System Example E: Connecting stageboxes to two Live consoles over Blacklight II

Note: When using up to 128 inputs (4 MADI ports), compatibility across both 96 and 48 kHz sample rate operation can be maximised by attaching stageboxes/MADI devices to odd numbered BLII Concentrator ports. This reduces the requirement to physically re-patch MADI connections and re-route inputs, as the redundant connection scheme will still be valid when even numbered ports are deactivated for 48 kHz operation.
  1. Follow the instructions in System Example D to connect the stagebox(es) to the Master console. This console will have analogue input gain control and access to any audio outputs. The second console will be the Slave console and only be able to receive a post analogue gain signal over Blacklight, but can compensate for any analogue gain changes digitally to maintain a consistent gain structure (see the Gain Sharing for further details).
  2. Connect Blacklight Concentrator port B Main (and B Backup if a redundant Blacklight connection is required) to Blacklight port 1a (and 1b if connecting redundantly) on the second (Slave) console. Slave console Blacklight ports 2a and 2b may be used for connecting to a second Blacklight Concentrator unit.
  3. Set the second (Slave) console to clock from the relevant Blacklight II port connected to the Blacklight Concentrator, as described in the main Clocking section.
  4. If redundant MADI connections are being used between stageboxes and Blacklight Concentrator (8-port version only), turn on Redundancy Status for the relevant pair of MADI ports in the second (Slave) console's I/O page under the BL II column (the ports shown correspond to the physical MADI ports on the rear of the Concentrator unit).
  5. The Master console clocks the Blacklight Concentrator via the Blacklight connection, which then clocks the Slave console (via Blacklight) and the stageboxes (via MADI).

The tables below summarise the connections required:

Blacklight II Connections Description
A Main Connection to Master Live console } Redundant pair
A Backup Backup connection to Master Live console
B Main Connection to Slave Live console } Redundant pair
B Backup Backup connection to Slave Live console

8-port BLII Concentrator
MADI Connections
(8-port BLII Concentrator)
Redundant Mode:
4 MADI Stageboxes
Non-redundant Mode:
8 MADI Stageboxes
1A Connection to stagebox 1 } Redundant pair Connection to stagebox 1
1B Backup connection to stagebox 1 Connection to stagebox 2
2A Connection to stagebox 2 } Redundant pair Connection to stagebox 3
2B Backup connection to stagebox 2 Connection to stagebox 4
3A Connection to stagebox 3 } Redundant pair Connection to stagebox 5
3B Backup connection to stagebox 3 Connection to stagebox 6
4A Connection to stagebox 4 } Redundant pair Connection to stagebox 7
4B Backup connection to stagebox 4 Connection to stagebox 8

Note that a mix of redundant and non-redundant connections may be used, e.g. two stageboxes connected redundantly to 1A-2B, four stageboxes connected non-redundantly to 3A-4B. Ensure the Redundancy Status button is enabled in software for stageboxes connected redundantly.

16-port BLII Concentrator
MADI Connections
(16-port BLII Concentrator)
Redundant Mode:
4 MADI Stageboxes
1A Connection to stagebox 1 } Redundant pair
1B Backup connection to stagebox 1
2A Connection to stagebox 2 } Redundant pair
2B Backup connection to stagebox 2
3A Connection to stagebox 3 } Redundant pair
3B Backup connection to stagebox 3
4A Connection to stagebox 4 } Redundant pair
4B Backup connection to stagebox 4
5A Connection to stagebox 5 } Redundant pair
5B Backup connection to stagebox 5
6A Connection to stagebox 6 } Redundant pair
6B Backup connection to stagebox 6
7A Connection to stagebox 7 } Redundant pair
7B Backup connection to stagebox 7
8A Connection to stagebox 8 } Redundant pair
8B Backup connection to stagebox 8

System Examples

Setup: Clocking - System Example A: Connecting stageboxes to a Live console via MADI

Setup: Clocking - System Example B: Clocking the Live console from an external source

Setup: Clocking - System Example C: Connecting stageboxes to two Live consoles via MADI

Setup: Clocking - System Example D: Connecting stageboxes to a Live console over Blacklight II

Setup: Clocking - System Example E: Connecting stageboxes to two Live consoles over Blacklight II

Setup: Clocking - System Example F: Connecting stageboxes to three Live consoles

Setup: Clocking - System Example G: Daisy-chained stageboxes for 48 kHz operation

Useful Links

Clocking
Index and Glossary