ALLEN HEATH ICE-16D Multirack Recorder User Guide
- June 14, 2024
- ALLEN HEATH
Table of Contents
- WARRANTY
- SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
- PACKED ITEMS
- INTRODUCTION TO THE ICE-16
- APPLICATION: RECORDING TO USB MEMORY
- ICE-16D FRONT PANEL FEATURES
- RECORDING DIRECT TO USB MEMORY
- PLAYLIST MODE
- INSTALLING THE FIREWIRE DRIVERS
- THE FIREWIRE DRIVER CONTROL PANEL (PC)
- INSTALLING THE USB DRIVERS (PC)
- THE USB DRIVER CONTROL PANEL (PC)
- CONNECTING ICE-16 TO A MAC COMPUTER
- SYNCHRONISING MORE THAN ONE ICE-16D
- CONNECTING AUDIO TO ICE-16D
- SPECIFICATIONS
- DIMENSIONS
- BLOCK DIAGRAM SCHEMATIC
- References
- Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
- Download This Manual (PDF format)
ICE-16D
USER GUIDE Publication AP9216
WARRANTY
Limited One Year Warranty
This product is warranted to be free from defects in materials or workmanship
for period of one year from the date of purchase by the original owner.
To ensure a high level of performance and reliability for which this equipment
has been designed and manufactured, read this User Guide before operating. In
the event of a failure, notify and return the defective unit to ALLEN & HEATH
Limited or its authorised agent as soon as possible for repair under warranty
subject to the following conditions
Conditions Of Warranty
The equipment has been installed and operated in accordance with the
instructions in this User Guide.
The equipment has not been subject to misuse either intended or accidental,
neglect, or alteration other than as described in the User Guide or Service
Manual, or approved by ALLEN & HEATH.
Any necessary adjustment, alteration or repair has been carried out by ALLEN &
HEATH or its authorised agent.
The defective unit is to be returned carriage prepaid to ALLEN & HEATH or its
authorised agent with proof of purchase.
Units returned should be packed to avoid transit damage.
In certain territories the terms may vary.
Check with your ALLEN & HEATH agent for any additional warranty which may
apply.
EMC & SAFETY
This product complies with the European Electro magnetic Compatibility
directives 2004/108/EC and the European Low Voltage Directives 2006/95/EC.
This product has been tested to EN55103 Parts 1 & 2 2009 for use in
Environments E1, E2, E3, and E4 to demonstrate compliance with the protection
requirements in the European EMC directive 2004/108/EC. During some tests the
specified performance figures of the product were affected. This is considered
permissible and the product has been passed as acceptable for its intended
use. Allen & Heath has a strict policy of ensuring all products are tested to
the latest safety and EMC standards. Customers requiring more information
about EMC and safety issues can contact Allen & Heath.
NOTE: Any changes or modifications to the product not approved by Allen &
Heath could void the compliance of the product and therefore the users
authority to operate it.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING – Read the following before proceeding : ATTENTION: RISQUE
DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE – NE PAS OUVRIR
WARNING: This equipment must be earthed.
Read instructions:
Retain these safety and operating instructions for futurereference. Adhere to
all warnings printed here and onthe product. Follow the operating instructions
printed inthis User Guide.
Do not remove cover: Operate the product with its covers correctly
fitted.
Power sources:
Connect the product to a mains power unit only of the type described in this
User Guide and marked on the rear panel. Use the power cord with sealed mains
plug appropriate for your local mains supply as provided with the product. If
the provided plug does not fit into your outlet consult your service agent for
assistance.
Power cord routing:
Route the power cord so that it is not likely to be walked on, stretched or
pinched by items placed upon or against it.
Grounding:
Do not defeat the grounding and polarisation means of the power cord plug. Do
not remove or tamper with the ground connection in the power cord.
Water and moisture: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock do not
expose the product to rain or moisture or use it in damp or wet conditions. Do
not place containers of liquids on it which might spill into any openings.
Ventilation:
Do not obstruct the ventilation slots or position the product where the air
flow required for ventilation is impeded. If the product is to be operated in
a rack unit or flightcase ensure that it is constructed to allow adequate
ventilation.
Heat and vibration:
Do not locate the product in a place subject to excessive heat or direct
sunlight as this could be a fire hazard. Locate the product away from any
equipment which produces heat or causes excessive vibration.
Servicing:
Switch off the equipment and unplug the power cord immediately if it is
exposed to moisture, spilled liquid, objects fallen into the openings, the
power cord or plug become damaged, during lightening storms, or if smoke,
odour or noise is noticed. Refer ervicing to qualified technical personnel
only.
Installation:
Install the product in accordance with the instructions printed in this User
Guide. Do not connect the output of power amplifiers directly to the product.
Use audio connectors and plugs only for their intended purpose.
Important Mains plug wiring instructions
The product is supplied with a moulded mains plug fitted to the AC mains power
lead.
Follow the instructions below if the mains plug has to be replaced. The wires
in the mains lead are coloured in accordance with the following code:
TERMINAL | WIRE COLOUR |
---|---|
European | USA/Canada |
L | LIVE |
N | NEUTRAL |
E | EARTH GND |
The wire which is coloured Green and Yellow must be connected to the terminal
in the plug which is marked with the letter E or with the Earth symbol. This
appliance must be earthed.
The wire which is coloured Blue must be connected to the terminal in the plug
which is marked with the letter N.
The wire which is coloured Brown must be connected to the terminal in the plug
which is marked with the letter L.
Ensure that these colour codes are followed carefully in the event of the plug
being changed.
General Precautions:
Damage :
To prevent damage to the controls and cosmetics avoid placing heavy objects
on the control surface, scratching the surface with sharp objects, or rough
handling and vibration.
Environment :
Protect from excessive dirt, dust, heat and vibration when operating and
storing. Avoid tobacco ash, smoke, drinks spillage, and exposure to rain and
moisture. If the product becomes wet, switch off and remove mains power
immediately. Allow to dry out thoroughly before using again.
Cleaning :
Avoid the use of chemicals, abrasives or solvents.
The front panel is best cleaned with a soft brush and dry lint-free cloth. The
switches and potentiometers are lubricated for life. The use of electrical
lubricants on these parts is not recommended.
Transporting : Protect the controls from damage during transit.
Use adequate packing if you need to ship the unit.
Hearing :
To avoid damage to your hearing do not operate any sound system at
excessively high volume.
This applies particularly to close-to-ear monitoring such as headphones and
in-ear systems. Continued exposure to high volume sound can cause frequency
selective or wide range hearing loss.
PACKED ITEMS
Check that you have received the following:
INTRODUCTION TO THE ICE-16
Background Overview: The Allen & Heath ICE-16 was designed to make life
easier when it comes to recording multiple audio sources. Experience of
struggling with boot-up and set up times when recording to a laptop at shows,
and choosing the right converter unit made us think that there is a real need
for a straightforward multi-channel analogue input capture unit that is both
easy to use and high quality. So the ICE-16 was born. ICE-16D incorporates
fully balanced inputs and outputs on D-Sub 25pin connectors using industry
standard pin assignment.
Multi-application: The primary aim for the ICE-16D was to capture
multiple channels of audio from an analogue mixer or other source of line
level audio signals but it has so many more application possibilities. In
addition to recording straight to a USB memory device, the ICE-16D can stream
multi-channel audio in high resolution 24 bit, up to 96kHz sample rate, to and
from a computer so you can use the ICE-16D in a studio environment as well as
live sound or event recording. In fact, if you were wondering where the name
ICE came from, here is the explanation:
Interface – Capture – Expand
Interface: The ICE-16D can function as a multi-channel analogue to
digital and digital to analogue converter, connecting 24 bit audio at up to
96kHz sample rate to a computer via either IEEE1394 FireWire or USB-2.0. This
is ideal for studio environments where analogue signals are converted and sent
to a computer for recording to a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).
Capture: Record 16 channels of audio in either 16 or 24 bit resolution
(depending on the USB memory speed) at up to 48kHz sample rate, (96kHz with 8
channels) directly to a USB memory device—either a USB hard drive or memory
stick.
The recorded file format is .wav.
Expand: You can link ICE-16D units together in different ways. You can
daisy chain two units together using the FireWire ports in order to expand the
number of channels connected to a computer. Or you can link two or more units
together using the Sync ports in order to synchronise more than one ICE-16D
when recording multiple channels,
APPLICATION: RECORDING TO USB MEMORY
Go to page 16 for Quickstart
APPLICATION: VIRTUAL SOUNDCHECK
Using ICE-16D for a Soundcheck
With pre-recorded instruments, vocals and drum sounds in your multi-channel
Song folders, you canuse ICE-16D to play individual channels to the line
inputs of a mixing console so that you can set eq, monitor sends and create a
mix even before the band arrives, leaving you to set the levels for the
microphones and plug them into the designated channels on the console.
APPLICATION: RECORDING STUDIO
ICE-16D FRONT PANEL FEATURES
ICE-16D REAR PANEL FEATURES
RECORDING DIRECT TO USB MEMORY
QUICKSTART Plug in your USB hard drive or USB memory stick (see www .allen-heath.com for verified memory devices).
Format the memory device by pressing
DEL+REC for 1 second. The display will show “For” and the dots will flash. The
memory will be tested (display “tst) and the ICE-16 will automatically be set
to either 24 bit (“Hi”) or 16 bit (“Lo”) mode depending on the memory quality.
Check the sample rate the recorder is set to by pressing & holding TIME. The
set sample rate will be displayed. For 16 channel recording this must be
either 44.1 or 48kHz. Select the sample rate by continuing to hold TIME and
pressing either PREV or NEXT. If you choose 88.2 or 96kHz then only channels
1-8 will be recorded. Press REC to start the first recording. The display will
rotate segments and show the Song (or recording) number and the Record LED
will be lit red. Press START/STOP to stop the recording then REC to stop and
start the next one.
Remaining time in minutes is displayed every 10 seconds (maximum 99 is
displayed).
RECORDING DIRECT TO USB MEMORY
Please read these important notes regarding ICE-16D and USB memory devices.
Functional Overview:
There are no drivers required for this functionality—ICE-16D is ready to
record to USB memory straight out of the box.
One of the first things to say is that USB memory devices have variable
performance, depending on type and manufacture. The good news is that modern
USB memory devices are now much faster and able to cope with the demands of
writing high quantities of data reliably. It is important to understand
however, that some USB memory, especially some sticks, will not meet the
performance requirement for reliable operation, this is mainly due to the
write speed.
Please refer to a list of tested USB memory devices on the www.allen-
heath.com website, on the product pages for ICE-
16D.
Capability Description:
ICE-16D can record standard wave (.wav) files to either a USB 2.0 hard drive
or memorystick. The resolution will depend on the write speed of the memory.
In general, USB hard drives will achieve the highest resolution of 24 bit at
up to 48kHz sample rate, while mostUSB sticks will be set to record 16 bit at
up to 48kHz sample rate. The bit depth will be setautomatically, the sample
rate can be set manually. Higher sample rates can be used (up to96kHz) for
recording direct to USB memory, the number of channels will be reduced from
16to 8.
Connecting USB Memory
Plug in your USB memory device into the USB DRIVE port on your ICE-16D. Doing
this will disconnect any computer connection plugged into any of the FireWire
or USB ports on the rear-panel. You cannot record direct to USB memory and
stream audio to a computer at the same time.
Formatting USB Memory
ICE-16D will check the USB memory device each time it is connected. Previously
formatted devices will not be tested, and any recorded songs will be displayed
numerically. If the memory device is new and unformatted, ICE-16D will test it
and display either the resolution mode Hi or Lo depending on the test result,
or display Slo if the memory device does not have sufficient speed to cope
with the data rate with the memory format. This may well be because the
cluster size is set to 4, 8 or 16kbytes. It needs to be 32kbytes. Formatting
the USB memory on the ICE-16D will correct this. So if the initial test
results in Slo being displayed try formatting the memory to reset the cluster
size and re-test the memory speed.
RECORDING DIRECT TO USB MEMORY RECORDING DIRECT TO USB MEMORY
Short press button functions
- Rec = Recording mode; Plst = Playlist mode
Button | State | Mode | Comment | Display |
---|---|---|---|---|
PLAY/ STOP | Idle | Rec/ Plst * | Play selected song | Song no. |
PLAY/ STOP | Playing | Rec/ Plst | Stop playing | Song no. |
PLAY/ STOP | Recording | Rec | Stop recording | Song no. |
REC | Idle | Rec | Start recording | Song no. |
PREV | Idle | Rec/ Plst | Previous song | Song no. |
PREV | Playing | Rec/ Plst | Pre- selects previous song | Song no. ( blinks) |
NEXT | Idle | Rec/ Plst | Next song | Song no. |
NEXT | Playing | Rec/ Plst | Pre- selects next song | Song no. ( blinks) |
DEL | Idle | Rec | Delete current song | |
Press PLAY/ STOP to confirm Any other key to abort. | dEL ( blinks before |
confirm at ion)
TIME| Any| Rec/ Plst| Show rem aining record t im e if below 99m ins.| rxx ( m
inutes)
Long press button functions ( >1 second)
Button | State | Mode | Comment | Display |
---|---|---|---|---|
PLAY/ STOP | Playing | Plst | Toggle playlist mode Continuous play mode Single | |
song mode | **** Dot 1 on Dot 1 off | |||
TIME | Any | Rec/ Plst | Display sam ple rate | 44.1 or 48.0 |
Long press multiple button functions ( >1 second)
Button | State | Mode | Comment | Display |
---|---|---|---|---|
TIME+ NEXT | Not Re- cording | Rec/ Plst | Toggle Record/ Playlist m ode |
Recording mode
Playlist mode| **** Xxx ( Song no.) Pxx
DEL+ REC| Any| Rec/ Plst| Form at USB m emory
Press PLAY/ STOP to confirm Any other key to abort| For Dots flash
RECORDING DIRECT TO USB MEMORY
More notes on USB memory recording user interface
Slow Memory write speed (Display Slo)
If you get the Slo message when a new USB memory device is inserted, try re-
formatting the device using ICE-16D. Press and hold DEL + REC then confirm the
formatting with the PLAY/STOP key. ICE will set the cluster size correctly and
re-test the memory speed. If, after re-formatting, the Slo message is
displayed again, then the memory device should not be used.
The Formatting process normally takes around 30 seconds, but could take longer
depending on the speed and size of the memory.
24 bit vs 16 bit resolution (Display Hi or Lo)
USB Hard drives are generally faster than USB stick memory devices and allow
ICE-16D to record in Hi resolution 24 bit mode. USB stick memory, although
convenient will usually be automatically set to 16 bit resolution .
USB memory recording sample rate (Display 44.1, 48.0, 88.2 or 96.0)
For recording 16 channels simultaneously, the sample rate must be either
44.1kHz or 48kHz.
You can check the sample rate by holding down the TIME button.
You can change the sample rate by holding down the TIME button and pressing
either the NEXT or PREV buttons.
Warning! Doing this while recording WILL change the sample rate. It is best to
select it before recording and leave it set.
Note that you can select higher sample rates of 88.2kHz and 96kHz, but only 8
channels will be recorded at these rates.
USB memory recording dropouts (Display dxx)
If there is a problem with the USB memory speed or quality, an interruption or
dropout may occur. This could be for an undefined number of samples. Should
this occur the message dxx will be displayed momentarily (xx is the current
number of dropouts that have occurred during the recording). At the end of the
recording, the finalisation process may take a little longer and the message
dxx will be displayed showing the total number of dropouts during that
recording. This message will not be displayed if another song or recording is
selected.
To avoid dropouts use a good quality USB hard drive preferably, or a fast USB
memory stick of a type validated by the Allen & Heath test team. (see www
.allen-heath.com)
Recording Time (Display rxx)
The time remaining will be displayed when TIME is pressed once (if over 99
minutes 99 will be displayed). The display will count down the seconds from 99
seconds remaining and when the memory is full, the display will flash “Full”.
RECORDING DIRECT TO USB MEMORY
Notes on USB memory recording file structure
After formatting, the file structure on your USB memory device will look like
this when connected to your computer (removed from ICE and plugged into your
computer): The recorder.ini file stores the initialisation settings for the
device. Do not modify this file!
The Music folder is where you can copy .wav files to for playlist playback,
for example if you require background music at an event or wish to listen to
an individual or consecutive list of .wav audio files.
The Records folder is where your ICE-16 recordings are stored, under sub
folders Song _01 for the first recording, Song_02 for the second and so on.
The individual channel .wav files will be named chan-01.wav to chan_16.wav.
You can copy or import these to your DAW system for mixing and editing, or you
can play them back to the individual outputs on the ICE-16D.
Note that the channel order in which the files are played to the outputs is
dependent on the alpha numeric name of the file so you can re-name the files
to change the order if you want to.
If you delete any files from a Song folder the remaining files will play in
alpha-numeric order to the outputs from output 1 but with no gap. In other
words, if you deleted chan_01.wav from the folder above and played the song on
ICE-16D then chan_02 to chan_16 would play to outputs 1 to 15.
PLAYLIST MODE
You can use ICE-16 to play audio music files (.wav) from the Music folder on
your USB memory device for situations such as background music, pre-show &
interval music, sound effects, or situations where a very large amount of
consecutive audio needs to be played.
The stereo .wav files will be played to outputs 1 & 2.
Enter Playlist mode by pressing TIME +NEXT simultaneously and holding them for
1 second.
You can choose to play songs individually (stop after each) or continuously (one after another) by pressing and holding PLAY/STOP.
The first dot indicates continuous play mode.
Press & hold TIME & NEXT for >1 second
Press & hold PLAY/STOP for >1 second
Use the PREV & NEXT buttons to select (or pre-select if playing) a song.
Note. Each time you select and play a new song remember to hold down PLAY/STOP for 1 second if you wish to remain in continuous play mode.
In continuous play mode, at the end of the last song or track in the music folder, the player will start to play the first song or track in the folder.
To exit Playlist mode and enter Record mode either press TIME + NEXT at any point, or stop the playback and press REC to start a recording.
INSTALLING THE FIREWIRE DRIVERS
Connecting to a computer via FireWire.
The ICE-16 can either be connected to a computer for streaming digital audio
via FireWire or USB, or it can be used as a standalone recording device. Here
we describe the FireWire connection and driver installation.
IMPORTANT!
Ensure your ICE-16 is NOT connected to the computer before installing drivers.
WINDOWS Computers:
Download the FireWire Driver.
First you will need to download the latest driver package from: www.allen-
heath.com
Once you have the downloaded the zip folder containing the driver, save it to
your pc.
Locate the folder, extract the files and open the folder to view the files.
Double click Setup.exe.
INSTALLATION ON WINDOWS 7 SHOWN
The Setup Wizard will open.
Follow the instructions…….
Click Next
Click Install to accept the default location for the software. Connect your
ICE-16 FireWire port to your computer at this stage and turn it on.
Click Finish to complete the driver installation.
In order to comply with EMC/FCC performance standards, a FireWire lead with
moulded ferrite filters at each end of the cable must be used.
For more information and a list of recommended cables please see: www.allen-
heath.com
THE FIREWIRE DRIVER CONTROL PANEL (PC)
FireWire Driver Control Panel Application
An application is installed along with the FireWire driver on Windows personal
computers which allows control of various aspects relating to the streaming of
digital audio via FireWire.
The following guide outlines the control panel application.
Open the control panel from either your programs list or by clicking the green
FireWire icon in your system tray.
The control panel will open and show any ICE-16 devices connected. You can re-
name the device here if you wish.
The unique ID number of your device is also displayed.
Device status information is displayed at the bottom of the window.
Click Input Channels in the menu pane on the left to view or edit details of
the audio channels going to the computer from ICE-16. Here you can edit the
channel names and include the device (unit) name in the ASIO display name
which will appear in your audio software. Click Output Channels to view and
edit the audio channels going to the ICE-16 from the computer. The names can
be changed here as well. THE FIREWIRE DRIVER CONTROL PANEL (PC)
Click Synchronisation to view the status and access control over the sync
options.
The clock master can be set to be the ICE-16 internal clock (recommended) or
the pc driver.
The sample rate can be selected to be set manually or by the clock master.
Manually is recommended as a default, the sample rate can still be set by your
DAW in this setting.
The sample rate option box will display the current sample rate and a drop
down selection will show available rates if in manual set mode.
Important! If you change Synchronisation Mode to “Slave to Audio Clock
Master”, ensure you swap back to “Device Internal Clock” before using ICE for
USB direct recording. The Settings page of the control panel shows the buffer
depths for the audio data stream and the ASIO and Windows driver.
You can adjust the settings using the sliders to increase or decrease the
buffer depth depending on your computer system. For minimum latency use lower
buffer depths. Increase them if you experience audio dropouts or clicks.
Click Streams in the menu pane to view details of the digital audio data
stream and synchronisation connectors.
INSTALLING THE USB DRIVERS (PC)
Connecting to a computer via USB 2.0
The ICE-16 can either be connected to a computer for streaming digital audio
via FireWire or USB 2.0, or it can be used as a standalone recording device.
Here we describe the USB 2.0 connection and driver installation.
IMPORTANT!
Ensure your ICE-16 is NOT connected to the computer before installing drivers.
WINDOWS Computers:
Download the USB Driver.
First you will need to download the latest driver package from: www.allen-
heath.com
Once you have the downloaded the zip folder containing the driver to your pc,
locate the folder, extract the files and open the folder to view the files.
Double click Setup.exe.
The Setup Wizard will open.
Follow the instructions…….
Click Next
Click Install to accept the default location for the software.
At the prompt, connect your ICE-16 to your computer with a standard USB cable,
available commercially. Turn it on.
Click Next, then Finish to complete the installation.
THE USB DRIVER CONTROL PANEL (PC)
USB 2.0 Driver Control Panel Application
An application is installed along with the USB driver on Windows™ computers
which allows control of various aspects relating to the streaming of digital
audio via USB 2.0.
The following guide outlines the control panel application.
Open the control panel from either your programs list or by clicking the
purple USB icon in your system tray.
The control panel will open and show any ICE-16 device connected. You can re-
name the device here if you wish.
The unique ID number of your device is also displayed.
Device connection status is displayed at the bottom of the window.
Click Input Channels in the menu pane on the left to view or edit details of
the audio channels going to the computer from ICE-16. Here you can edit the
channel names and include the device (unit) name in the ASIO display name
which will appear in your audio software. Click Output Channels to view and
edit the audio channels going to the ICE-16 from the computer. The names can
be changed here as well. THE USB DRIVER CONTROL PANEL (PC)
Click Synchronisation to view the status and access control over the sync
options.
The clock master can be set to be the ICE-16 internal clock or the pc driver.
The sample rate can be selected to be set manually or by the clock master.
Manually is recommended as a default, the sample rate can still be set by your
DAW in this setting.
The sample rate option box will display the current sample rate and a drop
down selection will show available rates if in manual set mode.
The Settings page of the control panel shows the buffer depths for the audio
data stream and the ASIO and Windows driver.
You can adjust the settings using the sliders to increase or decrease the
buffer depth depending on your computer system. For minimum latency use lower
buffer depths. Increase them if you experience audio dropouts or clicks.
Click Streams in the menu pane to view details of the digital audio data
stream and synchronisation connectors.
CONNECTING ICE-16 TO A MAC COMPUTER
SNOW LEOPARD SHOWN
ICE-16 is Core Audio compliant so there are no drivers required for Mac
computers.
Simply connect your ICE-16 to your Mac using either a FireWire or USB 2.0
cable and open Audio/MIDI devices/Audio Devices to view the connected devices
and settings.
You can select the clock source and change the sample rate.
If you are using a FireWire connection, you can add a second ICE-16 connected
via FireWire to the first. Here you can see two ICE16s, serial number 0000 and
- You can set which is the clock master—here it is set to 0000 (both
devices have this as their clock source) You can combine the two ICEs as one
aggregate device for use in DAWs such as Logic or Pro Tools. To do this click
the + button at the bottom left of the window and click Use for the two ICE-
16s. This will expand the number of inputs and outputs available to 32.
MOUNTAIN LION SHOWN
Here you can see two ICE-16 devices connected to a Mac running Mountain Lion, An Aggregate device has also been configured at the bottom of the list and named ICE-32.
You can set your iTunes playback toany of the device channels by clickingConfigure Speakers. Here we havechosen the ICE-32, channels 1 & 2, butthis could be any channels up to channels 31- 32 (in stereo mode).
SYNCHRONISING MORE THAN ONE ICE-16D
Overview:
This feature allows two or more ICE-16 or ICE-16D units to be connected
together in order to synchronise the audio files being recorded to USB memory.
The ICE-16 has two 8 pin Mini DIN sockets (SYNC IN & OUT) on the rear panel
for this purpose. You will need a Mini DIN 8 pin lead of not more than 2
metres in length for each unit to be synchronised to the master unit. The lead
must be a pin to pin type with all 8 pins connected internally (these cables
are easily available from audio equipment specialists or electronic component
suppliers, and incidentally they are the same type used to control dual DJ CD
players).
If you have difficulty sourcing a lead locally, you’re A&H dealer should have
one in stock The A&H part number is AH9556.
When connecting ICE-16 or ICE-16D units via the SYNC ports, one unit will act
as the master unit and control the transport controls (Record/Start/Stop) on
the connected slave unit or units. The subsequent recorded audio files on USB
memory will have the same start point and will be synchronised for each Song
recording.
Requirements:
It is important that a few basic rules are followed when using the ICE-16 sync
feature:
- Select good quality USB memory, preferably according to the list of verified devices, (see www.allen-heath.com). The devices should ideally be the same memory size.
- Ideally, format the USB memory devices on the ICE-16 units before recording.
- Ensure that there are not different numbers of Song recordings on the different USB memory devices (for example Songs 1-4 on one device and Songs 1-6 on another).
- Ensure that each ICE-16 unit is set to the same sample rate as required. (see p20).
- Make sure you have firmware version 8518 or higher loaded on your ICE-16 —see www.allen-heath.com for details and latest firmware release.
Procedure:
-
Connect the master ICE-16 SYNC out to the slave SYNC input.
-
Plug in your USB memory devices to the master and slave ICE-16 units.
-
Switch on both ICE-16s. CON will be displayed when the units are first connected. The master should display “nAS” alternating with the Song number.
-
The slave unit should display “S-x” where x is the slave unit number, alternating with the Song number.
-
Press REC on the master unit to start both units in record mode.
The master unit will display the “spinning” first segment and the song number alternately with “nAS”. Plus every 30 seconds the time remaining will be displayed. -
The slave device will display a “spinning” first segment and the song number alternately with the slave unit number. Plus every 30 seconds the time remaining will be displayed.
-
In record mode, the transport keys on the slave unit will be locked and if pressed will display the number of the slave unit.
-
To stop the recording press PLAY/STOP. To start the next recording, wait for the record light to stop flashing (when stopping a previous recording) then press REC.
-
The audio files on the USB memory devices for each corresponding song will be stored as chan_01 to chan_16. These can be re-named as preferred when copying to a computer.
-
To delete a song, select using the PREV and NEXT keys on the master ICE-16, the song should also be selected on the slave unit (follows the master selection). Press DEL on the master and press PLAY/STOP to confirm on both master and slave units.
CONNECTING AUDIO TO ICE-16D
Mixers with Direct outputs
The Direct outputs are ideal sources for the ICE-16D.
Balanced or unbalanced signals can be handled by the input circuit of the ICE-
16D. Ready made D-Sub cable assemblies are available from audio equipment
suppliersand electronic component retailers.
Check allen-heath.com for details. Pin assignment (Input and Output
connectors)
IN No. | Designation |
---|---|
1 | CH 8 HOT |
2 | CH 8 GROUND |
3 | CH 7 COLD |
4 | CH 6 HOT |
5 | CH6 GROUND |
6 | CH 5 COLD |
7 | CH 4 HOT |
8 | CH 4 GROUND |
9 | CH 3 COLD |
10 | CH 2 HOT |
11 | CH 2 GROUND |
12 | CH 1 COLD |
13 | NOT CONNECTED |
14 | CH 8 COLD |
15 | CH 7 HOT |
16 | CH 7 GROUND |
17 | CH 6 COLD |
18 | CH 5 HOT |
19 | CH 5 GROUND |
20 | CH 4 COLD |
21 | CH 3 HOT |
22 | CH 3 GROUND |
23 | CH 2 COLD |
24 | CH 1 HOT |
25 | CH 1 GROUND |
The pin assignment of the 25 pin D Sub Miniature type connectors conforms to
the AES59 (TASCAM developed) DB-25 pin-out standard.
Multicore cable assemblies are readily available from audio equipment
suppliers or general electronic component suppliers such as Farnell and CPC in
the UK.
When choosing ready made cable assemblies, ensure that the cable mounted D Sub
connector is a 25-Pin Male type.
SPECIFICATIONS
Operating Levels
Input
|
Mono input on 8 channel 25 pin D Sub sockets.| +4dBu nominal (+26dBu maximum)
Output
|
Mono output on 8 channel 25 pin D Sub sockets.| +4dBu nominal (+26dBu maximum)
Headphones 1/4” TRS and 3.5mm Jack sockets (mono)| 150mW minimum 30 ohms to
300 ohms
Frequency Response
Input to output| +0.25/-0.5dB 10Hz to 20kHz.
THD+n
Input to output, +4dBu 1kHz 48kHz Sample rate| 0.006% (20-22kHz)
Input to output, +14dBu 1kHz 48kHz Sample rate| 0.0045% (20-22kHz)
Input to output, +25dBu 1kHz 48kHz Sample rate| 0.005% (20-22kHz)
Input to output, +4dBu 10kHz 48kHz Sample rate| 0.005% (20-22kHz)
Input to output, +14dBu 10kHz 48kHz Sample rate| 0.004% (20-22kHz)
Input to output, +25dBu 10kHz 48kHz Sample rate| 0.013% (20-22kHz)
Headroom
Analogue Headroom from nominal input (+4dBu)| 22dB
Digital Headroom from nominal (-22dBFS)| 22dB
Channel Meter LEDs
Signal LED (Green)| -16dBu input (-42dBFS)
Hi Level (Red)| +20dBu input (-6dBFS)
Noise
Output DAC noise (Input routed through to output)| -80dBu (20-22kHz) (106dB
Dynamic Range)
Output DAC noise (output volume to minimum)| -86dBu (20-22kHz)
ADC & DAC
ADC & DAC word length| 24 bit
Sample Rate| 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96 kHz
ADC Dynamic range| 114dB (A Weighted)
DAC Dynamic range| 118dB (A Weighted)
FireWire Streaming
IEEE1394 standard| AS400
Number of ICE-16 devices on bus| 2 maximum
Audio data| 24 bit up to 96kHz
Synchronisation| Internal clock or bus
USB Streaming
USB standard| USB 2.0
Number of ICE-16 devices on bus| 1 maximum
Audio data| 24 bit up to 96kHz
Synchronisation| Internal clock or bus
USB Memory Direct Recording
Resolution 16 channels, High quality media| 24 bit 44.1 or 48kHz
Resolution 16 channels, Low quality media| 16 bit 44.1 or 48kHz
Sample rates allowed with channel count reduced to 8| 88.2 & 96kHz
Data rate at 16 bit 44.1kHz, 16 channels| 84.6MB/min (3hours on a 16GB drive)
Data rate at 16 bit 48kHz, 16 channels| 92.2MB/min (2h 47m on a 16GB drive)
Data rate at 24 bit 48kHz, 16 channels (use USB hard drive)| 138.2MB/min (38h
30m on a 320GB drive)
Maximum file size (maximum single song recording time)| 4GB (8h 17m single
recording 24bit 48kHz)
Maximum supported drive size| 8TB
Multiple unit recording: Number of slave units| Two Slave units Verified (48
channels)
Synchronisation accuracy between files on different units| 14 Sample (max). 5
samples (typical)
Computer Compatibility
Windows PC| ASIO & WDM Driver 32 or 64 bit
Mac Computers| Core Audio compliant (no driver required)
Please check www.allen-heath.com website for latest information on compatibility with computer operating systems.
DIMENSIONS
Weight
Unpacked| 3.5kg (7.7 lb)
Packed| 5kg (11 lb)
Fitting to a 19” rack ICE-16D can be fitted to a standard 19” rack using
4 x M6 pan head screws with plastic washers to fix positions shown with arrows
above.
The feet can be fitted for desktop use or left un-fitted if rack mounted. Fit
the feet according to the picture. To remove the feet later, prize out the
central plastic rivet.
BLOCK DIAGRAM SCHEMATIC
ICE-16D SYSTEM BLOCK DIAGRAM
Allen & Heath
ICE-16D User GuideICE-16D User Guide AP9216 Issue 2
Copyright © 2014 Allen & Heath Limited. All rights reserved
Allen & Heath Limited
Kernick Industrial Estate, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9LU, UK
http://www.allen-heath.com
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Read User Manual Online (PDF format) >>