Scope
This document will go over a workflow where the xNode sends a multichannel stream, and a Windows PC with IP Driver receives that stream and records the 8 independent channels
Description
The Axia xNode has the ability to send multichannel audio in a single Livewire channel/AES67 stream using Surround or 8-Channel Stream Mode. Utilizing the xNode cross-point mixer, its possible to mux other 1 or 2 channel streams into a new single 8 channel stream. This can be useful for multitrack session where local xNode inputs needs to be packed into a single multichannel stream for better source to source time alignment.
Prerequisites
xNode running firmware 2.4.7 or higher
xNode must be AES or Analog model. Not Mic, xSelector
xNode with Source #5 thru 8 NOT in use
Axia IP Driver for Windows running version 2.11.0.10 or higher (latest release version recommended)
Audio editing/recording software that can support sound devices with 8 Channels, 16bit, 48000Hz format
An editing workstation that can keep up with near real-time audio processing and network processing tasks
Step by step example
This example is using an AES xNode. The routing is flexible, and we take advantage of that:
AES Input #1 will be muxed into Multichannel Channel 1,2
Stereo Destination 2 will be muxed into Multichannel Channel 3,4
Destination 3, LEFT channel will be muxed into Multichannel Channel 5
Destination 4, LEFT channel will be muxed into Multichannel Channel 6
Stereo Destination 5 will be muxed into Multichannel Channel 7,8
Step 1:
Enable custom mix mode
Go to the Mixer Page and select "Enable Custom Mode"
Step 2:
Enable Source 5 to send Surround audio
Step 3:
Make any Destination configuration changes if needed
Here, I have AES 3 and AES 4 (also Destination 3 and 4) set to receive two different phone hybrids
Step 4:
Adjust the Mixer to route Inputs and Destinations to the desired surround channels
We start with the xNode mixer like this, without any changes
We make adjustments and end up with the xNode mixer looking like this:
Step 5:
Receive the multichannel Livewire channel into IP Driver
Here we receive Livewire channel 805, but we change the receive mode from the default "From Source" to "8-Channel"
Step 6:
Adjust Windows Recording Device for multichannel support
Go into Windows Sounds, go to the Recording Tab
Since we are receiving the multichannel on Livewire In 1, select that and click Properties
Go to the Advanced tab, and change the Default Format to 8 Channel, 16 bit, 48000Hz. This option is ONLY selectable if Livewire Drive has its corresponding destination set to 8-Channel mode
Step 7a:
Configure Audacity for multichannel recording support
Audacity 3.2.1 was used at the time of making this helpdoc
Select WASAPI as the audio host
Select Livewire In 01 as the Recording Device
Select Recording Channels as 8
Start Recording
Tracks 1 and 2 are silent because AES 1 input was silent at the time of recording
All 8 tracks are represented indepently in the recording
Step 7b:
Configure Adobe Audition for multichannel recording support with Axia ASIO support
Go into the multitrack editor
Click on the Input selector for the first track, select Audio Hardware
Select ASIO as device class. Select Axia ASIO as Device. You may need to increase I/O Buffer Size if recording has dropouts
For the Track 1, Click on the Input Selector Again
Under Mono you can access all 8 channels (01M thru 08M)
Add 8 Mono Tracks and set them to Record 01M to 08M
Alternatively you can use Stereo Inputs 01S thru 09S. These will gang the two channels together as left and right.
Press Record:
