!828 Manual/Win Page 1 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM MOTU 828mkII ™ User’s Guide for Windows 1280 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138 Business voice: (617) 576-2760 Business fax: (617) 576-3609 Technical support: (617) 576-3066 Tech support fax: (617) 354-3068 Tech support email: techsupport@motu.com Web site: www.motu.
!828 Manual/Win Page 2 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR OTHER MOISTURE. CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL. WARNING: DO NOT PERMIT FINGERS TO TOUCH THE TERMINALS OF PLUGS WHEN INSTALLING OR REMOVING THE PLUG TO OR FROM THE OUTLET.
!828 Manual/Win Page iii Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM Contents 5 Quick Reference: 828mkII Front Panel 6 Quick Reference: 828mkII Rear Panel 7 Quick Reference: MOTU FireWire Audio Console 9 About the 828mkII 13 Packing List and Windows System Requirements 15 IMPORTANT! Run the 828mkII Software Installer First 17 Installing the 828mkII Hardware 35 MOTU FireWire Audio Console 41 828mkII Front Panel Operation 47 Cubase, Nuendo and Other ASIO Software 57 Sonar and other WDM Software 63 R
!828 Manual/Win Page 0 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM About the Mark of the Unicorn License Agreement and Limited Warranty on Software TO PERSONS WHO PURCHASE OR USE THIS PRODUCT: carefully read all the terms and conditions of the “click-wrap” license agreement presented to you when you install the software. Using the software or this documentation indicates your acceptance of the terms and conditions of that license agreement. Mark of the Unicorn, Inc. (“MOTU”) owns both this program and its documentation.
This is a standard quarter-inch stereo headphone jack. From the factory, its output matches the main outs on the rear panel. But it can be programmed to mirror any other output pair (digital or analog). It can even be programmed to serve as its own independent output. Use the volume knob above to control its level. These switches provide phantom power for their respective microphone input.
One special note: you can choose independent formats for the optical IN and OUT. For example, you could choose ADAT for the optical IN (for, say, eight channels of input from your digital mixer) and S/PDIF for the optical OUT (for, say, your DAT machine). These optical digital I/O connectors can be connected either to an ADAT-compatible “lightpipe” device (such as a digital mixer) or to a S/PDIF optical (“TOSLink”) compatible device, such as an effects processor or DAT machine.
!828 Manual/Win Page 7 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM Quick Reference: CHAPTER FireWire Audio Console MOTU Determines the clock source for your 828mkII. If you’re just using the analog ins and outs, set this to ‘Internal’. The other settings are for digital transfers via S/PDIF or external synchronization via the ADAT SYNC in port. Click the tabs to access general MOTU FireWire interface settings or settings specific to the 828mkII (or other connected interface.
!828 Manual/Win Page 8 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM 8
!828 Manual/Win Page 9 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM CHAPTER 1 About the 828mkII OVERVIEW The 828mkII is a computer-based hard disk recording system for Mac OS and Windows that offers 20 inputs and 22 outputs at any standard sample rate up to 96kHz. All inputs and outputs can be accessed simultaneously. The 828mkII consists of a standard 19-inch, single-space, rackmountable I/O unit that connects directly to a computer via a standard IEEE 1394 FireWire™ cable.
!828 Manual/Win Page 10 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM 20 inputs and 22 outputs All 828mkII inputs and outputs can be used simultaneously, for a total of 20 inputs and 22 outputs: Connection Input Output Analog 24-bit 96kHz on +4/-10 bal/unbal TRS 8 8 Mic preamps 24-bit 96kHz on XLR/TRS combo 2 - Main outputs 24-bit 96kHz on bal/unbal TRS - stereo Headphone output - stereo ADAT optical digital (at 44.
!828 Manual/Win Page 11 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM On-board SMPTE synchronization The 828mkII can resolve directly to SMPTE time code via the quarter-inch SMPTE input, without a separate synchronizer. A SMPTE out jack is also provided for time code generation. The 828mkII provides a DSP-driven phase-lock engine with sophisticated filtering that provides fast lockup times and sub-frame accuracy.
!828 Manual/Win Page 12 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM Headphone output and main volume control The 828mkII front panel includes a quarter-inch stereo headphone output jack and volume knob. The volume knob also controls the rear-panel main outs. Push the knob to toggle between them. The LCD display provides feedback.
!828 Manual/Win Page 13 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM CHAPTER 2 Packing List and Windows System Requirements PACKING LIST PLEASE REGISTER TODAY! The 828mkII ships with the items listed below. If any of these items are not present in your 828mkII box when you first open it, please immediately contact your dealer or MOTU. Please send in the registration card included with your 828mkII system.
!828 Manual/Win Page 14 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM 14 PACKING LIST AND WINDOWS SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
!828 Manual/Win Page 15 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM CHAPTER 3 IMPORTANT! Run the 828mkII Software Installer First OVERVIEW Install the 828mkII software first! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing the 828mkII software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MOTU FireWire Audio Console. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ASIO MOTU FireWire Audio Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The MOTU FireWire audio WDM driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
!828 Manual/Win Page 16 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM MOTU FIREWIRE AUDIO CONSOLE The MOTU FireWire Audio Console (available in the Start menu) gives you access to all of the settings in the 828mkII, such as the clock source and sample rate. For complete details, see chapter 5, “MOTU FireWire Audio Console” (page 35). For details about using Cubase VST with the 828mkII, see chapter 8, “The MOTU 828 and Other Audio SoftwareASIO-compatible Audio Software” (page 1).
!828 Manual/Win Page 17 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM CHAPTER 4 Installing the 828mkII Hardware OVERVIEW CONNECT THE 828MKII INTERFACE Here’s an overview for installing the 828mkII: 1 Plug one end of the 828mkII FireWire cable (included) into the FireWire socket on the computer as shown below in Figure 4-1. Connect the 828mkII interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Connect the 828mkII to the computer. Connect audio inputs and outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
!828 Manual/Win Page 18 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM CONNECT AUDIO INPUTS AND OUTPUTS The 828mkII audio interface has the following audio input and output connectors: ■ 8 balanced, +4 dB quarter-inch analog outputs ■ 8 balanced +4 dB quarter-inch analog inputs ■ 2 Neutrik™ XLR/quarter-inch analog inputs 2 Turn the CURSOR knob until the desired input flashes. 3 Turn (or press) the VALUE knob to toggle the input between a +4 or -10dB reference level setting.
!828 Manual/Win Page 19 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM The optical jacks can be connected to either an ADAT “lightpipe” device or an optical S/PDIF “TOSLink” device. Just make the connections as needed and then you’ll set the format later in the MOTU FireWire Audio Console. Input and output are independent. For example, you could connect ADAT optical input from your digital mixer and connect TOSLink optical output to your DAT deck. Main outs The main outputs serve as independent outputs.
!828 Manual/Win Page 20 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM A TYPICAL 828MKII SETUP (NO MIXER) outs, headphone outs, or any other output pair. You can control monitoring either from the front panel or from the included CueMix Console software. The two front-panel guitar/mic inputs can be routed to outboard effects processor, such as a compressor, EQ or reverb, via the rear panel sends. Here is a typical 828mkII studio setup. This rig can be operated without an external mixer.
!828 Manual/Win Page 21 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM USING THE 828MKII WITH A MIXER While there are many ways to use the 828mkII with an external mixer, typically the 828mkII serves as a multi-channel “pipeline” between the mixer and the computer. If your mixer is analog, connect the analog section of the 828mkII to your mixer. If your mixer is digital, and it has ADAT optical I/O, you can connect them optically as shown below in Figure 4-6.
!828 Manual/Win Page 22 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM MAKING SYNC CONNECTIONS If you connect devices digitally to the 828mkII, or if you need to synchronize the 828mkII with an outside time reference such as SMPTE time code, you must pay careful attention to the synchronization connections and clock source issues discussed in the next few sections.
!828 Manual/Win Page 23 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM DO YOU NEED A SYNCHRONIZER? Whether or not you’ll need a synchronizer depends on your gear and what you will be doing with your 828mkII system. The following pages give you specific information about common sync scenarios. At least one of them will likely apply to you. Here are some general considerations to help you figure out if you need (or want) a synchronizer for you 828mkII system. You don’t need a synchronizer if...
!828 Manual/Win Page 24 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM SAMPLE-ACCURATE SYNC Your 828mkII system provides you with the most advanced, accurate synchronization possible with Alesis modular digital tape decks and hard disk recorders — or any device that supports sampleaccurate ADAT sync. Figure 4-10 below shows a few best-case scenarios. Below is a brief explanation of the benefits you achieve with these setups.
!828 Manual/Win Page 25 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM SAMPLE-ACCURATE ADAT SYNC Use this setup if you have: The 828mkII can achieve sample-accurate sync with ADATs, Alesis hard disk recorders or any ADAT Sync-compatible devices. Sample-accurate software is required, such as Cubase SX or other ASIO 2.0-compatible software that also supports sample-accurate sync. Connect the 828mkII to the end of the ADAT Sync chain and make the software settings shown below in Figure 4-12.
!828 Manual/Win Page 26 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM SAMPLE-ACCURATE ADAT SYNC WITH NO SYNCHRONIZER Even if you don’t have an ADAT synchronizer, you can achieve sample-accurate sync between ADATsync compatible devices, an 828mkII, and any sample-accurate software. Just connect the 828mkII to the end of the ADAT sync chain as shown below. You don’t get transport control from your computer, nor can you slave the system to SMPTE time code.
!828 Manual/Win Page 27 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM SYNCING TO SMPTE TIME CODE Use this setup if you have: The 828mkII system can resolve directly to SMPTE time code. It can also generate time code and word clock, under its own clock or while slaving to time code. Therefore, the 828mkII can act both as an audio interface and digital audio synchronizer, to which you can slave other digital audio devices.
!828 Manual/Win Page 28 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM SYNCING TO VIDEO AND/OR SMPTE TIME CODE USING A SYNCHRONIZER If your host audio software does not support the 828mkII’s on-board SMPTE sync features (because your software does not support sampleaccurate sync), you need a universal synchronizer, such as a MOTU MIDI Timepiece AV or Digital Timepiece. These dedicated sync boxes can read video and SMPTE time code and then convert it into word clock and MIDI Time Code (MTC).
!828 Manual/Win Page 29 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM SYNCING OPTICAL DEVICES For ADATs or other devices that support ADAT sync, synchronize them with the 828mkII as described in the previous sections of this chapter. The word optical is our short-hand way of referring to any device that connects to the 828mkII via an optical cable. But we make a further distinction: an optical device is also one that doesn’t care about sample location. An example is a digital mixer.
!828 Manual/Win Page 30 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM SYNCING S/PDIF DEVICES DAT decks and other S/PDIF devices will sync to the 828mkII in one of two ways: ■ Via the S/PDIF connection itself ■ Via word clock S/PDIF devices with no word clock If your DAT deck or other S/PDIF device has no word clock sync connectors, just connect it to the 828mkII via the S/PDIF connectors. When the device records S/PDIF audio (from the 828mkII), it will simply synchronize to the clock provided by the audio input.
!828 Manual/Win Page 31 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM SYNCING WORD CLOCK DEVICES The 828mkII word clock connectors allow you to synchronize it with a wide variety of other word clock-equipped devices. For standard word clock sync, you need to choose an audio clock master (as explained in “Be sure to choose a digital audio clock master” on page 22). In the simplest case, you have two devices and one is the word clock master and the other is the slave as shown below in Figure 4-17 and Figure 4-18. rate.
!828 Manual/Win Page 32 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM CONNECTING MULTIPLE MOTU FIREWIRE INTERFACES You can daisy-chain up to four MOTU FireWire interfaces on a single FireWire bus, with the restrictions described in the following sections. Most computers have only one built-in FireWire bus (even if it supplies multiple FireWire sockets). Connect them as follows: Multiple interfaces in the MOTU FireWire Audio Console The MOTU FireWire Audio Console displays the settings for one interface at a time.
!828 Manual/Win Page 33 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM Figure 4-21: All MOTU FireWire audio interfaces get their clock from a single master sync source on any connected 828mkII (or other MOTU FireWire interface). After you choose a source from this menu, the entire system, including all connected 828mkIIs, synchronizes to it. Each FireWire interface in the system gets its clock from the Audio Wire cable connection (unless it is the master clock itself).
!828 Manual/Win Page 34 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM 34 INSTALLING THE 828MKII HARDWARE
!828 Manual/Win Page 35 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM CHAPTER 5 MOTU FireWire Audio Console OVERVIEW Accessing the 828mkII settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 828mkII Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sample Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clock Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Samples Per Buffer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
!828 Manual/Win Page 36 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM 828MKII SETTINGS Sample Rate Choose the desired Sample Rate for recording and playback. The 828mkII can operate at 44.1 (the standard rate for compact disc audio), 48, 88.2 or 96KHz. Make absolutely sure that all of the devices connected digitally to the 828mkII match the 828mkII’s sample rate. Also make sure that your Digital Timepiece, MIDI Timepiece AV or other digital audio synchronizer matches it as well.
!828 Manual/Win Page 37 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM If you would like help determining if this is the proper clock setting for your situation, see “Do you need a synchronizer?” on page 23. With ADAT devices, however, you usually want an external digital audio synchronizer, such as the MIDI Timepiece AV or Digital Timepiece, to be the digital clock master. In this case, you would set the 828mkII clock source setting to ADAT 9-pin, as described below.
!828 Manual/Win Page 38 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM This setting is also useful if you just need to make a simple, click-free digital transfer between the 828mkII and another device — where a time code reference and shared transport control are not needed — without having to set up an elaborate synchronization scenario. For further details about this setting, see “Syncing optical devices” on page 29.
!828 Manual/Win Page 39 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM reduce patch thru latency, but significantly increase the overall processing load on your computer, leaving less CPU bandwidth for things like realtime effects processing. On the other hand, if you increase the Samples Per Buffer, you reduce the load on your computer, freeing up bandwidth for effects, mixing and other real-time operations. But don’t set the Samples Per Buffer too low, or it may cause distortion in your audio.
!828 Manual/Win Page 40 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM functions) with it. Use the Set buttons to determine what keystroke is triggered by the pedal-up and pedal-down positions. You can assign the pedal to any two keystrokes you wish. (You are not restricted to punch in/out.) Wave support for legacy (MME) software Windows only exposes the first two channels of a multi-channel WDM audio stream to applications which use the legacy (MME) multimedia interface.
!828 Manual/Win Page 41 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM CHAPTER 6 828mkII Front Panel Operation OVERVIEW PUSH-BUTTON ROTARY ENCODERS The 828mkII is the first FireWire audio interface to offer complete front-panel programming via six rotary encoders and a 2x16 backlit LCD display. All 828mkII settings can be accessed via these frontpanel controls. All of the knobs shown in Figure 6-1 are pushbutton digital rotary encoders.
!828 Manual/Win Page 42 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM Setup mode In setup mode, the LCD displays basic settings, such as clock source, optical I/O format (ADAT versus TOSLink), and so on. These settings are covered in detail later in “SETUP / SELECT” on page 42. VOLUME The VOLUME knob lets you control the volume of both the headphone jack and the rear-panel main outs. Press the knob to toggle between the headphones and the main outs.
!828 Manual/Win Page 43 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM state. The Fader View Time option lets you control how long the adjusted parameter remains on the LCD after the knob stops turning. You can then paste the settings to another mix as explained below. The word Done appears briefly to confirm that the mix settings have been successfully copied. Optical In / Optical Out These two settings determine the format for the 828mkII’s optical input and output.
!828 Manual/Win Page 44 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM All Notes Off The All Notes Off setting sends a MIDI All Notes Off message, as well as a MIDI note-off message for every note on every MIDI channel. This stops any stuck notes that are currently playing. Push SELECT to initiate the All Notes Off operation. The MIDI OUT LED will glow to confirm that the noteoff data is being sent. Factory Defaults The Factory Defaults setting restores the 828mkII factory settings.
!828 Manual/Win Page 45 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM Mix parameters that apply across all mixes The last three mix settings (input reference level, +6dB software boost, and stereo pairing) apply across all mixes because they have to do with the nature of the input itself. For example, if you have an input that requires a -10dB reference level, then you’ll want the reference level to apply to all mixes.
!828 Manual/Win Page 46 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM 46 828MKII FRONT PANEL OPERATION
!828 Manual/Win Page 47 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM CHAPTER 7 Cubase, Nuendo and Other ASIO Software OVERVIEW The 828mkII includes a ASIO driver that provides multi-channel I/O and sample-accurate synchronization with Steinberg’s Cubase family of digital audio sequencers, including Cubase VST, Cubase SX and Nuendo. The 828mkII requires Cubase for Windows Version 3.553 or higher. What is ASIO? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Preparation . . . . . . . . . .
!828 Manual/Win Page 48 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM and it lets you enable the desired inputs and outputs. Only enabled inputs and outputs will be available to Cubase, so this is an important step. For complete details regarding the MOTU FireWire Audio Console, see chapter 5, “MOTU FireWire Audio Console” (page 35). Sample rate Choose the desired overall sample rate for the 828mkII system and Cubase. Newly recorded audio in Cubase will have this sample rate.
!828 Manual/Win Page 49 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM recorded in Cubase. See chapter 9, “Reducing Monitoring Latency” (page 63) for complete details. from the ASIO device menu. Make the other settings in the dialog as need for your system and synchronization scenario. Optical input and output To make a 828mkII optical input or output available in Cubase, choose the appropriate format (ADAT optical or TOSLink) from the optical input and/or output menu.
!828 Manual/Win Page 50 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM ■ 2 channels for RCA S/PDIF Zero, 2 or 8 channels for optical, depending on whether you have optical turned off, or set to S/ PDIF or ADAT optical ■ For example, if you are using analog only, you only need 12 channels. If you are using analog and RCA S/PDIF, you need 14 channels. As another example, if you are using analog, RCA S/PDIF and ADAT optical, you need 22 channels (the maximum number of simultaneous output channels provided by the 828mkII).
!828 Manual/Win Page 51 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM ASSIGNING INPUTS Once you’ve activated the 828mkII inputs as shown in the previous section, you can then assign them to Cubase or Nuendo audio channels in the channel mixers in the usual fashion. Figure 7-3: Activating 828mkII inputs in Cubase VST. Figure 7-5: To assign an 828mkII input to a Cubase VST audio channel: control-click the input button at the top of the channel strip. For Nuendo or Cubase SX, consult your documentation.
!828 Manual/Win Page 52 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM ASSIGNING OUTPUTS Once you’ve chosen the MOTU FireWire ASIO driver in the Audio System dialog as explained earlier in “Choosing the MOTU FireWire ASIO driver” on page 49, 828mkII outputs will be available in Cubase or Nuendo as output destinations. In Cubase VST, these outputs appear in the VST Master Mixer window as output assignments for the master fader and busses, as shown below in Figure 7-6.
!828 Manual/Win Page 53 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM assigned to this output pair will be heard on the headphone jack only. For further explanation, see “Phones” on page 49. CHANGING 828MKII SETTINGS To change the 828mkII settings at any time, go to the Audio System Setup window in Cubase VST or the Device Setup window in Nuendo or Cubase SX and click the ASIO Control Panel button, as shown in Figure 7-2 on page 49.
!828 Manual/Win Page 54 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM Follow the instructions in your Cubase or Nuendo manual for slaving them to MIDI Time Code (MTC). To ensure that your audio tracks don’t drift out of sync with your MIDI tracks — or time code, use a hardware synchronizer like the MIDI Timepiece AV or Digital Timepiece to resolve the 828mkII hardware as well, as explained in “Syncing to video and/or SMPTE time code using a synchronizer” on page 28.
!828 Manual/Win Page 55 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM SX’s MIDI machine Control MIDI Output menu. If you’re using a MIDI Timepiece AV, you can choose any of its MIDI ports in this menu. Doing so makes Cubase or Nuendo send the MMC control messages to the MTP AV (or other MMC device). In this scenario, transport control is handled by Cubase or Nuendo itself. 5 In Cubase VST’s Controls window, enable SYNC. In Nuendo or Cubase SX, enable (check) the Sync Online command in the Transport menu.
!828 Manual/Win Page 56 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM 56 CUBASE, NUENDO AND OTHER ASIO SOFTWARE
!828 Manual/Win Page 57 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM CHAPTER 8 Sonar and other WDM Software OVERVIEW WDM AND WAVE DRIVER COMPATIBILITY The 828mkII WDM driver provides standard multi-channel input and output for WDMcompatible audio software running under Windows Me, 2000 and XP. WDM is an acronym for Windows Driver Model. The MOTU FireWire WDM driver allows the 828mkII to provide multi-channel audio input and output for any audio application that supports WDM audio drivers.
!828 Manual/Win Page 58 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM MAKING SETTINGS IN THE MOTU FIREWIRE AUDIO CONSOLE Before you run your audio software, launch the MOTU FireWire Audio Console to configure your 828mkII hardware. The MOTU FireWire Audio Console lets you choose the audio clock source, and it lets you enable the optical input and output, if needed. For details, see chapter 5, “MOTU FireWire Audio Console” (page 35).
!828 Manual/Win Page 59 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM Optical input and output To make a 828mkII optical input or output available in Sonar, choose the appropriate format (ADAT optical or TOSLink) from the optical input and/or output menu. If you won’t be using the optical connectors, turn them off. Phones This 828mkII setting lets you choose what you’ll hear from the headphone jack. For example, if you choose Main Outs, the headphones will duplicate the main outs. Or you can choose any other output pair.
!828 Manual/Win Page 60 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM 3 In the General tab, click the Wave Profiler button and run the Wave Profiler. This process chooses the optimum settings for the 828mkII hardware. Figure 8-4: Running the Wave Profiler in Cakewalk’s SONAR.
!828 Manual/Win Page 61 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM REDUCING DELAY WHEN MONITORING LIVE INPUTS If you have live audio inputs connected to the 828mkII, such as MIDI synthesizers, samplers, microphones or other live instruments, you might hear a slight delay when their audio is being monitored through your 828mkII hardware and your host audio program. There are several ways to reduce — and eliminate — this audible monitoring delay. For details, see chapter 9, “Reducing Monitoring Latency” (page 63).
!828 Manual/Win Page 62 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM 62 SONAR AND OTHER WDM SOFTWARE
!828 Manual/Win Page 63 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM CHAPTER 9 Reducing Monitoring Latency OVERVIEW Monitoring latency is that slight delay you hear when you run an input signal through your host audio software. For example, you might hear it when you drive a live mic input signal through a reverb plug-in running in your audio sequencer.
!828 Manual/Win Page 64 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM MONITORING LIVE INPUT There are two ways to monitor live audio input with an 828mkII: 1) through the computer or 2) via CueMix™ DSP hardware monitoring. Figure 9-1 on page 64 shows method 1, which allows you to add effects processing such as reverb and guitar amp effects via plug-ins in your audio software.
!828 Manual/Win Page 65 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM transferring audio data in and out of the computer. The size of the buffers determines how much delay you hear when monitoring live inputs through your audio software: larger buffers produce more delay; smaller buffers produce less. Buffer size adjustment is made in the MOTU FireWire Audio Console, as shown in Figure 9-3 via the Samples Per Buffer setting.
!828 Manual/Win Page 66 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM Lower latency versus higher CPU overhead The buffer setting has a large impact on the following things: ■ Patch thru latency ■ The load on your computer’s CPU ■ Possible distortion at the smallest settings ■ How responsive the transport controls are in your audio software The buffer setting presents you with a trade-off between the processing power of your computer and the delay of live audio as it is being patched through your software.
!828 Manual/Win Page 67 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM Using CueMix Console If your host audio software does not support direct hardware monitoring, you run CueMix Console side-by-side with your audio software and manage your monitor mix in CueMix Console. CueMix Console allows you to create up to four separate 828mkII monitor mixes, or any other desired routing configurations. These routings are independent of your host audio software. For complete details, see chapter 10, “CueMix Console” (page 69).
!828 Manual/Win Page 68 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM 68 REDUCING MONITORING LATENCY
!828 Manual/Win Page 69 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM CHAPTER 10 CueMix Console OVERVIEW CueMix Console provides access to the flexible on-board mixing features of the 828mkII. CueMix lets you route any combination of inputs to any stereo output pair. These mixes can be set up entirely independently of your host audio software. CueMix allows you to set up four completely independent mix configurations with the 828mkII. You can also save and load mix configurations.
!828 Manual/Win Page 70 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM ADVANTAGES OF CUEMIX MONITORING CueMix Console provides several major advantages over monitoring live inputs through your host audio software: CueMix has no buffer latency. Thanks to the 828mkII’s DSP chip, CueMix provides the same throughput performance as a digital mixer. ■ CueMix imposes absolutely no processor drain on the computer’s CPU. ■ ■ CueMix routing can be maintained independently of individual software applications or projects.
!828 Manual/Win Page 71 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM Viewing a mix To view a mix, click its tab at the bottom of the window, as shown in Figure 10-1. The mix name appears in the tab. To adjust the volume or panning for a stereo input pair, hold down the control key while dragging the fader or knob for either the left or right input. SHORTCUTS Naming a mix Double-click the mix name in the tab.
!828 Manual/Win Page 72 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM +4/-10 reference level Click the reference button to toggle between these two standard reference levels. This setting is applied globally for the input. MIX1 RETURN INCLUDES COMPUTER The Mix1 return includes computer item in the CueMix Console File menu refers to the Mix1 bus that the 828mkII driver provides as an input to host audio software.
!828 Manual/Win Page 73 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM CUEMIX CONSOLE EXAMPLES Figure 10-2 below shows some examples of how you can use CueMix DSP: Powered speakers are connected to the 828mkII main outs. Any input can be routed directly to the speakers. ■ Microphone input can be routed via CueMix DSP to the effects processor for live outboard processing during recording.
!828 Manual/Win Page 74 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM 74 CUEMIX CONSOLE
!828 Manual/Win Page 75 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM CHAPTER 11 MOTU SMPTE Console OVERVIEW CLOCK/ADDRESS The 828mkII can resolve to SMPTE time code, without a dedicated synchronizer. It can also serve as a SMPTE time code generator.
!828 Manual/Win Page 76 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM receiving the SMPTE time code by choosing it from SMPTE source menu. For further details on the hardware connections involved, see “Syncing to SMPTE time code” on page 27. Resolving to video To resolve the 828mkII to video, you need a synchronizer such as a MIDI Timepiece AV or a Digital Timepiece and feed word clock to the 828mkII. In this scenario, choose SMPTE / Word Clock In clock/address setting.
!828 Manual/Win Page 77 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM The ‘Infinite’ freewheel setting The Infinite freewheel setting in the Freewheel Address menu causes the 828mkII to freewheel indefinitely, until it receives readable time code again. To make it stop, click the Stop Freewheeling button. Stripe Click this button to start or stop time code. To set the start time, click directly on the SMPTE time code display in the Generator section and type in the desired start time. Or drag vertically on the numbers.
!828 Manual/Win Page 78 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM 78 MOTU SMPTE CONSOLE
!828 Manual/Win Page 79 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM CHAPTER 12 Performance Tips & Troubleshooting Why does the start sound not play through the 828mkII? The 828mkII will only playback audio at a sampling rate of 44.1, 48, 88.2 or 96 kHz. 828mkII inputs and outputs are not available in Cubase Make sure that the inputs and outputs are enabled in Cubase. The computer freezes when it starts up If the computer is unable to boot up, it may be a conflict with the WDM Driver.
!828 Manual/Win Page 80 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM Clicks and pops due to hard drive problems If you have checked your clock settings sync cable connections and you are still getting clicks and pops in your audio, you may have a drive related problem. Set the 828mkII Clock Source to Internal and try recording just using the analog inputs and outputs of the 828mkII. If you encounter the same artifacts you may want try using another drive in your computer.
!828 Manual/Win Page 81 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM +4/-10dB reference level 72 +6db 44 +6dB Boost 71 02R mixer 29 connecting 21 1394 connector 6, 11, 17 2408 software installation 15 2408mk3 Word Clock In setting 37 24-bit 3rd party software 61 optical 6, 10 recording 12 24i/o Word Clock In setting 37 4/10 44 828mkII expansion 32 installing 17 rear panel overview 9 summary of features 9 Clock source 7, 22, 36 Coax 10 Condenser mic input 5 Configure interface 32 Connecting multiple 828mkIIs 32 Control P
!828 Manual/Win Page 82 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:36 PM Mix1 return includes computer 72 MMC 23, 24 Monitoring 64 thru main outs 19 w/3rd party software 61 MOTU Digital Timepiece 25 MIDI Timepiece AV 25 MOTU 828 Control Strip module 7, 35 MOTU Audio System bit resolution 36 MOTU FireWire Audio ASIO driver 16 MOTU FireWire Audio Console 7, 35 MOTU SMPTE Console 75 MTC sync 23 Mute 44 N Neutrik jacks 5 Nuendo synchronization 53 O Optical choosing format (ADAT or TOSlink) 39 choosing format (ADAT/TOSlink) 7 c
