User`s guide

ABOUT THE 896HD
11
to the system—or any device that supports the
ADAT sync format. For example, if you digitally
transfer a single track of material from an ADAT
via light pipe into audio workstation software on
the computer, and then transfer the track back to
the ADAT, it will be recorded exactly at its original
location, down to the sample.
Word clock
The 896HD provides standard word clock that can
slave to any supported sample rate. In addition,
word clock can resolve to and generate “high” and
“low” sample rates. For example, if the 896HD
global sample rate is set to 96 kHz, the word clock
input can resolve to a “low” rate of 48 kHz.
Similarly, when the 896HD is operating at 192 kHz,
the MOTU FireWire Audio Console lets you
choose a word clock output rate of 48 kHz (the
Force 44.1/48kHz setting).
Punch in/out
The quarter-inch Punch in/out jack accepts a
standard foot switch. When you push the foot
switch, the 896HD triggers a programmable
keystroke on the computer keyboard. For example,
with MOTU’s Digital Performer audio sequencer
software, the foot switch triggers the 3 key on the
numeric keypad, which toggles recording in
Digital Performer. Therefore, pressing the foot
switch is the same as pressing the 3 key. The 896HD
Control Panel software lets you program any
keystroke you wish.
1394 FireWire
The two 1394 FireWire jacks accept a standard
IEEE 1394 FireWire cable to connect the 896HD to
a FireWire-equipped Macintosh or Windows
computer. The second jack can be used to daisy
chain multiple interfaces — up to four MOTU
FireWire interfaces — on a single FireWire bus. It
can also be used to connect other FireWire devices
without the need for a FireWire hub.
THE 896HD FRONT PANEL
Headphone output and main volume control
The MOTU 896HD front panel includes a quarter-
inch stereo headphone output jack and volume
knob. From the factory, the headphone output
matches the main stereo outs. An accompanying
switch allows you to control the volume of the
phones only (down) or both the phones and the
main outs (up). The headphone output can also
operate as its own independent output pair, or it
can mirror any other 896HD output pair, such as
the AES/EBU output. Use the MOTU FireWire
Console to choose the desired headphone output.
CueMix™ DSP no-latency monitoring
The MOTU 896HD provides CueMix™ DSP no-
latency monitoring, which can mix all inputs to any
output pair. At samples rates up to 96kHz, four
such mixes can be independently programmed
and simultaneously operated. At the 4x sample
rates (176.4 or 192kHz), two CueMix DSP mixes
are supported.
Input trim knobs and phantom power switch
The front-panel input trim knobs provide
independent trim for the eight analog inputs. The
phantom power switch for each input provides 48V
phantom power. Up is on; down is off.
Metering
The front panel of the MOTU 896HD displays two
eight-channel banks of 10-segment ladder LEDs.
The left-hand bank always shows the eight analog
inputs. The right-hand bank shows one of three
different banks, which you can specify in the
MOTU FireWire Audio Console software: Analog
out, ADAT input, or ADAT output. A status LED to
the left shows which bank you are currently
viewing. These two banks also provide metering
for the four CueMix DSP monitor mixes (when the
front-panel MONITOR LEVEL knob is pressed
and/or turned).