M2TECH JOPLIN MKII User Manual

384khz/32bit analog-to-digital converter

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M2TECH

JOPLIN MKII

384

/32BIT ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER

USER MANUAL

REV. P

A – 2/2015

Table of Contents

Summary of Contents for M2TECH JOPLIN MKII

Page 1 M2TECH JOPLIN MKII /32BIT ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER USER MANUAL REV. P A – 2/2015...
Page 3 For a proper operation of this unit, all connections to other equipment in the system must be done when all equipment are off. Failing to comply to this advice may lead to damage to the unit. Recycling Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 4 WARNING: the information contained in this manual are considered to be reliable and accurate. M2Tech reserves the right to change or modify the information any time, without prior advice. It’s up to the customer to ensure that the manual being consulted is the latest version.
Page 5 JOPLIN MKII features a comprehensive set of output connections which suit virtually all digital equipment around. JOPLIN MKII is provided with a very complete set of equalization and filtering options to accommodate all kind of analog signals. We feel that your expectations will be fulfilled by JOPLIN MKII: you’ll hear your analog...
Page 7: Table Of Contents
6.5. True plug’n’play operation with Mac ............... 33 6.6. True plug’n’play operation with Linux ............. 34 7. Configuring the computer to use the JOPLIN MKII........... 35 7.1. Configuring a PC with Windows XP ............... 35 7.1.1. Configuring for Direct Sound with Windows XP ........35 7.1.2.
Page 8 8.3.9. MPX filter ....................51 9. Notes on equalization ................... 53 9.1. Why is equalization needed for records? ............53 9.2. List of phono equalization curves available on the JOPLIN MKII and notes on their usage ......................58 9.2.1. RIAA ......................58 9.2.2.
Page 9 9.5. Interfacing a cartridge or a tape head............. 66 9.6. Recording programs..................66 10. Using a power supply different from the standard one........69 11. Cleaning the unit ....................69 12. Technical Specifications ..................71 Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 11: Unpacking And Placing The Unit
Should one or more item be missing, please contact your retail dealer. Remove the JOPLIN MKII from the foam enclosure and place it onto a stable base, far from heat sources. Avoid full sunlight on the unit. Allow for ample room around the unit for venting.
Page 13: Front Panel
When the desired item is accessed, rotate the knob to choose the desired value for that item. Push the knob one last time to select the desired value and exit the menu. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 14 Its intensity is set by menu. 4) VU-meter. It indicates the peak value for both channels. Left channel is top, right channel is immediately below left channel. Its intensity is set by menu. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 15: Back Panel
RCA female connector. 5) Left channel analog input. Connect to left channel of the analog source output. RCA female connector. 6) AES/EBU digital output. Generate AES/EBU data streams in consumer format. XLR male connector. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 16 15V/500mA. 5.5mm/2.1mm supply jack (female, tip is positive). 12) Ground (chassis) post. When necessary, connect this post to the chassis wire from the source, to reduce hum and noise pickup. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 17: Remote Control
4) Menu navigation arrows. When accessing the menu, push arrow up and arrow down to scroll through the various menu items. Push arrow left and arrow right to choose the value for the selected item. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 18 M2Tech JOPLIN M /32bit ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER REVISION P A – FEBRUARY 2015 www.m2tech.biz 4) OK. When accessing the menu, push this button to update the current item with the displayed value. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 19: Connecting And Powering The Unit
Connect the “A” plug of the cable to a 2.0 USB port of your computer. Connect two interconnects to the analog inputs of the JOPLIN MKII (Figure 2, 4/5) and to the outputs of your analog source (be it a turntable, a tuner, a tape recorder or even the tape rec output of your amplifier).
Page 20 /32bit ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER REVISION P A – FEBRUARY 2015 www.m2tech.biz Connect the wall adaptor provided with the JOPLIN MKII or any other 15V/500mA power supply to the supply connector (Figure 2, 11) of the JOPLIN MKII. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 21: Driver Installation
A – FEBRUARY 2015 www.m2tech.biz 6. Driver installation The JOPLIN MKII is USB 2.0 Audio compliant. This means that no driver is needed with Apple computers, nor with Linux-based PC’s. The latter will need ALSA to operate the JOPLIN MKII.
Page 22 /32bit ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER REVISION P A – FEBRUARY 2015 www.m2tech.biz Figure 4 Amongst the files extracted is “setup.exe”. Double-click on its icon to launch it and follow the indications provided by the setup program (Figure 5). Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 23 In Windows 7, the installation wizard will ask for authorization to start installation. Accept. Then, the wizard will check for system features. At a certain point, it will ask you to connect the JOPLIN MKII in one of the USB ports (Figure 6). Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 24 A – FEBRUARY 2015 www.m2tech.biz Figure 6 Follow the indications and plug the device in one port, then click on “Next”. You’ll be asked to choose the installation directory (Figure 7). After choosing it, click on “Install”. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 25 M2Tech JOPLIN M /32bit ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER REVISION P A – FEBRUARY 2015 www.m2tech.biz Figure 7 The installation process continues showing the progress (Figure 8). Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 26 JOPLIN M /32bit ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER REVISION P A – FEBRUARY 2015 www.m2tech.biz Figure 8 At the end of the installation process, the wizard notify the completion (Figure 9). Click on “Finish” to complete the installation. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 27 A – FEBRUARY 2015 www.m2tech.biz Figure 9 To ensure that installation has correctly completed, the Device Manager should be checked. The JOPLIN MKII will be listed under “Audio, Video and Games Controllers” (Figure 10 on next page). Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 29: Usb Control Panel
6.3. USB Control Panel A control panel is installed together with the driver, which can be used to optimize JOPLIN MKII’s USB port performance (Figure 11). More details on the Control Panel’s features in the application note App002. Figure 11...
Page 30: Uninstalling The Driver
Uninstall is a quite simple procedure. Go to the control panel and launch the “Application Installation” utility (Figure 12). Look for the JOPLIN MKII driver item in the list. Double-click on it to launch uninstalling. Figure 12 Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 31 The installation wizard, which also handles uninstalling, will show up (Figure 13 on next page). Click on “Uninstall” to start uninstalling. Figure 13 At this point, the wizard will show up the installation progress (Figure 14), up to the end. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 32 Figure 14 After the uninstalling of all files related to the driver is complete, the “Next” button will be enabled. Click on it. The final message will appear (Figure 15). Click on “Finish” to complete uninstalling. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 33: True Plug'n'play Operation With Mac
6.5. True plug’n’play operation with Mac Mac computers with OSX 10.6.4 and later have a native support for audio devices compliant with USB 2.0 Audio class. This means that the driver is already included in Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 34: True Plug'n'play Operation With Linux
JOPLIN MKII to your Mac and it will be immediately recognized by the OS and ready to use. Macs with older OS need update to use the JOPLIN MKII.
Page 35: Configuring The Computer To Use The Joplin Mkii
JOPLIN MKII 7.1. Configuring a PC with Windows XP A PC with Windows XP can use the JOPLIN MKII in two different ways: Direct Sound (DS) and ASIO. The former is suitable for recorders which can’t operate in ASIO mode, while the latter can be chosen (for better performance) with players which can operate in ASIO mode.
Page 37 /32bit ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER REVISION P A – FEBRUARY 2015 www.m2tech.biz Then, select the “Voice” Tab (Figure 17). Again, select “M2Tech Audio 2.0 Input” in the drop-down menu of the Record area. Click on OK button. Figure 17 Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 38: Configuring For Asio With Windows Xp
7.2. Configuring a PC with Windows Vista or Windows 7 A PC with Windows Vista or Windows 7 can use the JOPLIN MKII in four different ways: Direct Sound (DS), Kernel Streaming (KS), ASIO and WASAPI. DS is suitable for recorders which can’t operate in Kernel Streaming mode nor with WASAPI;...
Page 40: Configuring For Kernel Streaming With Windows Vista Or Windows 7
7.3. Configuring a Mac Go to System Preferences and select Sounds. The following windows will appear. Select “M2Tech USB 2.0 Audio In” for input as indicated in Figure 19. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 43: Configuring The Joplin Mkii
JOPLIN MKII JOPLIN MKII The JOPLIN MKII is a very versatile unit, with plenty of features to tailor its behaviour to the source being used and the music program being played back. To configure all the features and parameters, a menu can be accessed from both the front panel controls and the remote.
Page 44: Navigating The Menu By The Ir Remote
To exit the menu without changing the displayed parameter value, press the Menu/Exit button once again (Figure 3, 2). Anyway, the system resets to the idle state after some seconds from the last operation on the knob. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 45: Parameters Meaning And Choices
8.3. Parameters meaning and choices 8.3.1. Input gain The JOPLIN MKII is provided with an analog front-end which gain can be set to 0dB or to any value between 10dB and 65dB in 1dB steps. 0dB means that an input voltage of 2.55Vrms produces and output of 0dBFS (that is the full dynamic of the ADC).
Page 46: Input Choice
8.3.2. Input impedance The JOPLIN MKII allows the user to set the analog input impedance to 9 different values. This feature is mandatory when a phono pickup is connected to the input. 3 values suitable for MM pick-ups are available (47k , 47k parallel with 100pF and...
Page 47: Resolution
Thus, the choice of the sampling frequency is a trade-off between disk usage and quality. On the other hand, when using the JOPLIN MKII to drive a digital amplifier, a DAC or a streaming player for real-time playback, the best choice is always the highest sampling frequency possible.
Page 48: Equalization Curve
8.3.5. Equalization curve The JOPLIN MKII has been conceived to be used with a wide variety of different sources: tuners, recorders, turntables. Some of these sources require an equalization to enjoy their sound. The JOPLIN MKII is provided with a wealth of equalization curves to satisfy even the most requiring vinyl collector or reel-to-reel tapes enthusiast.
Page 49: Display Dimming
8.3.6. Display dimming The JOPLIN MKII display intensity can be set on 5 different levels. In addition, an automatic dim mode allows for keeping the display off every time it’s not necessary to read it. When the automatic mode (value “A”) is chosen, the display activates at the highest intensity every time a control is accessed, then it remains active for 5 seconds after the last control is accessed, finally turning off.
Page 51: Mpx Filter
The MPX filter does this by cutting away a very narrow band around 19kHz (Figure 21). It presence is quite inaudible, but the effect on the overall sound can be surprisingly good. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 53: Notes On Equalization
(together with the surface noise which becomes less apparent). Presently, all records are cut using the RIAA curve (Figure 22), which has been proposed as a standard back in 1954. Both low frequencies amplification and high frequencies attenuation for playback are clearly visible. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 54 Figure 22 The curve has three parameters: 1. the turnover frequency, that is the frequency below which the low frequencies start to be attenuated during the recording and amplified during the playback (500Hz for RIAA); Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 55 A good phono preamplifier, or an ADC suitable for direct phono acquiring as is the JOPLIN MKII, should allow the vinyl collector to choose the right curve for each LP pressed before 1954 (but it’s known that many recording companies adopted the RIAA curve years after the official introduction date.
Page 56 Older curves were thought for playback systems in which the low frequency limit was relatively high (50-80Hz) and for recordings with poor low frequency content, setups in which the turntable rumble was not a problem. Eq comparison RIAA FFRR Capitol Columbia Figure 23 Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 57 See how low frequencies are excessively exalted due to the different turnover frequency (50Hz for RIAA, 100Hz for FFRR), while high frequencies are attenuated more than required due to the different roll-off (13.7dB for RIAA, 10.5dB for FFRR). Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 58: List Of Phono Equalization Curves Available On The Joplin Mkii And Notes On Their Usage
Actually, it can be seen that some labels used the same curve as other labels (e.g. Mercury used the same curve as Capitol), so the curve set provided with the JOPLIN MKII is the one which covers almost all the labels producing records between 1925 and 1954.
Page 59: Angel (Ang)
RIAA. The JOPLIN MKII has not a specific RIAA/IEC curve, but it can be obtained by selecting RIAA and the high-pass filter at 16Hz (see Section 8.3.7).
Page 60: Capitol (Cap)
The English Decca developed her FFRR LP curve based on the 78rpm eq curve with the same name. Most of the great recordings of the stereo era (after 1954) were also produced in mono and used to make the mono LP’s cut using the FFRR curve. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 61: Oiseau-Lyre (Oylr)
The record collector who own these records should use this curve to play them. 9.2.11. Oiseau-Lyre (OYLR) Before being purchased by Decca, Oiseau-Lyre made many great recordings of classical music. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 62: Pacific Jazz (Pacj)
LP’s after losing the format war against Columbia, so it’s difficult to say which curve was used for a certain record. The JOPLIN MKII offers three choices, based on record’s year of cutting. RCA1 is the oldest. The newest, RCA Orthophonic, is the one on which the “New Orthopohonic”...
Page 63: Mgm 78Rpm (Mgm7)
Victor is an old company, later purchased by RCA, who produced 78rpm since 1925. The curve adopted between 1925 and 1938 is same as Columbia type 1925 (See 9.2.16), later curves are offered with specific choices. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 64: Equalizing Tapes: Why And When
JOPLIN MKII set to 96, 192 or 384kHz, and its high resolution are more than adequate to accommodate the tape recorder performance. The JOPLIN MKII is provided with 4 curves for tapes, 2 for NAB and 2 for CCIR/IEC. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 65: Ccir/Iec For 9.5Cm/S And 19Cm/S (3¾ Ips And 7½ Ips) And Ccir/Iec For
7½ ips (curve A), plus an amendment for 15 ips which, anyway, was suggested to avoid (7½ ips was the preferred speed for tape recorders used in broadcasts). The JOPLIN MKII offers both curve A and curve B. 9.4. Acquiring with equalization When no equalization curve is used, then the rightmost led of each VU-meter bar turn on right before clipping (that is, when the input signal is -1dBFS).
Page 66: Interfacing A Cartridge Or A Tape Head
Due to the JOPLIN MKII rear panel small size, there’s no room for a second pair of RCA sockets to plug loading RCA plugs. Whenever a load is required which is not in the JOPLIN MKII standard set, we suggest to use “T”...
Page 67 Mac users may take advantage from PureVinyl (http://www.channld.com/pure- vinyl.html) by Channel D, as well as from SoundBlade by Sonic Studio (http://www.sonicstudio.com/sonic/products/sonic_productoverview.html). For sure, free apps are available as well. For a very complete list of ripping programs, please check http://www.recordcollectorsguild.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=sections&file =index&req=viewarticle&artid=6&page=1. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 69: Using A Power Supply Different From The Standard One
Should the user decide to use another power supply, the specifications listed in section 12 must be observed. 11. Cleaning the unit The JOPLIN MKII should be cleaned with a soft, damp cloth. Do not use alcohol or other cleaning liquids to avoid damaging the unit. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 71: Technical Specifications
AES/EBU output voltage:....2Vpp +/- 0.5V AES/EBU output impedance:.... 110 Ohms THD+N:..........0.0004% (1kHz @ 0dBFS, f =192kHz, 0-20kHz) S/N ratio:........... 122dB (A-weighted, f =384kHz) Minimal requirements:....... 1.3GHz CPU clock, 1GB RAM, 2.0 USB port Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...
Page 72 200x55x210mm (w x h x d, with connectors and feet) 360x120x260mm (w x h x d, box) Weight:..........1.7kg (ADC only) 2.5kg (box) * USB only. ** 32 bits are provided on USB output only. Copyright © 2015, M2Tech Srl...

M2TECH JOPLIN MKII User Manual

1 Unpacking and Placing the Unit

2 Front Panel

3 Back Panel

4 Remote Control

5 Connecting and Powering the Unit

6 Driver Installation

7 Configuring the Computer to Use the JOPLIN MKII

8 Configuring the JOPLIN MKII

9 Notes on Equalization

384 Khz/32Bit ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER

10 Using a Power Supply Different from the Standard One

11 Cleaning the Unit

12 Technical Specifications

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