RME TCO HDSP Expansion Board

The RME TCO HDSP Expansion Board provides synchronisation to SMPTE and video in professional studio quality. SteadyClock ensures that the word clock derived from the input signals is of low jitter and therefore highly compatible. The TCO HDSP supports all standard formats and conversions of these, turning it into a highly useful tool within the studio environment.

The RME TCO HDSP Expansion Board is an optional extension for selected RME cards. Placed in a free slot of the computer chassis the TCO will be connected with the main card via a flat ribbon cable. The small module provides the HDSPe cards with a Word Clock input and offers a synchronization to LTC and video. Thanks to SteadyClock(TM), the TCO not only extracts absolute positions from LTC, but also a very clean low-jitter word clock from LTC and video. Thus a sample accurate timecode synchronization to audio or video sources is assured. One single RME TCO HDSP can be used with different HDSP/HDPe cards at the same time (multicard), if connected to a supported card.

Settings
All settings can be accessed conveniently from an additional page in the settings dialog of the HDSP mother card. The clear and easy dialog site appears automatically after the RME TCO HDSP is installed. On the main page the new sync-option TCO can be selected. The dialog provides all important options: Sync-Source (LTC, Video or Word Clock), termination for BNC input (75 Ohm), Frame Rate of the incoming SMPTE signals and WCK Conversion. Furthermore the TCO dialog shows Pull-Up and Pull-Down factors and state information (Input State) about the incoming signal. E.g. an incoming word clock signal is analyzed and displayed to be in the Single Speed, Double Speed or Quad Speed range.

RME TCO HDSP Expansion Board Connectivity

• 1 x Word Clock I/O
• 1 x Video Sync Input (Alternative to WC In)
• 1 x LTC I/O

RME TCO HDSP Expansion Board Features

• LTC can be derived and generated in all common formats, i.e. 24, 25, 30, and 29.97 frames; drop-frame or non-dropframe. Commonly used Pull-Up- and Pull-Down formats (+/- 0.1% and +/- 4%) can be utilised, and PAL and NTSC video formats will be automatically detected and processed.
• The received Time Code can be sent to the audio or video application as ASIO Positioning Protocol (APP) or MTC. An application can send APP or MTC to the RME TCO HDSP, which will generate LTC on hardware level with lowest jitter (no software/driver routine). Several fly-wheel functions facilitate chase operation (adjustable drop-out length, Continuous- or Jam-Sync).
• Under Windows the RME TCO HDSP provides the SMPTE position as APP (ASIO Positioning Protocol) and as MTC Sync. Under Mac OS X the TCO provides the SMPTE position as MTC Sync only.
• The RME TCO HDSP has a combined switchable Word Clock/Video input (BNC) as well as an LTC input (BNC). The Word Clock /Video input on the card can comfortably be terminated (relay-controlled) with a 75 Ohm terminator from the settings dialog.
• The RME TCO HDSP also features an additional LTC output (BNC) with two level settings (configurable via jumper).

RME TCO HDSP Expansion Board Specifications

• LTC In:
  • Type: BNC unbalanced
  • Level Range: -25 dBu up to +12 dBu
  • Video In: Word Clock In
  • Termination: BNC switchable termination 75 Ohm
  • Format: PAL and NTSC
• Word Clock In (Video In):
  • Type: BNC, switchable termination 75 Ohm
  • Input Type: Transformer coupled, galvanically isolated input
  • DC-Offsets: Not affected by DC-offsets within the network
  • Signal Adaptation Circuit: Signal refresh through auto-center and hysteresis
  • Overvoltage Protection: Yes
  • Level Range: 1.0 Vpp - 5.6 Vpp
  • Lock Range: 28 kHz - 200 kHz
  • Jitter When Synced to Input Signal: < 1 ns
  • Jitter Suppression: > 30 dB (2,4 kHz)
• LTC Out:
  • Type: BNC
  • Output Level: +4 dBu, via Jumper -7 dBu
  • Outputs Impedance: 220 Ohm
• Word Clock Out:
  • Type: BNC
  • Max Output Voltage: 5 Vpp
  • Output Voltage @ 75 Ohm: 4,0 Vpp
  • Outputs Impedance: 10 Ohm
  • Frequency Range: 28 kHz - 52 kHz
• Additional Specs:
  • Power Supply: via ribbon cable, 5 V DC, 100 mA
  • Bracket: Standard bracket
  • Dimensions PCB (W x D): 98 x 75 mm

RME TCO HDSP Expansion Board Includes

• RME TCO HDSP With Mounted Bracket
• Ribbon Cable
• User's Guide