• Return to HFI Home Page

AudioBox AB64 Board Installation

updated 8 September 2005

The audio channel capabilities of the AB64 are field upgradable to a maximum of 64 channels by adding plug-in DSP and Analog circuit boards. The step-by-step instructions for adding in DSP and Analog boards are provided on this page. Adding a DSP board adds 16 input and 16 output channels to the mixing matrix. Adding an Analog board adds16 channels of analog input and output to the matrix. It is not necessary to have analog channels attached to all channels of the matrix. For example, one may wish to use CobraNet to feed signals into and out of some of the matrix channels. Contact Richmond Sound Design with any questions regarding AB64 configuration.

The AB64 Chassis

The AB64 chassis is illustrated in the drawings below. There is always exactly one CPU board in the unit. There can be zero up to four DSP boards installed at the location designated "DSP Board Stack". Similarly there can be zero up to four Analog boards installed at the location designated "DSP Board Stack".

General Instructions

THE FOLLOWING PRECAUTIONS MUST BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT STATIC DISCHARGES DO NOT OCCUR WHEN HANDLING CIRCUIT BOARDS. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE STATIC DISCHARGE PRECAUTIONS MAY CAUSE DAMAGE WHICH IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

1. WORK SHALL BE PERFORMED AT A STATIC-FREE WORKSTATION.

2. THE AB64 CHASSIS MUST BE CONNECTED DIRECTLY TO GROUND WHEN INSTALLING OR REMOVING CIRCUIT BOARDS. THE POWER SUPPLY CABLE DOES NOT GROUND THE AB64 CHASSIS; A WIRE MUST BE CONNECTED DIRECTLY FROM THE CHASSIS TO A GROUNDED POINT.

3. PERSONS HANDLING CIRCUIT BOARDS MUST DISCHARGE STATIC BY TOUCHING A GROUNDED SURFACE (SUCH AS THE GROUNDED AB64 CHASSIS) BEFORE OPENING PACKAGES CONTAINING CIRCUIT BOARDS AND BEFORE REMOVING BOARDS FROM THE UNIT. PERSONS MUST EITHER WEAR A GROUNDED WRIST STRAP OR MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THE GROUNDED AB64 CHASSIS DURING THE HANDLING OF CIRCUIT BOARDS.

4. STACKING CONNECTORS MUST BE GROUNDED TO DISCHARGE STATIC BEFORE THEY ARE INSERTED INTO CIRCUIT BOARD SOCKETS.

IN ADDITION, CARE MUST BE TAKEN TO ENSURE ALL CIRCUIT BOARD CONNECTOR PINS ARE LINED UP AND CONNECTED PROPERLY TO THE CORRESPONDING SOCKET BEFORE POWER IS APPLIED. FAILURE TO DO SO MAY CAUSE DAMAGE WHICH IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

• There are four levels at which Analog and DSP boards can be located, numbered 1 through 4.
• The DSP board at level 1 plugs into the CPU board. Boards at levels 2 through 4 plug into the DSP boards one level down.
• If there is an Analog board at level 1, it must be installed before the DSP board at level 1. In this case, the DSP board at level 1 will plug into the Analog board at level 1. The same applies when there are Analog and DSP boards at levels 2 through 4.
• A DSP board must be installed at level 1 before an Analog board can be installed at level 2. The same applies at higher levels.
• Nylon hex spacers are used between boards to provide mechanical support. The threads of the nylon spacers can be damaged by overtightening. When installing, turn the spacers no more than 1/4 turn after the mating surfaces make contact.
• The highest board in the stack is secured using 6-32 x 1/4" machine screws and lockwashers. When installing, turn the screws no more than 1/4 turn after the mating surfaces make contact.
• (4) stacking connectors are used to make the electrical connections between DSP boards.

Installing Analog Boards

1. Ground the AB64 chassis.
2. Unplug the power cable from the unit and remove the top cover.
3. Remove the plate coving the openings in the chassis where the analog signal connectors will go.
4. Remove the (8) jack screws from the four analog signal connectors along the bottom edge of the board.
5. Remove the (3) machine screws securing the Analog board currently at the top of the Analog Board Stack (if any).
6. If installing at levels 2, 3 or 4, install 3 nylon hex spacers where the machine screws were removed in the previous step. Tighten at most 1/4 turn after mating surfaces make contact.
7. Place Analog board into position.
8. Install (8) jack screws from the outside of the chassis into the analog signal connectors.
9. If this Analog Board is now at the top of the Analog Board Stack, use (3) 6-32 x 1/4" machine screws with lockwashers to secure the board. Tighten at most 1/4 turn after mating surfaces make contact.

   

   Stacking Connector

Installing DSP Boards

DUE TO THE SENSITIVITY OF HIGH-DENSITY PROCESSOR CHIPS TO STATIC DISCHARGE, THE AB64 DSP CARDS ARE EASILY DAMAGED BY STATIC DISCHARGE. READ THE GENERAL PRECAUTIONS ABOVE. FOLLOW THE FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS EXACTLY.

1. Ground the AB64 chassis.
2. Unplug the power cable from the unit and remove the top cover.
3. Remove the (4) machine screws securing the DSP board currently at the top of the DSP Board Stack (if any).
4. If installing at levels 2, 3 or 4, install 4 nylon hex spacers where the machine screws were removed in the previous step. Tighten at most 1/4 turn after mating surfaces make contact.
5. Discharge static from a stacking connector by touching all of the pins simultaneously to the grounded AB64 chassis. Plug the stacking connector into one of the socket connectors other than J4B on the bottom of the DSP board. (The DSP chips, etc. are on the top of the board.) Do not place a stacking connector into the socket connector labeled J4B - this is where the Analog board (if any) plugs in. Be sure the connector is fully seated and all connector pins are lined up with the corresponding holes in the socket connectors. It does not matter which end of the stacking connector goes into the socket connector on the DSP board being installed. Repeat until all four connectors except J4B have stacking connectors plugged in.
6. Carefully line up all the pins of all the stacking connectors with the holes in the socket connectors at the level below, including those on the Analog board (if any).
7. Press firmly down on the DSP board until it fully seats. Ensure connection to analog board is good by pressing DSP and analog cards together at connector.
8. If this DSP Board is now at the top of the DSP Board Stack, use (4) 6-32 x 1/4" machine screws with lockwashers to secure the board. Tighten at most 1/4 turn after mating surfaces make contact.
9. NOTE: DSP board at level 4: If the header labelled JTAP has vertical pins, a plastic collar must be installed over the header when a DSP board is installed at level 4 to prevent the chassis cover from making contact with the header pins. Current revisions of the DSP board use horizontal pins for the JTAP header and do not require this collar. Contact Richmond Sound Design if the collar is required and was not supplied.
10. Power unit on. If the installation was successful, the LCD display on the front panel will indicate the new matrix size.

Special Case: No Analog Boards Installed

If there is one or more DSP boards installed and no Analog boards are installed, a jumper is required on the bottom of the DSP board at level 1 for the AB64 to function (DSP boards at levels 2 and above do not require this jumper.). Contact Richmond Sound Design if the jumper is required and was not supplied. This jumper goes between pins J4B-A1 and J4B-B1. See drawing below.