Steinberg VSL2020 Audio Card User Manual

VSL 2020 — 2
1. Introduction
Thank you for choosing the Steinberg VSL 2020 audio card. The VSL 2020 digital audio card/
interface is designed specifi cally for use with VST System Link, Steinberg’s networking technology, 
allowing sample accurate sync between several computers connected using simple optical digital 
cables. 
VSL 2020 provides 32 ADAT channels for pristine transmission of audio and MIDI data to and 
from the other computers in your network. Full support of ASIO 2.0 ensures stable,...

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2. Package contents
VSL 2020 PCI card
V-ST
ACK CD
Adapter cable (D-type with digital and analog inputs and outputs)
3. System requirements
Minimum system requirements:
Processor: Pentium 233 MHz
RAM: 128 MB of free RAM
Operating system: Windows 2000, Windows XP
Sound card: supports ASIO 2 spec for high-end multi-channel audio cards, 
supports Windows MME & DirectSound spec for standard sound cards
Recommended system:
Processor: Pentium 4 or AMD K7 XP with 1 GHz
RAM: 512 MB of free RAM...

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4. Characteristics
PCI Busmaster interface
ADAT, S/PDIF and analog outputs can be used simultaneously
S/MUX technology for using the ADAT channels with 24 bits/96 kHz
Word clock in master and slave mode
Word clock input and output
5. Technical specifi cations
5.1 Digital
Low-jitter S/PDIF (32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96 kHz)
Low-jitter ADAT (32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96 kHz)
Sample frequencies: 32, 44.1, 48, 64, 88.2, 96 kHz
Coaxial S/PDIF I/O
Word clock I/O
5.2 Analog
RCA connector input and output (24...

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6. Hardware installation
a.)  Make sure that the computer is switched off and that the power cable is disconnected from
           the mains supply before installing the VSL 2020.
b.)   Before removing the VSL 2020 from the protective bag, discharge any static in your body
           by touching a metal surface.
c.)   Open your computer‘s housing and insert the VSL 2020 into a free PCI slot. Make sure
           that the card is locked fi rmly in the slot and fasten the screw.
d.)   Connect...

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7. Software installation
7.1 Windows ME
Once the hardware has been installed successfully (see section 6), Windows will recognize the 
new hardware component and start the “Add new hardware wizard“. Please insert the Steinberg 
V-ST
ACK CD into your CD-Rom drive and follow the on-screen instructions. Afterwards, you 
should restart the system to make sure that the card driver is recognized within your Windows 
system.
7.2 Windows 2000 and Windows XP
The EWDM driver is easy to install under...

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8. Connections of the VSL 2020
8.1 ADAT
The VSL 2020 provides different types of inputs and outputs, directly on the card and via an 
adapter cable. Directly on the card you can see two ADAT inputs (ADAT In 1 and 2 on the left) and 
two ADAT outputs (ADAT Out 1 and 2 on the right). In normal mode the ADAT connection supports 
a sample rate of up to 24 bits/48 kHz. With the S/MUX technology it is possible to use the ADAT 
inputs/outputs with 24 bits/96 kHz. ADAT can only transfer 4 channels...

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8.2 S/PDIF
The VSL 2020 supports a coaxial S/PDIF input and output. 
The supported sample rates are: 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 64 kHz, 
88 kHz, 96 kHz.
The resolution is 24 bits (internal 32 bits).
8.3 Analog 
On the adapter cable you will also fi nd two RCA analog inputs and outputs, for example to connect 
directly to your local hifi  system. This is an unbalanced (-10dBV) RCA-type I/O, which supports a 
sample rate of up to 96 kHz and a resolution of up to 24 bits.
8.4 Word clock
The VSL...

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9. Control panel
The control panel is used to confi gure your audio card. Once you have succsessfully installed all 
hardware and software and rebooted the system you will see a Steinberg logo on the right-hand 
side in your taskbar. Click this icon to open the control panel. The control panel provides several 
options that help you adapt the card to the requirements of your working environment (digital 
mixers, AD-DA converters, V-ST
ACK systems, etc.).  

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9.1 Control panel window
In the control panel, below the menu bar, all ADAT bus names are listed. On the left you fi nd the 
inputs from ADAT-1 IN (1-4) to ADAT-2 IN (5-8), plus S for S/PDIF and A for analog. On the right-
hand side you fi nd all corresponding outputs. The names denote stereo busses, i.e. 16 ADAT 
channel inputs/outputs on 8 busses (2 channels each). 
Below the channel level indicators is a row of buttons for muting individual inputs/outputs. You 
can mute all inputs or all...