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 | | | | Jan31Written by:Jim Roseberry
Sunday, January 31, 1999 6:00 PM  It's been a while since Frontier released the world's first Lightpipe audio card, the WaveCenter. Without much hype, the WaveCenter managed to establish itself as a solid ‘workhorse' digital multi I/O audio card… and quietly helped to usher in a new era in PC Audio. At last, PC DAWs could digitally record/transfer 8 simultaneous channels of audio!
That was roughly two years ago. So what has Frontier Design Group been up to lately?
Well, I can say this much, they've done their homework and have come up with a powerful new ‘modular' series of audio hardware.
Dakota
Dakota is Frontier Design Group's new PCI Lightpipe audio card that comes stock with the following features.
Two Optical Lightpipe Input ports - providing 16 simultaneous channels of digital audio input (software switchable to Optical S/PDIF)
Two Optical Lightpipe Output ports - providing 16 simultaneous channels of digital audio output (software switchable to Optical S/PDIF)
Coaxial S/PDIF digital I/O - via an included breakout cable (switchable to AES/EBU)
Two independent MIDI Input and Output ports (32 total channels of I/O) – via an included breakout cableADAT sync inputHardware based Chase-Lock to Timecode!Incorporates SoDA (SMPTE on Digital Audio) technology – explained belowSupports 8, 16, 20, and 24Bit audioSupports Sample Rates of 44.1 and 48kHz (dynamically resamples 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, and 32kHz to both 44.1 and 48kHz - for playback through an ADAT or external converters) – can also Vari-speed and lock to digital audio input at Sample Rates from 39-51kHzWindows 95/98 drivers (PC and Mac ASIO drivers will follow)
SoDA (not pop) in Dakota: SoDA (SMPTE on Digital Audio) allows any audio Input to be used for receiving SMPTE Timecode and any audio Output to be used for sending SMPTE Timecode. SoDA eliminates the need for dedicated hardware.
Montana - double your pleasure
If you need more Lightpipe channels or more advanced sync options than Dakota provides, add the Montana. Montana merely requires a PCI or ISA slot to sit in (you read that correctly)… and requires NO additional resources (IRQ, DMA, etc)!
 Frontier Dakota (back) and Montana (front)Note the cool switchable PCI / ISA configuration on Montana
Montana adds two additional Optical Lightpipe Input ports - providing 32 simultaneous channels of digital audio input (software switchable to Optical S/PDIF). It also adds two additional Optical Lightpipe Output ports - providing 32 simultaneous channels of digital audio Output (software switchable to Optical S/PDIF). Word-Clock or Video sync Input – both external and internal connections are provided. And, ADAT sync output!
Sierra - Eight is enough
If two MIDI ports aren't enough, swap the stock 2x2 MIDI breakout cable for the rackmount 8x8 Sierra. Installation involves connecting the Sierra to the Dakota via the included 15' cable. NO additional resources are required!!
Eight independent MIDI Input ports (128 channels)
Eight independent MIDI Output ports (128 channels)
SMPTE Timecode I/O – via ¼" jacksFront panel LED activity indicators for each Input/Output
So let's tally this up. A single IRQ buys you 32 channels of Lightpipe I/O, S/PDIF I/O, ADAT sync I/O, Word-Clock or Video sync, and a rackmount 8x8 MIDI interface with SMPTE I/O.
WOW! Talk about future proof…
Driving Miss Dakota
Installation – Installation of the Dakota couldn't be easier. Pop the card in… install the driver, re-boot the machine… and your DAW is ready to use. To check for potential problems, I installed the Dakota on two different systems. The first system was a P2/266 with a LX motherboard… and the second system was a Celeron 300a (@450MHz) with a BX motherboard. In each case, the Dakota installed immediately. No muss, no fuss. This is the way ALL audio card installations should be!
Manufacturers listen up!Audio cards that are a PITA (pain in the ass) to install are destined for failure.
Installation of Montana is as simple as placing the card in an empty PCI or ISA slot (Montana has two sets of edge connectors - allowing it to be installed in either a PCI or ISA slot.) and connecting a ribbon cable between the Montana and Dakota.
Installation of Sierra? This doesn't even qualify as ‘installation' in my book. You just plug the Sierra's 15' cable into the Dakota (replacing the 2x2 MIDI breakout cable). That's all there is to it!
Mixing in Montana
Being a busy kinda' guy, I like to evaluate new gear by USING it on current projects. I spent the past few weeks doing a lot of mixing… and in this scenario I used Dakota/Montana to connect a digital console, a Tango, and two ADATs to my PC. Sierra was used for Automation and SysEx dumps.
I had Samplitude 2496 running about 18 hours a day editing and mixing… and the Frontier hardware never let me down. Amazing! I never thought I'd need 32 simultaneous ins/outs on my current DAW, but once I had em'… they were ALL used.
Man… just two years ago we were ALL using stereo audio cards! (cue Bob Dylan) "Oh the times… they are a changin'…"
Sequencing in the Sierra
After finishing the mixing projects, it was time to open Cakewalk and give Sierra a REAL workout. When opening Cakewalk for the 1st time (after installing the Dakota) you have to run Wave Profiler to insure proper sync between Audio and MIDI. No big deal, Wave Profiler did its thing and I was ready to roll.
 Frontier Sierra
To test sync between Audio and MIDI, I decided to load an existing sequence that contained both audio and MIDI tracks. Upon playback, sync sounded tight. So, I decided to record a couple of additional Audio and MIDI tracks. Again, sync sounded tight. With 8 independent MIDI inputs/outputs (one I/O on the front panel) and dedicated SMPTE I/O, the Sierra is a first rate Pro level MIDI interface.
It's about TimeCode
Dakota provides TRUE hardware based Chase-Lock to Timecode.
In other words, Dakota can lock its Sample Rate to Timecode input. Feed a 30 fps (frames per second) SMPTE signal into Dakota, and Dakota will LOCK to the Timecode source by ensuring that there are 44,100 audio samples for every 30 frames of incoming Timecode.
Thus, you have SMOOTH Chase-Lock sync without increasing the load on your system's CPU. If you've ever experienced the distortion and glitches caused by software based Chase-Lock (The audio app varies the audio's Sample Rate on the fly… or adds/removes samples), you'll REALLY appreciate this feature!
ADAT's a Cool Card
If you've paid close attention to this review, you saw that the Montana adds ADAT sync output to the Dakota…
But what's so special about that?
Well, can you say VIRTUAL BRC? Frontier Design Group can… and that is exactly what they have planned!
Conclusion
This is gonna be a short one.
The Dakota/Montana/Sierra combination worked well straight out of the box. There's not a lot of hype, just rock-solid performance.
If you are in the market for a Lightpipe audio card, Dakota is one of the best.
When you factor in the Montana and Sierra expansion options, you have a complete audio hardware system that can anchor virtually ANY studio.
I predict that Dakota/Montana/Sierra will elevate Frontier Design Group to a new level in the PC DAW world. Even the manuals are excellent. All the information you need is provided in a logical and organized fashion. (Frontier even includes system optimization tips.)
The only ‘Cons' I can think of are that Sierra is powered via a wall-wart… and Dakota currently does not have NT or ASIO drivers.
If you deal heavily with ADATs and or Timecode, the Dakota/Montana/Sierra system is an absolute MUST HAVE!
Visit Frontier Design on the Web at http://www.frontierdesign.com
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