DMX8 USB Mixer Installation Guide
TRADEMARKS FTR, FTR Gold and ForTheRecord are registered trademarks of FTR, Ltd. and/or FTR Pty Ltd. FTR Reporter, FTR Player Plus, FTR Save-To-Tape, FTR Save-To-Format, FTR CD Player, FTR Log Notes, FTR CD, FTR Open-From-ForTheRecord, FTR Monitor, ForTheRecord.com, FTR Portable Reporter and FTR ReporterDeck are either registered trademarks or trademarks of FTR, Ltd. and/or FTR Pty Ltd.
Safety Notices Please read the following instructions and safety notices before installing this equipment. Voltage Selection Depending on the equipment you purchased it may be necessary to change the operating voltage for your region. The power connector on the rear panel of the equipment may have a voltage selection switch. Check the voltage setting and change if required. If no voltage selection switch is available then the power supply is auto-sensing and you do not need to select an operating voltage.
Table of Contents Safety Notices ......................................................................................................................................... iii DMX8 USB Mixer................................................................................................................................... 1 Product Outline .................................................................................................................................... 1 System Requirements...................
DMX8 USB Mixer This guide provides general information for the installation and configuration of the DMX8 USB Mixer. Product Outline The DMX8 USB Mixer is a general purpose automatic audio mixer allowing eight microphone or line inputs to be connected and mixed to one to four digital recording outputs. The recording outputs are delivered to a computer through a Hi-Speed USB port connection.
Installing the DMX8 USB Mixer Before commencing an installation make sure you have the following: DMX8 USB Mixer DMX8 USB Mixer CD or Software downloaded from www.fortherecord.
Environment The DMX8 USB Mixer should be installed in a clean, dust free, location that will allow free air to circulate around it for cooling purposes. Overly hot, closely enclosed, humid, dirty or dusty environments should be avoided. Having decided on a suitable location for the DMX8 USB Mixer, read the following section when installing and connecting equipment.
and/or powered speakers or for an analog audio feed for backup or other archival requirements. Testing Have another person speak into each microphone at normal to loud levels. Watch the corresponding Input Level LED on the front panel of the DMX8 USB Mixer. As each microphone is tested the LED should flash green. It is acceptable for the LED to flash red occasionally with loud speech. If the microphones are placed close together the voice test should be accompanied by a “scratch” test.
Installing the DMX8 USB Mixer ! Note: When you insert the DMX8 USB Mixer CD, the Setup program will determine if your system meets the minimum software requirements for this product. If your system does not meet these requirements, the Setup program will provide onscreen instructions advising which software or upgrades are required. Make sure to print out the instructions, as you may need to use these as a reference during the installation procedure.
From the Welcome to the InstallShield Wizard dialog box click Next. 2. From the Destination Folder dialog box click Next to continue, or click Change to install to a different folder.
3. From the Ready to Install the Program dialog box click Install. Note: An installation progress box will appear briefly. 4. From the InstallShield Wizard Completed dialog box click Finish.
5. From the DMX8 Configuration Access dialog box select Yes to permit access to the current user only or No to permit access to all users. 6. To continue with the installation of the DMX8 USB Mixer: a. Ensure the DMX8 is switched off at the power outlet. b. Click OK when the power is off. 7. To complete the installation of the DMX8 USB Mixer: a. Ensure the DMX8 is connected to the computer via a USB cable. b. Power up the DMX8 by switching it on at the power outlet. c. Click OK when the power is on.
Note: The installation is not complete. Wait for the Found New Hardware Wizard dialog box for the Antex Electronics USB FTR Mixer Device and other hardware to be displayed. 8. Windows XP detects the Antex Electronics USB FTR Mixer Device and other hardware. 9. From the System Settings Change dialog box click Yes to restart your computer. IT IS IMPORTANT TO RESTART YOUR COMPUTER NOW, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT PROMPTED TO DO SO.
Configuring Windows® Multimedia Settings During the installation of the DMX8 USB Mixer, Windows multimedia settings may be configured in a way that is unsuitable for use with FTR Reporter or TheRecord Recorder. It is good practice to check the multimedia settings and make adjustments as required. These settings need to be checked for each user account that is to use FTR Reporter or TheRecord Recorder. Ensure that your stereo sound card and drivers for playback are installed and functioning properly.
Completing the Installation To complete the installation follow the instructions relevant to your recording software, FTR Reporter or TheRecord Recorder. TheRecord Recorder To complete the installation of the DMX8 USB Mixer: 1. Ensure that the DMX8 USB Mixer is connected to the computer using the supplied Hi-Speed USB cable. 2. Install the TheRecord Recorder software. Start TheRecord Recorder, and from the Tools menu click Options. Click the Multimedia tab and select from the following settings: a.
3. Click OK and complete the Settings Wizard.
Configuring the DMX8 USB Mixer To open the DMX8 Configuration: • Click Start, point to All Programs, navigate to the DMX8 USB Mixer folder and click DMX8 Configuration. Tip: You can create a shortcut on your desktop to open the DMX8 Configuration. Controls Settings Input Select For each input select the type of input device.
Phantom Power Can be selected if a condenser microphone is connected to the input. Recording Channel For 1 channel recording switch all inputs to Recording Channel 1. For 2 channel recording switch inputs to Recording Channel 1 or 2 as required. For 4 channel recording switch inputs to Recording Channels 1-4 as required. Monitor Channel Select the Monitor channel that the input will be mixed to. Input Level Adjust the level of each input.
Adjusting Levels It is important to adjust the DMX8 USB Mixer inputs and outputs to achieve optimum audio recording levels. The steps below describe the process that should be used for all inputs and outputs to achieve this. The Input Levels must be adjusted before adjusting the Recording Channel Levels or the Monitor Channel Levels. Adjusting Input Levels: 1. Connect microphones or line sources to the DMX8 USB Mixer inputs. 2.
c. Adjust these sliders so that when talking loudly into a microphone at a distance of 12 inches or providing a line level signal of peak amplitude, the meters light all bars including the occasional red bar at the top of the scale. It is important to get this setting as high as possible with only occasional indications of the red bar lighting. Adjusting Monitor Channel Levels: 1. Use the Monitor Channel Buttons to select the monitor outputs for each input.
Scenes With the DMX8 Configuration you can save and open different configuration ‘scenes’, making the DMX8 USB Mixer quick to configure for different situations. Saving a scene: 1. Click the Save As… button on the DMX8 Configuration. 2. From the Save As… dialog box select a save location from the Save in: list and enter a File name for the scene. Click Save. Note: The file is saved with a file extension .scene.
Opening a scene: 1. Click the Open button on the DMX8 Configuration. 2. From the Open dialog box use the Look in: list to navigate to the scenes save location and click the required scene. Click Open.
About DMX8 Configuration If you need to contact your vendor about a problem operating the DMX8 USB Mixer, you may be asked to supply the version number. To locate the version number from DMX8 Configuration: 3. Click the ForTheRecord icon in the title bar to show the system menu and click About DMX8 Configuration…. 4. From the About DMX8 Configuration dialog box note the version information and then click OK to close the dialog box. To locate the version number from DMX8 Meter: 1.
2. Page 20 From the About DMX8 Meter dialog box note the version information and then click OK to close the dialog box.
DMX8 Meter The DMX8 Meter displays the recording input level while recording is in progress using FTR Reporter or TheRecord Recorder. The Meter allows users who are not permitted access to the DMX8 Configuration to monitor recording levels. The DMX8 Meter can be started by double-clicking the DMX8 Meter icon on your desktop.
Troubleshooting The following information is a guide to solving simple problems that you may encounter during the installation, testing and normal operation of the DMX8 USB Mixer and associated equipment. If you cannot solve the problem using this information contact your vendor. Issue Steps to Correct The power LED on the front panel is not lit. Check the power cable is firmly plugged into the power socket. Check the cable is plugged into the power outlet and that power is switched on.
Issue Steps to Correct Hum or buzz in the recording. Usually caused by electrical interference to the microphones or cables. Ensure all cables and microphones are moved away from possible sources of interference such as computers, monitors, mixers and lighting. If the problem persists disconnect all microphone cables. Re-connect each microphone cable until the buzz returns. Replace the cable and/or microphone that introduces the buzz. Low recording level on one channel.
Specifications Analog Inputs Quantity 8 Connector XLR-F Input Levels -60 to +10 dBu (0.775mv to 2.5VRMS) Input Impedance 1k ohms Phantom Power Software enabled by channel, +12V THD+N 0.025% condition: -30dBu input (25mV RMS) CMRR 80dB Frequency Response 20 to 20kHz ± 3dB DR Compression Available Noise Gating Available Trim Control Software controllable, >90dB range, 0.
Audio Monitor Outputs Monitor (All) Balanced +20dBu nominal full scale output level, ¼” TRS Monitor 1 Unbalanced RCA, 2VRMS nominal full scale output level Monitor 2 Unbalanced RCA, 2VRMS nominal full scale output level Monitor 3 Unbalanced RCA, 2VRMS nominal full scale output level Monitor 4 Unbalanced RCA, 2VRMS nominal full scale output level Trim Control Software controllable, >90dB range, 0.
Page 26 8 Rear Panel POWER 7 DMX8 USB Mixer Front Panel 6 ForTheRecord 5 INPUTS 4 1 3 2 2 3 1 Ch 4 Ch 3 Ch 2 Ch 1 MONITOR 5 Input Levels 4 All 6 USB 8 ANTEX ELECTRONICS UN2468-3 50-60Hz 25 WATTS 115/230V 7 FTR Pty Ltd Appendix A Diagram 1 – DMX8 Front and Rear Panels
Index Audio Level LED............................................ 4 Completing the Installation ........................... 11 Configuration Controls..................................................... 13 Driver Installation ........................................... 5 FTR Reporter ................................................ 11 FTR Settings Wizard..................................... 11 Installation....................................................... 2 Cables.......................................
