USB 500 RACK™ 500 SERIES COMPUTER AUDIO INTERFACE (optional 500 Series modules not included) OWNER’S MANUAL
USB 500 Rack Safety Declarations CAUTION: For protection against electric shock, do not remove the cover. No user serviceable parts inside. WARNING: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment.
Owner’s Manual Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION 5 2.0 FRONT PANEL 2.1 Four Slots 2.2 Power Button 2.3 Headphone Amps 2.4 Volume, Mono and Dim 6 6 6 6 7 3.0 REAR PANEL 3.1 Module Input Source Switch 3.2 USB Source Switch 3.3 Link Switch 3.4 Analog Outputs 1 & 2 3.5 S/PDIF I/O 3.6 Word Clock I/O 3.7 MIDI I/O 7 7 8 8 9 9 9 9 4.0 OPERATING MODES 4.1 Channel Strip Mode 4.2 XLR Line level Inputs 4.3 Hardware Inserts 9 9 10 11 5.0 INSTALLATION 5.
USB 500 Rack Table of Contents (CONTINUED) 6.0 SPECIFICATIONS 16 7.0 WARRANTY & SERVICE 7.1 Limited Warranty 7.
Owner’s Manual 1.0 Introduction The USB 500 Rack is a 4-slot, 500 series receiving frame with an integrated USB 2.0 audio interface. However the receiving frame functions can work like any other frame without using any of the audio interface features. Similarly no 500 series modules are required for the audio interface functions of the product to work properly. There are four basic ways to use the product: 1. Standard receiving frame A. XLR input feeds the module, module feeds the XLR output. B.
USB 500 Rack B. The XLR inputs can be used as +4 line level inputs to the DAW with no modules installed. 3. Recording the module outputs to the DAW A. Use four microphone preamp modules to record four micro phones to four individual tracks in the DAW. B. Use one microphone preamp module and up to three process ing modules in “Chain mode” as a channel strip to record one microphone to one track in the DAW. 4. Hardware inserts A.
Owner’s Manual VOLUME, MONO & DIM The volume knob controls the level of analog outputs 1 & 2. These outputs would normally be connected to powered studio monitors. The signal feeding these outputs comes from the main outputs of the DAW. The MONO button is used to sum the stereo outputs to mono. This is helpful when checking mix balance. Pressing the DIM button will lower the output level of analog outputs 1 & 2 by 20dB.
USB 500 Rack USB SOURCE SWITCH This switch determines what signal is sent to the USB stream to appear as hardware inputs to your DAW. If the switch is set to “MOD” then the output of that module becomes a hardware input to your DAW. If the switch is set to “XLR,” the signal present at the XLR input becomes the hardware input to your DAW. This second mode can be useful when no modules are present or when you wish to bypass a module, using the XLR inputs as line level inputs.
Owner’s Manual ANALOG OUTPUTS 1 & 2 These balanced TRS 1/4” outputs would normally be connected to a pair of powered studio monitors. The output level is controlled by the front panel volume knob. S/PDIF INPUT & OUTPUT The coaxial, 75-Ohm digital input allows you to record 24-bit digital signals in to your DAW at sample rates up to 96kHz. The coaxial, 75-Ohm digital output allows you to send an assigned pair of DAW outputs to another digital device.
USB 500 Rack Slot 1 MODULE INPUT SOURCE set to “XLR.” Slot 2 MODULE INPUT SOURCE set to “MOD 1.” Slot 3 MODULE INPUT SOURCE set to “MOD 2. Slot 4 MODULE INPUT SOURCE set to “MOD 3.” This sends the microphone input to module 1. The mic pre output is sent to the compressor; the compressed mic pre signal is sent to the EQ. The compressed and EQ’d mic pre signal is sent to the Exciter. The output of the Exciter can be sent to a single DAW track and the XLR output of slot 4.
Owner’s Manual HARDWARE INSERTS The USB 500 Rack can be used as an easy way to process DAW tracks or busses with 500 series analog modules. Simply select the proper hardware slot inputs and outputs on the track or buss insert within your DAW. Then set the MODULE INPUT SOURCE switches to “USB” and the USB SOURCE switches to “MOD.” This will send the signal from the DAW track or buss, convert it to analog, process the signal, convert the signal back to digital and return the signal to the DAW.
USB 500 Rack DRIVERS AND FIRMWARE All drivers required by the USB 500 Rack are available for download from the Aphex website. Be sure that you download and install the most up-todate drivers before you connect the USB 500 Rack to your computer. If you don’t have Internet access, drivers are on the CD-ROM included in the box. MAC OS ONLY: USB 500 Rack does not require special drivers on OSX. Just connect USB 500 Rack to the Mac with a high quality USB cable and it will be recognized automatically.
Owner’s Manual Additional Windows 7 notes: The UI Theme must be sent to Windows Basic for best performance. Right-click on the desktop and select “Personalize” to change this. USB CONNECTION The USB 500 Rack has a single USB 2.0 port on the rear panel. Once the software installation is complete, simply connect the USB 500 Rack to your computer using the USB cable provided. Note that USB 500 Rack is a USB 2.0 device, and thus the USB connection requires a USB 2.0 compatible port on your computer.
USB 500 Rack S/PDIF 1 S/PDIF 2 NOTES to Pro Tools 9, 10 and 11 users: When switching to the USB 500 Rack from another interface, you must have that interface connected when launching Pro Tools for the first time with the USB 500 Rack connected. Once Pro Tools has recognized it, the other interface may be left connected or disconnected. Pro Tools will not launch properly if the interface it is expecting is not connected.
Owner’s Manual • Open a new session and select “Stereo Mix” in the I/O Settings drop down menu. Once this is done the USB 500 Rack should work with your Pro Tools system. 5.1 USING USB 500 RACK WITH IPAD The Aphex USB 500 Rack has been tested and found to work with iPad-2 and iPad-4 running iOS version 6.1.3 and using the Apple Camera Connection kit and the Lightning to USB Camera Adapter. USB 500 Rack was tested with the following apps: • Apple GarageBand for iOS version 1.4 (180.
USB 500 Rack 6.0 Specifications USB 500 Rack Audio Performance Results August 13, 2013 Audio Path (un-wtd) SNR (A-wtd) SNR (@–1dBFS) THD+N Max Level Module 1-4 ADC 112 dB 115 dB 0.001 % 26dBu Module 1-4 DAC 107 dB 110 dB 0.002 % 26dBu Main Out 107 dB 110 dB 0.002 % 26dBu 107 dB 110 dB < 0.
Owner’s Manual 7.1 LIMITED WARRANTY PERIOD One year from date of original purchase. SCOPE All defects in materials and workmanship. The following are not covered: • Voltage conversions. • Units on which the serial number has been defaced, modified or removed. • Damage or deterioration resulting from: Installation and/or removal of the unit; Accident, misuse, neglect, unauthorized product modification; Failure to follow instructions in the Owner’s Manual, User Guide or other official Aphex documentation.
USB 500 Rack 7.2 SERVICE INFORMATION If it becomes necessary to return this unit for repair, you must first contact Aphex LLC for a Return Authorization (RMA number), which will need to be included with your shipment for proper identification. If available, repack this unit in its original carton and packing material. Otherwise, pack the equipment in a strong carton containing at least 2 inches of padding on all sides. Be sure the unit cannot shift around inside the carton.
Owner’s Manual This page left intentionally blank (except for this note).
USB 500 RACK OWNER’S MANUAL Copyright © 2013 by Aphex LLC. All rights reserved. Aphex LLC, 3500 N. San Fernando Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505 USA PH: (818) 767-2929 FAX: (818) 767-2641 www.aphex.com Rev.
