Portable USB bus-powered audio interface designed for integration with RAVENNA/AES-67 networks and MADI equipment.
Equipped with a DirectOut RAV2 Ravenna module, the RME Digiface Ravenna offers 128 channels of RAVENNA I/O, or alternatively, 64 channels of RAVENNA and 64 channels of MADI I/O.
Designed to support the growing popularity and presence of RAVENNA solutions in the professional audio sector, the Digiface Ravenna sits alongside RME’s Digiface Dante and Digiface AVB as a compact, portable interface for any RAVENNA network.
Watch our overview video for an introduction to this powerful audio networking interface, the result of a collaboration between German-based pro audio manufacturers RME and DirectOut.
RME Digiface Ravenna Overview Video
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RAVENNA, AES67 & ST2110-30/31 support
Alongside RAVENNA compatibility, the Digiface Ravenna also supports a number of additional network standards: AES67, SMPTE ST 2110-30/-31 and ST 2022-7, as well as support for NMOS IS-04 and IS-05.
This range of support allows for interoperability with other AES67-compatible professional audio equipment such as the Calrec Type R modular broadcast mixing console.
Terminology
- RAVENNA: An Audio over IP (AoIP) protocol that enables real-time, network-synchronized distribution of audio and various media content within IP-based network environments. Certain components of RAVENNA have been standardized by the AES as AES67.
- AES67: An open standard / set of rules for audio over IP and audio over Ethernet. Allows for interoperability between different audio network protocols.
- SMPTE ST 2110: A suite of standards for professional video, audio and data transfer over IP. Designed as a replacement for the long-standing SDI (Serial Digital Interface) used throughout professional broadcast.
- SMPTE ST 2110-30: Addresses the audio section of SMPTE ST 2110. A subset of AES67, ST 2110-30 is another standard for transporting audio over an IP network, with some additional requirements (e.g. on clocking and streaming).
- SMPTE ST 2110-31: A standard for transporting AES-3 formatted audio over an IP network in relation to ST 2110.
- SMPTE ST 2022-7: A standard for protecting a video stream against data loss. ST 2022-7 works by seamlessly switching between two incoming streams, reconstructing the original stream (in case packets are lost in any of the paths), with no impact on the content of the stream.
- NMOS IS-04: An open specification that deals with discovery of devices on a network.
- NMOS IS-05: An open specification that allows media nodes on a network to send and receive IP streams.
RME Digiface Series
Like the other interfaces in the Digiface range, the pocket-sized Digiface Ravenna offers a portable solution for recording and transmitting audio via AoIP – from studio and installation, to live sound and broadcast – as well as offering a simple method of bringing MADI onto an audio network.
Just like all RME audio interfaces, the Digiface RAVENNA features the rock-solid stability of RME’s custom designed audio drivers, offering the reliability that’s made RME Audio so popular for use in ‘mission-critical’ applications.
I/O
The Digiface Ravenna is based on the design of the Digiface Dante, RME’s incredibly popular Dante audio interface, trading Audinate’s Dante networking format for a RAVENNA module designed by DirectOut.
Four configurable network ports can be connected to the 2 internal NICs in a range of ways to supplement the network redundancy.
Alongside its four Gigabit Ethernet connections, the Digiface Ravenna also features a pair of BNC connectors, which can be used for Wordclock synchronisation or MADI coaxial I/O, offering 64 channels of MADI in each direction, and enabling the Digiface Ravenna to be used as a simple RAVENNA <> MADI converter.
For quick monitoring of any channel, the Digiface Ravenna features a stereo analogue output for connecting headphones, or for use as an unbalanced stereo output for studio monitors.
The RME Digiface Series features options for AVB, ADAT, Ravenna, Dante and AES-3.
Portable RAVENNA via USB!
USB 3.0 connectivity and a DC power supply socket are available on one side of the interface. The Digiface Ravenna can send its full channel count via a single USB 3.0 cable, all whilst receiving power from a connected computer.
USB 3.0 is usually sufficient to run the interface, however, using all 4 network connections plus headphones simultaneously can draw more current than the USB 3 spec suggests (900 mA).
The Digiface Ravenna therefore ships with a power supply for stable operation even at highest load, and can also operate as a standalone converter to provide RAVENNA <> MADI conversion without the need for a computer.
TotalMix FX
Like all RME audio interfaces, the Digiface Ravenna benefits from TotalMix FX, RME’s powerful routing and mixing software. Powered by an FPGA-chip within the interface itself, TotalMix FX runs entirely DSP-based, with a software counterpart for user control.
This takes some of the heavy lifting when it comes to computer processing, and is also the foundation for RME’s incredible zero-latency monitoring.
The software mixer allows users near-limitless routing possibilities, with any input available for routing to any output. It’s possible to create submixes for every physical output too, meaning that each individual output can contain a different mix of sources.
TotalMix FX also features a comprehensive Control Room section with shortcuts to commonly used commands like Mono, Monitor Dim and Level Recall, as well as speaker switching and Talkback.
Finally, TotalMix Remote provides network control, enabling the Digiface Ravenna to be controlled from any Mac or PC on the same network.
Reliable RAVENNA interfacing
Combining RME’s years of experience in designing rock-solid, reliable and professional audio interfaces with DirectOut’s RAVENNA networking expertise, the Digiface Ravenna is the ideal portable recording device for users of the RAVENNA audio networking protocol. The device’s combination of networked audio and MADI I/O also makes the interface a fantastic bridge between the MADI world and next-generation of audio networks, whilst continuing RME’s long legacy of creating flexible devices built for a wide range of professional audio scenarios.
For more information, visit our RME Digiface Ravenna product page