Audio
DiGiCo Orange Box troubleshooting
The DiGiCo Orange Box problems live-event techs bring to Ask Roadie most (also called OrangeBox). Pick your symptom, or describe your own in plain words, and get the likeliest fix first, with the manual page when there is one.
Common Orange Box errors & problems
What techs run into most, and what's usually behind it. The step-by-step fix for your exact unit is in Ask Roadie.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
A DMI card is not recognized or misbehaves in the Orange Box
Likely cause: Early S21 firmware revisions are known-incompatible with the Orange Box; a firmware update resolves it.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
AES card: input pitch/clock artifacts or clicking
Likely cause: Default input SRC de-couples incoming AES clock from the system clock; outputs stay locked to system clock.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
Correct procedure to insert or remove a DMI card
Likely cause: DMI cards are not hot-swappable; inserting/removing under power risks damaging the card or box.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
DMI-Dante card: no audio or wrong clock on the Dante network
Likely cause: DMI-Dante handles only its sync/format in the Orange Box; all channel routing lives in Dante Controller, a common point of confusion.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
How do I update DMI card firmware in the Orange Box?
Likely cause: The Controller installer carries matched firmware/FPGA images, so updating from it keeps card code in step with the app.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
How does clocking work / which card sets the Orange Box clock?
Likely cause: The Orange Box derives its whole-system clock from the master-slot card by design, so all sync config starts there.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
No audio or audio on wrong channels when using MADI at 96kHz
Likely cause: SMUX (sample multiplexing) is how 96kHz is carried over a 64ch MADI stream; without it the box and slave card run at mismatched rates.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
Orange Box Controller software will not connect over USB
Likely cause: Connection is a virtual COM port over FTDI; a missing/failed driver is the usual cause of no-connect.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
Which DMI cards are compatible with the Orange Box?
Likely cause: Card list is from the official datasheet OPTIONS section; compatibility chart is maintained on DiGiCo support.
Not on the list? Describe it your way, or paste the error code off the display. Ask Roadie works the problem with you until it's fixed or you have a clear next move.
How Ask Roadie helps with the Orange Box
- 1. Pick the DiGiCo Orange Box. It's already in the list.
- 2. Describe what you're seeing. In your own words, or the error code off the screen.
- 3. Get the likeliest fix first. Steps in order, the manual page when there is one, and a note when other techs have confirmed it.
- 4. Still broken? Tap 👎 and it keeps going from where you left off.