ALLEN&HEATH IDR-8/X 8+2 In/8+2 Out Digital Mix Processor
The 2U rack or desk mount iDR-8 is the main unit in the iDR system having all the DSP (digital signal processing) power needed for 16 input and 16 output channels. It has 8 XLR analogue mic/line inputs and 8 XLR analogue line outputs. You can add a further 8 inputs and/or 8 outputs bringing it up to a maximum 16x16 matrix by plugging in the iDR-In and/or iDR-Out audio expanders. The signal can be routed at three key points, the input source patch bay, central matrix, and output source patch bay.
Although the iDR does not work with networked audio, the expanders can be located up to 250 metres away so providing remote analogue audio inputs and outputs connected using CAT5 cables. You can also daisy chain multiple iDR-8 units in a distributed system. The units are linked using an 8 channel wide bus which plugs into the digital expander ports. Maximum matrix at any unit is 16x16 which includes the interconnecting bus. Several iDR-8 units can be linked in this way, but you can have only one iDR-In and oneiDR-Out expander per system. This is described later.
A stereo audio monitor is included. This has both input and output TRS jacks so that the monitor can 'ripple through' chained iDR units. It also feeds a front panel headphones socket for local monitoring of any point in the audio signal path. The monitor can access the input and output channels so that they can be used with the matrix. For example, you can achieve a 10x10 matrix from an unexpanded iDR-8. A built-in signal/noise generator provides a further source which can be routed to the input channels for test and line up purposes.
There are many operator control possibilities. You can configure the 16 front panel keys and 32 3- colour LEDs, and use the DR-Link port to add up to 3 iDR-Switch units for up to 72 additional switch closure and 48 open-collector logic outputs. In addition you can choose two of the following: MIDI, the Sys-Net serial port to interface with third party remote controllers, RS232 for modem communication, and the PL-Anet serial port for setting up a network of Allen & Heath PL wall plates and controllers.
The iDR-8 features networked control. It is configured using the iDR System Manager software via an Ethernet port either connected directly to the installer's PC, or over a TCP/IP network. Once configured it runs stand alone using its built-in iDR Unit software with stored settings. iDR units can also be operated from networked PC workstations running PL Client software configured as 'virtual' wall plates by the installer using PL Designer software. An RS232 modem port lets the installer remotely interrogate units. A front panel RS232 port allows easy operating code update.
The iDR-8 unit is a digital mix processor with 10 analogue inputs and 10 analogue outputs on the main unit chassis, capable of expansion to 18 analogue inputs and 18 analogue outputs, achieved by connecting separate 8-analogue-input and 8-analogue-output expander modules via proprietary 8-channel digital audio input and output ports. Of the 10 analogue inputs and outputs on the main chassis, 8 mic/line inputs on balanced XLR's with level trims, 8 line-level outputs on balanced XLR's. The remaining inputs and outputs stereo ripple through monitor inputs that consist of separate electronically balanced Left and Right TRS jack inputs, and active monitor bus outputs that consist of separate electronically balanced Left and Right TRS jack outputs. The monitor inputs and outputs are able to be assigned as extra channel inputs and outputs.
The system has a full 16x16 crosspoint matrix allowing any input, or combination of inputs, to be routed to any output or combination of outputs. All crosspoints have a variable level. The 8 mic/line inputs and 8 line level outputs on the expander units also be on balanced XLR's. Comprehensive ducking, paging, automatic mic mixing, signal equalisation, dynamics processing, ambient noise sensing and system time alignment capability are provided.
iDR-8 front panel
The iDR-8 front panel has 16 soft keys plus 32 tri-colour LEDs. iDR-In and iDR-Out expanders each have a further 8 LEDs. What these keys and LEDs do is up to the installer - they can be volume controls, source selectors and meters, they can recall presets, or in a fully protected system they can do nothing at all. iDR-8 has an LCD display which normally shows basic information such as time or unit name but can also show custom messages programmed into presets. iDR-8's face plate can be removed for access to the unit's internal clock, network setup and diagnostic menus, plus RS232 port for PC connection (there is another port on the rear of the unit) and a label strip which is protected behind a window when the face plate is in place.
Audio Processing
At the heart of iDR-8 is a pair of powerful Motorola DSPs. Having somuch processing muscle available has several major advantages:
1) iDR-8 has a fixed architecture with full processing for allinputs and outputs, so the installer does not have to think about conserving orallocating resources
2) iDR-8 has a 48kHz, 16x16 mode and anaudiophile 96kHz, 8x8 mode
3) No DSP or delay expanders areneeded - everything is included in the standard unit.
iDR-8'sprocessing includes preamp, fader, mute and polarity control, parametric EQ,crossover filters, compressors and gates with sidechain filter, limiters,crosspoint matrix, input and output patchbays, stereo/group linking, 16 levelducker, ambient noise sensing, automatic mic mixer, two independent pagers andsignal generator for lineup tones and pink noise. The equivalent analogue processing equipment would easily fill several racks!
Preset System
The iDR preset system is supremely flexible, allowing the installer to save, name and recall up to 250 presets containing only those parameters which they have specified. This makes it easy to provide both global and zone-dependent control. Presets can be recalled by day of the week/time and levels can be cross-faded for smooth transitions. All presets can be archived with iDR settings as a configuration file.
Audio IO
The basic iDR-8 has 8 balanced XLR mic/line inputs, 8 balanced XLR line outputs and enough processing for the full 16x16 matrix. The high quality preamps feature programmable gain, pad and +48V control as well as a unique pre-A/D converter soft clip hardware limiter, designed by Allen & Heath to eliminate the distortion associated with clipping of digital converters.
Audio Monitor
iDR's monitoring system is wonderfully convenient, flexible and powerful. Any point in the signal chain can be listened to via stereo headphone or line outputs. Monitoring can be 'daisy-chained' through several iDR-8 units, so the user can monitor any point in a bigdistributed system. Monitor source is selected manually or by dragging the mouse pointer over the iDR Manager software windows. The monitor can be reassigned to unused iDR-8 channels, bringing the basic unit architecture up to 10x10.
Remote Audio
Adding an iDR-In and / or an iDR-Out expander to an iDR-8 brings the channel architecture up to 16x8, 8x16 or the full 16x16. The expanders can be sited up to 300 metres away from the main unit, making them ideal for local audio connection in distributed systems.
Control / Communication
A look at iDR-8's back panel reveals the scope of iDR's controlcapabilities. iDR-8 can communicate with iDR-Switch units, iDR-In and iDR-outexpanders, third party controllers, PL Series 'intelligent' wall plates, MIDIshow controllers, PCs, networks and modems. Up to 4 communications ports can beused at once - network and DR-link ports are always available, with two moreselected from RS232, Sys-Net, MIDI and PL-Anet. Rear panel leds clearlyindicate active ports.
iDR-Switch
iDR-Switch wall plates and other external equipment such as curtains, lights, custom panels, PIR sensors, etc. can be easily brought under iDR control using iDR-Switch. A total of 3 iDR-Switch units can be included in an iDR system, providing up to 72 switch closure inputs and 48 logic outputs.
iDR System Manager Software
iDR System Manager runs on a Windows PC and is the installer's tool for turning a collection of hardware into a customised, integrated audio system that precisely matches the client's needs.
iDR components and remote control devices all come under the control of iDR System Manager. We have given the software a very straightforward, 'analogue' feel, so you can expect to feel at home with it very quickly.
Once you have configured the ideal iDR system the settings and presets are simply saved to the main iDR-8 unit. You can then remove the PC and the iDR system will run as a standalone entity.
PL Series Remote Controllers
A range of remote controllers for use with ALLEN&HEATH products - ideal for local operator control using wall plates, fader panels, hand held remotes, etc. Combinations of push switch, indicator led, rotary encoder, infra-red receiver and audio fader are available.
iDR in/out Expander Units
iDR-In and iDR-Out are add-on audio expander units for the Allen & Heath iDR-8 audio mix processor. They provide additional analogue audio inputs and outputs to add to those on the main unit. The iDR-In has 8 mic/line inputs, the iDR-Out has 8 line outputs.One or both may be connected to the iDR-8. Only one of each may be added to the iDR system bringing it up to a maximum 16x16 audio matrix.
These units do not have any processing built in. They convert the analogue audio to an 8 channel wide digital bus which feeds the iDR-8 via a CAT5 STP cable. The iDR-In features high grade mic/line preamps with PC configured gain, pad and phantom power switching, and a built-in soft clip limiter.
The iDR-Out provides electronically balanced differential outputs. The processing is available onthe main iDR-8 unit which features the full 16x16 matrix. Both units have 8 front panel LEDs in addition to the 3 status indicators. These are 3-colour soft LEDs which can be assigned as audio meters, mute indicators or patch related indicators. They are programmed in the usual way using the iDR System Manager software.
Control of the expanders is via the DR-Link port using a CAT5STP cable. This means that two CAT5 cables are required to interconnect an expander to the main unit. Maximum distance between the units is 250 metres.Local mains power is required.
PL Designer and PL Client software
Bundled with the new iDR System Manager v3.2, ALLEN & HEATH offers new software for the design and operation of virtual wall plate style remote controllers. These are designed by the installer to provide control interfaces running on client PCs connected to the iDR via a network.
PL Designer lets the designer create a control layout from a selection of control types such as switches, faders and LEDs, or from parameter windows such as EQ. These can be associated with selected iDR channels and labelled for on-screen identification. The resulting PL Client panel can be installed on the client PC. Different panel layouts can be designed and customised for different rooms and applications. For example, a hotel receptionist could control local sound sources and volume using a panel window running on the computer.
