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SoundGrid is a networking and processing platform audio application made byWaves Audio and developed in cooperation withDiGiCo.[1]
It consists of aLinux-based server that runs the SoundGrid environment, compatibleplug-ins, aMac orWindows control computer, and anaudio interface forinput/output (I/O). It provides a low-latency environment for audio processing on certain hardware audio mixing consoles, e.g., DiGiCo,Allen & Heath, andYamaha.
SoundGrid is a proprietary Ethernet Layer 2 protocol andEtherType. It routes audio between networked I/O devices and processes it on plugin servers connected to the same network. The I/O device converts SoundGrid packets to standard audio protocols. It splits output to record on a standarddigital audio workstation (DAW).
Usingnative processing, SoundGrid runs on standard CPUs under a modifiedLinuxoperating system (OS). Waves Audio says this provides "predictability, stability, and low latency," previously exclusive to dedicated DSP-based systems.[2]
Separate computers provide SoundGrid processing:
Audio interfaces with SoundGrid by integrating a SoundGrid-programmedFPGA (Xilinx Spartan 3) into a mixing console's I/O ports. The FPGA receivesI2S or other audio signal formats and converts them to the SoundGrid format. The FPGA also transfers control external messages between control nodes.
SoundGrid audio processing, system configuration, and monitoring are controlled by the SuperRack (previously MultiRack) SoundGrid control application, which runs on Windows and Mac computers, including embedded systems. SuperRack SoundGrid displays rows of virtual plugin chains, named Racks, each of which chains up to eight Waves plugins. A Rack processes audio from a user-selected input and sends the processed output to a user-selected output. SuperRack SoundGrid offers remote parameter control and navigation overMIDI or an inter-application API by integrating with the console's host application.
Users can configure SoundGrid systems and expand them by adding I/O or processing devices.
