I’m looking to build my iLive system next year, and am looking into how I’m going to configure the ACE network.
I’d like to know about the feasibility of switching ACE, for instance could I put a switch between the iDR and my 2 surfaces, and get surface audio to work on both of them? I know this is not supported, recommended, sanctioned, etc. but I’d like to know anyway. I work in IT and am quite knowledgable, so I’d like to understand the specifics of the protocol.
I understand that on the fixed-format iDRs, the ACE port A and B ports are different, as the A port can only handle the surface link, while the B port can handle expanders, other iDRs and the like. I’d appreciate any further information or experiences people can offer me.
Well, we’ve considered an ACE split, and may do that on some occasions. But primarily, we’ll have a T80 living in the booth for small speeches, assemblies, small concerts (playback and talk mic) and the like. The T112 would live at the mid-house FOH desk, with the idea that you can turn either on and control the same system from either place. Or, if a student is mixing in the house (it’s in a High School), then the tech in the booth can fix it if they get into a bind.
ACE is a point to point protocol that does not support networked topologies. You can use a switch as a repeater or to combine ACE with other traffic using VLANs, but that’s as far as it goes really.
Okay, thank you for the help. In that case, is it possible to daisy-chain xDRs? Could I connect the first xDR to the ACE-B on the iDR, then the 2nd xDR to the first via an ACE-B card in it’s slot, or do they both need to go back to the iDR directly?
