MOTU 8pre ™ 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.
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Contents 5 Quick Reference: 8pre Front Panel 6 Quick Reference: 8pre Rear Panel 7 Quick Reference: MOTU Audio Setup 9 About the 8pre 13 Packing List and Windows System Requirements 15 IMPORTANT! Run the 8pre Software Installer First 17 Installing the 8pre Hardware 23 MOTU Audio Setup 27 Front Panel Settings 29 Cubase, Nuendo and Other ASIO Software 35 SONAR and other WDM Software 41 GigaStudio and GSIF 45 Reducing Monitoring Latency 51 MOTU CueMix Console 59 MOTU SMPTE Setup 65
Turn it to adjust headphone volume. In the LED section to the right, the row of amber LEDs, second from the top, provides general feedback regarding the headphone level as you turn the knob. Push in the knob twice (so that it clicks two times) and then turn it to adjust the volume of the main outs on the rear panel. In the LED section to the right, the middle row of green LEDs, third from the bottom, provides general feedback regarding the headphone level as you turn the knob.
2 3 When the 8pre is slaving to its optical input, it resolves to the input in the top row, even when operating at the 2x sample rates (88.2 or 96 kHz). When the 8pre is not connected directly to a computer (via FireWire), the optical input is disabled and the eight optical output channels mirror any incoming signal on the 8pre’s eight XLR/TRS combo jack analog inputs.
Quick Reference: MOTU Audio Setup CHAPTER Click the tabs to access general MOTU interface settings or settings specific to the 8pre (or other connected interface.) Determines the clock source for your 8pre. If you’re just using the analog ins and outs, set this to ‘Internal’. The other settings are for digital transfers (via optical) or external synchronization to other systems. Choose the global sample rate for the system here.
CHAPTER 1 About the 8pre OVERVIEW The 8pre is and audio interface that can operate in two general modes: as a FireWire audio interface or as an analog-to-digital converter. With a standard 19-inch, single-space, rackmountable I/O form factor, the 8pre connects directly to a computer via a standard FireWire cable or to another interface via an ADAT optical cable.
■ Two sets of ADAT optical ‘light pipe’ connectors (8 channels of ADAT optical I/O at all supported sample rates) ■ MIDI IN and MIDI OUT ■ Two 6-pin FireWire jacks 16 inputs and 12 outputs When operating as a FireWire audio interface, all 8pre inputs and outputs can be used simultaneously, for a total of 16 inputs and 12 outputs: Connection Input Output Mic preamps 24-bit 96kHz on XLR/TRS combo 8 - Main outputs 24-bit 96kHz on bal/unbal TRS - stereo Headphone output - stereo ADAT optical dig
chain multiple interfaces — up to four MOTU FireWire interfaces — on a single FireWire bus. It can also be used to connect other FireWire devices without the need for a FireWire hub. On-board SMPTE synchronization The 8pre can resolve directly to SMPTE time code via any analog input, without a separate synchronizer. The 8pre provides a DSP-driven phase-lock engine with sophisticated filtering that provides fast lockup times and sub-frame accuracy.
ABOUT THE 8PRE
CHAPTER 2 Packing List and Windows System Requirements PACKING LIST PLEASE REGISTER TODAY! The 8pre ships with the items listed below. If any of these items are not present in your 8pre box when you first open it, please immediately contact your dealer or MOTU. Please register your 8pre today. There are two ways to register.
PACKING LIST AND WINDOWS SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
CHAPTER 3 IMPORTANT! Run the 8pre Software Installer First OVERVIEW Install the 8pre software first! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing the 8pre software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MOTU Audio Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MOTU ASIO driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MOTU WDM driver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MOTU GSIF driver. . . .
MOTU AUDIO SETUP MOTU Audio Setup (available in the Start menu) gives you access to all of the settings in the 8pre, such as the clock source and sample rate. For complete details, see chapter 5, “MOTU Audio Setup” (page 23). For details about using Cubase SX and Nuendo with the 8pre, see chapter 7, “Cubase, Nuendo and Other ASIO Software” (page 29). MOTU WDM DRIVER The MOTU WDM audio driver provides standard multi-channel input and output for audio applications running under Windows XP.
CHAPTER 4 Installing the 8pre Hardware OVERVIEW CONNECT THE 8PRE TO YOUR COMPUTER Here’s an overview for installing the 8pre: 1 Plug one end of the 8pre FireWire cable (included) into the FireWire socket on the computer as shown below in Figure 4-1. Connect the 8pre to your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Connect the 8pre to the computer. Connect audio inputs and outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CONNECT AUDIO INPUTS AND OUTPUTS The 8pre audio interface has the following audio input and output connectors: 8 combo XLR/quarter-inch analog mic/guitar/ instrument inputs ■ ■ 2 balanced, +4 dB quarter-inch TRS main outs ■ 2 pair of ADAT optical (“Lightpipe”) in/out Here are a few things you should keep in mind as you are making these connections to other devices.
combo jack analog inputs. By connecting the 8pre optical output to another device, such as another ADAT-optical equipped interface or a digital mixer, you add an additional eight mic inputs to your system, as demonstrated in Figure 4-5 on page 21. This can be done at any sample rate up to 96 kHz. To set the sample rate (or clock mode) when operating as an 8-channel optical expander, see “Setting the clock source in converter mode” on page 27.
OPERATING THE 8pre AS AN INTERFACE Here is a typical studio setup for using the 8pre as an audio interface. All mixing and processing can be done in the computer with audio software. During recording, you can use the 8pre’s CueMix™ DSP no-latency monitoring to listen to what you are recording via the main outs, headphone outs, or any other output pair. You can control monitoring from the included MOTU CueMix Console software. headphones 8pre front panel monitors mic other inputs (mics, guitars, etc.
OPERATING THE 8pre AS A CONVERTER As explained earlier in “Using optical I/O to operate the 8pre as an 8-channel expander” on page 18, the 8pre can serve as an 8-channel analogto-digital converter when disconnected from the computer and instead connected to another device equipped with an ADAT optical input. For example, you could connect the 8pre optical output to the optical input on a MOTU audio interface, such as the 828, 828mkII, Traveler, 896, 896HD or UltraLite.
SYNCING OPTICAL DEVICES The word optical is our short-hand way of referring to any device that connects to the 8pre via an optical cable. An example is an audio interface with optical connectors on it. There are many other devices that fall into this category, including digital mixers, digital effects processors, synthesizers and many more. When connecting optical devices, make sure that their digital audio clock is phase-locked (in sync with) the 8pre.
CHAPTER 5 MOTU Audio Setup OVERVIEW Accessing the 8pre settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ’General’ tab Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sample Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clock Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Samples Per Buffer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Enable Pedal. . . . . . . . . .
’GENERAL’ TAB SETTINGS Sample Rate Choose the desired Sample Rate for recording and playback. The 8pre can operate at 44.1 (the standard rate for compact disc audio), 48, 88.2 or 96 kHz. Make absolutely sure that all of the devices connected digitally to the 8pre match the 8pre’s sample rate. Also make sure that your Digital Timepiece, MIDI Timepiece AV or other digital audio synchronizer matches it as well. ☛ Mismatched sample rates cause distortion and crackling.
96 kHz). In ADAT optical clock mode, the 8pre always resolves to the optical input in the top row, even during 88.2 or 96 kHz operation. So be sure to connect the ADAT optical clock master to the optical input in the top row. If the ADAT Optical setting does not appear in the menu, it means that the 8pre’s optical input is currently turned off. Choose the ADAT optical format from the Optical input menu (Figure 5-1 on page 24). For further details about this setting, see “Syncing optical devices” on page 22.
very noticeable. Lowering the Samples Per Buffer will make your software respond faster; raising the Samples Per Buffer will make it a little bit slower, but barely enough to notice. Monitoring live inputs without plug-in effects As mentioned earlier, CueMix Console allows you to monitor dry, unprocessed live inputs with no delay at all. For complete details, see chapter 10, “Reducing Monitoring Latency” (page 45).
CHAPTER 6 Front Panel Settings OVERVIEW The VOLUME knob is a rotary encoder that can be pushed as well as turned. By pushing it repeatedly, or by pushing and holding it in for varying amounts of time, you can adjust several 8pre settings as described in the following sections. Figure 6-1: The VOLUME knob is a push-button rotary encoder. Except where noted, all of the features described in this chapter are available when the 8pre is operating as either an audio interface or an optical converter.
flashes, turn the knob to change the clock mode. Push it again to confirm the current clock setting exit clock mode.
CHAPTER 7 Cubase, Nuendo and Other ASIO Software OVERVIEW The 8pre includes an ASIO driver that provides multi-channel I/O and sample-accurate synchronization with Steinberg’s Cubase family of digital audio sequencers, including Cubase SX and Nuendo. What is ASIO? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Run MOTU Audio Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If you are slaving the 8pre and Cubase to SMPTE time code via the 8pre itself, choose SMPTE and follow the directions in “Setting up for SMPTE time code sync” on page 62. ☛ If you are using an ASIO host application other than Cubase or Nuendo, it must support the ASIO 2.0 sample-accurate positioning protocol in order to support the 8pre’s direct SMPTE sync (and sample-accurate sync) feature.
Check the audio system or audio hardware configuration window in your software. There will be a menu there that lets you choose among various ASIO drivers that may be in your system. Choose the MOTU ASIO driver from this menu. Nuendo, Cubase SX and V-Stack To activate the 8pre driver in Nuendo or Cubase SX, go to the Device Setup window, click VST Audiobay and choose MOTU Audio from the Master ASIO Driver menu as shown below.
in the 8pre) back to your computer. This input serves, for example, as a convenient way for you to record the 8pre’s MIX1 monitor mix back into Cubase (for reference and archiving purposes). Further, if you are sending audio from Cubase to the same output pair as MIX1, you can choose to either include or exclude the audio from the computer in the stream being sent back to Cubase. For details on how to do this, see “Mix1 Return Includes Computer” on page 55.
outputs you are working with. Use MOTU Audio Setup to disable the optical I/O, if it is not being used. Figure 7-5: Keep the Audio Performance window open to keep tabs on your computer’s processing power and hard disk performance.
CUBASE, NUENDO AND OTHER ASIO SOFTWARE
CHAPTER 8 SONAR and other WDM Software OVERVIEW WDM AND WAVE DRIVER COMPATIBILITY The 8pre WDM driver provides standard multichannel input and output for WDM-compatible audio software running under Windows XP. WDM is an acronym for Windows Driver Model. The MOTU Audio WDM driver allows the 8pre to provide multi-channel audio input and output for any audio application that supports WDM audio drivers. WDM and Wave driver compatibility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MAKING SETTINGS IN MOTU AUDIO SETUP Before you run your audio software, launch MOTU Audio Setup to configure your 8pre hardware. MOTU Audio Setup 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 Audio Setup” (page 23). If you do not have any digital audio connections to your 8pre (you are using the analog inputs and outputs only), and you will not be slaving SONAR to external SMPTE time code, choose Internal.
ENABLING THE MOTU AUDIO WDM DRIVER Once you’ve made the preparations described so far in this chapter, you’re ready to run your audio software and enable the MOTU Audio WDM driver. Check the audio system or audio hardware configuration window in your software. Enabling the MOTU Audio WDM driver in SONAR To activate the MOTU Audio WDM driver in SONAR: 1 Choose Audio from the Options menu. 2 Click the Drivers tab. Figure 8-3: Enabling the ASIO driver instead of the WDM driver.
3 In the General tab, click the Wave Profiler button and run the Wave Profiler. This process chooses the optimum settings for the 8pre hardware. ■ 8 channels for analog input and output ■ Zero or 8 channels for optical, depending on whether you have optical turned on or off For example, if you are using analog only, you only need 8 voices. If you are using analog and optical, you need 16 voices. Figure 8-5: Running the Wave Profiler in Cakewalk’s SONAR.
The “Phones 1-2” output If you’ve chosen to treat the 8pre headphones as an independent output, you’ll see Phones 1-2 as a 8pre output destination. Audio tracks assigned to this output pair will be heard on the headphone jack only. For further explanation, see “Phones” on page 26. CHANGING 8PRE SETTINGS You can change the 8pre settings at any time by accessing MOTU Audio Setup.
SONAR AND OTHER WDM SOFTWARE
CHAPTER 9 GigaStudio and GSIF OVERVIEW The 8pre includes a GSIF driver that provides multi-channel I/O with Tascam’s GigaStudio family of virtual sampler products. What is GSIF? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Run MOTU Audio Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Choosing the MOTU GSIF driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Samples Per Buffer The Samples Per Buffer setting can be used to reduce the delay — or latency — that you hear when playing GigaStudio from your MIDI controller or MIDI sequencer. In general, you have better timing accuracy with lower buffer settings, but the trade-off is that lower buffer settings require the computer that is running GigaStudio (with the 8pre) to work harder. So in general, you want to keep the buffer size a low as possible while still maintaining the performance you need from GigaStudio.
☛ Outputs are listed in this order: Output Channels List position Comment Main outs 2 1-2 - Phones 2 3-4 - ADAT 8 (at all supported sample rates) 5-12 If the optical bank is set to None, then no ADAT outputs are displayed. The “Mix1 1-2” input In the GigaStudio Inputs list, you’ll see an 8pre input called Mix1 1-2. This input source delivers the output of CueMix DSP “MIX1” (the first mix bus of the four on-board no-latency monitor mixes in the 8pre) back to your computer.
GIGASTUDIO AND GSIF
CHAPTER 10 Reducing Monitoring Latency OVERVIEW When operating the 8pre as an audio interface, 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.
MONITORING LIVE INPUT There are two ways to monitor live audio input with an 8pre: 1) through the computer or 2) via CueMix™ DSP hardware monitoring. Figure 10-1 below shows method 1, which allows you to add effects processing such as reverb and guitar amp effects via plug-ins in your audio software. See the next section, “Adjusting the audio I/O buffer” for details about how to reduce — and possibly eliminate — the audible monitoring delay that the computer introduces.
ADJUSTING THE AUDIO I/O BUFFER A buffer is a small amount of computer memory used to hold data. For audio interfaces like the 8pre, buffers are used for the process of 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 MOTU Audio Setup, as shown in Figure 10-3 via the Samples Per Buffer setting.
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.
Using MOTU 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 8pre monitor mixes, or any other desired routing configurations. These routings are independent of your host audio software. For complete details, see chapter 11, “MOTU CueMix Console” (page 51).
REDUCING MONITORING LATENCY
CHAPTER 11 MOTU CueMix Console OVERVIEW When operating the 8pre as an audio interface, MOTU CueMix Console provides access to the flexible on-board mixing features of the 8pre. 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 8pre. You can also save and load mix configurations.
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 8pre’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. CueMix Console does not provide effects processing.
Master fader The master fader (Figure 11-1) controls the overall level of the mix (its volume on its stereo output). Use the individual input faders to the left to control individual input levels. Output level meters The OUT level meters show you the output for the mix’s physical output, which may include audio from your host audio software. The clip indicators clear themselves after a few seconds.
the Load Preset and Save Preset commands to get presets from — and save them to — the 8pre itself.) Click the Save button to save the current configuration; click the Load button to open an existing configuration that you have previously saved on disk.
Talkback / Listenback Mic Input Choose the audio input to which your Talkback and/or Listenback mic is connected. These inputs are labeled with a purple and blue swatch, respectively, just above the channel fader. These labels identify the Talkback and Listenback mic inputs. Figure 11-4: The purple label identifies the Talkback mic input; the blue label indicates the Listenback mic. Use the input fader to control the mic volume.
When the Mix1 return includes computer menu item is checked, any audio being sent from your audio software on the computer to the same output as Mix1 will be included in the Mix1 return bus. When it is unchecked, computer output is excluded. This menu item is essentially a pre/post switch for the computer audio insert to the stream of audio going to Mix1’s 8pre output pair (and also back to the computer).
Configure… Choose this menu item to configure your control surface product. Launch the on-line help for specific, detailed instructions for configuring CueMix Console for operation with your control surface product. When operating the 8pre at a 2x sample rate (88.2 or 96 kHz), the two optical output banks work in concert to provide channels 1-4 and 5-8, respectively, for a total of 8 channels of highresolution.
MOTU CUEMIX CONSOLE
CHAPTER 12 MOTU SMPTE Setup OVERVIEW MOTU SMPTE SETUP The 8pre can resolve directly to SMPTE time code via any analog input, without a separate synchronizer. The 8pre can also generate time code via any analog output. The 8pre provides a DSPdriven phase-lock engine with sophisticated filtering that provides fast lockup times and subframe accuracy. Direct time code synchronization is supported by Cubase, Nuendo and other audio sequencer software that supports the ASIO2 sample-accurate sync protocol.
and switch to the incoming frame rate, except that it cannot distinguish between 30 fps and 29.97 fps time code. So if you are working with either of these rates, make sure you choose the correct rate from this menu. READER SECTION The Reader section (on the left-hand side of the window in Figure 12-1) provides settings for synchronizing the 8pre to SMPTE time code. Status lights The four status lights (Tach, Clock, Address and Freewheel) give you feedback as follows.
The 8pre cannot freewheel address without clock. Therefore, the Freewheel Address setting will always be lower than or equal to the Freewheel Clock setting, and both menus will update as needed, depending on what you choose. The ‘Infinite’ freewheel setting The Infinite freewheel setting in the Freewheel Clock menu causes the 8pre to freewheel indefinitely, until it receives readable time code again. To make it stop, click the Stop Freewheeling button.
SETTING UP FOR SMPTE TIME CODE SYNC Use this setup if you have: In summary, the 8pre system can resolve directly to SMPTE time code. It can also generate time code and a time base, under its own clock or while slaving to time code. Therefore, the 8pre can act both as an audio interface and digital audio synchronizer. You can use the 8pre to slave your audio software to SMPTE as well, as long as your software supports ASIO2 sample-accurate sync, which is the means by which the software follows the 8pre.
RESOLVING CUBASE OR NUENDO TO SMPTE TIME CODE To resolve your 8pre directly to SMPTE time code with no additional synchronization devices, use the setup shown in Figure 12-3. Make sure the Clock Source setting in the MOTU Audio Setup window is set to SMPTE. Also, make sure that you’ve connected an LTC input signal to an 8pre analog input, and that you’ve specified that input in the SMPTE Setup.
MOTU SMPTE SETUP
CHAPTER 13 Performance Tips & Troubleshooting The computer freezes when it starts up If the computer is unable to boot up, it may be a conflict with the WDM Driver. As soon as the computer boots up, Windows will try and initialize the WDM Driver. If this fails, your computer will hang. To determine if the WDM Driver is the problem, boot up in Safe Mode or remove the MOTU Audio software with the Add/Remove Programs Control Panel then restart.
No optical inputs or outputs are available in host audio application Check to make sure you have the desired optical inputs and/or outputs enabled in MOTU Audio Setup. Controlling monitoring latency See chapter 10, “Reducing Monitoring Latency” (page 45). CUSTOMER SUPPORT We are happy to provide customer support to our registered users. If you haven’t already done so, please take a moment to register your 8pre either on line at www.motu.
Index 02R mixer 22 1394 connector 6, 10, 17 24-bit 3rd party software 39 optical 10 recording 11 48V phantom power 5 8pre installing 17 rear panel overview 9 software installation 15 summary of features 9 tab 23 A Activity LEDs 11 ADAT optical 10, 22 clock source setting 24 connecting 18 Analog activity lights 11 Application follows control surface 56 ASIO 15, 16, 29 Audio bit resolution 24 B Buffer Size 25, 47 C Clock LEDs 11 Clock source 7, 24 setting in converter mode 27 Combo jacks 6 Condenser mic inp
Sample rate 7, 24 Samplers connecting 20 Samples per buffer 7, 25, 30, 36, 42, 47 Share surfaces with other applications 56 SMPTE clock source setting 25 Console 59 overview 59 source setting 60 sync 59 SMPTE sync 62 Software installation 15 SONAR 11 clock source 36 Optical input/output 36 sample rate 36 Sony Sound Forge 38 Sound Forge 38 Sound module connecting 19 Stop Freewheeling 60 Stripe button 61 Studio setup (example) 20 Synchronization Cubase 32 Nuendo 32 Synths connecting 20 System requirements mi
