The EXBOX.UMA has been designed to simplify broadcast-quality location multitrack recording. It allows any 32 audio channels to be selected from up to 32 channels of ADAT format audio and/or up to 64 channels of MADI, and routed via USB to a DAW running on a PC or Mac. Simultaneously, up to 32 tracks of DAW playback may be routed to the ADAT and/or MADI outputs for monitoring purposes or backup recording.
The unit’s front panel provides MADI input and output in optical format via an SC connector, and eight TOSLINK connectors for ADAT I/O (four inputs and four outputs). The MADI ports may carry up to 64 channels of audio, and the ADAT ports up to 8 channels each; the maximum channel count is sample rate dependent. The unit includes a software-controlled 144 x 128 matrix which can be used to route any 32 channels from the MADI and/or ADAT input data to the rear panel USB port. By connecting the USB port to a computer running any compatible DAW application, the channels will be available for recording as separate tracks.
Up to 32 of the DAW outputs may be simultaneously routed back into the EXBOX.UMA to become available at the MADI or ADAT outputs, again with full routing flexibility.
Routing and mixer configurations are stored in the unit, so once the configuration has been set, the unit can be used as a stand-alone device without the necessity for the control application to be running.
The EXBOX.UMA also has a software-controlled 16-out mixer, integrated with the routing matrix and controlled by the same software application. Up to 16 mono (or 8 stereo) mixes may be created from any combination of inputs (MADI, ADAT or USB), and each mix can be assigned to any of the unit’s outputs (MADI, ADAT or USB). These can be used as monitor mixes, cleanfeed (N-1) outputs, recording pre-mixes, FX sends, etc. The 16 mixer outputs are available as additional inputs to the routing matrix, so may be switched or routed as required.
As all inputs and outputs are available in the matrix, the unit can be used to convert between MADI, ADAT and USB formats in whatever manner is needed, including MADI-to-ADAT format conversion and vice-versa, without the USB interface being connected. The EXBOX.UMA is particularly suitable for critical multitrack recording of live musical events; audio arriving from the stage area in MADI format can be recorded as separate tracks on the DAW, but also on a separate hardware multitrack recorder(s) for backup, via the ADAT ports.
The EXBOX.UMA is compatible with all MADI formats (56/64ch., 48k/96k Frame and S/MUX) and all common sample rates. Windows and Mac drivers are supplied with the unit, and the USB interface is compatible with any DAW supporting ASIO, WDM or Core Audio.
Round-trip latency from an input to the DAW and back again is dependent on the processor speed and buffer allocation in the host computer; 8 to 12 ms (not including buffer delay) is typical.
The EXBOX.UMA is only 140 x 140 x 42 mm and weighs under a kilogramme, so can be located almost anywhere in a mobile recording setup. It is supplied with a external power supply, but will operate on any DC input from 7 to 24 V. Two Hirose connectors are provided on the rear panel for DC power connection; a second PSU may be connected for additional security in critical recording situations. The EXBOX.UMA may be ordered for use with either multi-mode or single-mode optical fibre.