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Owner’s Manual Version 2.
Important Safety Instructions 1. Read Instructions – Be sure to read all of the safety and operating instructions before operating this product. 2. Retain Instructions – The safety instructions and owner's manual should be retained for future reference. 3. Heed Warnings – All warnings on your Echo product and in the Owner's Manual should be followed. 4. Follow Instructions – All operating and use instructions should be followed. 5.
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©2009 by Echo Digital Audio Corporation 6450 Via Real Carpinteria, CA 93013 Echo® and AudioFire™ are trademarks of Echo Digital Audio Corporation. FireWire® is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Windows®, Windows XP®, Windows Vista® and Windows 7® are registered trademarks of Microsoft, Inc.
INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................9 WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED IN THE BOX .................................................9 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS .......................................................................................10 INSTALLATION ...................................................................................................11 LOG IN AS ADMINISTRATOR .........................................................
SURROUND SOUND PLAYBACK..............................................................................41 Stereo versus surround sound modes...............................................................41 Windows XP configuration ..............................................................................42 Windows Vista/Windows 7 configuration........................................................42 Application configuration ................................................................................
Introduction Introduction Thank you for choosing Echo Digital Audio. We think you’ll find your Echo product to be an extremely flexible, high-performance tool for your computerbased hard disk recording system.
Introduction System Requirements In order to use AudioFire 2, AudioFire 4, AudioFire 8, AudioFire Pre8 or AudioFire 12 you’ll need the following: • A desktop or laptop computer with: • • • • Windows XP Service Pack 3 or newer operating system An unused FireWire port A minimum 256Mb of RAM (512Mb highly recommended) A fast, high-capacity IDE, SATA, or FireWire hard disk drive • Peripheral audio equipment, such as a mixer, microphones, studio monitors, musical instruments, etc.
Installation Installation Complete installation consists of logging in as an administrator, installing the Windows drivers into your system, connecting the audio interface to a FireWire port and then connecting your AudioFire to any other peripheral audio equipment. Log In as Administrator To install your Echo product you must be logged into your computer as an Administrator. You can either log in with the account called “Administrator” or with any other account that has administrative privileges.
Installation Installing the AudioFire Hardware and Software Now that you have logged in as an administrator you are ready to install your AudioFire product in your computer. 1. Install the drivers. You should do this before connecting the AudioFire interface to the FireWire port on your computer. Insert the AudioFire Install CD-ROM into your machine. The main install window should automatically appear. If it does not, simply go to “My Computer,” and double-click on your CD-ROM drive icon.
Installation 5. Windows should find new hardware called “AudioFire” and begin to install the drivers. You should select the options “No, not this time,” “Install the software automatically,” and then click the “Continue anyway” and “Finish” buttons. This is done automatically in Vista/Windows 7. Note: Microsoft has not digitally signed this version of the WDM driver. You will need to confirm that you want to install an unsigned driver in Windows XP. The Driver has been signed for Windows Vista/Windows 7.
Connecting to the Audio Interface Connecting to the Audio Interface The AudioFire 2, AudioFire 4, AudioFire 8, AudioFire Pre8 and AudioFire 12 audio interfaces contain a wide variety of connections that allow great flexibility in operation. For optimal performance, it is critical to use the appropriate cabling and connectors.
Connecting to the Audio Interface Analog Inputs and Outputs – AudioFire 4 AudioFire 4’s front panel has two universal inputs (1 – 2) with meters and trim knobs, a phantom power indicator (+48v), and a power button with an amber power indicator light. There is also an 1/8” stereo headphone output jack, with a corresponding volume knob, which monitors analog outputs 1 and 2. AudioFire 4 has two analog line inputs (3 – 4) and four analog line outputs on the rear panel.
Connecting to the Audio Interface headphone output jack, with a corresponding volume knob, which monitors analog outputs 1 and 2. AudioFire 8 has six analog line inputs (3 – 8) and eight analog line outputs on the rear panel. These analog inputs (3 – 8) operate with an input impedance of 10Kohms. The input and output connections can be used with balanced or unbalanced cables via the ¼” connectors. By default, the inputs and outputs are set to receive or send a +4dBu signal.
Connecting to the Audio Interface The new AudioFire 8 (as of July 2009) now has optical S/PDIF and ADAT I/O, in addition to coaxial S/PDIF. Analog Inputs and Outputs – AudioFire Pre8 AudioFire Pre8’s front panel has two universal inputs (1 – 2) with meters and trim knobs. Inputs 1 – 2 also have Phase, 80Hz, Pad, LoZ, DI and phantom power buttons with corresponding LEDS.
Connecting to the Audio Interface The rear panel has universal inputs 3 – 8, line outputs 1 – 8, 2 channel inserts, MIDI i/o, S/PDIF i/o, ADAT i/o, BNC WordClock connectors, and two FireWire connectors. AudioFire Pre8 Analog Inputs 1 – 2 Microphone and Line Buttons Analog inputs 1 – 2 each have 6 associated buttons: Phase, 80Hz, Pad, LoZ, DI and +48V (phantom power). Microphone buttons: Ø (Phase): Inverts the polarity of the signal. Useful for miking drums, etc.
Connecting to the Audio Interface Universal Inputs – AudioFire 4, AudioFire 8 and AudioFire Pre8 The universal input connections can accept balanced or unbalanced signals via ¼” or XLR connectors. Since your AudioFire has built-in preamps, you can just plug your microphone or guitar cable right into the universal input. No external preamp, direct box, or mixer is needed! To use a microphone, plug the microphone’s XLR cable into any of the universal inputs.
Connecting to the Audio Interface For optimal audio quality, you should adjust the input trim knob so that your loudest recorded signal lights up the yellow light, but not the red. When the red meter light shines extra bright – you’ve clipped! If the signal level ever exceeds 0dBFS the signal will be “clipped” and you will hear a “pop” or “tick” in the recording.
Connecting to the Audio Interface By default, the inputs and outputs are set to receive or send a +4dBu signal. You can switch between +4dBu and –10dBV for each individual input and output via the console software. (See section below). The FireWire Connector On the rear panel of each AudioFire interface box is a pair of connectors with the FireWire symbol above them.
Connecting to the Audio Interface When connecting devices to the S/PDIF jacks, the use of standard analog RCA audio cables is not recommended. For reliable S/PDIF operation, 75-ohm coaxial (RG59) video cables are recommended. Optical S/PDIF and ADAT (2009 AudioFire 8 and AudioFire Pre8) The 2009 AudioFire 8 and AudioFire Pre8 are equipped with Optical S/PDIF and ADAT. There is a digital mode switch in the Echo console which lets you choose the digital format that you prefer.
Connecting to the Audio Interface MIDI and S/PDIF Dongle (AudioFire 2) To conserve the space on your AudioFire 2, the MIDI and S/PDIF ports are located on an external cable included with your AudioFire 2. This cable connects to the MiniDIN connector on the back of your AudioFire 2. This cable can be left off when you are not using MIDI or S/PDIF. The S/PDIF and MIDI ports are labeled IN and OUT on the dongle.
Connecting to the Audio Interface Word Clock (AudioFire 8, AudioFire Pre8 and AudioFire 12) Next to the MIDI ports are the Word Clock connectors. These connectors allow you to synchronize your Echo product to any other device equipped with a Word Clock connector. The Word Clock I/O uses a BNC connector. As with the S/PDIF I/O, a shielded 75-ohm (RG-59) coaxial video cable should be used. BNC connectors have been widely used in the electronics industry for both video and computer networking.
Console Software Console A “virtual control surface” application called Console is installed with the driver. The console allows you to control the audio I/O and clocking functions of your Echo product, and it brings these controls to a single easy-to-use location. From the console you can control the output levels, select synchronization clocks and digital mode, and adjust input monitoring. The examples in this section will be for AudioFire 8.
Console Software The AudioFire 8 Console Window on Vista: Analog Out 1-2 Tab selected. Bus Select Tabs The output bus is selected by clicking on one of the tabs at the top of the console window. The above example shows the console window for AudioFire 8. Eight different output busses are shown here: four analog busses and four digital busses. Note: The digital busses are collapsed in this view. To view the digital busses, click on the left facing arrow.
Console Software tab titles will be gray. In this case “Analog 1-2” is the currently selected output bus. Clicking on an output bus tab simply selects the settings that are displayed. This means all input monitor parameters such as volume, pan, and mute only apply to the audio coming out analog outputs 1 and 2 of AudioFire 8.
Console Software output bus. These controls operate the same as the input monitor controls, except there are no pan knobs, solo buttons, or level meters. Analog Inputs The controls for the analog inputs are on the left side of the console and have the labels “ANALOG” and “1” through “8” at the top. There is one strip, or input channel, corresponding to each of AudioFire 8’s eight physical analog inputs.
Console Software The AudioFire 8 Console Window on Vista: Analog Out 3-4 Tab selected. Note that since the Analog 3-4 tab is selected you are no longer looking at the input monitor and output controls for analog outputs 1 and 2. You are now looking at the controls for analog outputs 3 and 4. However, you can still see the input signal on the input level meters for Analog input 1-2.
Console Software Moving down the input channel strip you find the input monitor controls, starting with the input monitor pan knob. This knob changes how the input channel is monitored between the two channels of the currently selected output bus. Holding the Ctrl key and clicking on a pan knob will set it to the center position. Below each pan knob is a non-selectable green field that tells you the current setting of the pan knob.
Console Software AF 8 Console Window on Vista: Digital Out 1-2 Tab selected (expanded view). Adjusting Playback Volume Output volume adjustments are made in the digital domain. When you lower a volume fader below 0dB, you are actually decreasing the number of available bits, thereby taking away from the potential dynamic range of the system.
Console Software Nominal Levels The console buttons that are labeled “+4” or “-10” are nominal level buttons. These buttons allow you to change the nominal level settings for the analog inputs and outputs. By default, the levels are set to send a +4dBu signal. You can switch between +4dBu (professional level) and –10dBV (consumer level) for each analog output and input by clicking on the appropriate button. This feature allows you to connect either professional or consumer gear to each input and output.
Console Software The AudioFire 8 Console Window on Vista: Settings Tab selected Sample Rate in XP The sample rate for your AudioFire hardware is set here. The sample rate, also known as clock rate, affects recording and playback. For more information please refer to Appendix C: An Introduction to Digital Recording. The application or audio software you are using may change the sample rate. The settings tab gives you an easy way to see exactly what sample rate your audio is set to.
Console Software Core Audio Sample Rate - Windows Vista/Windows 7 On Windows Vista, the console displays the current sample rate as set by audio software. You can also select the sample rate used by Vista/Windows 7 Core Audio. Note that setting the sample rate for Vista/Windows 7 Core Audio will not actually change the sample rate until an audio application begins to play or record. Setting the sample rate for Vista/Windows 7 Core Audio will not affect ASIO.
Console Software S/PDIF Format AudioFire 2, AudioFire 4, AudioFire 8 and AudioFire Pre8 can transmit digital information in two formats: “professional” or “consumer.” The primary difference between the two is in the implementation of the SCMS copy protection bit, which, in the Consumer format, prevents the user from making digital copies of a digital copy. The S/PDIF output defaults to the Consumer format.
Console Software About Dialogue Box Version Information Version information for all the components of your AudioFire system is displayed in the About Dialogue Box which can be found on the Settings Tab. Simply click on the About button. Note that when the About Dialogue Box is open, you are frozen out of the console until you close this box. Copy Version Information to Clipboard The About Dialogue Box also has a button labeled "Copy to clipboard".
Console Software Flash Update The console will automatically update your firmware. If you want to re-flash your hardware to this release of the firmware, click on "Flash update". When you click this button, the console will load the current version of the firmware into the box. Note that this will also erase any settings you have saved to the flash memory.
Console Software The AudioFire 2 Console Window on Vista: Settings Tab selected System Tray Icon When you open the console, you will see an icon added to the system tray. Clicking the left mouse button on the tray icon will bring all of the console windows to the foreground.
Console Software Clicking the right mouse button on the tray icon will display a pop-up menu that will let you select individual console windows, show or hide all of the console windows, or arrange the console windows in the middle of your monitor. Console Sessions The AudioFire console supports saving and loading the state of the AudioFire device to a file, called a “session”. Sessions are stored in the “(My) Documents” folder in a sub-folder named after the device.
Console Software Core Audio Core Audio is the name for Windows Vista/Windows 7’s new audio system. You can set the sample rate and format used by Core Audio in the Sound control panel. If you open the Sound control panel, you should see one or more playback and recording devices for your Echo hardware.
Console Software ASIO and Windows Vista/Windows 7 The ASIO driver now supports Windows Vista/Windows 7’s multimedia thread scheduler (also known as MMCSS). The practical result of this is more reliable, lower latency performance. The ASIO driver will automatically use the new scheduler. Should you wish to not use the new scheduler, you can disable it by opening the ASIO control panel for the driver.
Console Software Windows XP configuration For surround sound to work correctly, you need to set the speaker configuration in the Windows control panel. Select Start/Control Panel and open the “Sounds and Audio Devices” control panel. Select the “Audio” tab; from here you can view the list of currently available audio devices. Under “Sound playback”, select the analog outputs for your AudioFire. Click the “Advanced” button – you will be presented with the Advanced Audio Properties dialog.
Console Software Multi-client Audio Multi-client audio allows multiple apps to record and playback at the same time. When using multi-client audio, be sure that all your audio applications are set to the same sample rate. You may wish to use the sample rate lock feature on the console; this prevents applications from changing the sample rate. Audio inputs are shared; any number of applications may record from the same audio input at the same time.
Console Software FireWire Analyzer The FireWire Analyzer (formerly the ASIO Analyzer) is a utility included with Echo’s AudioFire drivers. It provides detailed timing information about how ASIO applications perform with your AudioFire device. To use the analyzer, simply select “FireWire Analyzer” from the Windows Start menu (under Echo Digital Audio/AudioFire). Leave the analyzer running as you use your ASIO-compatible audio software.
Console Software ASIO wakeup The ASIO wakeup statistics shows how quickly the ASIO driver is responding to the hardware. Essentially, this measures how long it takes to inform an audio application that new audio data is available. For low-latency ASIO performance, this number should be as low as possible. If the wakeup time is more than a few tenths of a millisecond, then another driver in your system is hogging the processor and preventing your audio app from running in a timely manner.
Console Software Buffer offset These values only apply if you are using more than one AudioFire and/or RIP. This displays the buffer arrival time difference between multiple devices. Normally this should be between 0 and -.5 milliseconds. Things to watch for If you are getting glitches in your audio, use the analyzer to see if: • • • The average playback time is substantially different from the average record time The ASIO wakeup time is too long. The ASIO host time is too long.
Console Software Synchronizing External Devices Your AudioFire is designed to work alongside other audio equipment. If you are planning on using your AudioFire with other audio equipment, please note the following: You can use your AudioFire product with other audio devices outside of your computer, but in order for accurate synchronization to occur, the other audio product(s) must support a synchronization mode that is compatible with your AudioFire hardware.
Console Software Note: To preserve the high audio quality of the AudioFire 8 and AudioFire Pre8’s converters it is best to use the internal input clock setting instead of synchronizing to an external ADAT clock, which may add unwanted jitter to the signal. S/PDIF (AudioFire 2, AudioFire 4, AudioFire 8 and AudioFire Pre8) – The Sony/Phillips Digital Interchange Format is a serial bit-stream that has a clock signal embedded in the data stream.
Console Software other device. Now select Word for the other device’s input sync. The other device will slave to your AudioFire 8 and they will now operate in unison. No matter how many devices you are synchronizing, the concept is essentially the same. You are merely “daisy-chaining” devices together using compatible clocks. One device will operate as the source of the master clock, with each successive device using that clock to sync.
Customer Service Contacting Echo Customer Service If you experience any trouble with your Echo hardware please go to the support area of our website at www.echoaudio.com, and check out the “QuickTips” & FAQ’s we have there. If you can’t find a solution to your problem there, please contact technical support via email. There is an example form that can be copied and sent to our technical support staff, and they will respond to you quickly. Please fill in all the details completely.
Appendix A: Troubleshooting Guide Appendix A: General Troubleshooting Guide Problem: You are unable to install your AudioFire product under Windows 95/98/ME/2000. Solution: There is no driver support for the AudioFire products under Windows 95/98/ME/2000. As stated in the system requirements, you will need Windows XP or Mac OS X (10.3.9 or later) to use your AudioFire product. Problem: When you try to install the drivers from the CDROM, Windows gives you an error message.
Appendix A: Troubleshooting Guide Now, next time you get a blue screen, look at it. See if the crash occurred in echo1394.sys; if it did, it may be something we need to fix. Restart your computer and find the most recent .dmp file – this is the memory dump. It’s probably in a folder called “minidump” under your main Windows folder. Zip up this .dmp file and send it to techsupport@echoaudio.com along with a description of how it happened.
Appendix A: Troubleshooting Guide We have provided a software switch in the driver that allows you to select which mode AudioFire 8 transmits. To access this switch go to the console. Click on the Settings tab. In the window that appears you’ll see a pair of radio buttons in an area labeled S/PDIF Format; one radio button is labeled Consumer and the other Professional. Select the appropriate format for your DAT (if you don’t know which one to use, simply select the one that is not currently checked).
Appendix A: Troubleshooting Guide Problem: You’re syncing to an external device and suddenly you’ve lost sync. Solution: Whenever your AudioFire product is syncing to an external device and you change the sample rate in that device, you may need to reset the input clock setting in the AudioFire Console software. Just click on the appropriate input clock button to reset it. Problem: Recordings made using the S/PDIF input contain occasional pops or skips.
Appendix B: Audio Software Guide Appendix B: Audio Software Guide You can use your AudioFire product with any audio software that supports WDM, ASIO or GSIF. That’s a lot of audio software! For most of them, all you need to do is read the software manual to learn how to use them with your AudioFire product. In general, ASIO is preferred for your AudioFire product. ASIO Software Here is a partial list of pro audio software that supports ASIO: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ACID 4 or higher Audition 2.
Appendix C: An Introduction to Digital Recording Appendix C: An Introduction to Digital Recording Converting Sound into Numbers In a digital recording system, sound is represented as a series of numbers, with each number representing the voltage, or amplitude, of a sound wave at a particular moment in time. The numbers are generated by an analog-to-digital converter, or ADC, which converts the signal from an analog audio source (such as a guitar or a microphone) connected to its input into numbers.
Appendix C: An Introduction to Digital Recording Each digit in the number is called a bit. The binary numbers expressed in Figure A are sixteen bits long, and have a maximum value of 65,535. The more bits that are used to store the sampled value, the more closely it will represent the source signal. In a 16-bit system, there are 65,535 possible combinations of zeroes and ones; so 65,535 different voltages can be digitally represented. (See Figure A above). Figure B.
Appendix C: An Introduction to Digital Recording Also important to the quality of a digital recording is the frequency with which the samples are stored, called the sample rate. In order for a waveform to be faithfully digitized, it must be sampled at a minimum of twice the highest frequency to be stored. Failure to sample frequently enough results in a kind of distortion called aliasing. (If you like technical issues, do some research on the Nyquist Theorem, which explains why this happens).
Appendix C: An Introduction to Digital Recording level of analog audio signals. The most common are dBu and dBV decibels. Both of these represent voltage levels and still double for every increase of 6dB. It is only the reference point, or 0dB level that is different. A 0dBV signal has a voltage level of 1.0 volts. A 0dBu signal has a voltage level of .775 volts. Since .775 is approximately 2dB less than 1.0, converting dBV levels into dBu levels is as simple as subtracting 2dB (2.21 to be exact).
Appendix C: An Introduction to Digital Recording The above nominal levels represent typical or average levels that are often exceeded when recording loud signals such as drum beats. The difference between the nominal level and the loudest signal that can be recorded without clipping is called “headroom”. Your Echo product provides approximately 14dB of headroom allowing an 18dBu signal to be recorded.
Appendix C: An Introduction to Digital Recording are matched, any noise added to the minus component will still be approximately the same as that picked up by the plus component and will be subtracted out by the input amplifier. Your Echo product uses this type of output. Balanced signals connect with either XLR connectors or TRS (tip, ring, sleeve) connectors. Your Echo product uses XLR connectors for microphones and TRS connectors for connecting balanced (and unbalanced) line level signals.
Appendix C: An Introduction to Digital Recording read these levels, the low noise requirements of the surrounding circuitry such as power supplies and amplifiers would be so stringent that they would either be impossible or too expensive to build. In answering the second question, consider the fact that music is often compressed or amplified after it is recorded, and that some headroom is necessary when recording to avoid clipping.
Index Index A M ADAT.............................................. 47 adjusting playback levels ................ 31 analog-to-digital converter.............. 56 microphone preamp .........................19 MIDI ................................................22 MIDI time code......................... 22, 23 MTC.......................................... 22, 23 B balanced........................................... 60 buffer size........................................ 35 C CD-ROM contents ..............
