Soniclear HA4 Operation Manual
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Soniclear HA4 Operation Manual

Hybrid audio kit
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HA4 Hybrid Audio Kit
with the Focusrite 18i8
OPERATION GUIDE

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Summary of Contents for Soniclear HA4

  • Page 1 HA4 Hybrid Audio Kit with the Focusrite 18i8 OPERATION GUIDE...
  • Page 2 About This Manual This manual covers the installation and usage of the SoniClear Hybrid 4 Audio Kit, based on the Focusrite 18i8. This kit is designed for use with all SoniClear digital recording software products. Revision Date: 6/9/21 Printed in the United States.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Contents HA4 Operation ............................5 Overview ............................5 Using Microphones ..........................6 Adjusting Remote Participant Volume ....................6 Listening using Headphones ....................... 7 Listening using Speakers ........................7 Using a Backup Recorder ........................7 Playback from Windows Software ...................... 8 Additional Usage Notes ........................
  • Page 4 Windows Sound Settings ........................33 Default Playback Device ........................33 Default Recording Device ......................... 34 SoniClear Software Preferences ......................35 Recording Options Tab - Sound Quality ................... 35 Hardware Tab – Audio Device Selection ..................36 Transcriber Live Software Preferences ....................41 Hardware Tab –...

  • Page 5: Ha4 Operation

    HA4 Operation Overview The SoniClear HA4 Hybrid Audio Kit uses the Focusrite 18i8 USB audio interface to make it easy to record in-person meetings, computer-based teleconferences, and hybrid meetings with high audio quality. It will work with any conferencing software, such as Zoom, Cisco WebEx, or Microsoft Teams. It also works with softphone programs, such as 8x8 Work, Vonage, and Avaya.

  • Page 6: Using Microphones

    Using Microphones When working in-person, plug in up to four microphones and locate them in the meeting room to pick up all the participants. When working remotely, place one microphone so that it is close to where you are sitting without being in the way of your work. The microphone has a very directional pickup pattern, so it does not need to be right in front of your mouth.

  • Page 7: Listening Using Headphones

    There are two headphone jacks on the front of the 18i8 interface. Headphone 1 is used for listening to participants and monitoring audio from SoniClear. Plug the monitor headphone into the Headphone1 jack. A ¼” to 3.5mm adapter is included for headphones that use a 3.5mm plug. Adjust the headphone loudness using the level knob above the jack.

  • Page 8: Playback From Windows Software

    that cable to the Line-In jack on the backup recorder. Adjust the backup recorder input to get the correct recording level. Always check the audio quality being captured by the backup recorder after setting it up, to ensure a good backup. Playback from Windows Software You can play audio from any Windows program for remote participants to hear.

  • Page 9: Resetting All Controls

    Resetting All Controls If any of the required Focusrite 18i8 settings are accidentally changed, the default settings can be restored with the following steps: Left click on in the “Windows System Tray”. This is the little up-arrow icon in the lower right corner of the computer screen (next to the Time and Date): Then left click on the Focusrite control icon This will display the list of options for controlling the Focusrite interface.
  • Page 10 Click on the File pulldown menu and select “Load Snapshot” to open the preset selection dialog. Select the file HA4Kit_Focusrite18i8_RevC.ff (or preset file saved specifically for your preferred configuration). This may be stored in the SoniClear program directory (C:\Program Files (x86)\SoniClear97) or some other location where it has been saved when setting up the HA4 kit.

  • Page 11: Focusrite 18I8 Loopback Kit Installation

    Connect at least one microphone or a headset to the 18i8 microphone inputs. This microphone or headset is used to record the local participant in the SoniClear software and is also used as the microphone for the online conferencing software, such as Zoom.

  • Page 12: Speaker Connection

    jack on the front of the 18i8 interface, using the supplied ¼” to 3.5mm adapter. Speaker Connection A user-supplied speaker can be connected to the 18i8 using a standard stereo mini audio cable plugged into the included speaker Y cable. The speaker Y cable plugs into the ¼” TRS “Line Outputs 1 and 2 jacks on the back of the 18i8.
  • Page 13 Loopback Cables...
  • Page 14 S/PDIF Loopback Cable...
  • Page 15 ¼” TRS Loopback Cables...
  • Page 16 XLR Microphone and Headphone Option...
  • Page 17 Headset Adapter Option...

  • Page 18: Focusrite 18I8 Software Installation

    Loading Presets The Focusrite 18i8 requires configuration for compatibility with SoniClear. A default set of presets for use with SoniClear may be located in the SoniClear program directory (C:\Program Files (x86)\SoniClear97). If the presets are not available in the program directory, they can be downloaded from the SoniClear website: https://download.soniclear.com/ha4/...
  • Page 19 Then left click on the Focusrite control icon This will display the list of options for controlling the Focusrite 18i8. Select “Mixing / Routing” to display the Focusrite control panel:...

  • Page 20: Saving Presets

    Then save these customized settings in a custom preset file for future use. It is important to save these customized presets so that the SoniClear user can restore the correct settings, in case they pressed one of the setting buttons by accident.

  • Page 21: Focusrite 18I8 Manual Configuration

    (through cables) to send a “mix minus” version of the audio to the online conference software. This excludes the output of the conferencing software to prevent echo or feedback. A second hardware loopback is used for recording the conference participants in a separate track in SoniClear. How to Open Focusrite Control Panels Left click on in the “Windows System Tray”.

  • Page 22: Mixer Settings

    Then left click on the Focusrite control icon This will display the list of options for controlling the Focusrite interface, which are explained in the following instructions. Mixer Settings Open the Focusrite 18i8 Mixer control panel from the Focusrite menu in the Windows System Tray by selecting the “Mixing / Routing”...

  • Page 23: Monitor Outputs 1-2

    Monitor Outputs 1-2 The Monitor Outputs 1-2 mix is sent to the Line-Out 1-2 jacks on the back of the 18i8 unit. This is the signal that can be connected to speakers. The microphone inputs must be excluded from this mix, with just computer playback being sent to the speaker output.

  • Page 24: Analogue Outputs 3-4

    Analogue Outputs 3-4 The Analogue 3-4 mix is sent to the Line-Out 3-4 jacks. This provides the “Mix-Minus” signal of the audio to be sent to the remote participants. These jacks are connected back to the 18i8 hardware line inputs on the back of the 18i8 unit using one or two cables. This creates, in effect, a hardware loopback of the audio, making the signal available for the conference software.

  • Page 25: Headphone 1

    The Headphone 1 mix is sent to the first headphone jack on the front of the 18i8 unit. This is the signal that allows the SoniClear user to hear everything in the conference call, as well as for monitoring through the headphones from SoniClear.

  • Page 26: Headphone 2

    Headphone 2 The Headphone 2 output is used to connect the Focusrite to a backup recorder. The audio included on the custom mix for this output includes all audio heard by the participants, and excludes audio heard by the court reporter headphone for monitoring. When connecting the backup device to this headphone jack, it will be necessary to adjust the volume of the headphone (for example, to the 12 O’clock position) and then adjust the input volume on the backup recorder to get a proper recording level.

  • Page 27: S/Pdif

    This mix is for the S/PDIF output. It is used to provide hardware loopback of the conference all audio, making it possible to record the remoted participants in a separate track in SoniClear. This mix is set to just the conference call playback device, Playback 5 + 6.

  • Page 28: Loopback

    Loopback The loopback mix contains all of the audio being recorded in SoniClear. Mic 1-4 Line-In 5-6 (conference call mic feed) Mute S/PDIF (conference call participants) Mute Playback 1-2 (Windows App Playback) Playback 3-4 (Readback Playback) Playback 5-6 (Conference Call Participants)

  • Page 29: Hardware Input Settings

    Hardware Input Settings While in the Focusrite Mixing / Routing Control panel, click on the Input Settings button (in the top middle of the panel). This will open the hardware settings buttons to adjust the input signal hardware behavior. Set these as follows: Analogue 1 and 2 Line - On Air - Off...

  • Page 30: Additional Settings

    Additional Settings While in the Focusrite Mixing / Routing Control panel, click on the Settings gear button (at the top left of the control panel). This will display several additional driver hardware controls. Set these control options as follows: Sample Rate = 44.1 kHz Internal Clock S/PDIF = RCA Retain 48V = Enable...

  • Page 31: Focusrite Driver Settings

    Focusrite Driver Settings In addition to the mixer settings, the driver settings must be configured from the Focusrite control panels. Access the control panels by clicking on the system tray up-arrow icon, then left click on the Focusrite icon Streaming Settings Select the “Scarlett 18i8 (3 Gen) settings”...

  • Page 32: Expose Windows Channels

    Expose Windows Channels Select the “Expose / Hide Windows Channels” option from the Focusrite control icon in the system tray. This will display the Windows driver channels control panel. Enable (check) all inputs and outputs shown.

  • Page 33: Windows Sound Settings

    Windows Sound Settings Default Playback Device Select the “Windows Sound Panel” option from the Focusrite control icon in the system tray. This will display the Windows Playback settings control panel: Set the Focusrite 18i8 Playback 1-2 audio to be the default playback device for Windows. Select the Focusrite Usb Audio and click the Set Default button.

  • Page 34: Default Recording Device

    Default Recording Device Set the Windows Sound Recording defaults by clicking on the Recording tab of the Sound panel: Set the Analogue 5 + 6 device as the default recording device for Windows programs by clicking on that driver and then clicking the Set Default button.

  • Page 35: Soniclear Software Preferences

    SoniClear Software Preferences Overview The SoniClear software preferences must be configured to work with the Focusrite 18i8 interface. To do this, start SoniClear and select Edit/Preferences from the pulldown menu. The recordings created with this configuration will have the following channels:...

  • Page 36: Hardware Tab - Audio Device Selection

    Hardware Tab – Audio Device Selection Select the Hardware tab and modify the settings according to the following instructions.
  • Page 37 Recording Device Setup The Recording Device Selection side of the Hardware tab controls the usage of the sound cards in the computer during recording. Default Recording Device This is the sound card input for recording the stereo mix of all the participants. It should be set to “Loopback L+R”.
  • Page 38 This indicates that the 18i8 interface has been plugged into more than one USB jack on the computer at some point in time. Once the Default Recording Device field has been set, the 18i8 must be plugged into the same USB jack on the computer each time it is used.
  • Page 39 Click on the Edit button next to the “First Recording Array Device” field to display the setup dialog for the individual microphone channels. This set of options controls how the individual inputs are recorded separately in SoniClear. Set each of the recording array devices to the corresponding stereo pair device in the 18i8: 1.
  • Page 40 Live monitoring should be enabled and the headphone device set to “Playback 7 + 8”. Advanced Playback Options These options control how playback is processed. These fields should only be changed in the event of problems with playback using the default settings. Consult SoniClear support for assistance. Monitor Delay Monitor Delay should be set to the default of 3 seconds.

  • Page 41: Transcriber Live Software Preferences

    Transcriber Live Software Preferences When Transcriber Live is used with SoniClear Court Recorder 9, the Focusrite 18i8 headphone can be used to monitor audio, and readbacks can be played so that the readback audio is heard by the teleconference participants.

  • Page 42: Hardware Tab - Audio Device Selection

    Enable live monitoring by checking this option. Set the Headphone device to “Playback 7 + 8”. Advanced Playback Options These options control how playback is processed. These fields should only be changed in the event of problems with playback using the default settings. Consult SoniClear support for assistance if this happens. Monitor Delay Monitor Delay should be set to the default of 3 seconds.

  • Page 43: Zoom Conferencing Software Configuration

    Zoom Conferencing Software Configuration The Zoom conferencing application must be manually set to the correct configuration to work with the Focusrite 18i8 interface. Set the Speaker device to “Playback 5-6”. Set the Microphone device to “Analogue 5 + 6”.

  • Page 44: Gotomeeting Conferencing Software Configuration

    GoToMeeting Conferencing Software Configuration The GoToMeeting conferencing application must be manually set to the correct configuration to work with the Focusrite 18i8 interface. Set the Microphone device to “Analogue 5 + 6”. Set the Speakers device to “Playback 5 + 6”.

  • Page 45: Teams Conferencing Software Configuration

    Teams Conferencing Software Configuration The Microsoft Teams conferencing application must be manually set to the correct configuration to work with the Focusrite 18i8 interface. Set the Speaker device to “Playback 5 + 6”. Set the Microphone device to “Analogue 5 + 6”.

  • Page 46: Webex Conferencing Software Configuration

    WebEx Conferencing Software Configuration The Cisco WebEx conferencing application must be manually set to the correct configuration to work with the Focusrite 18i8 interface. Set the Speaker device to “Playback 5 + 6”. Set the Microphone device to “Analogue 5 + 6”.

  • Page 47: Other Communication Software Configuration

    With this configuration the audio being played back can be heard by the conference call participants and on the 18i8 monitoring headphones. The playback audio will also be recorded in SoniClear. A typical application would be to play a video file on the computer for conference participants to...

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