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The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of NATIVE INSTRUMENTS GmbH. The software described by this document is subject to a License Agreement and may not be copied to other media. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior written permission by NATIVE INSTRUMENTS GmbH, hereinafter referred to as NATIVE INSTRUMENTS.
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8.2. How to check if the driver is installed correctly? ......77 8.3. How to use the remote control function? ........79 8.4. How to avoid Ground Loops ............. 80 8.5. How to Use AUDIO KONTROL 1 with a Laptop ......81 9. Appendix..................84 9.1. Technical Specifications and Block Diagram ......84 9.2 MIDI CC Table.................
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Winamp or iTunes. Setup files for popular programs ensure the use of these features is hassle-free. This manual will help you use all the features of AUDIO KONTROL 1. It is divided into three parts: •...
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• The AUDIO KONTROL 1 hardware is powered by the USB bus. Operation can be guaranteed only as a single device with a USB2 controller or with a self-powered USB2 hub.
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• Do not use excessive force on the buttons, knobs, switches or connectors. • When cleaning the AUDIO KONTROL 1 hardware, use a soft, dry cloth. Do not use paint thinner, solvents, cleaning fluids, or chemically- impregnated wiping cloths.
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3. Parts of the Product In this section, we will quickly describe what is contained in the hardware and software sections of AUDIO KONTROL 1. Please take a moment to read this carefully; it will give you the basic knowledge of how AUDIO KONTROL 1 works.
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6: Line/Instrument Input Sensitivity Knob (Line) This knob allows you to adjust the line/instrument input gain. This is relevant to the signal coming into Input 2, but not exclusively: on Input 1, if Line is AUDIO KONTROL 1 – 9...
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This switch, when activated (pushed in), merges the two inputs into one mono signal for monitoring. This can be useful, for example, if you’re using only one input on your AUDIO KONTROL 1: you can then monitor this input signal both on the left and right channels.
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This knob adjusts the volume of the headphone output. 3.1.2. Rear Panel The AUDIO KONTROL 1 rear panel is equipped with the connections that you won’t necessarily change for each new project. These include the main audio outputs, the MIDI input/output and the USB2 connection. It includes also the phantom power switch for the microphone input.
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These Controllers are of two types: the Controller Knob and the Left, Middle and Right Buttons. The top panel also provides a number of LEDs for monitoring the various activities of the box. The AUDIO KONTROL 1 Top Panel. 12 – AUDIO KONTROL 1...
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19: Controller Knob, 20: Left Button, 21: Middle Button, 22: Right Button The use of these four Controllers will be extensively explained in the next sections. They are the core of the remote control of AUDIO KONTROL 1. 23, 24: Info LEDs These LEDs inform you about various aspects of AUDIO KONTROL 1.
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7.2 for more info on how to edit the driver’s parameters. 3.2.2. Mapping Application AUDIO KONTROL 1 lets you control your music applications (or, in fact, any other application) from the four Controllers on the hardware top panel. These Controllers are assigned to specific commands in your target application (for example a keyboard shortcut or a MIDI message).
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A full set of assignments for the four Controllers is called a Page. The Mapping Application comes with many prepared Pages. These Pages are meant for the most common uses of the Controllers with NATIVE INSTRUMENTS products, major sequencers and other audio applications. You can then customize these Pages and create your own Pages from scratch to fit your needs.
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In all setups, please use balanced cables as the audio inputs and outputs of your AUDIO KONTROL 1 hardware are balanced, too. Do not connect the AUDIO KONTROL 1 hardware to your computer until you have finished the software installation and driver setup (see below, section 4.2).
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Switch RECORDING ROOM set to Mic This setup shows you how to use AUDIO KONTROL 1 in a studio configuration. DJ - INTERNAL MIXER This features: • All what is needed to record a voice, i.e. a microphone is used with Input 1, and there are two different signals for the control room (headphones, active speakers) and the recording room (headphones).
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DJ - EXTERNAL MIXER 1/2-3/4 Switch set to 1/2 This setup can be used with the included NATIVE INSTRUMENTS product TRAKTOR 3 LE. It allows you to execute sophisticated mixes using only a computer, AUDIO KONTROL 1, a headphone and an amplification system.
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DJ setup. The only difference is that your mixer gets its inputs from AUDIO KONTROL 1 instead of turntables. TRAKTOR 3 LE can also handle this setup. Please refer to the separate manual of TRAKTOR 3 LE for detailed information.
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Quickstart of section 5.3. 4.2. AUDIO KONTROL 1 Software Installation AUDIO KONTROL 1 is a tightly integrated system of software and hardware: Before using AUDIO KONTROL 1, the product’s software must be installed, particularly the driver. You might also want to install the bundled software applications XPRESS KEYBOARDS, TRAKTOR 3 LE and GUITAR COMBOS.
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To start the installation, insert the AUDIO KONTROL 1 CD into the optical drive. Open the Windows Explorer (the Finder on the Mac) and double-click the CD to see the files on the CD-ROM. Start the installation by double-clicking “AUDIO KONTROL 1 Setup” (by launching “AUDIO KONTROL 1 Installer”...
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After the installation of all selected packages is completed and the computer has been re-booted you can start using AUDIO KONTROL 1 by connecting it to your audio environment. However, there are five steps that are recommended to do before you begin to make music: •...
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AUDIO KONTROL 1 contains one MIDI input port and one MIDI output port on the hardware side. However, when you configure your software applications to interact with the AUDIO KONTROL 1 hardware, you will note that the driver offers a second MIDI input/output pair.
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• Click the Input tab, and choose AUDIO KONTROL 1 in the Choose a device for sound input list. 4.3.4. Configuring Cubase with AUDIO KONTROL 1 (ASIO) To configure Cubase SX/SL with AUDIO KONTROL 1, do the following: • From the Devices menu, select Device Setup. The Device Setup dialog pops up.
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AUDIO KONTROL 1 audio interface and one of the included products by NATIVE INSTRUMENTS.
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MIDI Input interfaces. Verify that both entries of the “AUDIO KONTROL 1” are set to On. If one or both of them are set to Off, click on this Off icon to activate the input (the Off will turn to On). Then click OK to save your settings.
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Let’s choose “AUDIO KONTROL 1 Out 1” and “AUDIO KONTROL 1 Out 2”. They correspond to the first two Main Output Jacks on the rear panel of your AUDIO KONTROL 1 hardware.
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We will make use here of AUDIO KONTROL 1’s remote control capabilities to take control of TRAKTOR 3 LE. We will also use the AUDIO KONTROL 1 audio interface to bring everything to the dance floor – and to your ears.
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In the dropdown menu, select “AUDIO KONTROL 1 Out 3” and “AUDIO KONTROL 1 Out 4” for the left and right channels. If you wish, you can activate the Mono Button to mix both left and right channels together in your headphones.
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The TRAKTOR 3 LE Preferences window, for use with the internal mixer and AUDIO KONTROL 1. Within a later step of this quickstart, we will use the Mapping Application to remotely control TRAKTOR 3 LE. Therefore, TRAKTOR 3 LE needs to listen to the MIDI messages coming from the Mapping Application: Unfold the “Hotkey...
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5.2.2. Controlling TRAKTOR 3 LE We will now look at the most innovative part of AUDIO KONTROL 1: its Remote Control. Located on the hardware’s top panel, its behavior is managed by the Mapping Application.
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If you press any of the three Buttons, nothing happens: they are all set to the Modifier mode, meaning that they don’t have a specific action, but instead they modify the action of each Controller. 32 – AUDIO KONTROL 1...
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TRAKTOR 3 LE interface; it can only be controlled via MIDI - and now via AUDIO KONTROL 1. Like it says, this parameter is a fine pitch adjustment, much more precise than the Tempo Knob that you see on each Deck.
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In order to hear, on your amplification system or headphones, what you are playing on your instrument, we will follow these steps. Physical Connections First, we have to plug your guitar (or bass) into AUDIO KONTROL 1’s audio interface instrument input. 34 – AUDIO KONTROL 1...
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As always, before plugging anything into anything, don’t forget to turn any relevant signal levels down: on your instrument, and on the Line Input Sensitivity Knob (labeled Line) of your AUDIO KONTROL 1 hardware. Now plug the jack coming from your instrument into Input 2’s Jack. Because the guitar and the bass are high impedance equipment, you must activate the high impedance circuitry by engaging the Input Impedance Switch (Inst/Line, position Inst).
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Go in the menu File > Audio + MIDI Settings, and click on the Soundcard Tab in the dialog that opens. There, check that the selected Output Device is “ASIO AUDIO KONTROL 1”. Then click on the Routing Tab, and check the following: •...
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File menu, select the MIDI tab and activate both input ports of AUDIO KONTROL 1. This can be done by clicking on the Off label; if it already reads On for both inputs, you don’t need to change the options. Click OK to close the dialog box.
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AC Box parameters, now accessible from the hardware’s top panel: Let’s play now with the AUDIO KONTROL 1 hardware top panel: • Without pressing any of the three Buttons, the Controller Knob drives the Input Volume.
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• Turn all relevant volume controls up to a reasonable level. That was it on the hardware side. On the software side, the operating system needs to use the AUDIO KONTROL 1 as its default interface, as Winamp and iTunes are simply relying on the operating system’s settings. The necessary steps to set up AUDIO KONTROL 1 as your default audio interface are described in sections 4.3.1 (Windows) and 4.3.3 (Mac).
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As always, you are of course absolutely free to compose other Controller Pages according to your wishes. These four quickstarts showed you the basics of AUDIO KONTROL 1. But the next section will explain some more complex situations, in which AUDIO KONTROL 1 can considerably improve both efficiency and quality in your workflow.
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Moreover, the quickstarts also show you how to start using the AUDIO KONTROL 1’s Remote Control, and we will start here from that point. If you feel unsure about anything, don’t hesitate to get back to the previous sections, or to look in the Reference Section later in this manual.
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We want to specify in the recording software that the main mix has to be sent to AUDIO KONTROL 1’s outputs 3 and 4. To do so, we have to configure the virtual busses in the recording software.
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AUDIO KONTROL 1’s outputs 1 and 2. To do this, open the VST Connections window again (in the Devices menu), and click on the Studio Tab to check that AUDIO KONTROL 1’s Outputs 1 and 2 are selected for the monitoring bus (the Audition bus).
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Input 1. 6.1.4. Checking the Levels First, we have to set the input level on the AUDIO KONTROL 1 audio interface. This is done via the Microphone Input Sensitivity Knob (labeled “Mic” on the hardware’s front panel). The goal is to achieve the highest input level possible (in order to get the highest dynamic range and the lowest noise in your recording), but not so loud that clipping at the A/D converter occurs.
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In Nuendo, this can be done on the track in main project window, in the mixer or in the track’s Inspector, by clicking on the Record Enable button next to the Monitor button (the Record Enable button turns red): AUDIO KONTROL 1 – 45...
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6.2. Controlling a Sequencer - Creating Assignments with Key Commands We will now look at two other cases, in which AUDIO KONTROL 1’s Remote Control allows you to pilot your music software as you wish. The first case deals with a sequencer application. Major sequencers are huge pieces of software with hundreds of functions.
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Bar, click on it; if don’t, you’re already in the Assign View. In the upper part of the window, called the Selection Area, you will see all the Controller assignments. By clicking on one of the four Layer tabs on the left, AUDIO KONTROL 1 – 47...
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Left Button, in order to have access to another feature in your target application (Nuendo in our case). For example, one could implement a Fast Forward/Rewind command when the Left Button is pressed. To do so, you just need to do the following: 48 – AUDIO KONTROL 1...
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Note: If you change the keyboard shortcuts in your target application, AUDIO KONTROL 1 mappings won’t be updated! They only send key commands. Please check that these key commands are the one you need in your target application. Moreover, major sequencers often allow you to create whole sets of key commands for different tasks.
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“Zoom out to the entire song” command for the Left Button when the Right Button is pressed?). Feel free to implement other assignments so that this Page meets your particular needs for your current project. 50 – AUDIO KONTROL 1...
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If you are using a MIDI controller anyway, the AUDIO KONTROL 1’s hardware top panel can still be a very useful additional control device for the most important functions in your software.
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Most importantly, the application needs to be connected to both the MIDI input ports that AUDIO KONTROL 1 provides. Note that only one of them is actually present within the hardware. The other port is only virtual. It is used to establish a connection between the Mapping Application and the target application to be controlled remotely, in this case FM7 XPRESS.
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(CC) specified by the following Controller menu. In our case, the CC value is 74, corresponding to the Brightness parameter in FM7 XPRESS. Finally, three numeric fields set the increment step (that can be negative to decrement), and the minimum and maximum values. AUDIO KONTROL 1 – 53...
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The MIDI message is sent to the computer, and every MIDI-capable program running on the computer can receive it as long as it listens to both MIDI ports of AUDIO KONTROL 1. If you want to be sure that only one program responds to this message, set the channel number in the Mapping Application and in your programs accordingly.
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Click on the only visible menu, the Software Event Type menu, and select “MIDI”. Other settings appear as soon as this entry is selected. In the Channel menu, select “Omni”, so that the message will be sent on all MIDI channels. AUDIO KONTROL 1 – 55...
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Program Change number corresponding to the Preset you want to have at your disposal at any time. Feel free to try other assignments, AUDIO KONTROL 1 offers you endless mapping possibilities! 56 – AUDIO KONTROL 1...
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These interfaces, like ASIO on Windows or CoreAudio on OSX, make it possible to use AUDIO KONTROL 1 from within another program (e.g. a sequencer, or Winamp/iTunes). You only need to tell the program to use the AUDIO KONTROL 1 interface.
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Higher sample rates use more CPU load, but have the potential to offer higher fidelity. • Bit Resolution: Choose the preferred bit resolution. A greater number of bits deliver better dynamic range, but audio data recorded at higher resolutions requires more memory for storage. 58 – AUDIO KONTROL 1...
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4.3.3. 7.3. Remote Control Basic Concepts In order to fully understand how AUDIO KONTROL 1’s remote control works, and to be able to use it at maximum capacity, it is necessary to explain the basic concepts of AUDIO KONTROL 1’s workflow concerning its remote controlling scheme.
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Both On and Off events can be assigned to software events. For example, pressing the Right Button could start the playback in iTunes, and pressing it again could pause the playback (like a Play/ Pause button). 60 – AUDIO KONTROL 1...
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Configuration with 0 modifiers (upper left): Each Controller can create a pair of hardware events (rotate left/right or button pressed/released), thus creating all in all 4 pairs of possible hardware events. There is only one Layer, the Main Layer. AUDIO KONTROL 1 – 61...
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• Main Layer: Only the Knob has a pair of possible hardware events, since all the Buttons are set as modifiers. • Left Button Layer: The other three Controllers are available, making thus 3 possible pairs of events (Controller Knob, Middle & Right Buttons.) 62 – AUDIO KONTROL 1...
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Imagine that you are working on a 3-track project in your favorite sequencer. By correctly setting up your AUDIO KONTROL 1 Mapping Application, you could use AUDIO KONTROL 1’s hardware like follows: •...
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Now let’s take a short break and try to sum up what we’ve just learned about the remote control signal flow. The AUDIO KONTROL 1 hardware transmits your commands in the form of hardware actions. These hardware actions are transformed into hardware events, depending on how the actions should be interpreted (which Controllers are manipulated, on which Layer, in which Mode…).
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The Mapping Application is the control tower of your AUDIO KONTROL 1’s remote control system. It stores the links between hardware actions (what you do on AUDIO KONTROL 1 top panel) and software events (what you want to be done within a specific piece of software). Here we will systematically...
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AUDIO KONTROL 1 logo). This dialog contains valuable information about the software such as the version number. • Visit Audio Kontrol 1 on the web: Opens in your internet browser the AUDIO KONTROL 1 page on the Native Instruments website.
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7.2. AUDIO KONTROL 1 Logo and NATIVE INSTRUMENTS Logo Clicking on the AUDIO KONTROL 1 Logo or on the NATIVE INSTRUMENTS Logo opens the About dialog. This dialog contains valuable information about the software such as the version number.
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Area below. The Display View consists of two areas: The lower Hardware Area displays the AUDIO KONTROL 1 hardware top panel. In the upper Information Area, information text is displayed, depending on the mouse position within the Hardware Area. If you position the mouse over one of the elements in the Hardware Area, the Information Area will update to display all mapping information for this particular Controller.
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Main Layer Tab, then clicking on the +Right Tab will display the Controller Assignments defined when the Right Button is pressed. If a Button is not set as a modifier, the corresponding Layer Tab is not active and its Label is grayed out. AUDIO KONTROL 1 – 69...
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• MIDI: Sends a MIDI Message to the target application. Below, the Specification Area contains all information defining the specific Software Event to be executed. Depending on the Software Event Type selected in the previous menu, the Specification Area provides different elements. 70 – AUDIO KONTROL 1...
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Mapping Application stores it, with the corresponding modifier keys. These modifier keys are Shift, Ctrl, Alt and Win on Windows systems and Shift, Ctrl, Alt and Apple on the Mac. AUDIO KONTROL 1 – 71...
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(for more info on what a status byte is, please refer to some MIDI specification reference). Depending on the selected entry in this menu, the area below displays relevant dedicated elements. The menu provides the following entries: 72 – AUDIO KONTROL 1...
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This can be used, for example, to switch an effect or any other status on or off, e.g. by sending CC value 127 upon a hardware press event, and CC value 0 when the button is released again. AUDIO KONTROL 1 – 73...
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(with the mouse for example), the target application will not communicate this to the Mapping Application. A subsequent CC Internal message triggered with AUDIO KONTROL 1 might therefore cause a sudden jump of the controller value! • Program Change Fixed: Sends a MIDI Program Change message. A dropdown menu specifies the message’s Program Number.
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This keeps the Learn mode selective regarding specific modes like CC Fixed/Internal etc. If Extended is selected with the Status menu, all messages are learnt without filtering, the only exception being MIDI real-time messages. In Extended mode subsequent messages can also AUDIO KONTROL 1 – 75...
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• Verify that you have installed the latest driver and the latest software update. Check the Native Instruments website for information. • Make sure that the AUDIO KONTROL 1 hardware is connected to a USB 2.0 port on your computer.
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8.2. How to check if the driver is installed correctly? On a PC in the Windows Start menu there should be a new entry called “Native Instruments Controller Driver”. There you will find the helper applications “Audio Statistics” and “Control Panel”. Make sure that the Controller is connected to the computer and open the Control Panel.
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Control Panel PC – AUDIO KONTROL 1 connected On a Mac, look into the System Preferences for the NATIVE INSTRUMENTS USB Audio Control Panel icon. Open this control panel to see if the device is found. If no device is found the Control Panel values will appear grayed out.
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USB logo. 8.2.3. Using a powered USB 2.0 hub It is best to connect the AUDIO KONTROL 1 directly to a USB 2.0 port on your computer. However, in certain situations a powered USB hub can also be a solution if you are having problems connecting your AUDIO KONTROL 1 to an onboard USB port.
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8.4.1. Try to eliminate the loop Assuming that you have connected the AUDIO KONTROL 1 to a mixer, a first troubleshooting step is to disconnect all devices from your mixer that you are not currently using. This applies also to other peripheral devices you may have connected to your computer (external data storage, CD burners).
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DI (direct input) box between the AUDIO KONTROL 1 outputs and the mixer inputs. (This is the same kind of box that is used to connect a line-level instrument like a guitar).
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In case your Computer is unable to handle glitch free audio processing, the tool will show you red latency bars and report this in the box on the bottom. Run it with both settings – AUDIO KONTROL 1 connected and disconnected – to find out about your computer’s capacities.
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Macintosh OS X If you have a wireless LAN card installed and Bluetooth running turn them off while you are using AUDIO KONTROL 1 (you can turn this off in the top OSX menu bar). AUDIO KONTROL 1 – 83...
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9. Appendix 9.1. Technical Specifications and Block Diagram 84 – AUDIO KONTROL 1...
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Input Impedance: 1 MOhms unbalanced Full Scale Level -4 dBu -4 dBu at maximum Gain Maximum Input Level: �10 dBu SNR (weighted): 100 dB THD�N: 0.006% Frequency Response: 20 - 20000 Hz (�0 / -0.5 dB) AUDIO KONTROL 1 – 85...
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20 - 20000 Hz (�0 / -0.5 dB) Other Interfaces Interface to computer: USB 2, bus powered MIDI: 1 Input, 1 Output Control Elements Endless Knobs: Buttons: Dimensions Height: 52 mm Width: 150 mm Depth: 123 mm Weight: 400 g 86 – AUDIO KONTROL 1...
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LSB for Control 26 (Undefined) 0-127 LSB for Control 27 (Undefined) 0-127 LSB for Control 28 (Undefined) 0-127 LSB for Control 29 (Undefined) 0-127 LSB for Control 30 (Undefined) 0-127 LSB for Control 31 (Undefined) 0-127 88 – AUDIO KONTROL 1...
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Undefined Undefined Undefined Undefined Undefined Undefined Undefined Undefined Undefined Undefined Undefined Undefined Undefined The Controller numbers 120-127 are reserved for Channel Mode Messages, which rather than controlling sound parameters, affect the channel‘s operat- ing mode. 90 – AUDIO KONTROL 1...
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Assign Button ..... 66, 68 USB Buffersize Assign View ......47, 68 and Audio Buffersize ..... 58 AUDIO KONTROL 1 logo .... 67 Windows XP ......58 Browse Button ......71 Event Label Field ...... 70 Event Type Indicator ....70 Channel menu ....
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Mic/Line ........9 Pressure messages ....73 Mic/Line Switch ......9 PRO-53 ........26 Mic Knob ........9 Program Change ....... 54 Microphone Input Program menu ....50, 71 Sensitivity Knob ..... 9, 42, 44 92 – AUDIO KONTROL 1...
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Studio setup ......17 SysEx commands ...... 75 Technical specifications ..... 84 Toggle mode ....... 55, 60 Top Panel ......... 12 TRAKTOR LE ......28 Trigger mode ...... 55, 60 Troubleshooting ......76 USB ........78 AUDIO KONTROL 1 – 93...
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