cymatic audio uTrack 24 User Manual
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cymatic audio uTrack 24 User Manual

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Firmware Version 2746
USER'S MANUAL
Firmware Version 2746
July 2015

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  • Page 1 Firmware Version 2746 USER‘S MANUAL Firmware Version 2746 July 2015...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    TABLE OF CONTENT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ....................4 1.1. AC adapter operation ........................4 1.2. Environment ............................4 1.3. Handling ............................4 1.4. Connecting cables and input and output jacks ................. 4 1.5. Alterations ............................5 1.6. Volume .............................. 5 USAGE PRECAUTIONS .....................6 2.1.
  • Page 3 UTRACK24 FILE FORMATS .....................2 3 UTRACK24 FILE PLAYBACK MODES ................2 5 15.1. Multitrack Mode ..........................2 5 15.2. Stereo Mode............................ 2 5 15.3. Default Mode ........................... 2 5 SETTINGS BAR ........................2 6 RECORD PAGE ........................2 8 MIX PAGE .........................2 9 LOADING AUDIO FILES FOR PLAYBACK ...............3 1 PLAY PAGE ........................3 3 PLAYLIST SCREEN ......................3 5...

  • Page 4: Safety Precautions

    SAFETY PRECAUTIONS 1.1. AC adapter operation Be sure to use only an AC adapter, which supplies 15 V , 1000 mA and is equipped with a “center plus” plug. The use of an adapter other than the specified type may damage the unit and pose a safety hazard.

  • Page 5: Alterations

    1.5. Alterations Never open the case of the uTrack24 or attempt to modify the product in any way since this can result in damage to the unit. 1.6. Volume Do not use the uTrack24 at a loud volume for a long time since this can cause hearing impairment. CERTIFICATIONS This product complies with the European Union Council Directives and Standards relating to Directive 2004/108/EC for Electromagnetic compatibility...

  • Page 6: Usage Precautions

    Please keep this manual in a convenient place for future reference. LIMITED WARRANTY For the applicable warranty terms and conditions and additional information on Cymatic Audio’s Limited Warranty, please see complete details online at www.cymaticaudio.com/warranty USER‘S MANUAL...

  • Page 7: Introduction

    INTRODUCTION Congratulations on your purchase of the Cymatic Audio uTrack24! The uTrack24 is three powerful products in one: • A 24-track solid-state audio recorder • A 24-track digital audio file player • A 24-input, 24-output computer audio interface Never before has such a powerful combination of features been available at such an affordable price, and in such a compact footprint.

  • Page 8: Utrack24 Feature List

    UTRACK24 FEATURE LIST 24-Channel Multitrack Recorder • Allows connection of 24 channels of balanced input/output through 25-pin D-Sub connectors • Optional digital I/O card offers 24x24 I/O in digital formats such as MADI • Up to 24-bit resolution, 96kHz sample rate •...

  • Page 9: What's In The Box

    WHAT’S IN THE BOX Your uTrack24 comes with the following materials: • uTrack24 • AC/DC Power Adapter and power cable • Removable Rack Ears • USB Cable • Printed Quick Start Guide HOW TO USE THIS USER’S MANUAL • This document is the full user’s manual for the uTrack24. Refer to it for the most comprehensive information about the uTrack24 and all of its operations.

  • Page 10: Utrack24 Front Panel

    UTRACK24 FRONT PANEL 13 14 1. USB Port This port allows connection of a standard, off-the-shelf USB drive. The uTrack24 records and plays back up to 24 tracks of audio to/from the connected USB drive. The uTrack supports USB drives from sizes ranging from 2GB to 16TB. 2.
  • Page 11 13 14 10. RECORD Button Press the RECORD button to begin a new recording. The uTrack24 is always ready to start a new recording as soon as the RECORD button is pressed. NOTE: when the uTrack24 is neither playing back nor in playlist-mode, it will automatically switch to “pre-recording”...

  • Page 12: Utrack24 Rear Panel

    10. UTRACK24 REAR PANEL 17 - 24 9-16 main out wordclock sync 12vdc OUTPUT OUTPUT OUTPUT network midi out 17 - 24 9-16 INPUT INPUT INPUT uTrack 1. Option Card Slot The uTrack24 can be fitted with an optional 24-input, 24-output option card that provides an alternate audio I/O path from the onboard analog I/O.
  • Page 13 17 - 24 9-16 main out wordclock sync 12vdc OUTPUT OUTPUT OUTPUT network midi out 17 - 24 9-16 INPUT INPUT INPUT uTrack 4. Main Outputs The main outputs carry a two-channel signal that can be sourced from either: • The stereo output of the onboard 24-channel monitor mixer.
  • Page 14 17 - 24 9-16 main out wordclock sync 12vdc OUTPUT OUTPUT OUTPUT network midi out 17 - 24 9-16 INPUT INPUT INPUT uTrack 10. Network Connector This RJ-45 connector allows connection of the uTrack24 to a standard Ethernet network. The network connection can be used for two different functions: •...

  • Page 15: Using The Utrack24 With A Mixer To Record A Live Concert

    11. USING THE UTRACK24 WITH A MIXER TO RECORD A LIVE CONCERT 24-Channel Analog Mixer Mixer Line Inputs Mixer Direct Outputs uTrack24 uTrack24 Outputs Stereo Headphones The uTrack24 is the perfect tool for capturing 24 individual tracks of a live concert, which can then be imported into your DAW software of choice.

  • Page 16: Using The Utrack24 With A Recording Split/Outboard Mic Preamps

    12. USING THE UTRACK24 WITH A RECORDING SPLIT/OUTBOARD MIC PREAMPS uTrack24 24-Channel (3) 8-Channel Stereo Stereo Splitter Snake Microphone Headphones Powered Préamplifiers Monitors In some instances, you may wish to use the uTrack24 in a higher end remote recording setup, with a dedicated recording split of the stage snake (as opposed to the mixer’s direct outputs).

  • Page 17: Getting Started With Recording And Playback

    13. GETTING STARTED WITH RECORDING AND PLAYBACK 13.1. Preparing the attached USB drive for recording The uTrack24 records 24 separate tracks of 24-bit audio, directly to any off-the-shelf USB drive; No computer required! The attached USB drive must be formatted in the “Fat32” format. In order to ensure that the USB drive is optimally formatted for audio recording, it highly advised that you format the attached USB drive using the uTrack24’s “Format USB Drive”...

  • Page 18: Usb Hard Drives Vs. Usb Flash Drives

    13.2. USB Hard Drives vs. USB Flash Drives When recording audio with the uTrack24 and a connected USB drive, it is important to understand the difference between the two key types of USB drives available in the marketplace 13.2.1. USB Hard Drive A USB hard drive is a traditional “moving parts”...

  • Page 19: Starting A Recording

    • The uTrack24 then automatically sets the recording parameters to a lower value of 16-bit, 16 tracks, in case they were preset to higher values. These settings require less data throughput from the attached drive, and are thus more likely to work correctly with a flash drive.

  • Page 20: 24-Channel Input Metering

    13.4. 24-Channel Input Metering The front panel of the uTrack24 contains 24 separate LEDs; each one serves as an individual 3-color input level meter for the corresponding record channel. This allows you to monitor the incoming signal level for each track, and adjust the output level of the signal source accordingly.

  • Page 21: Looping Playback Between In And Out Points

    • When exported, this playlist file will automatically be named ‘autoplay.play’ and placed in the Multitrack/#PLAYLIST or Music/#PLAYLIST folders • There can only be one autoplay playlist per project This playlist will automatically be loaded and begin playing back, whenever the uTrack24 is powered up.

  • Page 22: Midi File Playback

    MIDI data from a Standard MIDI File (also known as an “SMF”). The SMF can be placed in a uTrack24 multitrack audio project using Cymatic Audio’s “uTool” software. For complete details on the operation, please refer to the latest version of the uTool user’s manual, available at...

  • Page 23: Utrack24 File Formats

    “chunk” of multichannel file to the beginning of the next one. The multiple chunks inside a take are played back exactly the same as one long linear recording. In order to easily import these multi-channel .wav files, Cymatic Audio offers a free download of its “uTool” application, which perform two functions: •...
  • Page 24 uTool performs these functions as they copy the uTrack24’s recordings from the external USB drive to your computer. As a result, you are left with 24 separate, standard mono wav files, each one running the length of your entire take. The applications allow this process to work in reverse as well.

  • Page 25: Utrack24 File Playback Modes

    15. UTRACK24 FILE PLAYBACK MODES When playing back audio, the uTrack24 offers different playback “modes”. The uTrack24 switches to a given playback mode depending on what type of audio file is loaded for playback. The different modes work as follows: 15.1.

  • Page 26: Settings Bar

    16. SETTINGS BAR The uTrack24 contains a “settings bar” at the top of the screen that is always present on all recording and playback screens. It shows important settings, at a glance, of the key aspects of your recording. Playback 1.
  • Page 27 NOTE: If you have selected external clock source, word clock or digital I/O clock in the recording menus and no valid external clock source is connected, the “Wck” or “Ext” label will flash on/off, as a reminder that no external clock source is actually available. 7.

  • Page 28: Record Page

    17. RECORD PAGE The RECORD page is shown any time the uTrack24 is in recording mode; it displays important aspects of the recording process and allows you to monitor your recording. 1. Take Name and Number Displays the name and number of the current “take” that is automatically created each time a new recording is initiated by pressing the RECORD button.

  • Page 29: Mix Page

    18. MIX PAGE When recording, it is crucial to monitor an “in the field” stereo mix of the recording in progress. For this purpose, the uTrack24 contains a built-in 24-input stereo monitor mixer, allowing you to monitor a stereo mix of the incoming 24 channels of audio, while adjusting various mix parameters. The mixer is active only for the currently active recording channels.
  • Page 30 Alternate Solo Method: Press and hold the rotary encoder as a quick way to instantly solo the currently selected channel. This method allows you to quickly select and solo channels one by one, with fewer steps. Note that soloing of a selected channel is temporary; it only lasts as long as the channel is selected.

  • Page 31: Loading Audio Files For Playback

    19. LOADING AUDIO FILES FOR PLAYBACK Press the BROWSE button on the front panel to switch the display to the BROWSER screen. The BROWSER screen will show a folder named “MultiTrack” that contains all of the multitrack audio files that can be selected for playback on the uTrack24. Rotate the encoder to highlight the MultiTrack folder then press it to select.
  • Page 32 The attached USB drive may also contain two other types of files that can be loaded for playback: • Playlists: • Stereo Audio Files: The screenshot above shows the browser window containing all three types of files: A stereo wave file, a playlist, and a MultiTrack take. Any of them can be selected by rotating the encoder to highlight the file name, then pressing the encoder to load it for playback.

  • Page 33: Play Page

    20. PLAY PAGE The play screen is shown any time the uTrack24 is currently playing back a multitrack audio take, as well as when the transport is currently stopped. It displays various parameters related to the playing back of audio from an attached USB drive. 1.
  • Page 34 Stereo Mode: • Continuous When the current take has finished playing, the next take will automatically begin playing • Repeat One Playback of the current take will continue repeating over and over. • Repeat All When all of the takes in the current directory have completed, the device will start over with the first song in the directory •...

  • Page 35: Playlist Screen

    21. PLAYLIST SCREEN The playlist screen is shown any time the uTrack24 is currently playing back a “playlist” of audio takes: a pre-configured list of takes that automatically play one after the other. Playlists can be configured using free uTool software available for download at www.cymaticaudio.com/downloads The PLAYLIST screen displays various parameters that are unique to the playlist workflow: 1.

  • Page 36: Utrack24 System Menus

    22. UTRACK24 SYSTEM MENUS The uTrack24 contains a set of menus that allow you to adjust various settings. To adjust a menu setting: • While the transport is stopped, press the front panel MENU/LOOP button; the display will switch to the Settings Menu page and show a scrollable list of settings •...

  • Page 37: Footswitch Menu

    Digital I/O: The uTrack24 will slave to the clock signal of the installed digital I/O card. For example, if the MADI module is installed, the uTrack24 will slave to the clock of the MADI system. When using an external clock (Wordclock or Digital I/O), the settings bar will display “Wck” or “Ext”...

  • Page 38: Recording Menu

    22.3. Recording Menu This menu contains various settings that determine the parameters of the uTrack24’s recordings. Sample Rate: Selects the sample rate of the recording, when the uTrack24 is set to its internal clock. Choices include: • 44.1kHz • 48 kHz •...

  • Page 39: Playback Menu

    22.4. Playback Menu This menu offers choices for how takes are played back when a stereo wave file is loaded into memory on the uTrack24. Stereo Mode: When operating in stereo mode, the following options are available: • Continuous: As each audio file finishes playback, the uTrack24 automatically begins playback of the next audio file in the same folder, in numerical/alphabetical order.

  • Page 40: Inputs

    22.5. Inputs This menu allows you to select which input section to use on your uTrack24. It can be done in blocks of 8 channels, and works as follows: Inputs 1-8 • Analog 1-8* • MADI 1-8 • ------------- • MADI 57-64 Inputs 9 •...
  • Page 41 Mode: The MADI standard offers two different channel count options, when working with a MADI stream. Select the menu choice that matches the channel count of the MADI system you are working with. • 64ch (Ext)* • 56ch (Std) 96K Format: Selects which sample rate you wish to work with on the compatible MADI system •...

  • Page 42: Utilities Menu

    Out 33-40 • Same options as above but with MADI inputs 33-40 as the default output Out 41-48 • Same options as above but with MADI inputs 41-48 as the default output Out 49-56 • Same options as above but with MADI inputs 49-56 as the default output Out 57-65 •...

  • Page 43: Load Settings

    Format USB: The format USB command will format (erase) any USB drive that is connected to the front panel USB port. It is highly recommended that you use this utility to format all USB drives that you plan to use with the uTrack24, as opposed to formatting them on your Windows or OS X computer.

  • Page 44: Using The Utrack24 As A Computer Audio Interface

    23. USING THE UTRACK24 AS A COMPUTER AUDIO INTERFACE The uTrack24 can be connected to a personal computer or iOS device via its rear panel USB port, and operate as a 24-input, 24-output computer audio interface. 23.1. Using the uTrack24 as an Audio Interface with Microsoft Windows 23.1.1.

  • Page 45: Utrack24 Control Panel For

    23.1.3. uTrack24 Control Panel for PC The uTrack24 driver installation program will automatically install the uTrack24 Control panel on your PC. You can launch it by clicking on the uTrack24 icon that will be present in the Windows task bar, or by locating the program’s entry in the Windows start menu.
  • Page 46 Settings View: Synchronization Tab Device Name: The device name field controls what device name will appear in your DAW software. The default name is “uTrack24” but it can be modified to the name of your choosing. Sample Rate: Click on this field to select what sample rate you wish to operate the uTrack24 at when using it as an audio interface.
  • Page 47 Settings View: Buffers Tab The control panel’s buffers screen allows adjustment of the ASIO buffers used by your ASIO compatible DAW software. USB Streaming Mode: Adjust this value to set the basic mode of operation of the uTrack24 drivers. ASIO Buffer Depth: Adjust this setting to configure the size of the ASIO buffer, measured in samples.
  • Page 48 Settings View: Input Channels Tab Double click an entry in the “channel name” column to modify the input channel names as they will appear in your DAW. Click on the checkbox labeled ‘Include device name in ASIO display name’ if you wish for the channel names to be prepended with the device name.
  • Page 49 Settings View: Output Channels Tab Double click an entry in the “channel name” column to modify the output channel names as they will appear in your DAW. Click on the checkbox labeled ‘Include device name in ASIO display name’ if you wish for the channel output names to be prepended with the device name.
  • Page 50 Settings View: About Tab Revision: Displays the revision number of the control panel itself. uTrack24: Displays the connection-status for the uTrack24, indicating if the device is connected and recognized by the computer. Serial Number: Displays the specific serial number of the connected uTrack24 unit. Driver Version: Displays the version number of the installed device driver Firmware Version: Displays the current firmware version of the connected uTrack24 unit.

  • Page 51: Using The Utrack24 As An Audio Interface With An Os

    23.2. Using the uTrack24 as an Audio Interface with an OS X 23.2.1. Minimum System Requirements Operating Systems: • Mac OS-X® 10.8 or higher Hardware: • Any Mac hardware compatible with OS X 10.8 or higher • 512 MB Ram (1GB or more recommended) •...

  • Page 52: Using The Utrack24 As An Audio Interface With An Apple® Ipad

    When working as an interface with OS X, the uTrack24 supports operating frequencies of 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz and 96 kHz. To operate the uTrack24’s interface mode at 88.2/96kHz, if the uTrack24 is in 44/48kHz, first set the uTrack24’s own internal sample rate to 88.2kHz or 96kHz, using its front panel settings menu. The UI prompts the user that the system will restart.

  • Page 53: Updating The Firmware Of Your Utrack24

    System Details” menu. (See chapter “uTrack24 System Menus”) If you determine that your uTrack24 firmware version number is lower than the version number of the downloadable uTrack24 firmware on the Cymatic Audio website, please perform a firmware update. 24.1. Firmware update using the USB connection (Windows &...
  • Page 54 4. On your Windows or OS X computer (which has to be connected to the same network), open an Internet Browser (e.g. Google Chrome), type the IP address into the browsers address bar and hit return. After a short moment, the following page should appear in your browser: 5.
  • Page 55 7. Click the green “UPLOAD FIRMWARE” button that appears. The update process starts and you will see the following screen: 8. After the update has successfully finished, your browser will show the following: 9. Click the green “REBOOT” button. The connected uTrack24 will reboot which concludes the update process.

  • Page 56: Legal Disclaimer

    Technical specifications and appearance are subject to change without notice and accuracy is not guaranteed. Cymatic Audio accepts no liability for any loss which may be suffered by any person who relies either wholly or in part upon any description, photograph or statement contained herein.
  • Page 57 USER‘S MANUAL LEGAL DISCLAIMER...

  • Page 58: User's Manual

    Cymatic Technologies B.V. P.O. Box 208 6590 AE Gennep The Netherlands www.cymaticaudio.com Support: For Europe: support-EMEA@ cymaticaudio.com Rest of the world: support@cymaticaudio.com USER‘S MANUAL © copyright 2015 Cymatic Audio B.V. Firmware Version 2746 July 2015...

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