DISC Marian Trace Alpha PCI Soundcard

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TRACE ALPHA provides one stereo analog input/output and one stereo digital input/output with up to 192 kHz as well as one alternative internal digital CD-ROM input. The compact PCI card includes also three MIDI-Outputs and one MIDI input with 16 channels each.

The main characteristic of the TRACE series is the newly developed high speed hardware architecture, which guarantees data transfers with ultra low latencies and practically without CPU load. The analog inputs and outputs provide balanced connectors and the elaborate analog converter technology ensures superb audio values with maximum dynamic - signal to noise ratio up to 113 dB(A) with a level of up to 18 dBu.

Besides the hardware integrated DSP mixer with Total Recall the Trace ALPHA provides the card-spanning TDM-Sync-Bus connecting several MARIAN cards to one synchronous main system and allowing the free routing of audio channels within all TRACE cards in this system.

Like every member of the TRACE-series, the Trace ALPHA is characterized by an easy installation and it`s steadily controlled high quality of manufacturing. Marian grants a five year warranty on every member of the TRACE family.

Uncompromising Audio quality The new hardware design focus was on providing superlative audio performance and high resolution audio with sample rates up to 192 kHz. The analog inputs and outputs provide balanced connectors and the elaborate analog converter technology ensures superb audio values with maximum dynamic - signal to noise ratio up to 113 dB(A) with a level of up to 18 dBu.

High speed architecture Innovative PCI- and DSP technologies enable ultra low latencies below one millisecond practically without CPU load - even when using all channels at the full bandwidth of up to 192 kHz! A TRACE system is the perfect partner for performance intense applications such as software instruments and complete audio in-the-box-productions.

DSP Mixer The digital mixer - completely integrated in the TRACE hardware - operates with quick and flexible DSP functions allowing latency-free mixing of all signals to several stereo sums as well as the latency-free monitoring and routing of all inputs to all outputs. Thus perfect monitor mixes can be set up quickly and played back on any output. The mixer can be configured optically - all inputs/outputs and many mixer sections can be either shown or hidden. All audio-, routing- and layout settings are easy to save and load within session files (total recall).

The Mixer offers 20 channels (8 x internal Playback, 8 x TDM Input, 4 x physical Input) and - depending from the used samplerate - up to four individual stereo sums.

Output routing control: Independent from the mixer the systems provides six physical stereo outputs - two physical stereo outputs plus four stereo TDM busses. All outputs can be driven with the mixer stereo sums, 16 software playback channels (see below) or both physical stereo inputs. Multiple routings are of course possible.

Advanced Multiclient The four channel TRACE ALPHA presents itself as a 16-channel-device! The mixer provides eight channels (4 x stereo) for playback of any type of audio software. The output routing control adds another eight channels (4 x stereo) playback devices. Thus e.g. two or more software sequencer , -sampler, synthesizer or media player can run with parallel multiclient handling at the same time without any device conflicts at all.

TDM SyncBus Using the hardware based TDM-SyncBus up to four different MARIAN audio systems can be connected to one synchronous main system, in which not only the same digital clock, but also absolute start/stop synchronization of all connected inputs/outputs is ensured. The TDM SyncBus spanning all installed cards enables the free routing of up to eight channels for all included TRACE systems. This makes single channels or complete sub-mixes available for other members of the main system. A TRACE multicard system with inputs- and outputs of any type - analog or digital - can thereby be used as router, patchbay, converter or splitter. Typical usage: Connecting an external reverb and/or effect units to one card making it available to all other cards. Start a modular system with a single TRACE ALPHA and add later other TRACE cards with different types of I/Os - e.g. up to 24 analog I/Os with three TRACE 8 or four AES/EBU I/Os with a TRACE D4 to integrate external digital effect units to your DAW.

High speed driver suite (with Advanced Multiclient) The TRACE ALPHA provides a complete driver suite for Microsoft Windows. The continuosly improved, multi client enabled drivers for ASIO 2.0, GSIF 2, MME, WDM (Kernel-Streaming and non-emulated DirectSound) guarantee ultra low latencies for all software enviroments. The clear and handy driver dialogues ensure the display of all inputs and outputs as well as the adjustment of many parameters (e.g. exact levelling and flexible monitoring). A special status display allows the visual control of the current clock adjustments.

Technical Specifications

In-/Outputs

• 1 x Stereo Digital I/O (24/192)
• 1 x Stereo Analog I/O (24/192)
• 1 x CDROM digital S/PDIF (internal)
• 3 x MIDI Output / 1 x MIDI Input
• TDM-SyncBus

Technical Data

• PCI 2.3 card, 32 Bit, 3.3V/5V

• Sample formats: 8, 16, 20, 24, 32 Bit Mono/Stereo

• Digital Input

  • 1 x S/PDIF RCA (cable adapter)
  • 1 x CDROM digital S/PDIF (internal)
  • Input voltage ex 0,2 Vss
  • Samplerates (variable): 32 kHz to 192 kHz

• Digital Output

  • 1 x S/PDIF RCA (cable adapter)
  • Output level 0,5 Vss with 75 Ohm Last
  • galvanic isolated

• Analog Input

  • 2 x 6,3 TRS jack, balanced
  • Impedance: 10 kOhm
  • Input level (adjustable):
  • +18 dBu; +15 dBu; +8 dBu and -6 dBV for 0 dBFS
  • AD input leveling from -48 dB to +18 dB
  • SNR AD @ 192 kHz: 105 dB / 108 dB(A)
  • THD+N @ -3 dBFS: < 0,002 % / < -94 dB
  • Cross-talk attenuation: > 100 dB
  • Frequency response @ 48 kHz: -0,5 db 20 Hz to 22 kHz
  • Frequency response @ 96 kHz: -0,5 db 20 Hz to 44 kHz
  • Frequency response @192kHz: -1 db 20 Hz to 65 kHz

• Analog Output

  • 2 x 6,3 TRS jack, balanced
  • Output impedance: 75 Ohm
  • Output level:
  • +18 dBu; +8 dBu and -6 dBV for 0 dBFS
  • DA output leveling from -78 dB to 0 dB
  • SNR DA @ 96kHz: 113 dB(A)
  • THD+N @ -1 dBFS: < 0,001% / < -100 dB
  • Cross-talk attenuation: > 110 dB
  • Frequency response @ 48 kHz: -0,5 db 20 Hz to 22 kHz
  • Frequency response @ 96 kHz: -0,5 db 20 Hz to 44 kHz
  • Frequency response @192kHz: -1 db 20 Hz to 61 kHz
  • Synchronisation sources
  • Digital Input
  • Internal
  • TDM SyncBus
  • Master and Slave-Modus

Driver suite (Multiclient)

• Windows VISTA, XP, 2000, 2003:
  • MME, ASIO 2.0, DirectSound, GSIF2, WDM (Kernelstreaming)