Thunderbolt AVB Adapter Support Library

Description: This is the quick start guide for the Sonnet Thunderbolt AVB Adapter. This is revision F of this document.

macOS 13 (Ventura) - 14 (Sonoma)

1. Launch Terminal app

2. Run avbutil --controller to launch AVB Configuration

3. From top menu bar, under “ATDECC Controller” menu, select “New ATDECC Controller Window”

4. Select “Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet Controller” and check “Built-in virtual audio entity”

macOS 11 (Big Sur) - 12 (Monterey)

1. Launch Terminal app

2. Run avbutil --controller to launch AVB Configuration

3. From top menu bar, under “Window” menu, select “Simple Virtual Audio Configuration”

4. Check “Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet Controller”

Our Thunderbolt AVB adapter can output multiple types of AVB signals, but, the number of streams and channels per stream vary by audio format, audio device(s) used in the chain, DAW used, and what all of these other devices support.
Additionally, each AVB device can output a master/grandmaster clock signal, and synchronization is dependent on the software and device(s) being used in the setup. We have seen problems occur when more than one device is outputting this signal. Check with your PreSonus devices manuals for more information.

The number of Audio Streams can be 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8.

Channels per stream can be 8, 16 and 32.

Device Configuration options

8 in, 8 out, 8 ch streams, 1 stream in, 1 stream out
16 in, 16 out, 8 ch streams, 2 streams in, 2 streams out
32 in, 32 out, 8 ch streams, 4 streams in, 4 streams out
64 in, 64 out, 8 ch streams, 8 streams in, 8 streams out
16 in, 16 out, 16 ch streams, 1 stream in, 1 stream out
32 in, 32 out, 16 ch streams, 2 streams in, 2 streams out
64 in, 64 out, 16 ch streams, 4 streams in, 4 streams out
32 in, 32 out, 32 ch streams, 1 stream in, 1 stream out
64 in, 64 out, 32 ch streams, 2 streams in, 2 streams out
24 in, 24 out. 8 ch streams, 3 streams in, 3 streams out

Audio Format options for each Device Configuration

8 in, 8 out, 8 ch streams, 1 stream in, 1 stream out
16 in, 16 out, 8 ch streams, 2 streams in, 2 streams out
32 in, 32 out, 8 ch streams, 4 streams in, 4 streams out
64 in, 64 out, 8 ch streams, 8 streams in, 8 streams out

IEC 61883-6, 48kHz, PCM-...T-24, 8 channels (Async)
IEC 61883-6, 48kHz, PCM-INT-24, 8 channels
IEC 61883-6, 96kHz, PCM-...T-24, 8 channels (Async)
IEC 61883-6, 96kHz, PCM-INT-24, 8 channels
IEC 61883-6, 192kHz, PC...-24, 8 channels (Async)
IEC 61883-6, 192kHz, PCM-INT-24, 8 channels
AAF, 44.1 kHz, PCM-INT-32, 8 cha nnels
AAF, 48kHz, PCM-INT-32, 8 channels
AAF, 88.2kHz, PCM-INT-32, 8 channels
AAF, 96kHz, PCM-INT-32, 8 channels
AAF,176.4kHz, PCM-INT-32, 8 channels
AAF,192kHz, PCM-INT-32, 8 channels

16 in, 16 out, 16 ch streams, 1 stream in, 1 stream out
32 in, 32 out, 16 ch streams, 2 streams in, 2 streams out
64 in, 64 out, 16 ch streams, 4 streams in, 4 streams out

IEC 61883-6, 48kHz, PCM-...T-24, 8 channels (Async)
IEC 61883-6, 48kHz, PCM-INT-24, 8 channels
IEC 61883-6, 96kHz, PCM-...T-24, 8 channels (Async)
IEC 61883-6, 96kHz, PCM-INT-24, 8 channels
AAF, 44.1kHz, PCM-INT-32, 8 channels
AAF, 48kHz, PCM-INT-32, 8 channels
AAF, 88.2kHz, PCM-INT-32, 8 channels
AAF, 96kHz, PCM-INT-32, 8 channels

32 in, 32 out, 32 ch streams, 1 stream in, 1 stream out
64 in, 64 out, 32 ch streams, 2 streams in, 2 streams out
24 in, 24 out. 8 ch streams, 3 streams in, 3 streams out
IEC 61883-6, 48kHz, PCM-...T-24, 8 channels (Async)
IEC 61883-6, 48kHz, PCM-INT-24, 8 channels
AAF, 44.1kHz, PCM-INT-32, 8 channels
AAF, 48kHz, PCM-INT-32, 8 channels

As above, whether these signals are detected by your DAW, or by your other audio devices (PreSonus' mentioned) is dependent on the software and hardware in use, the signals they are outputting/receiving, and the software/firmware settings being used within.

The Sonnet Thunderbolt AVB Adapter may also be considered to be only a component of another AVB endpoint device (e.g. Apple computer), and as such, may not be considered or seen as an end-point in-and-of-itself by the AVB protocols or other AVB devices.

Details about AVB capabilities

AVB audio is organized as 1 or more streams. Each stream contains 8, 16, or 32 audio channels. All audio channels have the same sample rate.

The sample rate will determine how many streams are needed to transmit the total number of audio channels. For example, choosing 1 stream of 32 audio channels requires a lower sampling rate than 4 streams of 8 channels each. Choosing these options is based on the capabilities of the other AVB devices connected to a Mac with Sonnet AVB Adapter.

The "smallest" stream consists of 8 audio channels.

This list describes the audio stream formats available for each channels/stream option.

8 ch/stream
8 in, 8 out, 8 ch/stream, 1 stream in, 1 stream out
16 in, 16 out, 8 ch/stream, 2 streams in, 2 streams out
32 in, 32 out, 8 ch/stream, 4 streams in, 4 streams out
64 in, 64 out, 8 ch/stream, 8 streams in, 8 streams out

IEC 61883-6, 48kHz
IEC 61883-6, 96kHz
IEC 61883-6, 192kHz
AAF, 44.1 kHz
AAF, 48kHz
AAF, 88.2kHz
AAF, 96kHz
AAF,176.4kHz
AAF,192kHz

16 ch/stream

16 in, 16 out, 16 ch/stream, 1 stream in, 1 stream out
32 in, 32 out, 16 ch/stream, 2 streams in, 2 streams out
64 in, 64 out, 16 ch/stream, 4 streams in, 4 streams out

IEC 61883-6, 48kHz
IEC 61883-6, 96kHz
AAF, 44.1 kHz
AAF, 48kHz
AAF, 88.2kHz
AAF, 96kHz

32 ch/stream

32 in, 32 out, 32 ch/stream, 1 stream in, 1 stream out
64 in, 64 out, 32 ch/stream, 2 streams in, 2 streams out
IEC 61883-6, 48kHz
AAF, 44.1 kHz
AAF, 48kHz