Apogee Symphony I/O Mk II User’s Guide ! Version 1.
Contents Overview ......................................................5 Introduction .............................................................................................................5 Features ..................................................................................................................5 Package Contents .................................................................................................. 6 Register your product : apogeedigital.com/register ....................
2x6 Analog + AES + 8 Optical Module .................................................................. 20 8x8 Analog + 8 AES/Optical IO Module .................................................................21 16x16 Analog IO Module.......................................................................................22 Incompatible I/O Modules .....................................................................................22 Option Card Slot .........................................................
System Requirements ........................................................................................... 45 Factory Hardware Reset / Initialize ........................................................................45 Technical Details ...................................................................................................46 General Details ......................................................................................................46 Additional Support .........................
Overview Introduction Symphony I/O Mk II is a multi-channel audio interface featuring Apogee’s newest flagship AD/DA conversion, modular I/O (up to 32 inputs and outputs), intuitive touchscreen display and optional world-class microphone preamps. Designed to deliver professional sound quality for audio recording, mixing and mastering, Symphony I/O is the ultimate music production centerpiece for any modern studio.
Package Contents • • • • Symphony I/O Mk II 3 pin-IEC power cable QuickStart Guide Warranty Booklet Register your product : apogeedigital.
Symphony I/O Mk II Panel Tour Front Panel 1 1 2 3 4 5 16 27 38 49 2 510 6 11 3 7 12 4 813 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 914 1015 1116 1217 1318 1419 15201 16 2 17 3 18 4 19 520 6 1. Headphone Output a. 1/4” TRS connection provides an assignable stereo headphone output 17 18 19 7 8 9 2. Touchscreen a. Symphony I/O’s front panel touchscreen offers convenient access to every setting b. Routing and the low latency Mixer can only be controlled in Apogee Maestro software 3.
Getting Started Before powering on, ensure that any speakers or amplifiers connected to Symphony’s analog outputs are powered off or the volume is turned down to the minimum setting. This will prevent potential damage to your speakers and other equipment from “pops” that may occur as the unit boots up. 1. 2. 3. Power off speakers Power Symphony On Power on speakers.
Symphony I/O Mk II Software System Requirements Symphony I/O Mk II Thunderbolt Thunderbolt port-equipped Apple Mac, 4GB memory required, 8GB recommended Mac OS X Mavericks 10.9.5 or greater Download and Install Software Before using your Symphony I/O, you must download the latest Symphony I/O Mk II Software Installer from Apogee’s website here: www.apogeedigital.com/support/symphony-io-mk-ii The download comes in the form of a .dmg image file. Open it to view the contents.
Update Symphony Firmware The first time Symphony is used after the software installation, you will likely need to update the firmware. Warning: Do not disconnect power or interrupt the firmware update process before it is complete as this may damage the unit. 1. Make sure Symphony is connected to the computer and is powered on. 2. Open the Symphony Firmware Updater.app which is located in the Mac’s Applications > Utilities folder. 3. Select “Update” and follow any prompts that may appear.
Navigating The Front Panel Touchscreen Most Symphony I/O settings can be controlled from the front panel. For full control over all settings, use the Maestro software. Swipe to navigate You can swipe the screen left or right to access any of the main sections; HOME, MONITOR, INPUT, OUTPUT, DIGITAL I/O, SETTINGS. Swiping can be disabled in SETTINGS. Tap section icons to navigate You can also directly select any of the section icons on the bottom of the screen to jump directly to a section.
Touchscreen Section Overview HOME Sample Rate, Clock Source, Headphone & Speaker output levels, Meters for all I/O, and section navigation MONITOR Headphone & speaker output levels, mute, dim, sum to mono, headphone output selection, speaker set selection and section navigation INPUT LEVEL Analog input reference levels, calibration, Soft Limit, mic pre parameters (when 8 channel mic preamp module is installed) OUTPUT LEVEL Analog output reference levels, calibration and section navigation DIGITAL I/O D
Getting Started with Audio Software Select Symphony for Mac System Sound Output To route audio from general audio applications such as iTunes and Safari through Symphony I/O, it must be selected as the output device in Mac System Preferences. Make sure you have already installed the most recent Symphony I/O Mk II Software from the Apogee website before proceeding. 1. Click the icon in the upper-left corner of your Mac’s display. 3. In the System Preferences control panel, select “Sound” ! 2.
Route Mac System Sound to Different Outputs 1. Open the Audio/MIDI Setup Utility, found in the Applications > Utilities folder of your Mac ! 2. In the Audio Devices window, [Control+click] on Apogee Symphony Thunderbolt. 3. In the Menu that appears, select “Configure Speakers”. 4. If playing a stereo audio file, select the Stereo tab. If playing a multi-channel audio file, select the Multichannel tab. 5. Select the desired Symphony output channel for each speaker assignment.
Select Symphony in your DAW Most professional applications have their own audio preferences that are separate from the Mac System Preferences. Basic steps for setting up Symphony are provided. For more detail on this topic, refer to the documentation that comes with your recording program. Select Symphony in Logic Pro X Select Symphony in Pro Tools 1. Go to Logic Pro X > Preferences > Audio. 1. Go to Setup > Playback Engine. 2.
Monitoring the Input Signal Using your DAW to Monitor By default, Symphony is configured for your recording software or DAW to perform the monitoring duty of passing your input signal on to your output. Enable Input Monitoring in Logic Pro X Enable Input Monitoring in Pro Tools 1. Open Logic Pro X > Preferences > Audio • In Pro Tools Native, record enable the track to activate input monitoring. ! ! 2. Make sure the box next to “Software Monitoring” is checked.
Using Symphony’s Low Latency Mixers If you do not have any recording software open, or do not want to use it’s monitoring function due to issues such as high latency (see “Understanding Latency” on page 40), then you can use one of the Low-Latency Maestro Mixers built into Symphony to monitor your signal instead. Low Latency Monitoring 1. Open Maestro and select the Output Routing tab (or use the keyboard combination [⌘+5]) 2.
Main Features I/O Modules The Symphony I/O Mk II has a configurable chassis allowing it the flexibility for use in any environment. Two module slots can be filled by any combination of several I/O modules providing a solution for everyone.
16x16 Mk II Module Provides 16 channels of analog input and output. Digital Coaxial RCA S/PDIF ports are also provided. - SPDIF IN replaces a pair of analog or digital audio inputs. Routing of the S/PDIF input is set with the S/PDIF Replaces drop down menu, found in the Apogee Maestroʼs Input tab window. - SPDIF OUT will duplicate any pair of analog or digital audio outputs. Routing of the S/PDIF Output is set with the S/ PDIF Mirrors drop down menu, found in the Apogee Maestroʼs Output tab window.
2x6 Analog + AES + 8 Optical Module Provides up to 12 channels of audio input, and up to 16 channels of audio output. INPUTS 2-channels of analog input via balanced XLR connectors 2-channels of AES digital audio input via XLR female connector Up to 8-channels of digital audio input via Optical connector SPDIF 44.1 - 192k Sample Rates - 2 channels ADAT 44.1 - 48k Sample Rates - 8 channels SMUX 88.
8x8 Analog + 8 AES/Optical IO Module Provides a total of 16 channels of audio input and output: - 8 channels of analog input and 8 channels of analog output - 8 channels of digital input and 8 channels of digital output through either the AES DB25 connector (Yamaha Pin-out configuration), or Optical ports To select either Optical or AES digital audio: 1. Toggle the DIG I/O button to the desired position 2.
16x16 Analog IO Module Provides 16 channels of analog input and output. Digital Coaxial RCA S/PDIF ports are also provided. - SPDIF IN replaces a pair of analog or digital audio inputs. Routing of the S/PDIF input is set with the S/PDIF Replaces drop down menu, found in the Apogee Maestroʼs Input tab window. - SPDIF OUT will duplicate any pair of analog or digital audio outputs. Routing of the S/PDIF Output is set with the S/ PDIF Mirrors drop down menu, found in the Apogee Maestroʼs Output tab window.
Option Card Slot The Symphony I/O Mk II has an option card slot for further expansion capabilities. Pro Tools HD Option Card The Pro Tools HD option card enables the Symphony I/O Mk II to connect directly to a Pro Tools HD System. Any Pro Tools HD System that is compatible with an AVID HD I/O will be compatible with a Symphony I/O Mk II.
Monitor Control Center Symphony I/O Mk II is equipped with several monitoring features to provide for your monitoring needs. How to set the Monitor Outputs as a fixed Line-Out This setting changes the Monitor Outputs from a variable volume controlled by the control knob to a fixed output at the full +4dBu or -10dBV reference level. This setting is convenient for connecting Symphony to an external monitor control device such as a mixer or control center. 1.
How to connect and configure a Surround Speaker Setup When using Symphony with a surround speaker setup, the first set of outputs can be configured as speaker outputs suitable for connection to a 5.1, 6.1, or 7.1 speaker system depending on which I/O module is installed in slot 1. With this configuration, turning the control knob will adjust all applicable line-outputs simultaneously. 1. Connect your speakers to Symphony’s outputs 1 - 6 A standard 5.
Adjust for Volume Differences Between Speakers There may be cases where the perceived volume of one of two or three speaker sets, or a speaker in a surround setup, is slightly different from the others. The output Trim controls in Maestro can be used to compensate for this so all speakers produce the same perceived volume levels. 1. Open Maestro and select the Output tab window. ! 2. Select the “Show Trims” button.
Setup Headphone/Speaker Mixes via Maestro Mixer Since there are four low-latency mixers in Maestro, these can send different mixes to the various Symphony audio outputs. For example, send one mix to the Line 1/2 output to your speakers, and a different mix to the Headphone output. 1. Open Maestro and click the Output Routing tab (or use the keyboard combination [⌘+5]) 2.
Clocking with External Equipment When connecting digital audio cables between Symphony and another digital audio device, a clocking relationship must also be set. Whether connecting two or more devices, one must be set as the clock master, and all other devices must be set as clock slaves. Configure Symphony as Clock Master 1. Open Maestro and select the “System Setup” tab (or use the keyboard combination ⌘+7]). 2. In the Clocking section, set Clock Source to “Internal”. ! 3.
Configure Symphony as Clock Slave 1. Set the external device as the clock master. 2. Connect a digital audio cable (optical or coaxial) out of the external device and into Symphony. Or connect a BNC Word Clock* cable out of the external gear to Symphony’s BNC IN port. 3. Open Maestro and select the “System Setup” tab (or use the keyboard combination ⌘+7]). 4. In the Clocking Section, set Clock Source to the appropriate external connection.
Maestro Apogee Maestro is a controller software for your Symphony Thunderbolt. Though you do not need Maestro open to use your Symphony Thunderbolt, it provides access to all of Symphony’s settings and parameters. It’s level meters are also a useful diagnostic tool to see which inputs and outputs are receiving and sending signal. Maestro Features While only basic settings may be made from the front panel controls, all Symphony features are available and can be controlled from Apogee Maestro software.
Input Tab Window Settings for Symphony’s analog and digital inputs are found in the input tab. 1 1 2 1 2 1 3 2 4 3 5 4 6 5 7 6 8 7 9 8 10 9 11 10 12 11 13 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1 4 2 5 3 6 4 7 5 8 6 9 7 10 14 17 15 18 16 19 17 20 18 12 23 34 45 6 5 7 6 87 98 109 1110 12 11 13 12 14 13 15 14 16 1517 1618 1719 20 18 19 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 16 17 1.
Mic Pre Module Input Tab When a Mic Pre I/O module is installed and Analog Level is set to Mic or Instrument, the following additional controls become available: 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 22 2 33 3 2 2 3 44 3 3 3 4 55 5 4 4 5 666 4 5 5 6 777 5 6 6 7 88 8 6 7 7 7 8 8 8 9 8 9 9 9 10 10 10 10 11 11 12 11 11 12 12 12 13 13 14 13 13 14 15 14 14 15 16 15 15 16 17 16 16 17 18 17 17 18 19 18 18 19 19 19 20 20 20 20 99 9 1010 10 11 1111 121212 1313131414141515 151616
Output Tab Window Settings and controls for Symphony’s analog and digital outputs are found in the Output tab.
Speaker & Headphone Controls The following settings control the configuration and level of the rear panel analog outputs and front panel headphone output. - Controls the speaker output level. 1. Speaker Level 2. Analog Out Format - Sets the format of the analog outputs. 1 • Line: Output 1/2 are configured as line outputs. Functions such as level control, Mute, Dim, and Sum to Mono are disabled. • Stereo: Output 1/2 are configured as speaker outputs (with all monitor functions available).
Input Routing Tab Window The Input Routing tab window determines how Symphony I/O hardware inputs are routed to audio software inputs. The Input Routing window determines how Symphony’s physical hardware inputs are routed to these software inputs 1. Hardware Inputs Columns - The hardware analog and digital inputs of all peripherals connected to Symphony are displayed in these columns. 2. Software Inputs Rows - Available audio software inputs are displayed in these rows in pairs (1-2, 3-4, etc.) 3.
Output Routing Tab Window The number of output channels that appear to audio programs in the computer is determined by Symphony’s Core Audio driver. The Output Routing tab window determines how these software outputs are routed to Symphony’s physical hardware outputs. 1. Hardware Outputs Columns - The hardware analog and digital outputs of all peripherals connected to Symphony are displayed in these columns. 2.
Mixer Tab Window The Maestro Mixer provides a low latency patch from Symphony’s inputs to its outputs. This is useful for when latency through software audio applications are too long, but also when wanting to monitor your input signal without needing to have an audio software application open at all.
Mixer Tab Window (Continued) 8. Software Return - This stereo input channel draws signal from your software audio application. Use the drop down menu to select which stereo pair from software is heard through the mixer. 9. Mixer Master - This section of the mixer provides level control and metering for the mixer’s output. System Setup Tab Window In most cases, Symphony hardware interface is part of a larger Mac-based audio system.
Menu Bar Menus ! About Apogee Maestro - Choose this menu item to display version information for all the hardware connected and software elements installed on your Mac. Preferences - Choose this menu item to display Maestro’s Preference panel. • Launch Maestro automatically when connecting a device - This launches Maestro when an Apogee device is connected to the computer.
Reference Understanding Latency What is latency? When recording with most computer-based digital audio applications, a delay between the input and output of the recording system often disturbs the timing of the musicians who are performing. This delay, known at latency, means that the musician hears the notes he produces a few milliseconds after having produced them.
How does Maestro resolve latency? By routing the hardware input directly to the hardware output and mixing in playback as shown in Figure B, it’s possible to create a headphone listening signal with a much shorter delay.
A lower Buffer setting results in lower latency but less available processing power. If the application can’t access enough processor power, processor overruns may occur, resulting in audible clicks and pops or error messages that interrupt playback and recording. A higher Buffer setting, on the other hand, results in greater amount of accessible processor power (i.e. less chance of overruns) but increases the latency.
Pin Out Diagrams Analog and Inserts Pinout for Analog IN and INSERTS RETURN 1-8 (ic Pre I/O Module) ! Pinout for Analog OUT and INSERTS SEND 1-8 (Mic Pre I/O Module) ! SYMPHONY I/O MK II - USER’S GUIDE Page 43
AES IN/OUT ! SYMPHONY I/O MK II - USER’S GUIDE Page 44
Specifications System Requirements • Computer: Intel Thunderbolt™ Equipped Mac • Memory: 4GB RAM minimum, 8GB recommended • OS X 10.9.5 or later • Thunderbolt cable *Thunderbolt and the Thunderbolt logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. The Mini DisplayPort, featured on many pre-Thunderbolt Macs, is the exact same size as the Thunderbolt port but does NOT support Thunderbolt devices.
Technical Details Technical Specifications Analog to Digital THD + N: -114dB @22dBu (0.00020%) Dynamic Range: 122dB (A-weighted) Max Input Level: (+4dBu ref): +24dBu Max Input Level: (-10dBV ref): +6dBv Frequency Response @ 44.1kHz sample rate: 10 - 20kHz (+/- 0.05dB) Input Impedance: 10K Digital to Analog THD + N: -117dB Dyn Range: 129dB (A-weighted) Max Output Levels: ∞ to +24dBu Frequency Response @ 44.1kHz sample rate: DC to 20kHz (+/- 0.
Additional Support General Support For more information: • Apogee KnowledgeBase and FAQs • Apogee Product Registration • How to contact Apogee Technical Support Visit: http://www.apogeedigital.com/support/ Apogee Pro Care Want priority access and expedited repair? Consider an Apogee ProCare membership. It’s never been easier to get back to work. As a ProCare member you’ll have premium access to Apogee’s world-class technical support group for the life of your agreement.
Warranty Information and Legal Notices Symphony Warranty Information and Legal Notices Registration and Warranty Information Be sure to register your Symphony I/O Mk II by completing the on-line registration form at our Web site: www.apogeedigital.com/support/contact-support If you do so, Apogee can contact you with any update information. As enhancements and upgrades are developed, you will be contacted at the registration address.
In the event your Symphony needs to be upgraded or repaired, it is necessary to contact Apogee prior to shipping, and a Return Materials Authorization (RMA) number will be assigned. This number will serve as a reference for you and helps facilitate and expedite the return process. Apogee requires that shipments be pre-paid and insured — unless otherwise authorized in advance. IMPORTANT: ANY SHIPMENT THAT IS NOT PRE-PAID OR IS SENT WITHOUT AN RMA NUMBER WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits of a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
