IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Read these instructions. Keep these instructions. Heed all warnings. Follow all instructions. Do not use this apparatus near water. Clean only with dry cloth. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. 8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat. 9.
Please write your Tracktion 2.0 License Number here (packaged with the Link.USB CD): ____–____–____–____–____ Enter your my.mackie.com Login information here: Login email address _____________________________________ Password ______________________________________________ Don’t forget to visit our website at www.tapcogear.com for more information about this and other TAPCO products.
LOUD TECHNOLOGIES INC. END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT Tracktion 2.0 By clicking on the “I Accept” button, installing, copying or otherwise using the Software, you agree to be bound by the terms of this License Agreement. If you do not agree to the terms of this License Agreement, click on the “I Do Not Accept” button and/or do not install the Software. 1. License.
WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE SOFTWARE. SHOULD THE SOFTWARE PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU (AND NOT LOUD Technologies Inc. OR AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE) ASSUME THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION. 6. No Liability for Consequential Damages. IN NO EVENT SHALL LOUD Technologies Inc.
CONTENTS IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS .................................2 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................7 The Link.USB Interface ...................................................................7 Bundled Software ..............................................................................7 GETTING STARTED .............................................................................8 Installing the Software................................
INTRODUCTION Thank you for purchasing the TAPCO Link.USB Audio Interface for digital recording systems. This is a complete, compact solution for computer-based music production on either a Macintosh or a PC. The Link.USB is a 2x2 USB interface that is powered directly off the USB connection, and also includes Tracktion 2, our powerful audio and MIDI sequencing software for digital recording.
GETTING STARTED Use this section to get your Link.USB set up quickly. Refer to the Link. USB Owner’s Manual (PDF file) for more detailed information about the operation of the Link.USB. Installing the Software • • • 8 The Link.USB CD contains an installer that will install the Tracktion 2 software application, plug-ins, and drivers. Visit http://my.tapcogear.com to register your Link.USB.
To install the software on a PC running Windows XP (SP2): 1. Turn off any (non-essential) applications. 2. Insert the Link.USB CD-ROM into your PC’s CD-ROM drive. 3. The CD should begin automatically, bringing up the Link.USB installer. If not, click Start in the task bar, then click Run and click Browse. Browse to your CD drive and double-click SETUP.EXE. Then click OK to start the installation. 4. The Tracktion 2 Setup Wizard opens. Click “Next.
5. Next you will see the Tracktion License Agreement. Read through the text and click “I Agree.” 6. The next window lets you choose the Destination folder for installing the software files. We recommend you use the default location used by the installer, but you can choose a different location if you want by clicking the Browse button. Then click “Install.
7. When the installer has completed copying the files into the destination folder, the All Installed dialog box opens. Click OK to continue. 8. A window opens asking if you want to install QuickTime. Click “Yes” if you want to install it, or “No” to continue. 9. The Tracktion 2 Setup window opens to inform you that everything is installed. Click OK to finish the installation.
To install the software on a Macintosh running OS X (version 10.3 or later): 1. Turn off any (non-essential) applications. 2. Insert the Link.USB CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive. 3. Double-click the Link USB CD icon on the desktop. 4. To install Tracktion 2, simply drag the Tracktion application file into your Applications directory. 5. Go ahead and drag the documentation PDFs to your Applications directory (or anywhere you want to keep them on your hard drive). These include: LinkUSB_Owner’s Manual.
Authorizing Tracktion 2 There is an authorization code on the sleeve of the CD-ROM that came with your Link.USB. You can authorize the software from within Tracktion or by going to http://my.tapcogear.com. From Tracktion 2: 1. Open Tracktion 2. 2. Tracktion detects that the software is unregistered and notifies you that it is running in Demo Mode. You can choose to continue or click the “Unlock” button to authorize the software. 3. Follow the instructions for unlocking Tracktion. From my.tapcogear.com: 1.
• • • • Connect guitars or other instruments using the XLR/TRS connectors on the back of the Link.USB. Press the front panel LINE/INSTR button (guitar icon) if you are connecting your guitar or instrument directly to the Link.USB without using a preamplifier or direct box. Connect a pair of powered monitor speakers, or an amplifier connected to speakers, to the Link.USB MONITOR jacks on the rear panel. You can also plug in headphones to the front panel PHONES jack.
Making a Recording The following example of a recording session uses a guitar plugged directly into the Link.USB channel 1 input, and a microphone plugged into the channel 2 input, to record audio tracks in the Tracktion 2 software. Before starting, make sure you have correctly installed the Tracktion 2 software. 1. Connect your equipment using the diagram on the previous page as a guide. 2. On the Link.USB front panel, set the INPUT GAIN, MON, and PHONES knobs to minimum, and the MIX knob to maximum.
Latency describes the amount of time it takes for audio to get in and out of your software application. The lower the latency setting, the faster audio can get into and out of the software application. However, a low latency CLOSER setting requires more resources from your computer, so you need to find a happy balance between finding the lowest latency setting you can attain before the computer begins to have trouble routing and recording audio (e.g., dropouts, pops, distorted audio).
5. “New edit #1” appears at the top of the item list. An edit is Tracktion’s way of keeping a version of your song. You can rename the song by clicking on the edit and entering the new name in the properties panel at the bottom of the screen. 6. Double-click on “new edit #1” to open up the Edit screen. A new project starts with eight horizontal tracks, stacked vertically. You can add or remove tracks once you get going.
8. Click on the Input 1 icon, and drag it to track 1. As it gets close, an arrow pops out and connects the icon to the track. This indicates that the track is armed for recording. To disconnect an icon (and disarm the track), drag it to the left and the arrow will disappear. M=Mute S=Solo Channel Meter Pan and volume Play Record RTZ 9. Play the guitar and slowly turn up the front panel INPUT 1 GAIN knob about halfway. You should see the input meters in Tracktion indicating that a signal is present.
14. To play back your guitar recording, click the RTZ (Return to Zero) button in the Transport area and click the Play button. If you are happy with the recording, drag the Input 1 icon to the left to disarm the track. 15. To record some vocals, drag the Input 2 icon to track 2. This arms the track for recording the microphone connected to Input 2 on the Link.USB. Adjust the Input 2 GAIN knob so your vocals do not light the overload indicator in Tracktion.
