English User Guide
ProFire 2626 User Guide Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Minimum System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 About the ProFire 2626 FireWire Audio Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ProFire 2626 User Guide Digital Clocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Scenario 1: ProFire 2626 as Clock Master . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Scenario 2: ProFire 2626 Slaved to an Optical Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ProFire 2626 1 User Guide 3 Introduction Congratulations on your purchase of the ProFire 2626 audio interface. ProFire 2626 is part of M-Audio’s award winning series of FireWire-based digital recording solutions and features solid hardware design, robust driver technology, and a powerful Control Panel application—all designed to deliver professional connectivity, exceptional fidelity, and nextgeneration performance.
ProFire 2626 3 User Guide 4 About the ProFire 2626 FireWire Audio Interface The ProFire 2626 interface is a super-highway of audio inputs and outputs for your computer. Like a highway, there are a certain number of “audio lanes” going to and from your computer—these “lanes” are referred to as streams. ProFire 2626 gets its name from the fact that there are 26 streams going into the computer and 26 streams returning from the computer.
ProFire 2626 4 User Guide ProFire 2626 Features ▶ 26-input, 26-output audio configuration ▶ Up to 24-bit/192 kHz operation ▶ Eight XLR/TRS combo jacks on rear panel supporting mic or line-level signals ▶ Two 1/4” (TS) front panel instrument input jacks ▶ Eight high-quality preamps with award winning OctaneTM technology ▶ Phantom power, 20dB pads, and signal/clip LED indicators for all mic preamps ▶ Two Stereo 1/4” headphone outputs with individual level controls ▶ Eight balanced 1/4” (TRS) line-level out
ProFire 2626 5 User Guide 6 Hardware Controls and Connectors 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 3 4 3 3 4 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 4 5 6 6 7 7 8 9 Front Panel 10 1. Instrument Inputs (Channels 1/2): These unbalanced 1/4” jacks are used for connecting high impedance instrument-level signals (i.e., electric guitars and basses) to ProFire 2626.
ProFire 2626 5. Phantom Power Buttons: These two buttons apply +48V phantom power to XLR inputs 1-4 and 5-8. The top button activates phantom power on XLR inputs 1 through 4 while the bottom button activates phantom power for inputs 5 through 8. The LED next to each button will illuminate when phantom power is being sent to the associated channels. 6. Headphone Level Knobs: These knobs adjust the output volume of the headphone outputs.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 8 Rear Panel 11 12 13 14 15 16 11. Power Supply Connector: Connect the included power supply here. Use only the power supply provided with the interface or an equivalent power supply with the same rating and polarity. 12. FireWire Port: Connect the ProFire 2626 interface to your computer using one of the supplied FireWire cables. Note that ProFire 2626 has two FireWire ports.
ProFire 2626 6 User Guide 9 Architecture of ProFire 2626 ProFire 2626 is much more than a simple audio input and output device. Its high quality signal path, DSP mixer, and flexible router allow the interface to become the central nervous system of your studio. The block diagram below illustrates audio signal flow within ProFire 2626 and demonstrates the relationship between various components within the interface (each of the blocks in the diagram are described in detail further below): 44.
ProFire 2626 Software Returns – This block represents the audio outputs of your audio application. Software returns can be routed to the DSP Mixer and the Router (both described below). DSP Mixer – This is the 18 input, 16 output DSP mixer contained within the ProFire 2626 interface. The block features a dashed line because the DSP mixer can be completely bypassed by the user if desired.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 11 ProFire 2626 Operation at High Sample Rates ProFire 2626 can operate at high sample rates including 88.2/96 kHz and 176.4/192 kHz. However, the number of available inputs and outputs is reduced when operating at these rates and certain input and output ports are disabled as a result (see the “About S/MUX II and S/MUX IV modes” section for additional information).
ProFire 2626 User Guide 12 MAC OS X: 88.2/96 kHz Operation 88.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 13 MAC OS X: 176.4/192 kHz Operation 176.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 14 Windows XP/Vista: 88.2/96 kHz Operation 88.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 15 Windows XP/Vista: 176.4/192 kHz Operation 176.
ProFire 2626 7 User Guide 16 Control Panel Application ProFire 2626 provides adjustable parameters for many of its features. Some of them can be accessed directly from the ProFire 2626 front panel, such as input gain, phantom power, and output levels. However, there are additional parameters that cannot be accessed from the front panel—these will be available to you using the included Control Panel software.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 17 It is important to note that any changes made to the DSP Mixer will only affect what is audible from the mixer’s outputs—the DSP Mixer does not affect the signals that are sent to the audio application for recording. For example, if you are recording a vocalist and he/she tells you to turn up the vocal track so they can hear themselves better, you can increase the vocalist’s microphone channel in the DSP Mixer.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 18 Why are software returns disabled? When the interface operates at higher sample rates (i.e., 88.2/96 kHz or 176.4/192 kHz), certain hardware input and output ports become disabled due to S/MUX II and S/MUX IV operation. When this happens, the Control Panel automatically scales the number of software return channels to match the number of hardware outputs.
ProFire 2626 User Guide Router The ProFire 2626 Router tab contains a variety of parameters affecting how audio is routed through the interface. These parameters are grouped into categories as explained on the following pages. Active Software Returns configuration options for Windows users.
ProFire 2626 Output Source Routing This section lets you select the audio source for each hardware output pair on the interface. The Router has four columns of drop down menus: These columns (from left to right) represent the Analog Outputs, the first set of ADAT Outputs, the second set of ADAT outputs, and finally the the coaxial S/PDIF output. To use the Router, first locate the pair of hardware outputs to which you’d like to send audio.
ProFire 2626 Active Software Returns ProFire 2626 allows for a maximum of 26 software returns. The Control Panel software allows you to reduce the number of software returns in order to minimize the demands placed on the FireWire bus and decrease the amount of system resources used by ProFire 2626.
ProFire 2626 User Guide Settings The Settings tab contains several parameters that govern the operation of ProFire 2626. These options are grouped in the following categories: Windows only: Buffer Size drop-down menu.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 23 Hosted Mode The parameters in this section of the Control Panel govern the operation of the interface when it is connected to a computer using a FireWire cable (i.e., Hosted Mode). Sync Source This drop-down menu determines the clock source to which ProFire 2626 is synchronized. If you are using ProFire 2626 by itself (i.e., without other digital devices or an external clock), this parameter must be set to “Internal” for the interface to work properly.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 24 Sample Rate This drop-down menu sets the sample rate of ProFire 2626. Note that when using the interface with an ASIO or CoreAudio application, the sample rate can also be determined by your audio application. This parameter may not be editable from within the ProFire 2626 Control Panel if your audio application is running. In this case, any changes to the sample rate must be made through the audio application itself.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 25 Optical Port B Mode This portion of the Control Panel determines how the second pair of optical ports on the rear of the interface will operate. Setting this parameter to “ADAT” will allow ProFire 2626 to receive or send 16 channels of 44.1/48kHz signals, eight channels of 88.2/96 kHz signals, or four channels of 176.4/192 kHz signals by using both optical ports in tandem.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 26 Master Volume Knob These checkboxes determine which analog output pair(s) will be affected by the Master Volume knob (8) on the front panel of the interface: If a box is checked, the volume level of its corresponding outputs will be controlled by the Master Volume knob; if a box is left unchecked, the outputs will play at full volume regardless of the position of the Master Volume knob. This feature gives ProFire 2626 a great deal of flexibility in how it can be used.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 27 Mixer Peak Meters This section of the Control Panel configures the operation of the meters within the DSP Mixer. Mode This drop-down menu determines the behavior of the meters of the ProFire 2626 DSP mixer. re-fader – When this parameter is set to “Pre-fader” the meters will display the level of a signal before it P passes the fader. This allows signal levels to be displayed regardless of the fader positions within the DSP mixer (i.e.
ProFire 2626 User Guide Sample Rate This menu selects the sample rate of the interface when operating in Standalone Mode. Optical Port B Mode his parameter determines how the second pair T of optical ports will operate when the interface is in Standalone mode. ADAT: Selecting “ADAT” will allow you to send and receive four channels of audio at 88.2/96 kHz (per ADAT port; S/MUX II) or two channels at 176.4/192 kHz (per ADAT port; S/MUX IV).
ProFire 2626 User Guide 29 Converter Mode ProFire 2626 can operate in two different ways while in Standalone Mode. Each mode is described separately below: A/D – D/A Mode: When this parameter is set to “A/D - D/A” mode the interface operates like a standard analog-to-digital (A/D), digital-to-analog (D/A), and S/PDIF format converter. The operation of this mode varies by the sample rate of the interface. This is described in detail below: 44.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 30 A/D Mode: In this mode, ProFire 2626 acts only as an analog-to-digital (A/D) and S/PDIF format converter. The interface does not perform any digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion, but instead allows the analog inputs to be routed to both the analog and optical output ports simultaneously. 44.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 31 About The About tab provides version information for the Control Panel, driver, and any connected ProFire 2626 interfaces. This page also features convenient links to driver updates, downloadable manuals, FAQs, tech support, product registration, and the M-Audio home page. Note that clicking the link buttons will open your web browser and that your computer must have Internet access for these pages to load.
ProFire 2626 8 User Guide 32 Digital Clocking Your computer-based DAW stores and manipulates music as digital samples. Those samples are sent to and from your DAW as “snapshots” of data. These snapshots are all the same size—16-bit or 24-bit, depending on your selected resolution—each with a beginning and an end, and are sent in sequential order (i.e., one after the other) as a stream of data. Think of this data stream as a sentence, made up of a series of words of identical length.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 33 Scenario 1: ProFire 2626 as Clock Master By selecting “internal” as the sync source in the Control Panel, you designate ProFire 2626 as the clock master. You will then need to select “external” (or “slave” on certain devices) mode on each of your other digital devices (this is usually an internal menu setting on that device).
ProFire 2626 User Guide 34 Scenario 2: ProFire 2626 Slaved to an Optical Input If you prefer to use another device as clock master, you will need to configure that device to act as master and select that device’s input on ProFire 2626 as the sync source. This locks (or “slaves”) ProFire 2626 (and any other devices connected to ProFire 2626) to that master device. In Figure 2 below, a digital multi-track recorder with an ADAT optical output is configured as clock master.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 35 Scenario 3: ProFire 2626 Slaved to S/PDIF Input You may need to use a two-track device as clock master. This is because many two-track digital devices, such as consumer CD players, are not designed to be locked to other devices due to their lack of digital inputs. Configure ProFire 2626 to synchronize externally when receiving digital signal from such devices.
ProFire 2626 9 User Guide 36 MIDI ProFire 2626 provides 16 channels of MIDI I/O over standard 5-pin DIN connectors found on the breakout cable. These I/O ports can be used to connect MIDI-compatible devices to your computer such as controller keyboards, drum machines, or sound modules. Alternatively, these ports can be used to send and receive MIDI Time Code (MTC) and other synchronization formats for locking to a hardware or software sequencer.
ProFire 2626 10 User Guide 37 Connection Diagram and Example Scenarios ProFire 2626 is a flexible interface with a variety of inputs and outputs. This flexibility allows ProFire 2626 to be used in a many different applications ranging from studio multi-tracking and on-location recording to multi-channel surround mixing. This guide cannot cover every conceivable use of ProFire 2626, but the diagram below illustrates the various kinds of equipment that can be connected to the interface.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 38 • I f you are recording the direct output of any electric guitars or basses, connect these instruments to Analog Inputs 1 and 2 (1) on the front panel. Be sure the Mic/Inst Button (2) is in the “in” position for each channel that is using the front panel inputs. If any 1/4” line-level devices have been connected to the corresponding rear-panel inputs, make sure that these devices are not outputting any audio. • Attach up to two pairs of headphones to the Headphone jacks (7).
ProFire 2626 User Guide 39 Example Scenario #1: Recording a Duo This example demonstrates how ProFire 2626 can be used to record a duo consisting of a guitarist/vocalist and a percussion player. In this scenario, the guitarist/vocalist is playing an electric guitar while singing into a microphone. The percussionist is performing on a variety of hand drums (recorded using four microphones) as well as playing a drum machine with a stereo output.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 40 • Input Connections: The electric guitar is recorded “direct” by connecting it to the first channel’s front-panel Instrument Input (1) with a standard 1/4” TS instrument cable. When using a front panel input, make sure that the Mic/Inst button (2) for that channel is in the “in” position. If a 1/4” line-level device is connected to the first channel’s combo connector (on the rear of the interface), make sure that the device is not outputting any audio.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 41 Configuring the Mixer, Router, and Settings tabs Setting up the DSP Mixer: The default input channel configuration of the DSP Mixer should work well for most recording scenarios (including this one). You can verify and/or change the mixer input assignments by clicking the downward arrow ( ) at the top of each input channel and making your selection from the drop-down menu that appears.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 42 Configure the Master Volume Knob to Control Your Studio Monitors: Since the studio monitors are connected to analog outputs 5/6, make sure that the “Analog Out 5/6” box is checked under the “Master Volume Knob” section of the Settings tab. Make sure that the “Analog Out 1/2” and “Analog Out 3/4” boxes are unchecked in this menu.
ProFire 2626 User Guide Example Scenario #2: Mixing in Surround This example demonstrates how ProFire 2626 can be used to create a six-channel surround mix. In this scenario, your audio application must have provisions for multi-channel surround mixing (such as surround panners and a 6-channel master output). Many DAW applications now include these features.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 44 Input Connections: Since we are simply mixing for this scenario and are not recording anything, we do not have to use any inputs. Since the optical and coaxial (S/PDIF) inputs are not being used in this scenario, these inputs should be disabled from the Router tab of the Control Panel. Doing so will minimize the amount of FireWire bandwidth and system resources used by ProFire 2626.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 45 Routing your DAW application outputs: In this scenario, your audio application will output a mix consisting of six channels. The ProFire 2626 Router must be correctly configured so that these channels leave the interface through the correct analog outputs. To make sure all of your outputs are correctly routed, go to the Router tab in the Control Panel: 1. Open the drop-down menu under Analog Out 1/2 and select “SW Return 1/2.” 2.
ProFire 2626 11 User Guide 46 Troubleshooting Problem: No sound. ossible Cause 1: Power supply not connected. Verify that the ProFire 2626 power supply is properly P attached to the interface and plugged into a working AC outlet. Next, make sure the interface is powered on using the Power Button (9). ossible Cause 2: Improper connection to external devices.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 47 Problem: No visual activity on Signal/Clip LED indicators. ossible Cause 1: Poor quality cabling. Verify that your audio cables are plugged in properly and are in good P working order. Possible Cause 2: The output volume of your audio source is set too low. Raise the volume of the device. ossible Cause 3: Microphone not receiving phantom power. P Certain microphones require phantom power to operate.
ProFire 2626 User Guide 48 Problem: Windows users experience high latency and limited performance when using Steinberg Nuendo or Cubase SX. ossible Cause: Cubase SX and Nuendo may be using the default “ASIO Multimedia Driver.” While this driver P will allow you to use ProFire 2626, it does not provide the best possible performance with the interface. In the Cubase SX/Nuendo Control Panel, make sure that “M-Audio ProFire ASIO” is selected as your audio device driver.
ProFire 2626 12 User Guide 49 Warranty Warranty Terms M-Audio warrants products to be free from defects in materials and workmanship, under normal use and provided that the product is owned by the original, registered user. Visit www.m-audio.com/warranty for terms and limitations applying to your specific product. Warranty Registration Immediately registering your new M-Audio product entitles you to full warranty coverage and helps M-Audio develop and manufacture the finest quality products available.
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