Overview

The TRACE PRO AE is a special version of the famous TRACE PRO and successfully meets up to the utmost expectations found in the field of broadcast. Like its role model this PCI audio system offers two analog and two digital in- and outputs at 24bit and 192kHz. For integration into a digital working environment a ll digital inputs may be used as synchronization source. Alternatively, and for even bigger flexibility, the AES/EBU input offers samplerate converters of the highest quality.

The main difference of the TRACE PRO AE to the TRACE PRO can be found in a simplistic hardware design, which is done without compromises for superior specifications and the transmission of high resolution formats with a maximum of dynamics. The specialty of the TRACE PRO AE hereby is a consistent balanced signal path up to the AD converter. This ensures a signal transmission, unsusceptible for disturbances up to the very last moment – the digitalizing process. An exceptional S/N value and extremely low crosstalk are the astonishing result.

The next innovation can be found in the ingenious analog circuits, which require only a minimum of the necessary number of active electronic parts and thus effectively inhibit any additional source for unwanted noise. This concludes in the special qualification for the usage in working environments, which require an extreme precision in dynamic resolution. Responsible for this as well is the presumably most important change of the TRACE PRO AE: The individual adjustment of the analog level for each TRACE PRO AE according to customer requirements. Here, the digital maximum of 0dbfs can be adjusted to meet any analog level up to powerful 24dbu. Especially in permanent installations this annuls the need for analog or digital level adjustment and ensures the highest signal quality and biggest dynamic range, all the way.

The main characteristic of the TRACE series is the newly developed high speed hardware architecture, which guarantees data transfers with ultra low latencies and practically without CPU load. Besides the hardware integrated DSP mixer with Total Recall the Trace PRO AE provides the card-spanning TDM-Sync-Bus connecting several MARIAN cards to one synchronous main system and allowing the free routing of audio channels within all TRACE cards in this system.

Like every member of the TRACE-series, the Trace Pro AE is characterized by an easy installation and it`s steadily controlled high quality of manufacturing. Marian grants a five year warranty on every member of the TRACE family.

Uncompromising Audio quality

The new hardware design focus was on providing superlative audio performance and high resolution audio with sample rates up to 192 kHz. The analog inputs and outputs provide electronically balanced XLR connectors and the elaborate analog converter technology ensures superb audio values with maximum dynamic - signal to noise ratio up to 113 dB(A) with a level of +22 dBu.

Flexible Clock

The intelligent and flexible clock control allows the integration into any digital setup. The system either works as the Clock-Master or gets the clock via WordClock Input or the digital Input. It will be Clock-Master for the whole system and for all systems connected via TDMSyncBus.

High speed architecture

Innovative PCI- and DSP technologies enable ultra low latencies below one millisecond practically without CPU load - even when using all channels at the full bandwidth of up to 192 kHz! A TRACE system is the perfect partner for performance intense applications such as software instruments and complete audio in-the-box-productions.

DSP Mixer

The digital mixer - completely integrated in the TRACE hardware - operates with quick and flexible DSP functions allowing latency-free mixing of all signals to several stereo sums as well as the latency-free monitoring and routing of all inputs to all outputs. Thus perfect monitor mixes can be set up quickly and played back on any output. The mixer can be configured optically - all inputs/outputs and many mixer sections can be either shown or hidden. All audio-, routing- and layout settings are easy to save and load within session files (total recall).

The Mixer offers 20 channels (8 x internal Playback, 8 x TDM Input, 4 x physical Input) and - depending from the used samplerate - up to four individual stereo sums.

Independent from the mixer the systems provides six physical stereo outputs - two physical stereo outputs plus four stereo TDM busses. All outputs can be driven with the mixer stereo sums, 16 software playback channels (see below) or both physical stereo inputs. Multiple routings are of course possible.

Advanced Multiclient

The four channel TRACE PRO AE presents itself as a 16-channel-device! The mixer provides eight channels (4 x stereo) for playback of any type of audio software. The output routing control adds another eight channels (4 x stereo) playback devices. Thus e.g. two or more software sequencer , -sampler, synthesizer or media player can run with parallel multiclient handling at the same time without any device conflicts at all.

TDM SyncBus

Using the hardware based TDM-SyncBus up to four different MARIAN audio systems can be connected to one synchronous main system, in which not only the same digital clock, but also absolute start/stop synchronization of all connected inputs/outputs is ensured. The new TDM SyncBus spanning all installed cards enables the free routing of up to eight channels for all included TRACE systems. This makes single channels or complete sub-mixes available for other members of the main system. A TRACE multicard system with inputs- and outputs of any type - analog or digital - can thereby be used as router, patchbay, converter or splitter. Typical usage: Connecting an external reverb and/or effect units to one card making it available to all other cards.

Samplerate Conversion

The TRACE PRO AE includes samplerate converters on the digital input, ensuring an excellent adjustment to the master clock if needed. Using the best components available outstanding technical specifications are guaranteed (THD: -140 dB).

High speed driver suite (with Advanced Multiclient)

The TRACE PRO AE provides a complete driver suite for Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server. The continuosly improved, multi client enabled drivers for ASIO 2.0, GSIF 2, MME, WDM (Kernel-Streaming and non-emulated DirectSound) guarantee ultra low latencies for all software enviroments. The clear and handy driver dialogues ensure the display of all inputs and outputs as well as the adjustment of many parameters (e.g. exact levelling and flexible monitoring). A special status display allows the visual control of the current clock adjustments.