™ AUDIOFIRE 2 ™ AUDIOFIRE 4 ™ AUDIOFIRE 8 ™ AUDIOFIRE 12
Owner’s Manual Version 2.
Important Safety Instructions 1. Read Instructions - Be sure to read all of the safety and operating instructions before operating this product. 2. Retain Instructions - The safety instructions and owner's manual should be retained for future reference. 3. Heed Warnings - All warnings on your Echo product and in the Owner's Manual should be followed. 4. Follow Instructions - All operating and use instructions should be followed. 5.
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©2005 by Echo Digital Audio Corporation 6309 Carpinteria Ave. #300 Carpinteria, CA 93013 Echo® and AudioFire™ are trademarks of Echo Digital Audio Corporation. Tracktion™ is a trademark of LOUD Technologies Inc. Apple®, FireWire®, iTunes®, iMovie®, iDVD®, Mac®, Macintosh®, Mac OS®, Power Mac®, PowerBook®, QuickTime®, and GarageBand™ are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................. 9 WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED IN THE BOX ............................................... 9 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................... 10 INSTALLATION ................................................................................................. 11 LOG IN AS ADMINISTRATOR .............................................................
APPENDIX B: AN INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL RECORDING ........... 48 APPENDIX C: SPECIFICATIONS................................................................... 55 INDEX...................................................................................................................
Introduction Introduction Thank you for choosing Echo Digital Audio. We think you’ll find your Echo product to be an extremely flexible, high-performance tool for your computerbased hard disk recording system.
Introduction System Requirements In order to use AudioFire2, AudioFire4, AudioFire8, or AudioFire12 you’ll need the following: • An Apple brand Macintosh computer (desktop or notebook) with: • • • • • Mac OS X (10.3.9 or later) An unused FireWire port A G4 or better processor (G5 recommended) A minimum 256Mb of RAM (512Mb highly recommended) A fast, high-capacity IDE, SCSI or FireWire hard disk drive • Peripheral audio equipment, such as a mixer, microphones, studio monitors, musical instruments, etc.
Installation Installation To properly install your AudioFire product you will need to: log in as an administrator, check OS X version, run software update, connect the audio interface to a FireWire port and to your other audio hardware, install the Console software, and install Tracktion. The following steps will guide you through installing your AudioFire product.
Installation Installing the AudioFire Hardware and Software Now that you have logged in as an administrator, checked the OS X version, and updated your software, you are ready to install your AudioFire product in your computer. 1. Install the AudioFire Console. Insert the AudioFire Install CD-ROM into your machine. Double-click on “Open this to start.” Click on the “Install AudioFire Console” button and follow the on-screen instructions.
Installation NOTE: You should check the driver downloads area of our website (www.echoaudio.com) for any software updates and install them before continuing. The AudioFire hardware must be installed and powered on for the firmware update to load properly. You should also check the website periodically in the future in case any more updates are released at a later time. 6. You can now attach external audio devices to the connectors on the AudioFire interface box.
Connecting to the Audio Interface Connecting to the Audio Interface The AudioFire2, AudioFire4, AudioFire8 and AudioFire12 audio interfaces contain a wide variety of connections that allow great flexibility in operation. For optimal performance, it is critical to use the appropriate cabling and connectors.
Connecting to the Audio Interface Analog Inputs and Outputs – AudioFire4 AudioFire4’s front panel has two universal inputs (1 – 2) with meters and trim knobs, a phantom power indicator (+48v), and a power button with an amber power indicator light. There is also an 1/8” stereo headphone output jack, with a corresponding volume knob, which monitors analog outputs 1 and 2. AudioFire4 has two analog line inputs (3 – 4) and four analog line outputs on the rear panel.
Connecting to the Audio Interface headphone output jack, with a corresponding volume knob, which monitors analog outputs 1 and 2. AudioFire8 has six analog line inputs (3 – 8) and eight analog line outputs on the rear panel. These analog inputs (3 – 8) operate with an input impedance of 10Kohms. The input and output connections can be used with balanced or unbalanced cables via the ¼” connectors. By default, the inputs and outputs are set to receive or send a +4dBu signal.
Connecting to the Audio Interface Universal Inputs – AudioFire4 and AudioFire8 The universal input connections can accept balanced or unbalanced signals via ¼” or XLR connectors. Since your AudioFire has built-in preamps, you can just plug your microphone or guitar cable right into the universal input. No external preamp, direct box, or mixer is needed! To use a microphone, plug the microphone’s XLR cable into any of the universal inputs.
Connecting to the Audio Interface For optimal audio quality, you should adjust the input trim knob so that your loudest recorded signal lights up the yellow light, but not the red. When the red meter light shines extra bright – you’ve clipped! If the signal level ever exceeds 0dBFS the signal will be “clipped” and you will hear a “pop” or “tick” in the recording.
Connecting to the Audio Interface By default, the inputs and outputs are set to receive or send a +4dBu signal. You can switch between +4dBu and –10dBV for each individual input and output via the console software (see “Console” section below). The FireWire Connector On the rear panel of each AudioFire interface box is a pair of connectors with the FireWire symbol above them.
Connecting to the Audio Interface When connecting devices to the S/PDIF jacks, the use of standard analog RCA audio cables is not recommended. For reliable S/PDIF operation, 75-ohm coaxial (RG59) video cables are recommended. MIDI Your AudioFire is equipped with MIDI I/O connectors. The MIDI ports can be used for receiving MIDI time code (MTC), or sending and receiving MIDI signals between your digital audio/MIDI sequencing software and external sound modules, keyboards, MIDI controllers, etc.
Connecting to the Audio Interface The S/PDIF connectors are used to transmit digital audio data between digital audio devices via an electrical signal. When connecting devices to the S/PDIF jacks, the use of standard analog RCA audio cables is not recommended. For reliable S/PDIF operation, 75-ohm coaxial (RG59) video cables are recommended.
Software Configuration Software Configuration Now that you have installed your AudioFire product, you can verify that everything is working properly. Open “System Preferences” from the Dock or Apple menu, select “Show All”, and select the “Sound” panel. Under the “Output” tab, you should see your AudioFire product listed as a sound output device. If you want to use your AudioFire product with iTunes, iDVD, iMovie, QuickTime, etc. you will need to select it as the sound output device.
Software Configuration You can also check out your hardware with the “Audio MIDI Setup” application. Go to your Applications folder on your hard disk and from there to the Utilities folder. Open “Audio MIDI Setup.” In addition to listing all the audio devices in the system, Audio MIDI Setup lets you examine the various audio formats supported by the hardware in your Mac.
Software Configuration By clicking on the “MIDI Devices” tab, you will display the available CoreMIDI devices. You should see your AudioFire product shown as an icon here. Next, you’ll want to install Tracktion and learn about the AudioFire Console software. Both are covered in the following sections of this manual.
Installing Tracktion Installing Tracktion Your AudioFire comes bundled with the full version of Tracktion 1, audio multitrack recording, MIDI, editing, and sampling software. Install Tracktion from the AudioFire CDROM To install the software: 1. Insert the AudioFire CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive. A CD-ROM icon labeled “Echo Digital Audio” should appear on the desktop. 2. Double-click on the CD-ROM icon. Then double-click on “Open this to start.
Installing Tracktion Launching Tracktion and Assigning Inputs & Outputs Now it’s time to launch the actual program and set a few options: • Locate and double-click the Tracktion icon in the “Applications” folder or wherever you copied it to earlier. You may also want to put it in the Dock for easy access. When Tracktion first runs, it takes you to the Projects page. Move the mouse pointer over various objects on the screen and you will notice that Tracktion uses pop-up help to tell you about the interface.
Installing Tracktion Audio Settings 1. Click the “Settings” tab at the top of the screen. 2. Select “Audio Devices” on the left. 3. Where it says “Wave device:” click on the drop down menu and select your AudioFire product. 4. Now you should be able to see a list of the available audio devices for your AudioFire product. Go ahead and enable the inputs and outputs you want to use with Tracktion by clicking on the red X and waiting for it turn into a green checkmark. 5.
Console Software Console If you followed the instructions in Step 1 of the “Installing the AudioFire Hardware and Software” section of this manual, then you installed a “virtual control surface” application called the AudioFire Console. The console allows you to control the audio I/O and clocking functions of your AudioFire product, and it brings these controls to a single easy-to-use location. From the console you can control the output levels, select synchronization clocks, and adjust input monitoring.
Console Software The AudioFire8 Console Window: Analog Out 1-2 Tab selected. Bus Select Tabs The output bus is selected by clicking on one of the tabs at the top of the console window. The above example shows the console window for AudioFire8. Five different output busses are shown here: four analog busses and one digital bus. Each output bus has its own tab, marked either “Analog” or “S/PDIF”, and a channel number pair.
Console Software output bus tabs. AudioFire12 does not have S/PDIF, so it does not have a digital output bus; it has 6 analog output bus tabs instead. NOTE: Analog outputs 3 and 4 for the AudioFire2 are labeled as “Headphones” in the console. Master Output Bus Control The master bus control is the area on the far right of the console window. It is outlined in purple in the picture above. At the top are the labels “ANALOG”, “Out 1”, and “Out 2.
Console Software The input monitor controls are a little complicated. Basically, there is a different set of input monitor controls for each output bus, but only one set is visible and changeable at a time. In the example above, the only set of input monitor controls that is visible and changeable is the one for the output bus called “Analog 1-2". To see and change a different set of input monitor controls you will need to select a different output bus (see the “Bus Select” section above).
Console Software The AudioFire8 Console Window: Analog Out 3-4 Tab selected. Note that since the Analog 3-4 tab is selected you are no longer looking at the input monitor and output controls for analog outputs 1 and 2. You are now looking at the controls for analog outputs 3 and 4. However, you can still see the input signal on the input level meters for Analog input 1-2. At the top of each input channel, below the label, is a green label field that can be changed by clicking in it and typing.
Console Software monitored between the two channels of the currently selected output bus. Holding the Ctrl key and clicking on a pan knob will set it to the center position. Below each pan knob is a non-selectable green field that tells you the current setting of the pan knob. Note that adjusting the pan knob will not affect your recording, as the input monitor controls only affect how the input signal is sent to (or monitored on) the outputs. Below the pan knob are the monitor solo and mute buttons.
Console Software Adjusting Playback Volume Output volume adjustments are made in the digital domain. When you lower a volume fader below 0dB, you are actually decreasing the number of available bits, thereby taking away from the potential dynamic range of the system. Therefore, we suggest that whenever possible you leave the output faders (Playback & Output Bus) set to 0dB, and perform any necessary attenuation on your external mixer.
Console Software Settings Tab Clicking the “Settings” tab allows you to access settings for controlling your AudioFire hardware. The Settings page includes the sample rate, clock source, S/PDIF format and version information. The AudioFire8 Console Window: Analog Out 3-4 Tab selected.
Console Software Sample Rate The sample rate for your AudioFire hardware is set here. The sample rate, also known as clock rate, affects recording and playback. For more information please refer to Appendix C: An Introduction to Digital Recording. The application or audio software you are using may change the sample rate. The settings tab gives you an easy way to see exactly what sample rate your audio is set to. The “Locked” setting allows you to lock the sample rate.
Console Software The S/PDIF output defaults to the Consumer format. If you are recording from your AudioFire8 into a professional DAT deck, CD recorder, or Mini Disc recorder, the device may not be able to recognize the signal until you switch the output to Consumer. Select the appropriate format for your DAT, CD recorder, or Mini Disc recorder (if you don’t know which one to use and are having difficulties, simply try the one that is not currently checked).
Console Software Console Settings and Stand-Alone Mode When the console is closed, all the console mixer settings for your AudioFire are saved to flash memory in the AudioFire. So, these settings will be recalled when you reboot your AudioFire or move it to another computer. Your AudioFire need not be connected to a computer to operate. This is called stand-alone mode. Simply set the mixer setting as you desire in the console and close the console to save those settings to flash memory.
Console Software Synchronizing Multiple Devices Your AudioFire is designed to work alongside other audio equipment. If you are planning on using your AudioFire with other audio equipment, please note the following: You can use your AudioFire product with other audio devices outside of your computer, but in order for accurate synchronization to occur, the other audio product(s) must support a synchronization mode that is compatible with your AudioFire hardware.
Console Software Note: When synchronizing your AudioFire product to an external device via S/PDIF or Word Clock, you must set the AudioFire to the correct base clock rate. See the following table for the correct base clock rate setting. External Clock Rate AudioFire Base Clock Rate 30kHz – 50kHz 44.1kHz or 48kHz 50kHz-100kHz 88.2kHz or 96kHz AudioFire12 Only 100kHz-200kHz 176.
Console Software Connecting to your computer You can connect multiple AudioFires to your computer by daisy chaining FireWire cables (connecting one AudioFire to the next) or by connecting each AudioFire to a different FireWire connector on your computer. AudioFire12s, AudioFire8s, AudioFire4s and AudioFire2s can be mixed in any order and the clock master can be anywhere in the chain. Note that 192kHz will only be supported when only AudioFire12s are used.
Console Software We recommend using a maximum of 3 AudioFires on each FireWire bus. Multiple FireWire connectors that are on the same FireWire card are all on the same FireWire bus. Similarly, all the FireWire connectors that are directly on your motherboard are on the same FireWire bus. By purchasing an additional FireWire card, you can add an additional FireWire bus and connect additional AudioFires to that bus.
Customer Service Contacting Echo Customer Service If you experience any trouble with your Echo hardware please go to the support area of our website at www.echoaudio.com, and check out the “QuickTips” & FAQ’s we have there. If you can’t find a solution to your problem there, please fill out the provided technical support email form. This form will be sent to our technical support staff, and they will respond to you quickly. Please fill out the form completely.
Appendix A: Troubleshooting Guide Appendix A: General Troubleshooting Guide Problem: You can’t get your AudioFire product to install properly under Mac OS 8, OS 9, or OS X (10.3.8 or lower). Solution: There is no driver support for AudioFire8 or AudioFire12 under Mac OS 8 or 9. There is only driver support for Mac OS X (10.3.9 or later). Problem: You’ve installed your AudioFire product, but it isn’t listed in the System Preferences or the Audio MIDI Setup application.
Appendix A: Troubleshooting Guide Problem: You are unable to get your DAT recorder to recognize the S/PDIF output from AudioFire2, AudioFire4 or AudioFire8. Solution: Digital information is transmitted in either of two modes, “professional” or “consumer.” The professional mode is usually implemented in devices that are likely to be used in professional recording environments, whereas the consumer mode is commonly implemented on equipment designed for home use in the consumer market.
Appendix A: Troubleshooting Guide Problem: When you play an audio file, it plays at an altered pitch. Solution: When your AudioFire product is set to synchronize with an external device, it will play back at the rate generated by that device. For example, if the sound you are playing was sampled at 44.1kHz, but you are synchronized with a device running at 96kHz, the sound will play back at this faster rate.
Appendix A: Troubleshooting Guide Problem: The sound cuts in and out, or the left or right channel doesn’t work. Solution: You may have a bad audio cable. Try using a different cable in the problem channel. Problem: There is no sound unless I pull the audio plug out a little. Solution: Not all ¼” plugs are made to the exact same dimensions. Try a plug/cable from a different manufacturer.
Appendix B: An Introduction to Digital Recording Appendix B: An Introduction to Digital Recording Converting Sound into Numbers In a digital recording system, sound is represented as a series of numbers, with each number representing the voltage, or amplitude, of a sound wave at a particular moment in time. The numbers are generated by an analog-to-digital converter, or ADC, which converts the signal from an analog audio source (such as a guitar or a microphone) connected to its input into numbers.
Appendix B: An Introduction to Digital Recording Each digit in the number is called a bit. The binary numbers expressed in Figure A are sixteen bits long, and have a maximum value of 65,535. The more bits that are used to store the sampled value, the more closely it will represent the source signal. In a 16-bit system, there are 65,535 possible combinations of zeroes and ones; so 65,535 different voltages can be digitally represented. (See Figure A above). Figure B.
Appendix B: An Introduction to Digital Recording Also important to the quality of a digital recording is the frequency with which the samples are stored, called the sample rate. In order for a waveform to be faithfully digitized, it must be sampled at a minimum of twice the highest frequency to be stored. Failure to sample frequently enough results in a kind of distortion called aliasing. (If you like technical issues, do some research on The Nyquist Theorem, which explains why this happens).
Appendix B: An Introduction to Digital Recording level of analog audio signals. The most common are dBu and dBV decibels. Both of these represent voltage levels and still double for every increase of 6dB. It is only the reference point, or 0dB level that is different. A 0dBV signal has a voltage level of 1.0 volts. A 0dBu signal has a voltage level of .775 volts. Since .775 is approximately 2dB less than 1.0, converting dBV levels into dBu levels is as simple as subtracting 2dB (2.21 to be exact).
Appendix B: An Introduction to Digital Recording The above nominal levels represent typical or average levels that are often exceeded when recording loud signals such as drum beats. The difference between the nominal level and the loudest signal that can be recorded without clipping is called “headroom”. Your Echo product provides approximately 14dB of headroom allowing an 18dBu signal to be recorded.
Appendix B: An Introduction to Digital Recording are matched, any noise added to the minus component will still be approximately the same as that picked up by the plus component and will be subtracted out by the input amplifier. Your Echo product uses this type of output. Balanced signals connect with either XLR connectors or TRS (tip, ring, sleeve) connectors. Your Echo product uses XLR connectors for microphones and TRS connectors for connecting balanced (and unbalanced) line level signals.
Appendix B: An Introduction to Digital Recording read these levels, the low noise requirements of the surrounding circuitry such as power supplies and amplifiers would be so stringent that they would either be impossible or too expensive to build. In answering the second question, consider the fact that music is often compressed or amplified after it is recorded, and that some headroom is necessary when recording to avoid clipping.
Appendix C: Specifications Appendix C: Specifications AudioFire2 - Audio Performance Analog Inputs (x2 balanced TRS): Line Inputs (x2 balanced TRS): Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz, ±0.1dB Dynamic Range: 113dB A-weighted THD+n: <0.002% A-weighted Linearity: ±0.01dB, 0dBFS to 100dBFS Nominal Input Level: +4dBu or –10dBV Input Impedance: 10Kohms Maximum Input Level: +18dBu Analog Outputs (x2 balanced TRS): Frequency Response: 10Hz to 20kHz, ±0.1dB Dynamic Range: 114dB A-weighted THD+n: <0.
Appendix C: Specifications AudioFire2 - Hardware Host Interface: 1394a (FireWire) Two balanced ¼” analog inputs with precision 24-bit 128x oversampling analog-to-digital converters Two balanced ¼” analog outputs with high performance 24-bit 128x oversampling digital-to-analog converters One stereo headphone 1/8” analog output with high performance 24-bit 128x oversampling digital-to-analog converters Volume control for headphone output S/PDIF digital I/O with up to 24-bit resolution 24-bit data resolution
Appendix C: Specifications AudioFire4 - Audio Performance Analog Inputs (x2 balanced universal XLR/TRS & x2 balanced TRS): Universal Inputs (x2 balanced XLR/TRS): Frequency Response: 10Hz to 20kHz, ±0.2dB Microphone Input Level (balanced XLR): EIN: -129dBu Dynamic Range: 111dB A-weighted THD+n: <0.004% A-weighted Input Impedance: 1.5Kohms Gain Adjustment: +10 to +59dB Maximum Input Level at Minimum Gain: +9dBu Guitar/Line Input Level (balanced TRS): Dynamic Range: 110dB A-weighted THD+n: <0.
Appendix C: Specifications Analog Outputs (x4 balanced TRS): Frequency Response: 10Hz to 20kHz, ±0.1dB Dynamic Range: 114dB A-weighted THD+n: <0.002% A-weighted Nominal Output Level: +4dBu or –10dBV Maximum Output Level: +17.
Appendix C: Specifications AudioFire8 - Audio Performance Analog Inputs (x2 balanced universal XLR/TRS & x6 balanced TRS): Universal Inputs (x2 balanced XLR/TRS): Frequency Response: 10Hz to 20kHz, ±0.2dB Microphone Input Level (balanced XLR): EIN: -129dBu Dynamic Range: 111dB A-weighted THD+n: <0.004% A-weighted Input Impedance: 1.5Kohms Gain Adjustment: +10 to +59dB Maximum Input Level at Minimum Gain: +9dBu Guitar/Line Input Level (balanced TRS): Dynamic Range: 110dB A-weighted THD+n: <0.
Appendix C: Specifications Analog Outputs (x8 balanced TRS): Frequency Response: 10Hz to 20kHz, ±0.1dB Dynamic Range: 114dB A-weighted THD+n: <0.002% A-weighted Nominal Output Level: +4dBu or –10dBV Maximum Output Level: +17.
Appendix C: Specifications AudioFire12 - Audio Performance Analog Inputs (x12 balanced TRS): Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz, ±0.1dB Dynamic Range: 113dB A-weighted THD+n: <0.002% A-weighted Nominal Input Level: +4dBu or –10dBV Input Impedance: 10Kohms Maximum Input Level: +17.5dBu Analog Outputs (x12 balanced TRS): Frequency Response: 10Hz to 20kHz, ±0.1dB Dynamic Range: 114dB A-weighted THD+n: <0.002% A-weighted Nominal Output Level: +4dBu or –10dBV Maximum Output Level: +17.
Appendix C: Specifications Variable sample rate feature lets you select any rate between 32kHz – 192kHz MIDI In/Out Word clock I/O 62 Appendix C: Specifications
Index Index A adjusting playback levels .............. 34 analog-to-digital converter............ 48 B balanced......................................... 52 C CD-ROM contents .......................... 9 clock settings................................. 36 console sessions ............................ 38 consumer mode ............................. 45 contacting customer service .......... 43 contents ........................................... 9 D decibels..........................................
