Opportunity to buy...

[Eanna]

Hi, I've an opportunity to buy a 15-DSP card currently running Scope 4.5.

I currently own an old 15-DSP and a 6-DSP card. I've two PCI slots in my PC, so I'd be looking to replace my 6-DSP with this 15-DSP.

Couple of questions, if I may...
1. The keys registry file I received with my 15+6 purchase applies to both boards. What if the 6-DSP card is removed? Will I be able to run scope with that original keys file, with just the one 15-dsp board in place?
And what if another 15-DSP card, using a different key file, in inserted in place of the 6-DSP? How to have 'two' key registry files for a single installation of Scope software? Possible to have two, or to 'merge' into one?
2. What must I do to allow the board currently running Scope 4.5 to run 5.0? Do I need to purchase anything?
3. I've bought a couple of devices, that I registered against my 15-DSP board. The vendor has also got some devices registered against his 15-DSP card. Does this make the 'merging' of key files more difficult? Would I have to run devices I paid for on my own 15-DSP, and run the other fella's purchases on his board? Or does the fact that both boards existing on the same motherboard mean that the licensing remains tied to the board, but the actual DSPs running the devices could be either?
4. I currently have just two STDM ribbon cables, linking my 15-DSP to my 6-DSP. Do I need to source / make new STDM cables to add three more cables, to link two 15-DSP cards? I think I remember reading that you don't need all 5 STDMs, and I seem to recall that less than 5 is actually more stable (?), but what is the minimum number? What is the optimal number?


Thanks, Eanna

[HUROLURA]

Couple of attempts to answering :

1) the key file is associated to only one board. Just check the keyfile to see which plugs are associated to which card. Maybe you have them duplicate with all the plugs available for both cards already. You only need to have the plug activated on one board to allow the use of the plug on the complete system. So if the plugs you currently have are all associated to your 15-DSP board you should have them all working in the new setup with the 2 15-DSP.

2) 4.5 to 5.0 was once free for people who had bought after a date. You should ask kindly to SC about it.
However, update to 5.1 is available from SC shop instead which cost 259 € but also help SC.
I do not remember the difference between 4.5 and 5.0 (maybe driver stuff) but update to 5.1 provide you with the whole stock plugs available now with Xite-1 i.e. Synth'n'Sampler AND Mix'n'Master are included together with the new S|C Channelstrip EQ, S|C Channelstrip Dynamics, S|C Channelstrip SC-SL9000 and Reverb FX (LX-Bundle, SC-RMX 160, 5.1 Surround Reverb). It also allow you to get Mod IV afterwards which wouldn't work without Scope 5.1. Just something to think about.

3) No, merging the plugs from both boards is just straightforward: plug, provide keyfile and play. Just be careful to ask the seller to also send you the key file and you wouldn't even have to bother SC team to request the key file (which could take some time I would prefer them to spend on new stuff design).

4) no experience/knowledge on that as I split my 2 15-DSP in 2 difference PC for now.

Hope this helps to make things clear. One thing to remind is that once one card has one plug activated on it any other card linked with STDM connector would allow to use it. As I have more than 10 Scope PCI boards at home I did reorganize my setup several times already to optimize that...

[Eanna]

Thanks Hurolura.

I do know that the vendor can supply me with the key file...
So if I did pop out my 6-DSP card and replace it with the 15-DSP card, and then fired up Scope, I would have the opportunity to select my existing Key File (for my 15 and 6 DSP cards), and then the vendor's key file. Is that true?

And then if I were to sell my 6-DSP card, I can supply the same keyfile that I'm currently using for the 15+6 setup? Or do I need to contact S|C to generate a keyfile specific to the 6-DSP card only?

Anyone know about the number of required SDTM cables required for two 15-DSP cards?

10 Scope cards? At the moment? My word! You using a PCI chassis to host them?

I didn't know that Modular IV only runs on Scope 5.1... thank you for the tip.

[garyb]

if you remove the 6 dsp card, you can no longer use that keyfile. keys belong to the card, not the owner of the card. you would have to use the 15dsp card's keyfile. if the original 15dsp card is still in the case, you don't need to do anything, unless the new card had additional optional keys registered to it, in which case you could import the new keys.

keyfiles are a text file. you can easily open the keyfile in notepad and then remove the 6 dsp cards keys and resave them in a new file, or you could just send a copy of your current file, it doesn't matter.

1, 2, 3 ,4 s/tdm cables. depending on how you use the cards, one may be plenty. if you get the no more connections between cards message, you can try adding another s/tdm cable or two.

10 cards won't work. 4 MIGHT....

[Eanna]

Thank you Gary.

Basically what I'm picking up here is that there is no impediment to my replacing my 6-DSP'er with a 15-DSP'er.

Now to free up some cash...

[HUROLURA]

Just check each card serial number and open the keyfile to see which plugs are activated on which card and you would know what is activated on what card.

The general idea as Gary stated is that plugs activated are associated to each card.
But once they are inside the same PC they "share" the activation with the other cards as long as the card stays inside the PC.
Checking the key file would let you know which plugs "belongs" to which card (most of the time several plugs are duplicated being activated on several cards)

If you remove the 6 DSP card, you would "loose" the plugs that are only associated with the 6 DSP card.
And when integrating the other 15 DSP card you will "gain" the extra plugins that are specifically activated on this 2nd 15 DSP card...