How to Set Up MultiRack SoundGrid with DiGiCo Quantum 7

Oct 19, 2020

Follow these instructions to connect DiGiCo Quantum 7 engines to MultiRack SoundGrid and SoundGrid server/s for audio processing, remote control and mirroring for dual engines, with or without server redundancy.

Important note:

The last Waves plugin version supported in MultiRack is v10.

DiGiCo Quantum 7 digital mixing consoles have a different back panel layout, ports and connection requirements for SoundGrid networks than the standard SD7 console.

All connections should be done with

compatible Ethernet cables at supported lengths

.

Let’s take a look at the back panel of one Quantum 7 engine. We can see a Waves IO network port and two Network switches:

  1. A pair of network ports in the top blue panel marked 1 & 2 – let’s call this the “Blue Switch.”
  2. A pair of network ports in the bottom back panel marked 3 & 4 – lets’ call this the “Black Switch.”

Connecting a single Quantum 7 engine to MultiRack SoundGrid and one server

Set up a single Quantum 7 engine with MultiRack SoundGrid and one server:

  1. Connect the following to the Blue Switch:
  2. Connect the host computer running MultiRack SoundGrid to the Black Switch.

Important: The Waves IO and SoundGrid server must be connected to the same switch. Connecting them to different switches may result in audio drops.

Connecting a single Quantum 7 engine to MultiRack SoundGrid and two redundant servers

Set up a single Quantum 7 engine with MultiRack SoundGrid and two redundant servers:

  1. Connect the following to an external SoundGrid supported network Switch
    • Waves IO
    • SoundGrid server #1
    • SoundGrid server #2 for redundancy
    • The “Blue Switch” (connect to the external switch)
    • The host computer running MultiRack SoundGrid

Important:

  • The Waves IO and SoundGrid servers must be connected to the same switch. Connecting them to different switches may result in audio drops.
  • We highly recommend that both servers be of the same model and generation.

Connecting dual Quantum 7 engines to MultiRack SoundGrid and one server per engine

Set up dual (mirrored) Quantum 7 engines with two MultiRack SoundGrid setups, each with one server:

  1. Mark all your hardware and cables! Associate each server to Engine A or B.
  2. Connect the following to Engine A’s Blue Switch:
  3. Connect the host computer running MultiRack SoundGrid to Engine A’s Black Switch.
  4. Connect the following to Engine B’s Blue Switch:
  5. Connect the host computer running MultiRack SoundGrid to Engine B’s Black Switch.
  6. Set up MultiRack SoundGrid inventory and connections as described in steps 3 and 4 here.
  7. Connect a compatible ethernet cable between Black Switch A and B.
  8. Set up Engine Mirroring as described in step 6 here.

Important: Each engine’s Waves IO and SoundGrid server must be connected to the same switch, per engine. Connecting them to different switches may result in audio drops.

Connecting dual Quantum 7 engines to MRSG and two servers per engine

Set up dual (mirrored) Quantum 7 engines with two MultiRack SoundGrid setups, each with two redundant servers:

  1. Mark all your hardware and cables! Associate switches and servers with Engines A or B.
  2. Connect the following to external supported network Switch A:
    • Engine A Waves IO
    • SoundGrid server #1
    • SoundGrid server #2 for redundancy
    • Engine A’s Blue Switch (connect to external switch A)
    • MultiRack SoundGrid Host Computer A
  3. Connect the following to external supported network Switch B:
    • Engine B Waves IO
    • SoundGrid server #3
    • SoundGrid server #4 for redundancy
    • Engine B’s Blue Switch (connect to external switch B)
    • MultiRack SoundGrid Host Computer B
  4. Set up MultiRack SoundGrid inventory and connections as described in steps 3 and 4 here.
  5. Connect a compatible ethernet cable between Black Switch A and B.
  6. Set up Engine Mirroring as described in step 6 here.

Important:

  • The Waves IO and SoundGrid servers must be connected to the same switch, per engine. Connecting them to different switches may result in audio drops.
  • We highly recommend that both servers be of the same model and generation.