Using The Firewire 410 - M-Audio Firewire 410 User Manual

11. Using the FireWire 410

The following sections address a number of real-life situations that you may encounter while using your FireWire 410. These brief tutorials
should help guide you. Also check the M-Audio website from time to time for other tutorials or FAQs that might arise.
Setting Up Your Record Levels
Using the Mic/Inst Inputs – Connect your microphone or instrument output to the FireWire 410's front panel Mic/Inst inputs. Make sure the
associated channel's MIC/LINE switch is set to the OUT position. If you are using a condenser microphone, be certain to activate the
PHANTOM POWER switch. Adjust the channel's INPUT GAIN to achieve a steady green SIGNAL LED without triggering the red CLIP LED.
You will then want to route the input signal to your DAW's inputs. Refer to the section below on monitoring your inputs, and to your software's
documentation, for more information.
Using the Line Inputs – Connect your line level output to the FireWire 410's rear panel LINE INPUTS. Make sure the associated channel's
MIC/LINE switch is set to the IN position.
The signal level that you receive at the line inputs will be the signal level that you record. Any adjustments to that signal level must be made
at the source. If you have an output level control on the device that you've connected to the FireWire 410's line inputs, adjust that output level
control to change the recording level. Most recording software will allow you to add gain to a recording that is made at a level that is initially
too low, but be careful that the recording level is not reaching digital clipping (going into the red) while recording.
You will then want to route the input signal to your DAW's inputs. Refer to the section below on monitoring your inputs, and to your software's
documentation, for more information.
Using the S/PDIF Input – Connect your S/PDIF digital output to the FireWire 410's rear panel digital inputs. If your S/PDIF connection is via
RCA connectors, choose the coaxial input; if it is an optical connection, choose the optical input.
Make sure that "external" is selected as the sync source in your FireWire 410 control panel's HARDWARE page.
The signal level that you receive at the S/PDIF input will be the signal level that you record. In most cases, this level cannot be modified at
the source.
Monitoring Your Inputs For Recording
The FireWire 410 supports ASIO direct monitoring, ASIO tape-type monitoring and WDM/MME input monitoring. The FireWire 410 also
supports direct monitoring independent of the software's monitoring capability.
ASIO direct monitoring – Most applications that support ASIO 2.0, support ASIO direct monitoring. In ASIO direct monitoring mode, your
audio application sends the input signal directly back to the FireWire 410's outputs, without passing through the application itself. The
advantage is that there is no latency from passing through your audio software. However, since the audio is bypassing the software, you
can not add effects or EQ plugins to the signal being monitored.
ASIO direct monitoring, when enabled, will allow you to control the monitor levels of the FireWire 410's inputs directly from the program. Once
you have assigned an input channel in the music software's mixer to a FireWire 410 input, the music software's mixer will take control of the
FireWire 410 control panel mixer's input channels.
As mentioned, while the advantages to this type of monitoring are obvious (no latency), the inability to add effects can be seen as a
drawback. That's why we created the AUX SENDS in the FireWire 410 control panel's Mixer. These AUX SENDS will allow you to add effects
while direct monitoring. See the section on Adding Effects While Direct Monitoring for more information.
If your audio application supports ASIO direct monitoring, you can enable it in your DAW's ASIO or audio control panel. Please refer to your
audio software's documentation for additional information.
ASIO tape-type monitoring – ASIO also supports tape-type monitoring (sometimes referred to as "tape-machine" monitoring). In this case,
the input signals are monitored through your audio software's mixer. Normally, the input monitoring is active when the program is in Record
or Record-armed modes; when the program is in playback mode, the input monitoring is disabled, allowing you to hear the recorded audio.
This is useful for listening to the take you just recorded, without having to disarm the input channels. Although you can monitor your inputs
with effects and EQ plugins, a small amount of latency is introduced by monitoring through your software. The FireWire 410 supports the
ultra-low latency ASIO 2.0 standard, however your actual latency is influenced by a number of factors including your computer hardware,
processor speed and selected buffer size both in your FireWire 410 control panel and your music software.
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