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Soniclear HA4 Operation Manual

Hybrid audio kit with the focusrite 18i16 gen 4
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HA4 Hybrid Audio Kit
with the Focusrite 18i16 Gen 4
OPERATION GUIDE

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Summary of Contents for Soniclear HA4

  • Page 1 HA4 Hybrid Audio Kit with the Focusrite 18i16 Gen 4 OPERATION GUIDE...
  • Page 2 About This Manual This manual covers the installation and usage of the SoniClear HA4 Hybrid Audio Kit, based on the Focusrite 18i16 4 Gen model. This kit is designed for use with all SoniClear digital recording software products. Revision Date: 6/25/25 Printed in the United States.
  • Page 3 Using a Backup Recorder ........................9 Playback from Windows Software ..................... 10 Additional Usage Notes ........................10 Preparation Before Each Meeting ....................... 10 SoniClear Recording Channel Layout ....................11 Resetting All Controls ......................... 12 Focusrite 18i16 Loopback Kit Installation ....................14 Hardware Installation ..........................14 Overview .............................
  • Page 4 Windows Sound Settings ........................37 Default Playback Device ........................37 Default Recording Device ........................38 SoniClear Software Preferences for Recording ..................39 Overview ............................. 39 Recording Options Tab - Sound Quality ..................... 39 Hardware Tab – Audio Device Selection.................... 41 Transcriber Live Software Preferences ....................
  • Page 5 HA4 Operation Overview The SoniClear HA4 Hybrid Audio Kit uses the Focusrite 18i16 4 Generation 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.
  • Page 7 Using Microphones As many as four microphones can be connected to the front of the mixer. When using the Hybrid feature where two channels are looped back from the online conference call, plug in the two loopback TRS cables and the S/PDIF loopback cable as described below in this manual. Position the microphones in the meeting room to pick up all the participants.
  • Page 8 Then select the Playback 7+8 option in the Device section of the volume mixer window and to adjust the overall level or the level of just the conference software (such as Zoom):...
  • Page 9 Unlike the Stereo Mix recording in SoniClear the backup audio output on the headphone jack has the same audio as heard on the first headphone jack, including the monitor audio.
  • Page 10 To set up a backup recorder, connect a 3.5mm to 3.5mm stereo cable to the Headphone 2 jack, using the included ¼” to 3.5mm adapter. Set the volume of Headphone 2 to about the 12 O’clock position. Connect that cable to the Line-In jack on the backup recorder. Adjust the backup recorder input to get the correct recording level.
  • Page 11 SoniClear Recording Channel Layout The SoniClear recordings created with this kit will have the following channels: SoniClear Channel Audio Recorded on Channel Stereo Mix Microphones 1 - 4 Remote Conference or Softphone Participants Auxiliary Inputs 5 - 6 SoniClear Readback Audio (Left/Right)
  • Page 12 Resetting All Controls If any of the required Focusrite 18i16 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 right click on the Focusrite control icon This will display the list of options for controlling the Focusrite interface.
  • Page 13 Click on the Presets button in the lower left corner of the window to select the appropriate preset, such as “SoniClear InPerson” or “SoniClear Remote”. It is also possible that the settings have been customized during installation. Consult with your installation team or SoniClear if you have questions about which...
  • Page 14 The Focusrite 18i16 is powered using the included Focusrite power adapter. Microphone Connections The HA4 Hybrid Kit can be configured with up to 4 microphones and 2 auxiliary inputs, or with a noise cancelling headset for remote work. Any professional microphone with an XLR connector can be used with the 18i16. Up to four microphones can be connected.
  • Page 15 Headphone Connection The noise cancelling headset, or a user supplied monitoring headphone can be plugged into Headphone 1 jack on the front of the 18i16 interface, using the supplied ¼” to 3.5mm adapter. Speaker Connection A user-supplied speaker can be connected to the 18i16 using a standard stereo mini audio cable plugged into the included speaker Y cable.
  • Page 17 Loopback Cables Note: Color of cables is irrelevant and may vary from what is shown.
  • Page 18 S/PDIF Loopback Cable...
  • Page 19 ¼” TRS Loopback Cables...
  • Page 20 XLR Microphone and Headphone Option...
  • Page 21 Focusrite 18i16 Software Installation Drivers The Focusrite 18i16 requires manual installation of product-specific Windows drivers. This provides custom control panel software for configuring the device. As of the last update to this manual, the download link for the driver installer was: https://us.focusrite.com/software/focusrite-control-2 Only install software downloaded from the official Focusrite website.
  • Page 22 Windows applications. Software and Hardware Loopback Signals To accomplish all of the functions of the HA4 kit, the Focusrite 18i16 is configured with three loopback signals. SoniClear uses the loopback audio channel built-in 18i16 audio drivers for recording a mix of the local microphone(s), combined with the audio from the remote participants.
  • Page 23 How to Open Focusrite Control Panels 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 right click on the Focusrite control icon This will display the list of options for controlling the Focusrite interface.
  • Page 24 Settings For Recording The option to record both local microphones or for remote conference calls can be accomplished with these settings. Inputs Select the Inputs button on the left of the Control 2 window to display the input settings: The microphone input channels 1 - 4 are set to a gain of 50db by default. These will need to be adjusted based on the types of microphones used, the microphone placement, and how loudly the participants are speaking.
  • Page 25 The Headphone 1 and Headphone 2 mix is sent to the headphone jacks on the front of the 18i16 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 Mix B – Conference Loopback on Analogue Outputs 3-4 Mix B is sent to the Line-Out 3-4 jacks, providing the “Mix-Minus” signal of the audio to be sent to the remote participants. These jacks are connected back to the 18i16 hardware line inputs on the back of the 18i16 unit (Analog 7-8) using the two ¼”...
  • Page 27 Mix C - Loopback Mix C contains the loopback mix contains the audio being recorded in SoniClear. Routed to: Loopback Mics 1-6 Line-In 5-6 (Auxiliary Line In) Mute Line-In 7-8 (conference call mic feed) Mute S/PDIF (conference call participants) Mute...
  • Page 28 Mix D – Main Monitor Output on Analogue Outputs 1-2 The Monitor Outputs 1-2 mix is sent to the Line-Out 1-2 jacks on the back of the 18i16 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 29 Mix E and F – Not Used These mixes are not used in the default settings. They could be used to create additional custom mixes.
  • Page 30 Routing The Routing section can be selected by clicking on the Routing button on the left side of the Control 2 window. All of the routing settings are set in the Mixer section, except this: • S/PDIF Loopback of conference audio for recording Here is what the routing settings should look like:...
  • Page 32 Additional Settings While in the Focusrite Mixing / Routing Control panel, click on the Settings menu button (three dots at the top right of the Control 2 window), and then select Preferences. This will display several additional driver hardware controls.
  • Page 33 Set these control options as follows: Under “Sample rate & clocking: Sample Rate = 44.1 kHz Internal Clock RCA S/PDIF...
  • Page 34 Under Device Settings: Enable “Remember 48V settings...
  • Page 35 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 18i16 (4 Gen) settings”...
  • Page 36 Expose Windows Channels Open the Focusrite Control 2 icon as described above and then 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 37 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 18i16 Playback 1-2 audio to be the default playback device for Windows. Select the Focusrite USB Audio and click the Set Default button.
  • Page 38 Default Recording Device Set the Windows Sound Recording defaults by clicking on the Recording tab of the Sound panel: Set the Analogue 7 + 8 device as the default recording device for Windows programs by clicking on that driver and then clicking the Set Default button.
  • Page 39 SoniClear Software Preferences for Recording Overview The SoniClear software preferences must be configured to work with the Focusrite 18i16 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 41 Hardware Tab – Audio Device Selection Select the Hardware tab and modify the settings according to the following instructions.
  • Page 42 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 43 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 18i16: 1.
  • Page 44 Live monitoring should be enabled and the headphone device set to “Playback 5 + 6”. 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 45 Transcriber Live Software Preferences When Transcriber Live is used with SoniClear Court Recorder 10, the Focusrite 18i16 headphone can be used to monitor audio, and readbacks can be played so that the readback audio is heard by the teleconference participants. These settings apply to both Hybrid and Non-Hybrid modes of recording.
  • Page 46 Enable live monitoring by checking this option. Set the Headphone device to “Playback 5 + 6”. 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 47 Zoom Conferencing Software Configuration The Zoom conferencing application must be manually set to the correct configuration to work with the Focusrite 18i16 interface. Disable Auto Startup The Zoom Settings General tab allows for disabling loading at startup. Make sure the “Start Zoom when I Start Windows”...
  • Page 48 At the same time, be aware that when Zoom changes, it may result in the program changing how it works with SoniClear. Always thoroughly test SoniClear with new versions of Zoom before using in production.
  • Page 49 GoToMeeting Conferencing Software Configuration The GoToMeeting conferencing application must be manually set to the correct configuration to work with the Focusrite 18i16 interface. Disable Auto Startup The Preferences Start Up tab allows for disabling loading at startup. Make sure the “Automatically after I log in to Windows”...
  • Page 50 GoToMeeting is not getting out of date. At the same time, be aware that when GoToMeeting changes, it may result in the program changing how it works with SoniClear. Always thoroughly test SoniClear with new versions of GoToMeeting before using in production.
  • Page 51 Teams Conferencing Software Configuration The Microsoft Teams conferencing application must be manually set to the correct configuration to work with the Focusrite 18i16 interface. Disable Auto Startup The Teams Settings General tab allows for disabling loading at startup. Make sure the “Auto- start application”...
  • Page 52 Configure Audio Devices In the Settings Devices tab, select the audio devices: • Set the Speaker device to “Playback 7 + 8”. • Set the Microphone device to “Analogue 7 + 8”.
  • Page 53 Teams is not getting out of date. At the same time, be aware that when Teams changes, it may result in the program changing how it works with SoniClear. Always thoroughly test SoniClear with new versions of Teams before using in production.
  • Page 54 WebEx Conferencing Software Configuration The Cisco WebEx conferencing application must be manually set to the correct configuration to work with the Focusrite 18i16 interface. Disable Auto Startup The Webex Options General tab allows for disabling loading at startup. Make sure the “Start Webex when my computer starts”...
  • Page 55 At the same time, be aware that when Webex changes, it may result in the program changing how it works with SoniClear. Always thoroughly test SoniClear with new versions of Webex before using in production.
  • Page 56 With this configuration the audio being played back can be heard by the conference call participants and on the 18i16 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...