Zen Studio Portable Audio Interface Owner’s Manual
Contents 1. Safety Notes........................................................................................................ 3 2. Introduction.......................................................................................................... 4 3. Features .............................................................................................................. 5 4. Quick Start...........................................................................................................
1. Safety Notes To reduce the risk of electrical shocks, fire, and related hazards: • Do not remove screws, cover, or cabinet. There are no user serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified service personnel. • Do not expose this device to rain, moisture or spillover of liquid of any kind. • Should any form of liquid or a foreign object enter the device, do not use it. Switch off the device and then unplug it from the power source.
2. Introduction Thank you for purchasing the Zen Studio from Antelope Audio. Studio quality and functionality in a sleek easy to carry box Zen Studio is the professional, portable audio interface with the most competitive analog and digital connectivity.
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4. Installation Guide 1. Connect to the DC power source via rear panel connector (9) and switch the device on (3), then attach the USB cable to the USB port on your computer. 2. Download and install the Zen Studio software control panel and drivers from http://www.antelopeaudio.com/en/support/downloads - This will enable you to control your device from your computer and select all necessary settings. 3. Open your control panel by double clicking and follow the device activation procedure. 4.
5. Front Panel Explained 1. 4 Instrument/ Mic Preamp/ Line Inputs 4 Class A mic preamps, with phantom power over Combo input with switchable line/ HiZ input. 2. 48V Indicator light Displays when phantom power is enabled at any of the inputs. 3. Power button Toggles standby/operation state. Clicking and holding for two seconds allows you to enter sub-menu of the device.
• • • Peak Meter displaying up to 32 channels at a time that are adjustable from the software control panel. Preferences screen, including: o Sync – indicates current clock source o SR – indicates current sample rate o DAC Vol – displays current volume of the DAC o HP1 Vol - displays current volume of the Headphone 1 output o HP2 Vol - displays current volume of the Headphone 2 output Three subsequent screens display the current input trim state of each of the 12 preamplifiers.
Zen Studio uses USB connector Type B and operates up to 192kHz sample rate with Antelope ASIO on Windows & Mac OS X. 10. DC Power Connection For use with Antelope's DC power supply only. 11. D-SUB 25pin TASCAM Analog Outputs (on top) A connector enables you to attach breakout cables, each with 8 lines. 12. D-SUB 25pin TASCAM Analog Inputs (on bottom) A connector enables you to attach breakout cables, each with 8 lines. 13.
7. Side Panel Explained 19. ADAT Connectors 2 Inputs & 2 Outputs (up to 8 channels per connector) 8.
8a. Routing Tab and Main View options The universal panel view sits constantly on the upper half of the control panel, allowing for quick access to the most important features. Main View: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Standby button Main DA Volume Headphone 1 Volume Control Headphone 2 Volume Control Clock Source Sample Rate select Display Brightness Input Select View Front 4 x Instrument Preamp HiZ / Line Trims Rear 8 x Preamps Trims Routing Tab: 11. ‘From’ Section 12. Undo/Redo Routing 13.
8b. Mixer Tab Clicking the Mixer Tab reveals the 4 assignable mixers: 1. Channel Name 2. Pan 3. Fader Level indication 4. Fader (double-click to reset to zero) 5. Mute 6. Solo 7. Stereo Link 8. Mixer 1-4 Show/Hide 9. Master Mix Fader 10.
8c. AFX Tab Clicking the AFX Tab reveals the 16 AFX Channel Strips: 1. EQ 1. Frequency Adjust Dials (double-click to return to default) 2. Gain Adjust Dials (double-click to return to default) 3. Q Adjust Dials (double-click to return to default) 4. Selectable High Pass or High Shelf Filter 5. Bandpass / Notch Filter 6. Selectable Low Pass or Low Shelf Filter 7. Frequency Band Analysis Screen 8. EQ Output Meter 2. Compressor 1. Threshold 2. Ratio 3. Knee 4. Attack 5. Release 6. Detector 7.
3. Show or Hide 16 x DSP Channel Strips Clicking each bar reveals or hides 2 of the total 16 DSP FX channel strips. 8d. Meter Tab Clicking the Meter Tab reveals the Metering panel: 1. Meter Source Dropdown tab allows you to select: Preamp Line In USB Play ADAT In S/PDIF In AFX Out Mix 1 L/R Mix 2 L/R Mix 3 L/R Mix 4 L/R Line Out HP1 HP2 Monitor USB Rec ADAT Out S/PDIF Out AFX In Mix 1 Ch Mix 2 Ch Mix 3 Ch Mix 4 Ch 2. 32 Channel Metering – clearly visualizes sources using peak meters.
8e. Options Tab Clicking the Options Tab reveals the Options panel: 1. Monitor Out Trim 2. Line Out Trim 3. Line In Trim 4. Oscillator 1 & Mute 5. Oscillator Level 6. Oscillator 2 & Mute 7. Volume Knob Mode 8. Line Out Volume 9. About 10. Firmware Update Presets: Five different presets are available to save your favorite setups for easy access.
With the Zen Studio in operating mode, press and hold the standby button to bring up Device INFO and Factory Reset options in the front panel display. You can scroll between these, using the Options buttons. To initiate either of these desired options, press and hold the bottom options button.
9. Advanced User Tips 9.1. Ground Loop Hum and Noise The design of Zen Studio minimizes the possibility of ground loop hum and noise. However, we recommend the use of shorter, shielded cables and balanced connections for all the audio signals of your system. All power cables of the system should be connected to a dedicated outlet box or power conditioner unit to avoid ground current noise affecting the audio signal path. It is also advisable to keep the layout of your signal and power cables separate. 10.
Connectivity: If you believe there is no sound being received to an input or delivered from an output: • • • • • • • • Check your source. Is there a signal being transmitted form the source? Is your source in the correct sample rate for the Zen Studio to receive? Check what clocking mode you are in. Are you receiving the clock signal from the source? Check that the relevant lock light on the control panel of the Zen Studio is lit up. Try a different cable and another source if available.
Analog Outputs: 8 x Lines on DB25 (8 channels) 1 x Monitor out on TRS (2 channels) 2 x Stereo Headphone outs on TRS (4 channels) Digital Outputs: 2 x ADAT 1 x S/PDIF Word Clock Output: 1 x Outputs @ 75 Ohms 3Vpp on BNC 32 - 192kHz USB I/O: USB 2.
Height: 45 mm/1.8” Depth: 145 mm/5.7” Power Supply: DC Universal Input 18V Power Consumption: 25 Watts Max 14. Antelope Audio Support Resources Antelope Audio offers a range of services and support resources for your Antelope hardware, firmware and software control panels. FAQ Several categories of frequently asked questions are available on the website: http://www.antelopeaudio.
A web resource with all device manuals, datasheets and software: http://www.antelopeaudio.com/en/support/downloads Control Panel Newsfeed The software control panel for Zen Studio incorporates a newsfeed at the bottom, which displays all new updates and relevant information: You Tube Page Tutorial videos, interviews, user cases and promos for forthcoming products: https://www.youtube.
