A&H Zed R16 Firewire Mixer

[Northernrock]

Regarding dropouts
Does anyone know if the “ASIO Time Overload” meter in Cubase is in any
way connected with the performance of Zed R-16 drivers/firmware?
Or is it purely cubase?


I’m not sure where to look anymore. I thought I have solved this dropout-issue several times now,
but it always comes back “the next day”.


(Yesterday I downgraded the driver to 3.3.2 and recorded 16 tracks + heavy use of VST instrument for 15 minutes without a hiccup..
today I can’t record or play back even small projects for one minute without dropouts.)

[pianomog]

What do the dropouts sound like? Are you using an interface? Or is the zed your interface? Are you using a portable hard drive? If so what speed? How is it connected? What computer? I'm sure you checked all this but everything helps.

[Northernrock]

Originally Posted by pianomog

What do the dropouts sound like? Are you using an interface? Or is the zed your interface? Are you using a portable hard drive? If so what speed? How is it connected? What computer? I'm sure you checked all this but everything helps.

Thanks for the reply,

Dropouts sounds like: Silence for 1-2 seconds, then it comes back extremely loud, (master meter goes through the ceiling on the first few notes), then continues like nothing's happened. Not much crackle and pops, if any.

Zed is my interface, and I have a "stationary" IDE hard drive. (Not sure about the speed..have to check later)

No peaks are shown on the CPU or latency monitoring during these dropouts.

I use:
- Windows XP Professional SP3
- Cubase 5.5.0 (32-bit)
- MSI 865pe neo2-pfs mainboard
- CPU - Intel Pentium 4 dual 3,20GHz
- RAM 4 GB
- Nvidia GForce FX5200 (AGP)
- VIA Firewire card
- M-Audio UNO Midisport USB Interface

[Qmzn]

Originally Posted by djmukilteo

Sorry didn't mean to sound condescending..I apologize for putting it that way...

I'm sorry for losing my temper and being rude to you in my reply. I'm letting this problem get the better of me.

Before I send it off to the shop, I'm at least going to open the board again and do some work with the multimeter. I'm hesitant to solder again, because R923 and R924 seemed brittle... even at low temps it felt like they would lift or burn off the circuit board if I wasn't careful.

I hope pro audio/video equipment goes USB3 in the next couple years. Never had a real problem with USB 1.1 or 2. I'm kind of sick of 1394, it's consistently given me trouble.

Maybe I need to buy a Mac. They "just work", right? :D

[sunnyb]

hey r16ers, im having an annoying little problem in logic. when mixing down, for some reason i cant select a stereo input (17-28), i can only select mono 17 or 18. any logic users know how to fix this? every time i select 17-18 as a stereo input, it gives me input 9 as a mono input, and then only gives me mono inputs as options. very annoying! any tips?

[arch1]

I'm getting random digital clicks and pops when recording through my ZED R16. They only occur when recording an audio signal. When I record silence with the mics on there are no clicks or pops. Once an audio signal is recorded the pops are present usually right after the signal onset (right after a kick or snare hit for example). I've tried all buffer settings, disabled hyperthreading and power saving settings in bios and nothing has helped. How do I check for the possible missing ground wire? How can I tell if it is a clock issue with the ZED? Any ideas?

ZED R16
Cubase 5.5
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
i7 920 quad core 2.66 GHz processor
MSI X58 LGA 1366 intel X58 ATX motherboard
GeForce 9800GT 1G pci express video card
6GB PC3 8500 DDR3 1066 triple channel RAM
2 Western Digital 500 GB 7200 rpm hard drives (1 system, 1 audio)

[jplum]

Originally Posted by arch1

I'm getting random digital clicks and pops when recording through my ZED R16. They only occur when recording an audio signal. When I record silence with the mics on there are no clicks or pops. Once an audio signal is recorded the pops are present usually right after the signal onset (right after a kick or snare hit for example). I've tried all buffer settings, disabled hyperthreading and power saving settings in bios and nothing has helped. How do I check for the possible missing ground wire? How can I tell if it is a clock issue with the ZED? Any ideas?

ZED R16
Cubase 5.5
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
i7 920 quad core 2.66 GHz processor
MSI X58 LGA 1366 intel X58 ATX motherboard
GeForce 9800GT 1G pci express video card
6GB PC3 8500 DDR3 1066 triple channel RAM
2 Western Digital 500 GB 7200 rpm hard drives (1 system, 1 audio)

Are you using onboard Intel RAID or using the ICHT drivers for storage ? (not sure if your m/b has these) ?
Check the Windows System event log for apparent drive errors. I had the same issue and it turned out to be totally related to clitches in disk access caused by rogue Intel drivers.

Once I switched to non on-board RAID, everything has been great for quite a while now.
I regularly record 12 tracks at a time over F/W and ALL my issues were related to this Intel driver issue

[arch1]

How would I check which drivers are being used and how would I switch to non onboard RAID?

[AlienHealth]

Originally Posted by Qmzn

I'm sorry for losing my temper and being rude to you in my reply. I'm letting this problem get the better of me.

Before I send it off to the shop, I'm at least going to open the board again and do some work with the multimeter. I'm hesitant to solder again, because R923 and R924 seemed brittle... even at low temps it felt like they would lift or burn off the circuit board if I wasn't careful.

I hope pro audio/video equipment goes USB3 in the next couple years. Never had a real problem with USB 1.1 or 2. I'm kind of sick of 1394, it's consistently given me trouble.

Maybe I need to buy a Mac. They "just work", right? :D

Hi Qmzn,

I might be a little late picking up on the thread - did you take your R16 to a service centre yet?
If not there are a couple of things to try which are detailed in the attached document.
Also which OS are you using? I've heard that W7 can load the CPU with flags or interrupts when streaming via FireWire, which could cause dropouts. Anyway let me know if we can help.
Cheers,
Mike.

[nigelallistair]

Hello all,

I picked up my Zed a while back (6 weeks or so) but haven't had the abilty until recent purchases to run it through its paces. I did, at the time, unpack it and check for power up and ran some audio through it (guitar, mic) but didn't have my computer yet so could not check the connections to it.

Well, everything's in and up and I did a quick hook up to make sure everything seemed ok but I cannot get audio from the conputer (iMac) into the Zed. I'm just using the most elementary routing - Digital Master to L-R button). Drivers, etc. are installed and the Zed shows up and are selected in Preferences (of both the iMac and Logic 9).

I checked my Firewire chipset and it's TI which most say is the one to have.

So...I turned her over, took of the back to check for the resistor & grounding problem. The 2 grounding straps are in place but I'm not sure how the 2 resistors are supposed to look. I do have the PDF and to me they look wrong in my unit but I need some opinion.

Please forgive my laughable electronics terminology but the two halves of the resistor are seperated by what I will call a black band with a "o" looking symbol on it. On the "repaired" resistor in the PDF it shows that this black band is covered by the solder bridge connecting that 2 sides.

Does this description sound like that problem? And if so, if I solder them, should it fix this issue?

Hate that I might have to solder a brand new $2K board but like this it isn't worth 2cents.

Thanks much for any thoughts.

[djmukilteo]

Originally Posted by nigelallistair

Hello all,

I picked up my Zed a while back (6 weeks or so) but haven't had the abilty until recent purchases to run it through its paces. I did, at the time, unpack it and check for power up and ran some audio through it (guitar, mic) but didn't have my computer yet so could not check the connections to it.

Well, everything's in and up and I did a quick hook up to make sure everything seemed ok but I cannot get audio from the conputer (iMac) into the Zed. I'm just using the most elementary routing - Digital Master to L-R button). Drivers, etc. are installed and the Zed shows up and are selected in Preferences (of both the iMac and Logic 9).

I checked my Firewire chipset and it's TI which most say is the one to have.

So...I turned her over, took of the back to check for the resistor & grounding problem. The 2 grounding straps are in place but I'm not sure how the 2 resistors are supposed to look. I do have the PDF and to me they look wrong in my unit but I need some opinion.

Please forgive my laughable electronics terminology but the two halves of the resistor are seperated by what I will call a black band with a "o" looking symbol on it. On the "repaired" resistor in the PDF it shows that this black band is covered by the solder bridge connecting that 2 sides.

Does this description sound like that problem? And if so, if I solder them, should it fix this issue?

Hate that I might have to solder a brand new $2K board but like this it isn't worth 2cents.

Thanks much for any thoughts.

Those black blocks with the zero marked on them are the jumpers. those are called SMD (surface mounted device) and that particular "resistor" is a zero ohm resistor or a jumper so they are installed and you don't need to do anything at all!
As far as not getting sound read the manual on the channels strips and make sure you have one of the 4 small button switches at the bottom near the fader set to what you want to do. Then select that channel on a record input channel in Logic and output to 17/18 or master and check for signal at the meters. Adjust your incoming instrument level with the gain pot at the top and set the channel fader somewhere around -5 to 0 to start. Punch in the EQ switch if you like and check to see if you get some change from those.
Hope that helps...enjoy...

[nigelallistair]

That helps very much. I am up and running. Thank you.

[tnestelaar]

Hello!

Since a couple of months the zed doesn't remember the clock source anymore.
I use the latest driver. The things that i've changed are that I updated to Snow Leopard and Cubase 5.5.

I'f like to know how I can fix this.

Greetings Tom

[Edzeppelin]

Hi just wondering if it is possible to mix a project down using the ZED R16's onboard EQ for large projects over 30 tracks. I understand how to send the signal from my DAW back into the board to use the EQ's, but how do I adjust EQ for all 50 or so tracks and then record the mix back into the DAW? Thanks!

[voidar]

Originally Posted by Edzeppelin

but how do I adjust EQ for all 50 or so tracks and then record the mix back into the DAW? Thanks!

You would have to sub-mix. 16 tracks, then 16-tracks etc.

you'll end up with a bunch of stems.

[Edzeppelin]

Originally Posted by voidar

You would have to sub-mix. 16 tracks, then 16-tracks etc.

you'll end up with a bunch of stems.

Makes sense. But how can you get a good submix of say the drums if you can't mix it down along with the guitars and bass? I mean, you can mix the drums and get a good sound but then when you put the guitars or bass in, you might say, oh there's not enough thump or too much, etc. Is it a lot of back and forth and re-submixing?

Or say a client comes in and says, I want more thump on the kick. Because it's now mixed down to a stereo track, do you have to go back and reset all the knobs for the drum mix and then add more thump to the kick and then mix down again to stereo? kind of a pain isn't it? Thanks for your help.

[voidar]

Well, yes, it will force you to commit; which might even improve your skills. When you are sitting over the board trying to do an awesome drum mix with levels and EQ alone it might sell you to the whole idea.

If the client demands a remix then yes, you would have to recall manually; there are scheets for this. You can charge for it.

It is possible though I think to use the EQ as a "plugin"-insert (16 at a time). Then you could play with levels ITB or even run stems through the board at mixdown, or you could submix ITB and have something share an EQ. not everything needs to be EQ'ed.

If you can't live with this then you will need a bigger board.

[Edzeppelin]

Originally Posted by voidar

Well, yes, it will force you to commit; which might even improve your skills. When you are sitting over the board trying to do an awesome drum mix with levels and EQ alone it might sell you to the whole idea.

If the client demands a remix then yes, you would have to recall manually; there are scheets for this. You can charge for it.

It is possible though I think to use the EQ as a "plugin"-insert (16 at a time). Then you could play with levels ITB or even run stems through the board at mixdown, or you could submix ITB and have something share an EQ. not everything needs to be EQ'ed.

If you can't live with this then you will need a bigger board.

That makes sense. A little different way of looking at a mix. Plus I do like the sound of the boards EQ. I'll have to mess around with a few projects to get a feel for it.

When you say "ITB", does that mean "In the Box?" Thanks again for your help.

[voidar]

Originally Posted by Edzeppelin

When you say "ITB", does that mean "In the Box?" Thanks again for your help.

Yup.

Glad to help.

[socaldirtgods]

Originally Posted by jplum

Are you using onboard Intel RAID or using the ICHT drivers for storage ? (not sure if your m/b has these) ?
Check the Windows System event log for apparent drive errors. I had the same issue and it turned out to be totally related to clitches in disk access caused by rogue Intel drivers.

Once I switched to non on-board RAID, everything has been great for quite a while now.
I regularly record 12 tracks at a time over F/W and ALL my issues were related to this Intel driver issue

I just noticed I am simply playing iTunes routed through the FW bus on my mixer out through my studio monitors via the AUX 1 sends on Channel 1 and 2 on the Zed R16... pops and clicks in random spots throughout playback, no real uniformity - sometimes during silence and others during noise? anyone have similar issues? I bought my ZED R really early when they came out. I hope i didnt get one with the soundcard issues or whatever it was?!

[tfletchii]

How is everyone using their outboard pres with the r16? Are you having to run your outboard pre's through the line in on one of the 16 channels or is there a way to run it direct to the firewire? So you can get a signal direct to your DAW with no effect by the mixer.

[malfunction]

personally i'm using PT M-Powered with a lightbridge, 16 adat in/out (Zed) and my API A2D pre's into the lightbridge's spdif.

[nigelallistair]

Having an issue that might just be a matter of my impatience but perhaps there's a setting somewhere I can adjust to avoid this routine.

The iMac goes to sleep, the firewire port does as well and so the R16 connection is lost. When I wake the Zed from sleeping, if I wait long enough is this connection suppose to re-make itself? Or do I always have to, as I have been - unplugging the firewire cable from the Zed, rebooting it, reinserting the cable and re-selecting the ins/outs in the iMac. I sincerely I hope it's just a matter of sitting on my hands and being patient while this all happens automatically.

Any thoughts are appreciated and thank you.

[tfletchii]

but there is no way to run outboard pres straight to the firewire on the r16. you have to go through the r16 preamp. do you have any problems running the mbox along side the r16?

[arvproductions]

Originally Posted by nigelallistair

Having an issue that might just be a matter of my impatience but perhaps there's a setting somewhere I can adjust to avoid this routine.

The iMac goes to sleep, the firewire port does as well and so the R16 connection is lost. When I wake the Zed from sleeping, if I wait long enough is this connection suppose to re-make itself? Or do I always have to, as I have been - unplugging the firewire cable from the Zed, rebooting it, reinserting the cable and re-selecting the ins/outs in the iMac. I sincerely I hope it's just a matter of sitting on my hands and being patient while this all happens automatically.

Any thoughts are appreciated and thank you.

Hi

What i do is make the settings on the Mac such, that the computer does not go to sleep. I dislike this sleep/snooze function anyway.

R

[psychicsyd23]

Hello Lovely Slutz,

This is my first post.

I am using Digital Performer with my Zed R16. Everything works wonderfully, however I cannot seem to be able to map the Midi transport functions to DP, and cannot seem to find Midi Learn on DP.... any help there?

Also... I would like to run a Peak-Compressor while tracking live. How can I patch in to all 16 channels during tracking? Use Aux 1-2 to Stereo Return In 1-2? Any help or tips here would be sweet....

Thanks ya'll,
Psychicsyd23

[cavern]

Originally Posted by psychicsyd23

Hello Lovely Slutz,

This is my first post.

I am using Digital Performer with my Zed R16. Everything works wonderfully, however I cannot seem to be able to map the Midi transport functions to DP, and cannot seem to find Midi Learn on DP.... any help there?

Also... I would like to run a Peak-Compressor while tracking live. How can I patch in to all 16 channels during tracking? Use Aux 1-2 to Stereo Return In 1-2? Any help or tips here would be sweet....

Thanks ya'll,
Psychicsyd23

Don't know about the DP issue but as for the send effects, that's what i do.
I use 2 effects processors and send them out aux 1-2 to stereo return ST 3 and aux 3-4 to stereo return ST 4.
I use ST1 and 2 for other stuff cause those channels have e.q's.
Works great.

[psychicsyd23]

Originally Posted by cavern

Don't know about the DP issue but as for the send effects, that's what i do.
I use 2 effects processors and send them out aux 1-2 to stereo return ST 3 and aux 3-4 to stereo return ST 4.
I use ST1 and 2 for other stuff cause those channels have e.q's.
Works great.

That sounds like you will only have compression after committing to tape? What i am looking for is compression during tracking, for all channels, not when mixing down to a stereo track. For example, I know I could run a stereo compressor to 2 channel inserts, and have peak compression while tracking. But I would like to have this option on all channels, individually.... As the engineer, and guitar player, I cannot ride levels while tracking, so I need something to control Peaks.....

[bluemoon]

hi everyone. I'm considering getting a zed-r16 or a mackie 1640i and I'd like to know what is the general consensus about the stability of the zed's firewire operation in OSX.

I'm reading some bad stories about it but they seem to be from several months/years ago. how's the current state of the drivers? (assuming that you have the upgraded fw board installed)

thanks a lot for any input.

[cavern]

Originally Posted by psychicsyd23

That sounds like you will only have compression after committing to tape? What i am looking for is compression during tracking, for all channels, not when mixing down to a stereo track. For example, I know I could run a stereo compressor to 2 channel inserts, and have peak compression while tracking. But I would like to have this option on all channels, individually.... As the engineer, and guitar player, I cannot ride levels while tracking, so I need something to control Peaks.....

That setup is available for mix down or jamming live,
I only use the sends for reverb and delays and such so i wouldn't want to record those.
I have 5 compressors that i use at the insert points for tracking or mixdown.
That would be the only way to record them to a daws.

Of course tracks 17/18 (L/R master) would record the send effects to your daws so you could do 2 at a time or one stereo that way.
This way you can only record 2 tracks at a time but you can chose any 2 without changing settings on the comp.or re-patching.
Never tried it for that purpose but it would work.
To do all 16 at once though you would need 8 stereo or 16 mono compressors at the inserts as far as i know.