Hi folks,
Based on requests from the users, we have decided to design an output card with USB Audio Device capable of 8-channel operation. On top of that, there is a bank of asynchronous resamplers which will allow the USB Audio to run at fixed sampling rate set from the host PC. This will address the little issue of the USB Audio class, where the device cannot tell the host which sampling rate to set and it has be set manually prior to data transfer and every time the sampling rate changes. The ASRC bypass mode for bit-transparent transmission will be naturally supported too. Here is a preview of the board:



This board will basically turn the Vanity^PRO into 8-channel HDMI to USB Audio converter with ASRC option. If you are interested in this solution, please let us know either here on the forum or through the contact form. The board is expected to be available late September, depending on manufacturing turnaround and components availability.
As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Best Regards,
Pavel



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2022 06:03PM by AP.

Hello, a quick update!
We have finished the hardware design with a few changes from the initial version. Now the board has two extra BNC/RCA connections, one SPDIF output and one SPDIF input. The output is connected to the USB interface for audio monitoring or synchronization of other external devices. The input then can be used as an alternative signal source and switched between HDMI/ARC/SPDIF/IN for increased flexibility.



Due to the parts cost, this USB board will need to be a paid option, not just one of the standard output module options included. The extra cost will only cover the BOM and manufacturing price difference, nothing huge.

If you are interested, please message us to reserve a board for you from the first production batch. Any questions, please ask.
Best Regards,
Pavel

Hot damn Pavel! That’s a really cool option! Along with the clock sync, this adds a lot of flexibility.

Is this card available?

If yes, where?

thank you

Hi all,
The prototype is still being in the manufacturing process due to component lead times slightly longer than expected. It will be probably another one or two weeks. Will keep you informed about progress. Please stgay tuned!
Best Regards,
Pavel

Ok

Does this USB electronic card make acquisition at the computer level?

Hi Fred,
The main idea behind this USB board is that one can use a PC for multichannel room processing, etc. So, this card, when connected to a PC, will look like a multichannel audio device and then you can use the audio in the PC for whatever you wish. Hope it answered your question.
Regards,
Pavel

yes, thank

Hello Pavel,
I might be interested in the new board as well.
I really liked the first version but I couldn't make it work well enough with the Okto 8.
Looking forward to hearing about your progress.
Thanks,
Steve from San Antonio

Hi Steve,
Thanks for checking in. We have just received the PCB samples. They seem to be well assembled and shortly we will start the USB audio software works. I will share some photos of the actual board later.
Best Regards,
Pavel

Here is the photo of the prototype



Regards,
Pavel

Hello

The photo of the prototype is 4 months old.

Is there a planned release date?

Hi Fred-ql,
We have a few modules with field-testers for us to collect as much real usage experience as possible before official release. It is the first product of its kind - HDMI audio to USB audio converter - and we want to make sure it works well in various usage scenarios. We will inform about the official release here and on the website. Thank you for the patience.
Best Regards,
Pavel

Hello

Now 1 year, any news?

Thanks

Hi Fred-ql,
Thanks for poking us here! The USB output board has been on a back burner for a while and we only had a few modules with people in field for testing and for us to collect some feedback. Incidentally, with getting parts and boards manufactured for the Power Supply unit (VanityPSU) the USB module is in the manufacturing process too. I know it has been quite some time and thank you for your patience. It should be ready for sale soon!
Best Regards,
Pavel

Hi Pavel
The USB Output Board was for a while now an often discussed topic. For my setting, rather than having the option to output via USB to PC/Mac, I'd like to have the possibility to use USB INput from a Mac/PC or - in my case - from a RoopieXL driven Raspberry Pi. That would give me the option to play roon multichannel in a digital setiing (with dsp / digital speakers from Genelec) and on the other hand watch multichannel concert movies via HDMI....
Is there an option to get USB into the Vanity....?
Thanks for your answer in advance.
Kind regards

Hi Misig1,
Thank you for your interesting questions. Let me ask a different one :-)
Cannot you use a HDMI output from your Mac/PC to send HDMI to the VanityPRO via HDMI mux? It would be probably easier than having multiple different sources to the VanityPRO (HDMI and US and the VanityPRO basically substituting a multichannel USB soundcard. Right now the USB output module has one output for monitoring purposes that can be manually switched between USB OUT and HDMI Audio.
Best Regards,
Pavel

Thank you, Pavel, for answering so quickly! Of course it could be done like that (via HDMI out of a Mac/PC).

My system actually doesn't include a proper PC/Mac but a Raspberry with Roon on it, sending the data to an Okto Dac via USB. For Movies/Concerts etc. I use an Apple TV 4K (with only HDMI). USB input therefore would have been an option to use both of these sources together, without another "switchbox" like an HDMI Multiplexer. As far as I know there ist no USB Interface on the market with 8 channel AES/EBU out (beside some quite technical approaches like Merging Hapi / Horus and the miniDSP Udio8 which is measuring not so well), so the Vanity Pro would have been the first one...

I'll try with HDMI output from the Raspberry, hoping the sound quality will be comparable to my actual system. Quality-wise would you expect any difference between HDMI out to vanity compared to a USB transport?

Thanks again!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/28/2023 04:08PM by misig1.

btw..: I just realised, that Ropiee Xl is not working via HDMI....