FIRESTUDIO TUBE 24-bit/96k Recording Interface w/ Two Class A Vacuum Tube “SuperChannels” User’s Manual Version 1.0 © 2008, PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
PRESONUS LIMITED WARRANTY PreSonus Audio Electronics Inc. warrants this product to be free of defects in material and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of original retail purchase. This warranty is enforceable only by the original retail purchaser. To be protected by this warranty, the purchaser must complete and return the enclosed warranty card within 14 days of purchase.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 OVERVIEW 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... Features ................................................................................................................................................ What is in the Box .................................................................................................................................
OVERVIEW 1.1 INTRODUCTION Thank you for purchasing the PreSonus FireStudio Tube. PreSonus Audio Electronics has designed the FireStudio Tube utilizing high-grade components to ensure optimum performance that will last a lifetime.
OVERVIEW 1.2 FEATURES The FireStudio Tube is a powerful and affordable computer recording system complete with everything needed for real-world recording applications. The FireStudio Tube comes complete with two “SuperChannels” featuring class A Vacuum tube microphone and instrument preamps with built-in analog limiter, eight highquality PreSonus X-MAX microphone preamps, MIDI I/O, and rock solid drivers, as well as a plethora of music recording and production software.
OVERVIEW 1.
OVERVIEW 1.4 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Below are the minimum computer system requirements for your FireStudio Tube. Macintosh • • • • OS: Mac OS X 10.4.x or later Computer: Apple Macintosh series with FireWire 400 port CPU/Clock: PowerPC G4/1 GHz or higher (Intel/Dual 1 GHz recommended) Memory (RAM): 512 MB (1 GB or more recommended) Windows • • • • OS: 32-bit Microsoft Windows Vista or XP (with at least SP1) Computer: Windows compatible computer with FireWire 400 port.
OPERATION 2.1 QUICK START UP 2.1.1 Installation in Microsoft Windows After inserting the Installation CD into your CD-ROM drive, the FireStudio Tube installer will take you through each step of the installation process. Please read each message carefully – ensuring especially you do not connect your FireStudio Tube early. 1) The FireStudio Tube Installer was written to be as simple and easy-to-follow as possible. Please read each message carefully to ensure the FireStudio Tube is properly installed.
OPERATION 4) The installer will now display the directory path into which the FireControl application will be installed. Click “Next” 5) The installer is now ready to begin. Click “Install” to copy the correct components to your computer. 6) The installer will now prompt you to reboot your computer to complete the installation. Click “Finish” to automaticall restart your PC. Once your computer has rebooted, connect the FireStudio Tube. If a Found New Hardware wizard appears, follow the recommended steps.
OPERATION 2.1.2 Installation in Mac OS X After inserting the Installation CD into your disc drive, browse the disc and run the FireStudio Tube installer, which will take you through each step of the installation process. 1) To begin installing the FireStudio Tube driver on your Mac, double click on the FireControl logo. 2) You will be directed to the welcome screen. Click “Continue” 3) Take a moment to review the license agreement and click “Continue”.
OPERATION 4) Click “Agree” to continue installation. 5) You will be directed to choose the hard drive onto which you want to install the drivers and FireControl Software. You must choose your system drive. Storage drives and partitions cannot be used as hosts for the driver. 6) The FireStudio Tube installer contains the installations for the entire FireStudio family of interfaces. Select “FireStudio Tube” from the list. A “ – “ will appear in the box to the left. Click “Install” or “Upgrade”.
OPERATION 7) The FireStudio Tube installer requires that your user password be entered as a security measure. Enter your password and click “OK” 8) You will be notified that the FireStudio Tube installation requires that your Mac be restarted to finish the installation process. Click “Continue Installation” 9) Click “Restart” to reboot your Mac automatically. After rebooting your computer, connect your FireStudio Tube to your computer via the included FireWire cable.
OPERATION 2.1.3 Cubase LE 4 – Device Setup Once you have installed the FireStudio Tube drivers and connected your FireStudio Tube, you can use the Cubase LE 4 Music Creation and Production System software included with your FireStudio Tube to begin recording, mixing and producing your music. Insert the Cubase LE 4 installation CD into your computer and run the installer.
OPERATION 3) Select “PreSonus FireStudio” from the ASIO Driver dropdown list. A pop-up window will appear asking if you’d like to switch the ASIO driver. Click ‘Switch’ to begin using the FireStudio Tube Driver. For more help on using Cubase LE 4, please read the Getting Started and Operation Manual help documents located in Help > Documentation.
OPERATION 2.1.4 Cubase LE 4 – Creating a Project To begin recording in Cubase LE, you first need to create a project. Once you have the project environment, you can begin adding audio and MIDI tracks to record and edit on. Follow these simple steps to begin recording your first audio in Cubase LE: 1) Plug an XLR microphone or instrument into FireStudio Tube channel one and turn on 48V phantom power if needed for your microphone (typically only for condenser microphones.
OPERATION 6) Click the Record Enable button to arm the new track for recording. 7) Click the Monitor button to hear the input through the FireStudio Tube’s 1/2 and Main CR outputs. 8) Select FireStudio Tube input ‘Stereo In > Left’. When choosing a mono from a stereo pair, the “left” channel is typically the odd-numbered channel, and the “right” channel is typically the even-numbered channel (i.e. Left is 1; Right is 2).
OPERATION 2.2 SAMPLE HOOK UP DIAGRAM With the FireStudio Tube, you can simultaneously record and play back up to 16 channels. Since it is loaded with ten preamplifiers, you can plug in ten microphones to the FireStudio Tube along with six line level devices to record a full band. This makes recording extremely easy. All you need are a few microphones, some cables to connect them, a musician (or two or three or more) and the creative energy to bring it all together. This is a typical rock band setup.
OPERATION 2.3 MICROPHONES The FireStudio Tube works with many microphones including dynamic, ribbon and condenser microphones. 2.3.1 Condenser Condenser microphones tend to generate a high-quality audio signal and are one of the most popular mic choices for today’s studio recording applications. Because of their design technology, condenser microphones require a power source, which can be provided from a small battery, external power supply or from microphone inputs as phantom power.
OPERATION 2.4 A BRIEF TUTORIAL ON DYANAMICS PROCESSING The SuperChannels on the front panel of the FireStudio Tube feature a hard limiter. This section is an excerpt from brief tutorial on dynamics processing written by PreSonus President and Chief Technical Officer, Jim Odom. It is included to help you get the most out of your FireStudio Tube. This tutorial will take you through the basics of dynamics processing as well as explain the various types of dynamics processors, including a hard limiter. 2.4.
OPERATION Why do you need noise gates? Consider the compressed vocal example above and you now have a 20dB dynamic range for the vocal channel. Problems arise when there is noise or instruments in the background of the vocal mic that became more audible after the lower end of the dynamic range was raised. (air conditioner, loud drummer, etc.) You might attempt to mute the vocal between phrases in an attempt to remove the unwanted signals; however this would probably end disastrous.
OPERATION Compressor / Limiters are commonly used for many audio applications. For example: • A kick drum can get lost in a wall of electric guitars. No matter how much level is increased, the kick drum stays ‘lost in the mud’. Add a touch of compression and tighten up that kick drum sound allowing it to ‘punch’ through without having to crank the level way up. • A vocal performance usually has a wide dynamic range.
OPERATION 2.4.3 Vocabulary of Dynamics Processors In scientific research, it is widely accepted that if one needs to master a subject quickly, learn the associated vocabulary and industry terms. The same is true with audio recording and production. Most manuals and text books assume a prior level of knowledge. We hope this section will help you to get the most benefit from your independent study in the world of music production. Compressors • Threshold.
OPERATION • Compressor Sidechain. The sidechain jack interrupts the signal that the compressor is using to determine the amount of gain reduction to apply. When no connector is inserted into this jack, the input signal goes directly to the compressor’s control circuitry. When a connector is inserted into this jack, the signal path is broken. This signal can then be processed by an equalizer for example to reduce sibilance (de-essing) in a vocal track.
CON NTRO OLS & CON NNEC CTION NS 3.1 PR RESONUS S FIRECONTROL SOFTWAR S RE The FireControl is a pow werful, flexiblee and easy to use u solution foor creating muultiple mixes frrom your inputs and DAW playyback streams with zero lateency. It allowss you to createe a zero-latenccy mix with upp to 18 of yourr input and outputt signals for ea ach of your FireStudio Tubee’s output pairss.
CONTROLS & CONNECTIONS 3.1.2 FireControl Master Section The Master Section is always visible and gives you control over the FireStudio Tube’s outputs’ source and level as well as the Sample Rate and Buffer Size of the FireStudio drivers. Output Select Section • Output Select Buttons Changes the Output Mixer displayed The FireControl has five output mixes – one for each of the FireStudio Tube’s five outputs.
CONTROLS & CONNECTIONS Master Output Section • Master Output Fader Changes the selected output’s audio level Move the Master Fader up and down to increase and decrease the level of the selected output’s audio. The dB value of boost or attenuation is displayed below the Channel Fader from –infinity to 0.0 dB. Two virtual LED meters to the right of the Master Fader display the pre fader levels of the audio signal.
CON NTRO OLS & CON NNEC CTION NS When channeels are linked, changing eithher channel’s level changes both,, and pan statees are hard lefft/right. • Channel Faderss Changes the channel’s audiio level Move the Chhannel Fader up and downn to increase and decrease the channel’s audiio level. The dB value of boost or atttenuation is displayed d below w the Channel Fadeer from –infiniity to +6 dB. A virtual LED D meter to thee right of eachh fader displayys the post fader levvel of the channel’s audio.
CONTROLS & CONNECTIONS 3.1.4 FireControl Menus • Session. Allows you to Save and Load the FireControl Mixer and Output settings o o • Load Session... Loads a saved FireControl session file Save Session... Saves the FireControl Mixer and Output settings for loading later Advanced. Gives additional options specific to Windows functionality. o Sample Rate Lock Mode. Sets which types of applications can change the Sample Rate. o Unlock. Any WDM or ASIO application can change the Sample Rate.
CONTROLS & CONNECTIONS 3.2 FRONT PANEL LAYOUT • SuperChannels. Your FireStudio Tube is equipped with two “SuperChannels”. These channels are Class A Vacuum Tube microphone and instrument preamplifiers and full-featured analog limiters. Each channel has its own controls. o Neutrik Combo Connectors. Both SuperChannels have a Mic/Line connector using the Neutrik Combo connector. This revolutionary style connector lets you use either ¼” phone or XLR connectors in the same female input.
CONTROLS & CONNECTIONS • Instrument Inputs (Channels 15 and 16). The ¼” TS connector on channels 15 and 16 are for use with an instrument (guitar, bass, etc.). When an instrument is plugged into the instrument input, the microphone preamp is bypassed, and the FireStudio Tube becomes an active instrument preamplifier. NOTE: Active instruments are those that have an internal preamp or a line level output. Active instruments should be plugged into a line input rather than into an instrument input.
CONTROLS & CONNECTIONS • Input Gain/Trim Control. These knobs control the gain for the microphone preamps located on the rear of the unit and provide the following gain structure: o XLR Microphone Inputs. 54 dB of variable gain (-4dB to +50dB) o 48 Volt Phantom Power. The FireStudio Tube has 48V Phantom power available in groups of two via push button switches on the front panel. From left to right, each button activates Phantom power for channels 1 & 2, 3 & 4, 5 & 6 and 7 & 8.
CONTROLS & CONNECTIONS 3.3 BACK PANEL LAYOUT • Microphone Pre-Amplifier. Your FireStudio Tube is equipped with eight custom designed PreSonus XMAX microphone preamplifiers for use with all types of microphones including Dynamics, Condensers and Ribbons as well as instruments and line level signals. The award winning PreSonus preamplifier design is a Class A input buffer followed by a dual servo gain stage.
CONTROLS & CONNECTIONS • General Purpose Line Outputs (TRS Balanced). These are general purpose line-level outputs. Line Outputs 1 & 2 are typically your computer’s audio playback. All six Line Outputs can be accessed by your computer and can be used for separate mixes, surround sound, additional speakers, external effects processors, etc. NOTE: By default, the General Purpose Outputs are DAW Playback 1-6 streams from your computer. However, the FireControl has final control over their audio sources.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION 4.1 TROUBLESHOOTING Please note that many technical issues can arise when converting a standard computer into a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). PreSonus will only provide support for issues that directly relate to the FireStudio Tube interface. It may be necessary to contact the manufacturer of the computer, operating system and/or software to obtain additional technical support.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION 4.2 SPECIFICATIONS Microphone Preamps 1-8 Type ............................................................................................................................. XLR Female Balanced Frequency Response (±0.5 dB) ............................................................................................... 20 Hz to 50 kHz Frequency Response (±3.0 dB) .............................................................................................
TECHNICAL INFORMATION Line Inputs 9-14 Type ....................................................................................................................... ¼” TRS Female Balanced Frequency Response (±0.5 dB) ............................................................................................... 20 Hz to 50 kHz Frequency Response (±3.0 dB) ............................................................................................. 20 Hz to 150 kHz Input Impedance (Balanced) .................
