1 Topic by bumperdoo (edited by bumperdoo 2022-02-18 13:57:23)

  • Registered: 2020-12-05
  • Posts: 4

Topic: Dolby Atmos RMW build - Windows

Morning RME,

We will be renovating one of our editing suite rooms and building it out to be a Dolby Atmos system. We are Windows-based and using DaVinci Resolve Fairlight for our audio mixing.

In the planning stages - Dolby documentation has two approaches to the Dolby Atmos RMW running on a separate computer:

1) RME HDSPe MADI FX on the RMW

https://learning.dolby.com/hc/article_attachments/4407786097684/blobid0.png

2) RME MADIface XT on the RMW

https://learning.dolby.com/hc/article_attachments/4407782597780/blobid1.png

Do people have experience with either setup and recommend which RME components we'd need to complete the build? The Dolby Atmos RMW would be running  on a separate Windows workstation. I am just trying to clarify in my mind how the components would fit together in the final build. Likely an M-16 DA to deliver the analog audio to our Genelec monitors - would that be on the DAW or the RMW?

Thanks!

  • From: Aotearoa
  • Registered: 2007-10-23
  • Posts: 255

Re: Dolby Atmos RMW build - Windows

Hi there

Personally I'd go HDSPe MADI FX.  I imagine for your level setup, you'd want lowest latency possible, so PCIe MADI on the RMW.  To use the XT that way, you need a Matrox PCIe-external card and cable - now discontinued and available only on eBay. 

The XT is basically the same with some slight differences in Midi and analog I/O.  When using the XT with PCIe-external connection it even uses the same driver.

Edit: just realised you are probably using the Fairlight MADI I/O on Resolve so comment below is defunct.

Also please be aware that in resolve 17.4.4 (free & Studio) there is a bug where only the first 32 channels of ASIO I/O work.  You can patch them all, but everything above 32 is *SILENT*.  It's been reported to BM, but the latest patch didn't fix it yet.

I'm on a similar path to you but much more budget:  [Windows DAW + XT] <--> [Hackintosh, DAPS, 2xMadiFace OG].

Currently tossing up between Resolve & Nuendo (Sequoia is my main axe but no Atmos support there).  The Resolve bug is a bit of a showstopper till they fix it.

cheers
Simon

Madiface XT, Madiface, 3x Micstasy, ADI8QS
Sequoia 17, W10 x64
https://bsound.co.nz/tools-nix

3 Reply by bumperdoo (edited by bumperdoo 2022-03-06 14:28:23)

  • Registered: 2020-12-05
  • Posts: 4

Re: Dolby Atmos RMW build - Windows

Potscrubber wrote:

Personally I'd go HDSPe MADI FX.

Our current thinking is option #1 - just waiting on my consulting partner to confirm the setup with the folks at Dolby.

We'd love to go MADI FX in the RMW and in the client workstation, but we have no spare PCIe slots in the client workstation - they are maxed with GPUs for performance. We are exploring the option of using a MADIface XT on the client workstation.

Keep me posted on your progress.

4 Reply by Potscrubber (edited by Potscrubber 2022-03-08 03:58:09)

  • From: Aotearoa
  • Registered: 2007-10-23
  • Posts: 255

Re: Dolby Atmos RMW build - Windows

bumperdoo wrote:
Potscrubber wrote:

Personally I'd go HDSPe MADI FX.

Our current thinking is option #1 - just waiting on my consulting partner to confirm the setup with the folks at Dolby.

We'd love to go MADI FX in the RMW and in the client workstation, but we have no spare PCIe slots in the client workstation - they are maxed with GPUs for performance. We are exploring the option of using a MADIface XT on the client workstation.

Keep me posted on your progress.

I understand. Well, you won't find a better USB driver than RME so you can rest assured there with the XT. 

One final option is if your motherboard has good TB3 support you can use:
XT <-> PCIe-external cable <-> Matrox PCIe/ADP host card <-> Sonnet Echo Express SE I chassis <-> TB3 cable <-> Motherboard.

Unfortunately the Matrox card and cable have to be sourced on eBay, but they are around.  Search for Matrox MXO2 (letter O not zero), you will see lots of expresscards but also some PCIe cards.  The cables can be a bit rarer, but still there, sometimes along with the actual video interface.

Just bear in mind you will run into the ASIO 32 channel limit bug with DR for now.  I encourage you to open a support ticket (like I did).  You could also add your voice to this thread: https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/view … nnel+limit.

I've just bought a second-hand Nuendo license (like I said I'm on a budget).  I would of liked and may still look at Resolve Studio in the future, but I figured for now as I have rejected one 'standard' (Pro Tools - horrible on Windows), I'd better align with the next best standard.

cheers

Madiface XT, Madiface, 3x Micstasy, ADI8QS
Sequoia 17, W10 x64
https://bsound.co.nz/tools-nix
  • Registered: 2020-12-05
  • Posts: 4

Re: Dolby Atmos RMW build - Windows

Potscrubber wrote:

One final option is if your motherboard has good TB3 support you can use:
XT <-> PCIe-external cable <-> Matrox PCIe/ADP host card <-> Sonnet Echo Express SE I chassis <-> TB3 cable <-> Motherboard.

Why would I do this? Seems rather convoluted and just begging for problems.

  • From: Aotearoa
  • Registered: 2007-10-23
  • Posts: 255

Re: Dolby Atmos RMW build - Windows

bumperdoo wrote:
Potscrubber wrote:

One final option is if your motherboard has good TB3 support you can use:
XT <-> PCIe-external cable <-> Matrox PCIe/ADP host card <-> Sonnet Echo Express SE I chassis <-> TB3 cable <-> Motherboard.

Why would I do this? Seems rather convoluted and just begging for problems.

You would do it if you weren't getting the performance you wanted out of the XT via USB 3 on your motherboard.  Or you wanted absolute lowest latency (PCIe) possible and as you said all your PCIe slots are filled.

The only real unknown is how well your motherboard's TB3 is implemented.  The rest is solid and support by RME.  Here is a thread where they are testing other cards in a Netstor chassis.  I mentioned the Sonnet as it's widely available.
https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=26094

I've been using the XT over PCIe with the Matrox card direct in a slot (no TB3/Sonnet chassis required) for 8 years.

Just letting you know about the options.

Madiface XT, Madiface, 3x Micstasy, ADI8QS
Sequoia 17, W10 x64
https://bsound.co.nz/tools-nix
  • Registered: 2020-12-05
  • Posts: 4

Re: Dolby Atmos RMW build - Windows

Potscrubber wrote:

You would do it if you weren't getting the performance you wanted out of the XT via USB 3 on your motherboard.

Ah, gotcha. We are running Threadripper Pro systems and the USB performance is excellent - with the detailed motherboard layouts we're able to see clearly which ports are connected where in the block diagrams and ensure we're using the *best* ports for our solution. Make sense?

  • From: Aotearoa
  • Registered: 2007-10-23
  • Posts: 255

Re: Dolby Atmos RMW build - Windows

bumperdoo wrote:
Potscrubber wrote:

You would do it if you weren't getting the performance you wanted out of the XT via USB 3 on your motherboard.

Ah, gotcha. We are running Threadripper Pro systems and the USB performance is excellent - with the detailed motherboard layouts we're able to see clearly which ports are connected where in the block diagrams and ensure we're using the *best* ports for our solution. Make sense?

Sounds great.  Report back on how the installation progresses.

Madiface XT, Madiface, 3x Micstasy, ADI8QS
Sequoia 17, W10 x64
https://bsound.co.nz/tools-nix