 Compressor / Limiter | 512 | UA 1176 Rev A/Rev E/AE | 28–32 |
| InPhase | 512 | Little Labs IBP Phase Alignment Tool | 116 |
| Kramer Master Tape | 64 | Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder | 20 |
| PuigTec EQP1A | 186 | Pultec EQP-1A (Passive EQ Collection) | 52 |
| Scheps 73 | 110 | Neve 1073 (Preamp and EQ) | 8 |
| SSL E-Channel | 512 | SSL E Channel Strip | 68 |
| SSL G-Master Buss Comp | 464 | SSL G Bus Compressor | 140 |