MOTU MicroBook II User Manual
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MOTU MicroBook II User Manual

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  • Page 2 That license agreement is a contract, and clicking Authorization Number on the outside of the box below the shipping address. “Accept” binds you and MOTU to all its terms and conditions. In the event This warranty does not apply if the equipment has been damaged by anything contained in this summary is incomplete or in conflict with the actual...

  • Page 3: User Guide

    MicroBook II ™ User Guide 1280 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138 Business voice: (617) 576-2760 Business fax: (617) 576-3609 Web site: www.motu.com Tech support: www.motu.com/support...

  • Page 4: Important Safeguards

    3. Heed Warnings — All warnings on the MOTU MicroBook and in the owner' s manual should be adhered to. 4. Follow Instructions — All operating and use instructions should be followed. 5. Cleaning — Unplug the MOTU MicroBook from the computer before cleaning and use a damp cloth. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners.

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    Contents Quick Reference: MicroBook Front Panel Quick Reference: MicroBook Rear Panel Quick Reference: MicroBook Top Panel Quick Reference: CueMix FX About the MicroBook Packing List and System Requirements Installing the MicroBook Software Installing the MicroBook Hardware Mac OS X Audio Software Windows Audio Software CueMix FX Troubleshooting...

  • Page 9: Quick Reference: Cuemix Fx

    CHAPTER Launch CueMix FX (in your Mac Applications folder or in the Windows Start menu under Programs>MOTU>CueMix FX) to control the MicroBook. This chapter gives you a quick overview. For further details, see chapter 7, “CueMix FX” (page 39). 1. Input settings include trim 3.
  • Page 10 1. Click the Outputs tab to access White, or Pink produces a sine 3. If you want to apply EQ or settings for the MicroBook’s wave or white/pink noise from dynamics processing to the outputs. For example, you can the MicroBook’s signal genera- output, click here to enable it choose one of four different tor (item 8 on the previous...

  • Page 11: About The Microbook

    About the MicroBook CHAPTER Overview Obtaining your MicroBook The MicroBook is a USB audio interface serial number for Mac and Windows with on-board The MicroBook holds its serial effects and mixing that offers six inputs number electronically in the unit and eight outputs for recording and itself.
  • Page 12 S/PDIF digital out on RCA (duplicates AudioDesk™ full-featured audio ■ ■ Main Out). workstation software for Mac OS X. Headphone output on a quarter-inch USB cable included. ■ ■ stereo jack with independent volume With a variety of I/O formats, dedicated control.
  • Page 13 recorded wet, dry, or dry with a wet monitor mix (for musicians during recording, for example). Effects include parametric EQ and compression/limiting. Standard compression provides conventional threshold, ratio, attack, release, trim, and knee controls. The 7-band parametric EQ is modeled after British analog console EQs, featuring four filter styles (gain/Q profiles) to effectively cover a wide range of audio material.
  • Page 14 A B O U T T H E M I C R O B O O K...

  • Page 15: Packing List And System Requirements

    first open it, please immediately contact or faster your dealer or MOTU. 512 MB of RAM; 1 GB or more is ■ One MicroBook II audio interface ■ recommended One USB cable (Type A to Type B) ■ Windows 7 or Vista, 32- or 64-bit ■...
  • Page 16 To obtain must be registered separately. You can do the serial number, follow the hardware so online at motu.com/register. Doing so and software installation instructions in will allow you to be eligible to receive the next two chapters, and then do the...

  • Page 17: Installing The Microbook Software

    MicroBook’s on-board mixing, interface to your PC and turn it on, insert EQ and dynamics processing. It also the MOTU Audio installer disc and run provides access to all MicroBook the MicroBook Installer. This ensures settings. For details, see chapter 7, that all the MicroBook components are “CueMix FX”...
  • Page 18 Figure 3-1: AudioDesk for Mac OS X. I N S T A L L I N G T H E M I C R O B O O K S O F T W A R E...

  • Page 19: Installing The Microbook Hardware

    Installing the MicroBook CHAPTER Hardware OVERVIEW Windows users: install the software first ..17 Connect the MicroBook interface ... 17 Connect inputs and outputs ....18 Bus power .

  • Page 20: Quick Reference: Microbook Top Panel

    48V LED. See “Quick Reference: separately), which adds proper MicroBook Top Panel” on page 6. impedance characteristics that cannot be modeled in software. Visit motu.com for Alternately, you can use the MicroBook’s details. CueMix FX software. See “Input settings”...
  • Page 21 ☛ Do not use the stereo mini input and Line out You can use the eighth-inch stereo mini quarter-inch inputs at the same time. If line out jack for output to desktop you are using the mini jack, unplug the speakers or any other line level quarter-inch jacks.
  • Page 22 Input metering while adjusting trim INPUT SETTINGS Use the long-throw, horizontal input level To access input channel settings such as meter (5) at the top of the channel 48V phantom power, pad and trim, settings section (Figure 4-4) to calibrate launch the MicroBook’s CueMix FX the level.
  • Page 23 BUS POWER Examples of bus- powered operation Here are a few typical examples of bus- Bus power requirements powered MicroBook operation: The MicroBook draws all the power it needs from the USB bus connection to Bus power from a desktop computer the computer.
  • Page 24 A TYPICAL MICROBOOK SETUP MicroBook’s CueMix™ FX mixer to Here is a typical MicroBook studio setup. apply EQ and compression to what you This rig can be operated without an are recording and monitor it via the main external mixer. All mixing and processing outs, headphone outs, or any other can be done either in the MicroBook, in output pair.

  • Page 25: Mac Os X Audio Software

    MOTU MicroBook Core MOTU Audio installer disc as detailed in Audio driver. Check the audio system or chapter 3, “Installing the MicroBook audio hardware configuration window in Software”...
  • Page 26 Exchanging projects with AudioDesk Choose the MOTU MicroBook from this Digital Performer can exchange projects menu, as discussed in the following with AudioDesk. To open an AudioDesk sections. project in Digital Performer, open it in Digital Performer and AudioDesk same way you would a DP project. To Choose the MicroBook as your audio export a project to AudioDesk, use DP’s...
  • Page 27 MicroBook from the Audio Output and Audio tab as shown in Figure 5-4. Choose Audio Input menus (Figure 5-6). For the MOTU MicroBook from the Output information about the Optimize for and Input device menus. For info about setting, see “Adjusting the audio I/O the I/O Buffer Size setting, see “Adjusting...
  • Page 28 Audio tab. Choose and click Devices under the Audio CoreAudio from the Driver Type menu. preferences. Choose MOTU MicroBook Choose the MOTU MicroBook from the from the Audio Device menu as shown Input Audio Device and Output Audio below in Figure 5-10.
  • Page 29 BUFFER SIZE WORKING WITH CUEMIX FX Most host applications provide a Buffer MIXING AND EFFECTS setting, which can be adjusted to reduce The MicroBook provides powerful the delay — or monitoring latency — that external mixing, EQ and compression, you hear when live audio is patched which you can operate hand-in-hand through your host software.
  • Page 30 MONITORING LIVE INPUT “Adjusting the audio I/O buffer” for There are two ways to monitor live audio details about how to reduce or eliminate input with a MicroBook: the audible monitoring delay that the computer introduces. 1 Through the computer Figure 5-12 on page 29 shows method #2.
  • Page 31 “CueMix FX hardware monitoring” later ADJUSTING THE AUDIO I/O BUFFER A buffer is a small amount of computer in this chapter for details on how to use memory used to hold data. For audio CueMix FX with your audio software, or interfaces like the MicroBook, buffers are with CueMix FX.
  • Page 32 Under Mac OS X, audio I/O buffer size is Cubase handled by the host audio application (not the MicroBook Core Audio driver). Most audio software applications provide an adjustable audio buffer setting that lets you control the amount of delay you’ll hear when monitoring live inputs or processing them with software plug-ins.
  • Page 33 Lower latency versus higher CPU AudioDesk’s Performance Monitor. If you overhead hear distortion, or if the Performance meter The buffer setting has a large impact on is peaking, try raising the buffer size. the following things: If you are at a point in your recording Patch thru latency project where you are not currently ■...
  • Page 34 It completely eliminates the patch thru On the other hand, if you really need to ■ delay (reducing it to a small number of use the mixing and processing provided samples — about the same amount as by your audio software, you should not one of today’s advanced digital mixers).

  • Page 35: Windows Audio Software

    MOTU MicroBook ASIO or audio drivers, just run the installer on the Windows multimedia driver. Check the MOTU Audio installer disc as detailed in audio system or audio hardware chapter 3, “Installing the MicroBook configuration window in your software.
  • Page 36 In Ableton Live, access the preferences window and click the Audio tab. Choose ASIO from the Driver Type menu. Choose the MOTU Audio ASIO from the Audio Device menu (Figure 6-4). To Figure 6-2: Enabling the MOTU Audio ASIO enable or disable input or output driver in Pro Tools.
  • Page 37 In Propellerhead Reason and Record, go In Cakewalk SONAR, you can use the to the Preferences window, choose Audio MOTU ASIO driver or the MOTU WDM preferences from the menu and choose driver. Note that when using ASIO, only ASIO MOTU Audio ASIO from the Audio...
  • Page 38 3 Additionally, if you are using the MOTU WDM driver, click the Wave Figure 6-9: Enabling the MOTU WDM driver Profiler button and run the Wave Profiler. in SONAR. This process chooses the optimum settings for the MicroBook hardware.
  • Page 39 routing channels to musicians, or it can serve as an integrated extension of your digital audio workstation’s mixing environment. If you program a MicroBook mixing and processing configuration that goes hand in hand Figure 6-11: Running the Wave Profiler in with your digital audio workstation’s Cakewalk’s SONAR.
  • Page 40 W I N D O W S A U D I O S O F T W A R E...

  • Page 41: Cuemix Fx

    CueMix FX CHAPTER OVERVIEW can be recorded wet, dry, or dry with a CueMix FX is a cross-platform software wet monitor mix (for musicians during application that provides graphic, on- recording, for example). screen control for the MicroBook’s Effects include: flexible CueMix FX on-board mixer and effects processing.

  • Page 42: Cuemix Fx Installation

    CUEMIX FX INSTALLATION single stereo audio stream that you can CueMix FX is installed with the rest of then assign to any MicroBook output your MicroBook software. pair — or combination of output pairs — that you choose. For example, Mix 1 CUEMIX FX BASIC OPERATION could go to the headphones, Mix 2 could Here is a brief overview of the CueMix FX...
  • Page 43 Viewing one mix bus at a time and dynamics processing. These settings CueMix FX displays one mix bus at a time are applied to the signal just before it is in the Mixes tab (Figure 7-1 on page 40). sent to the output. To select which mix you are viewing, Channel focus and settings choose it from the mix bus menu.

  • Page 44: The Inputs Tab

    THE INPUTS TAB input pair. Use the Focus button Click the Inputs tab (Figure 7-2) to access (Figure 7-2) to access the Channel , EQ, and control all of these input channel and dynamics tab settings for each input. settings for each MicroBook input or Inputs tab Input name Channel focus...

  • Page 45: The Mixes Tab

    THE MIXES TAB MicroBook from your host audio Click the Mixes tab (Figure 7-3) to gain software. By bringing up this fader, you access to the MicroBook’s four stereo mix can combine live inputs (mic, guitar, and busses. The Mixes tab displays one mix line 1-2) with any audio from the bus at a time: choose each mix from the computer.

  • Page 46: The Outputs Tab

    THE OUTPUTS TAB Signal flows from top to bottom Settings in each Output tab channel strip The Outputs tab (Figure 7-4) lets you are applied to the signal in order from top apply EQ and dynamics to any output to bottom. For example, EQ occurs pair, just before the signal leaves the before Dynamics.

  • Page 47: The Meters Tab

    THE METERS TAB THE SIGNAL GENERATOR TAB The Meters tab (Figure 7-5) serves as a The Signal Generator tab (Figure 7-6) comprehensive meter bridge for all provides settings for the Sine Wave inputs, outputs and mix busses in the generator (frequency and amplitude) and MicroBook, giving you a “bird’s-eye”...

  • Page 48: Scope/Return Channels

    SCOPE/RETURN CHANNELS For example, if you want to mix inputs Choose Devices menu> MicroBook> with effects and send the result to Setup to access the Scope/Return Channel MicroBook outputs, but you also want to Selection settings below (Figure 7-7). The send those same inputs dry (no MicroBook sends two extra return processing) to the host, then select those...

  • Page 49: Audio Analysis Tools

    AUDIO ANALYSIS TOOLS Spectrogram Choose Options menu> Show CueMix FX provides advanced audio Spectrogram (Figure 7-8) to superimpose analysis tools. This section gives a brief a real-time spectrogram “waterfall” summary. For complete information, display in the EQ display background: refer to the CueMix FX PDF manual, which is placed on your hard drive by the MicroBook installer.
  • Page 50 right channel amplitude equals zero (Figure 7-10, below). There are also thick white diagonal lines for y = x and y = -x. Phase Analysis To open the Phase Analysis window (Figure 7-11), choose it from the Devices menu. Phase Analysis graphs frequency Figure 7-11: R e c t a n g u l a r v e r s u s Po l a r display with a logarithmic plot.

  • Page 51: Troubleshooting

    Try recording just using the analog inputs haven’t already done so, please take a and outputs of the MicroBook. If you moment to register on line at motu.com, encounter the same artifacts you may or fill out and mail the registration card want try using another drive in your included with your MicroBook.
  • Page 52 Please see “Obtaining your from you. Please contact us online at MicroBook serial number” on page 14. www.motu.com/suggestions or write to: You must be able to supply this number to receive technical support. MicroBook Development Team MOTU Inc.

  • Page 53: Index

    Index EQ tab 42 guitar 18 focus 41 line 18 20 dB pad 18 Inputs tab 42 mic 18 24-bit 27, 37 installation 15, 40 trim 19 recording 10 launching 7 Inputs tab 7, 20, 41, 42 48V phantom power 4 Mac OS X software 27 Installation Meters tab 45...
  • Page 54 Oscilloscope 48 Record (application) 35 minimum 13 Outputs Registration 13 recommended 13 line 19 Return 1-2 46 main 19 phones Technical support 49, 50 S/PDIF 5 S/PDIF 5, 19 Trim 19 signal flow 44 Sample rate 26, 37 Troubleshooting 49-50 Outputs tab 8, 41, 44 Samplers TRS connectors 18, 19...

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