Grace Design m701 Production Digilink

Grace Design m701 Production Digilink is a modular audio interface and A/D-D/A converter in a 2U chassis, combining 16 analog input channels, 16 analog output channels, 8 channels of m108-class microphone preamps and a 32x32 Digilink interface in one ready-to-track configuration for Pro Tools. Grace Design's first complete interface platform, built on the same foundations as the company's preamps and converters: precise analog stages, careful power supply engineering and fourth-generation s-Lock PLL clocking.

Reference preamps and conversion in the Pro Tools ecosystem

An engineer tracking in Pro Tools|HD needs a preamp, converter and interface in one signal path, without degradation at the connections between devices. The m701 Production Digilink consolidates this into one unit: 8 preamp channels based on the same design as the m108 and m801 MkII, 16 channels of A/D and 16 channels of D/A conversion with THD+N of 0.0002% and 0.00055% respectively, and a 32x32 Digilink card supporting Pro Tools|HD Accel, HDX and HD Native. In Sound On Sound testing the m701 outperformed the Prism Sound Dream ADA-128 by over 2 dB in both measurements, placing it between the Merging Hapi and the Lynx Hilo 2.

Modularity and GraceNet in the studio environment

Eight slots for ADC, DAC and preamp cards allow the configuration to be expanded in the future without replacing the whole system. A built-in 32x8 low-latency mixer supports up to 8 independent cue mixes, accessible to musicians via GraceNet from a phone or tablet. GraceNet runs in any browser with no driver installation and integrates control of up to 12 m108 preamps connected over Dante. Onboard digital I/O (8-channel AES3, 8-channel ADAT, 2-channel S/PDIF and word clock) plus a third option slot for an additional AES3 module, word clock distribution or future monitoring functions round out the platform's flexibility.

KEY FEATURES

• Modular audio interface and A/D-D/A converter in a 2U chassis
• 16 channels of reference-quality A/D and 16 channels of D/A conversion
• 8 microphone preamp channels based on the m108/m801 MkII design
• 32x32 Digilink card for Pro Tools|HD Accel, HDX and HD Native
• THD+N: 0.0002% (ADC) and 0.00055% (DAC)
• Built-in 32x8 low-latency mixer with up to 8 cue mixes
• GraceNet: browser-based control, m108 integration via Dante
• 8 ADC/DAC/preamp card slots, 2x 32-channel digital slots, 1 option slot
• Onboard I/O: 8-channel AES3, 8-channel ADAT, 2-channel S/PDIF

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Manufacturer: Grace Design
• Type: modular audio interface / A/D-D/A converter, 2U
• Production Digilink configuration: 16x ADC, 16x DAC, 8x mic preamp, 32x32 Digilink card
• THD+N: 0.0002% (ADC), 0.00055% (DAC)
• Preamps: 8 channels, m108/m801 MkII-based design, AES59 connector
• A/D-D/A slots: 8x (8-channel ADC, DAC or 4-channel preamp modules)
• Digital slots: 2x 32-channel (Digilink, Dante, Ravenna/AES67/ST2110, USB2)
• Option slot: 1x (24-channel AES3, word clock distribution)
• Onboard I/O: 8-channel AES3, 8-channel ADAT, 2-channel S/PDIF, word clock
• Mixer: built-in 32x8, low-latency, up to 8 CUE mixes
• Control: front panel (WVGA display), GraceNet (browser), m108 integration
• Sample rates: 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz
• Chassis: 2U rack