Use As A Direct Box - Zoom A2.1u Operation Manual

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Sampling frequencies
32 kHz / 44.1 kHz / 48 kHz
HINT
With the operating systems listed above, the A2.1u
will function as an audio interface simply by
connecting the USB cable. There is no need to install
any special driver software.
To use the A2.1u as an audio interface for the
computer, connect the USB port of the A2.1u to
a USB port on the computer. The A2.1u will be
recognized as an audio interface.
HINT
• If the [POWER] switch of the A2.1u is set to OFF,
power will be supplied via the USB connection.
• If the [POWER] switch of the A2.1u is set to ON,
power will be supplied from the batteries in the
A2.1u or the AC adapter. Care should be taken
especially when running on battery power,
because setting the switch to ON may result in
faster depletion of the batteries.
In this condition, the sound of a guitar connected
to the [INPUT] jack of the A2.1u can be
processed with the effects of the A2.1u and then
be recorded on the audio tracks of a DAW
(Digital Audio Workstation) software application
on the computer.
At the same time, the [OUTPUT/PHONES] jack
of the A2.1u carries the playback sound from the
audio tracks of the DAW application, mixed with
the guitar sound processed by the effects of the
A2.1u (see illustration below).
For details on recording and playback, refer to
the documentation of the DAW application.
[OUTPUT/PHONES]
[OUTPUT/PHONES]
ZOOM A2.1u
A2.1u
[INPUT]
Effects
Record
A2.1u
[INPUT]
Effects
Playback
NOTE
• Also when using the A2.1u as an audio interface,
the signal after effect processing is always
available directly at the [OUTPUT/PHONES] jack.
• If the DAW application has an echo back function
(input signal during recording is supplied directly to
an output), this must be disabled when using the
A2.1u. If recording is carried out with this function
enabled, the output signal will sound as if
processed by a flanger effect.
• Use a high-quality USB cable and keep the
connection as short as possible. If power is
supplied to the A2.1u via a USB cable that is more
than 3 meters in length, the low voltage warning
indication may appear.

Use as a direct box

The [BALANCED OUT] connector on the rear
panel lets you use the A2.1u as a direct box for
sending the guitar signal directly to a PA mixer
or recording console. (Gain: 0 dB, output
impedance: 200 ohms, HOT-COLD)
To use this function, connect the [BALANCED
OUT] connector of the A2.1u to the PA mixer or
recording console, using XLR balanced cable. At
the same time, you can also connect the
[OUTPUT/PHONES] jack to a guitar amplifier
for monitoring.
[BALANCED OUT] connector
A2.1u
[OUTPUT/PHONES] jack
Acoustic
Guitar
[USB]
USB
[USB]
USB
Other Functions
Mixer
Guitar amp
DAW
application
DAW
application
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