MOTU MicroBook IIc User Manual
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MOTU MicroBook IIc User Manual

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Summary of Contents for MOTU MicroBook IIc

  • Page 2 That license agreement is a contract, and clicking Authorization Number on the outside of the box below the shipping address. “Accept” binds you and MOTU to all its terms and conditions. In the event This warranty does not apply if the equipment has been damaged by anything contained in this summary is incomplete or in conflict with the actual...

  • Page 3: User Guide

    MicroBook IIc User Guide 1280 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138 Business voice: (617) 576-2760 Business fax: (617) 576-3609 Web site: www.motu.com Tech support: www.motu.com/support...

  • Page 4: Important Safeguards

    3. Heed Warnings — All warnings on the MOTU MicroBook and in the owner' s manual should be adhered to. 4. Follow Instructions — All operating and use instructions should be followed. 5. Cleaning — Unplug the MOTU MicroBook from the computer before cleaning and use a damp cloth. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners.

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    Contents Quick Reference: MicroBook Front Panel Quick Reference: MicroBook Rear Panel Quick Reference: MicroBook Top Panel Quick Reference: CueMix FX About the MicroBook Packing List and System Requirements Installing the MicroBook Software Installing the MicroBook Hardware Mac OS X Audio Software Windows Audio Software CueMix FX Troubleshooting...

  • Page 6: Quick Reference: Microbook Front Panel

    “feel” even more like it is plugged directly into a actual guitar amplifier, consider using Make sure 48V power is MOTU’s ZBox guitar impedance To obtain your product turned OFF BEFORE plugging adapter (sold separately), which serial number, see anything in to the mic input.

  • Page 7: Quick Reference: Microbook Rear Panel

    5. These two analog inputs are connectors whenever possible. jacks serve as the MicroBook’s MicroBook IIc to an iPad. For balanced TRS (tip/ring/sleeve) main outputs. You can connect details, see “Connecting to an iOS quarter-inch connectors that can •...

  • Page 8: Quick Reference: Microbook Top Panel

    Quick Reference: MicroBook Top Panel 1. The MIC digital rotary encoder 5. Three-LED metering for the LINE controls the trim for the mic OUTs. input. The preamp provides 53 6. The VOL digital rotary encoder dB of gain. Push to toggle the controls the volume of the main -20 dB pad;...

  • Page 9: Quick Reference: Cuemix Fx

    CHAPTER Launch CueMix FX (in your Mac Applications folder or in the Windows Start menu under Programs>MOTU>CueMix FX) to control the MicroBook. This chapter gives you a quick overview. For further details, see chapter 7, “CueMix FX” (page 37). 1. Input settings include trim 3.
  • Page 10 1. Click the Outputs tab to access White, or Pink produces a sine 3. If you want to apply EQ or settings for the MicroBook’s wave or white/pink noise from dynamics processing to the outputs. For example, you can the MicroBook’s signal genera- output, click here to enable it choose one of four different tor (item 8 on the previous...

  • Page 11: About The Microbook

    About the MicroBook CHAPTER Overview Obtaining your MicroBook The MicroBook IIc is an audio class- serial number compliant USB audio interface for Mac, The MicroBook holds its serial Windows and iOS devices, with on- number electronically in the unit board effects and mixing that offers six itself.
  • Page 12 Stereo line level analog input on Advanced audio analysis software ■ ■ balanced quarter-inch (TRS) or stereo tools, including FFT “waterfall” display, mini connectors. oscilloscope, X-Y plot, and phase torch. Stereo line level analog main outs on USB audio class compliant operation ■...
  • Page 13 16-bit and 24-bit recording recorded wet, dry, or dry with a wet The MicroBook system handles all data monitor mix (for musicians during with a 24-bit signal path, regardless of the recording, for example). I/O format. You can record and play back Effects include parametric EQ and 16-bit or 24-bit audio files at any compression/limiting.
  • Page 14 A B O U T T H E M I C R O B O O K...

  • Page 15: Packing List And System Requirements

    first open it, please immediately contact following Windows system: your dealer or MOTU. Pentium 4 CPU (or equivalent) 1 GHz ■ One MicroBook IIc audio interface ■ or faster One USB cable for connection to a host ■ 4 GB of RAM or more ■...
  • Page 16 Be sure to register the included following: AudioDesk software, which must be registered separately. You can do so 1 Launch CueMix FX. online at motu.com/register. Doing so will allow you to be eligible to receive 2 Choose Devices menu> MicroBook> technical support and announcements Setup.

  • Page 17: Installing The Microbook Software

    CHAPTER Software NO SOFTWARE INSTALLATION FOR Class compliant operation under OS X The MicroBook IIc is a USB audio class iOS DEVICES The MicroBook IIc is a USB audio class compliant device, so OS X will recognize compliant device, so it can be used as a...
  • Page 18 ☛ that the MicroBook requires drivers, CueMix FX is not required for iOS followed by another window asking you operation, as the MicroBook IIc operates to locate the drivers on disk. If this as a simple 4-input, 6-output audio happens: interface for iOS, with no mixing or processing features.

  • Page 19: Installing The Microbook Hardware

    (previous chapter) before you connect the MicroBook hardware (this chapter). Figure 4-2: Use this cable for connecting the MicroBook IIc to a power outlet when using it with an iPad or other iOS device. ABOUT USB CABLES The MicroBook IIc includes two USB...

  • Page 20: Connecting To A Computer

    Figure 4-4: Connecting the MicroBook to a computer. When connected to a computer, the Figure 4-6: Powering the MicroBook from a MicroBook IIc is bus-powered from this power outlet when connected to an iPad or other iOS device. USB connection.

  • Page 21: Connect Inputs And Outputs

    Figure 4-7: MicroBook IIc front panel I N S T A L L I N G T H E M I C R O B O O K H A R D W A R E...
  • Page 22 MicroBook. Figure 4-8: MicroBook IIc back panel I N S T A L L I N G T H E M I C R O B O O K H A R D W A R E...

  • Page 23: Input Settings

    Input metering while adjusting trim INPUT SETTINGS Use the long-throw, horizontal input level To access input channel settings such as meter (5) at the top of the channel 48V phantom power, pad and trim, settings section (Figure 4-9) to calibrate launch the MicroBook’s CueMix FX the level.

  • Page 24: Bus Power

    As shown in Figure 4-6 on page 18, the must also have its own power supply. MicroBook IIc can be powered from a Most commonly, these types of products wall outlet or other AC power source...

  • Page 25: A Typical Microbook Setup

    A TYPICAL MICROBOOK SETUP CueMix™ FX mixer to apply EQ and Here is a typical MicroBook studio setup. compression to what you are recording When using it with a computer, all and monitor it via the main outs, mixing and processing can be done either headphone outs, or any other output pair.
  • Page 26 I N S T A L L I N G T H E M I C R O B O O K H A R D W A R E...

  • Page 27: Mac Os X Audio Software

    3, “Installing the MicroBook that lets you choose among various Software” (page 15). drivers that may be in your system. Choose the MOTU MicroBook from this RUNNING CUEMIX FX menu, as discussed in the following Before you run your host audio software, sections.
  • Page 28 Audio tab. Choose such as sample rate and clock source. CoreAudio from the Driver Type menu. Choose the MOTU MicroBook from the Pro Tools In Avid Pro Tools, go to the Setup menu Input Audio Device and Output Audio and choose Playback Engine.
  • Page 29 SAMPLE RATE WORKING WITH CUEMIX FX MIXING AND EFFECTS Choose the desired overall sample rate The MicroBook provides powerful for the MicroBook system in your host external mixing, EQ and compression, software. Newly recorded audio will have which you can operate hand-in-hand this sample rate.
  • Page 30 MONITORING LIVE INPUT “Adjusting the audio I/O buffer” for There are two ways to monitor live audio details about how to reduce or eliminate input with a MicroBook: the audible monitoring delay that the computer introduces. 1 Through the computer Figure 5-3 on page 29 shows method #2.
  • Page 31 “CueMix FX hardware monitoring” later ADJUSTING THE AUDIO I/O BUFFER A buffer is a small amount of computer in this chapter for details on how to use memory used to hold data. For audio CueMix FX with your audio software, or interfaces like the MicroBook, buffers are with CueMix FX.
  • Page 32 Under OS X, audio I/O buffer size is Cubase handled by the host audio application (not the MicroBook Core Audio driver). Most audio software applications provide an adjustable audio buffer setting that lets you control the amount of delay you’ll hear when monitoring live inputs or processing them with software plug-ins.
  • Page 33 Lower latency versus higher CPU If you are at a point in your recording overhead project where you are not currently The buffer setting has a large impact on working with live, patched-thru material the following things: (e.g. you’re not recording vocals), or if you have a way of externally processing Patch thru latency ■...
  • Page 34 It completely eliminates the patch thru ■ delay (reducing it to a small number of samples — about the same amount as one of today’s advanced digital mixers). CueMix FX imposes no strain on the ■ computer. The trade-off, however, is that CueMix FX bypasses your host audio software.

  • Page 35: Windows Audio Software

    Before you run your host audio software, choose among various drivers that may launch CueMix FX to configure your be in your system. Choose the MOTU MicroBook hardware. Running CueMix ASIO or Windows multimedia driver FX confirms that the MicroBook from this menu, as explained briefly in...

  • Page 36: Sample Rate

    In Cubase or Nuendo, go to the Device audio software. Newly recorded audio Setup window, choose VST Audio System will have this sample rate. and select MOTU MicroBook ASIO from the ASIO Driver menu. Activate the CLOCK SOURCE inputs and outputs within Cubase or Some host software may have a “clock...

  • Page 37: 24-Bit Operation

    MicroBook settings as a file in the same folder as your digital audio workstation’s project file for instant recall of all settings. See chapter 7, “CueMix FX” (page 37) for complete details. 24-BIT OPERATION Your MicroBook hardware fully supports 24-bit recording capabilities. Simply enable 24-bit operation as instructed in your digital audio workstation’s manual.
  • Page 38 W I N D O W S A U D I O S O F T W A R E...

  • Page 39: Cuemix Fx

    CueMix FX CHAPTER OVERVIEW can be recorded wet, dry, or dry with a CueMix FX is a cross-platform software wet monitor mix (for musicians during application that provides graphic, on- recording, for example). screen control for the MicroBook’s Effects include: flexible CueMix FX on-board mixer and effects processing.

  • Page 40: Cuemix Fx Installation

    CUEMIX FX INSTALLATION single stereo audio stream that you can CueMix FX is installed with the rest of then assign to any MicroBook output your MicroBook software. pair — or combination of output pairs — that you choose. For example, Mix 1 CUEMIX FX BASIC OPERATION could go to the headphones, Mix 2 could Here is a brief overview of the CueMix FX...
  • Page 41 Viewing one mix bus at a time and dynamics processing. These settings CueMix FX displays one mix bus at a time are applied to the signal just before it is in the Mixes tab (Figure 7-1 on page 38). sent to the output. To select which mix you are viewing, Channel focus and settings choose it from the mix bus menu.

  • Page 42: The Inputs Tab

    THE INPUTS TAB input pair. Use the Focus button Click the Inputs tab (Figure 7-2) to access (Figure 7-2) to access the Channel , EQ, and control all of these input channel and dynamics tab settings for each input. settings for each MicroBook input or Inputs tab Input name Channel focus...

  • Page 43: The Mixes Tab

    THE MIXES TAB MicroBook from your host audio Click the Mixes tab (Figure 7-3) to gain software. By bringing up this fader, you access to the MicroBook’s four stereo mix can combine live inputs (mic, guitar, and busses. The Mixes tab displays one mix line 1-2) with any audio from the bus at a time: choose each mix from the computer.

  • Page 44: The Outputs Tab

    THE OUTPUTS TAB Signal flows from top to bottom Settings in each Output tab channel strip The Outputs tab (Figure 7-4) lets you are applied to the signal in order from top apply EQ and dynamics to any output to bottom. For example, EQ occurs pair, just before the signal leaves the before Dynamics.

  • Page 45: The Meters Tab

    THE METERS TAB THE SIGNAL GENERATOR TAB The Meters tab (Figure 7-5) serves as a The Signal Generator tab (Figure 7-6) comprehensive meter bridge for all provides settings for the Sine Wave inputs, outputs and mix busses in the generator (frequency and amplitude) and MicroBook, giving you a “bird’s-eye”...

  • Page 46: Scope/Return Channels

    SCOPE/RETURN CHANNELS For example, if you want to mix inputs Choose Devices menu> MicroBook> with effects and send the result to Setup to access the Scope/Return Channel MicroBook outputs, but you also want to Selection settings below (Figure 7-7). The send those same inputs dry (no MicroBook sends two extra return processing) to the host, then select those...

  • Page 47: Audio Analysis Tools

    AUDIO ANALYSIS TOOLS Spectrogram Choose Options menu> Show CueMix FX provides advanced audio Spectrogram (Figure 7-8) to superimpose analysis tools. This section gives a brief a real-time spectrogram “waterfall” summary. For complete information, display in the EQ display background: refer to the CueMix FX PDF manual, which is placed on your hard drive by the MicroBook installer.
  • Page 48 right channel amplitude equals zero (Figure 7-10, below). There are also thick white diagonal lines for y = x and y = -x. Phase Analysis To open the Phase Analysis window (Figure 7-11), choose it from the Devices menu. Phase Analysis graphs frequency Figure 7-11: R e c t a n g u l a r v e r s u s Po l a r display with a logarithmic plot.

  • Page 49: Troubleshooting

    Try recording just using the analog inputs haven’t already done so, please take a and outputs of the MicroBook. If you moment to register on line at motu.com, encounter the same artifacts you may or fill out and mail the registration card want try using another drive in your included with your MicroBook.
  • Page 50 Please contact us online at www.motu.com/suggestions or write to: The serial number of the MicroBook ■ system. Please see “Obtaining your MicroBook Development Team MicroBook serial number”...

  • Page 51: Index

    Index Sig Gen tab Customer support 47 20 dB pad 19 Latency 28, 31, 37 24-bit 27, 35 Line inputs/outputs 20 recording 10 quarter-inch jacks 5 Digital (S/PDIF) output 20 48V phantom power 4 stereo mini jacks 5 Digital Performer 25 Live 25, 26, 34 buffer size 30 Logic Pro/Express 25, 26, 30...
  • Page 52 Patch thru connecting 23 Trim 20 latency 31 Scope/Return Channel 44 Troubleshooting 47-48 PCMCIA adaptors 22 Serial number 9, 14, 44 TRS connectors 19 Performance 31 Setup 14 Tuner 44 Phantom power 4, 19 Show Phase Analysis 46 FFT 45 Phones (see Headphones) Spectrogram 45 Unbalanced analog 19...

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