M-Audio 2626 manual

User Guide[...]

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 What’s in the Bo x? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 About the ProFire 2626 FireWire Audio Inter face . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [...]

About . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Additional Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [...]

User Guide 3 ProFire 2626 Introduction Congratulations on your purchase of the ProFire 2626 audio interface. ProFire 2626 is part of M-Audio’s award winning series of FireW ire-based digit al recording solutions and features solid hardware design, robust driver technology , and a powerful Control Panel application—all designed to deliver profes[...]

User Guide 4 ProFire 2626 About the ProFire 2 626 FireWire Audio Inter face The ProFire 2626 interface is a super-highway of audio inputs and outputs for your computer . Like a highway , there are a certain number of “audio lanes” going to and from your computer—these “lanes” are referred to as streams. ProFire 2626 gets its name from the[...]

User Guide 5 ProFire 2626 ProFire 2 626 Features ▶ 26-input, 26-output audio configuration ▶ Up to 24-bit/192 kHz operation ▶ Eight XLR /TR S combo jacks on rear panel supporting mic or line-level signals ▶ T wo 1/4” (TS) front panel instrument input jac ks ▶ Eight high-quality preamps with award winning Octane TM technology ▶ Phanto[...]

User Guide 6 ProFire 2626 System Requirements Minimum System Requirements/Specifications* P C: W indows X P** (S P2) or W indows V ista (32-bit) Pentium 4 1.6GHz 512M B RAM (1G B RAM with W indows V ist a) FireW ire 4 00 (I E E E 139 4a) port ** Home and Professional Edition only . Windo ws Media C enter Edition is not currently suppor ted. Mac: M[...]

User Guide 7 ProFire 2626 Hardware Controls and Connectors Front Panel 1. Instrument Inputs (Channels 1/2): These unbalanced 1/4” jac ks are used for connecting high impedance instrument-level signals (i.e., electric guitars and basses) to ProFire 2626. When using these inputs, make sure that the Mic/ Inst (2) button is set to its “in” positi[...]

User Guide 8 ProFire 2626 5. Phantom Power Buttons: T hese two buttons apply +48V phantom power to X LR inputs 1-4 and 5-8. The top button activates phantom power on XLR inputs 1 through 4 while the bottom button activates phantom power for inputs 5 through 8. The LED next to each button will illuminate when phantom power is being sent to the assoc[...]

User Guide 9 ProFire 2626 Rear Panel       11. Power Supply Connector: Connect the included power supply here. Use only the power supply provided with the interface or an equivalent power supply with the same rating and polarity. 12. FireWire Port: Connect the ProFire 2626 interface to your computer using one of [...]

User Guide 10 ProFire 2626 Architecture of ProFire 2 626 ProFire 2626 is much more than a simple audio input and output device. Its high quality signal path, DSP mixer, and flexible router allow the interface to become the central nervous system of your studio. The bloc k diagram below illustrates audio signal flow within ProFire 2626 and demonst[...]

User Guide 11 ProFire 2626 Software Returns – This bloc k represents the audio outputs of your audio application. Software returns can be routed to the DS P Mixer and the Router (both described below). D S P Mixer – This is the 18 input, 16 output DS P mixer contained within the ProFire 2626 interface. The bloc k features a dashed line because [...]

User Guide 12 ProFire 2626 ProFire 2 626 Operation at High Sample Rates ProFire 2626 can operate at high sample rates including 8 8.2/9 6 kHz and 1 7 6.4/192 kHz. However , the number of available inputs and outputs is reduced when operating at these rates and certain input and output ports are dis abled as a result (see the “ About S/ M U X I I [...]

User Guide 13 ProFire 2626 MA C OS X: 88.2/9 6 kHz Operation  K(Z/PERATION-AC X  $3 0-IXER 2OUTER 3ELECTSOURCEFOREACHHARDWAREOUTPUT (ARDWAR E/UTPUTS 3OFTWARE2ETURNS (ARDWAR E)NPUTS               [...]

User Guide 14 ProFire 2626 MA C OS X: 1 76.4/192 kHz Operation  K(Z/PERATION-AC X  $3 0-IXER 2OUTER 3ELECTSOURCEFOREACHHARDWAREOUTPUT (ARDWAR E/UTPUTS 3OFTWARE2ETURNS (ARDWAR E)NPUTS              ?[...]

User Guide 15 ProFire 2626 Windows XP/Vista: 88.2/9 6 kHz Operation  K(Z/PERATION0 # X  $3 0-IXER 2OUTER 3ELECTSOURCEFOREACHHARDWAREOUTPUT (ARDWAR E/UTPUTS 3OFTWARE2ETURNS (ARDWAR E)NPUTS              ?[...]

User Guide 16 ProFire 2626 Windows XP/Vista: 1 7 6.4/192 kHz Operation X  $3 0-IXER 2OUTER 3ELECTSOURCEFOREACHHARDWAREOUTPUT (ARDWAR E/UTPUTS 3OFTWARE2ETURNS (ARDWAR E)NPUTS                       [...]

User Guide 17 ProFire 2626 Control Panel Application ProFire 2626 provides adjustable parameters for many of its features. Some of them can be accessed directly from the ProFire 2626 front panel, such as input gain, phantom power , and output levels. However , there are additional parameters that cannot be accessed from the front panel—these will[...]

User Guide 18 ProFire 2626 It is important to note that any changes made to the DS P Mixer will only affect what is audible from the mixer’s outputs—the DS P Mixer does not affect the signals that are sent to the audio application for recording. For example, if you are recording a vocalist and he/she tells you to turn up the vocal track so they[...]

User Guide 19 ProFire 2626 Why are software returns disabled? When the interface operates at higher sample rates (i.e., 88.2/9 6 kHz or 176.4/192 kHz), cer tain hardware input and output ports become disabled due to S/ M UX I I and S/ M UX I V operation. W hen this happens, the Control Panel automatically scales the number of soft ware return chann[...]

User Guide 20 ProFire 2626 Router The ProFire 2626 Router tab contains a variety of parameters affecting how audio is routed through the interface. These parameters are grouped into categories as explained on the following pages. Active Software Returns configuration options for Windo ws users.[...]

User Guide 21 ProFire 2626 Output Source Routing This section lets you select the audio source for each hardware output pair on the interface. The Router has four columns of drop down menus: These columns (from left to right) represent the Analog Outputs, the first set of ADA T Outputs, the second set of ADA T outputs, and finally the the coaxial[...]

User Guide 22 ProFire 2626 Active Software Returns ProFire 2626 allows for a maximum of 26 software returns. The Control Panel software allows you to reduce the number of software returns in order to minimize the demands placed on the FireW ire bus and decrease the amount of system resources used by ProFire 2626. Due to slight differences between h[...]

User Guide 23 ProFire 2626 Settings The Settings tab contains several parameters that govern the operation of ProFire 2626. These options are grouped in the following categories: Windows only: Buffer Size drop-down menu.[...]

User Guide 24 ProFire 2626 Hosted Mode The parameters in this section of the Control Panel govern the operation of the interface when it is connected to a computer using a FireW ire cable (i.e., Hosted Mode). Sync Source This drop-down menu determines the cloc k source to which ProFire 2626 is synchronized. If you are using ProFire 2626 by itself ([...]

User Guide 25 ProFire 2626 Sample Rate T his d rop-d own menu sets the sample r ate o f Pro Fire 2626 . No te t hat w hen u sing the inter face with an ASIO or CoreA udio appl icati on, the samp le ra te ca n al so be dete rmin ed by your aud io ap plica tion . T his para mete r may not be editable from within the ProFire 2626 Control Panel if your[...]

User Guide 26 ProFire 2626 Optical Port B Mode This portion of the Control Panel determines how the second pair of optical ports on the rear of the interface will operate. Setting this parameter to “ ADA T” will allow ProFire 2626 to receive or send 16 channels of 44.1/4 8kHz signals, eight channels of 88.2/9 6 kHz signals, or four channels of [...]

User Guide 27 ProFire 2626 Master V olume Knob These c heckboxes determine whic h analog output pair(s) will be affected by the Master V olume knob (8) on the front panel of the interface: If a box is c hecked, the volume level of its corresponding outputs will be controlled by the Master V olume knob; if a box is left unc hecked, the outputs will [...]

User Guide 28 ProFire 2626 Mixer Peak Meters This section of the Control Panel configures the operation of the meters within the DSP Mixer. Mode This drop-down menu determines the behavior of the meters of the ProFire 2626 DSP mixer. Pre-fader – W hen this parameter is set to “Pre-fader” the meters will display the level of a signal before i[...]

User Guide 29 ProFire 2626 Sample Rate This menu selects the sample rate of the interface when operating in Standalone Mode. Optical Port B Mode This parameter determines how the second pair of optical ports will operate when the interface is in Standalone mode. ADA T: Selecting “ ADA T” will allow you to send and receive four channels of audio[...]

User Guide 30 ProFire 2626 Converter Mode ProFire 2626 can operate in two different ways while in Standalone Mode. Eac h mode is described separately below: A/ D – D / A Mode: W hen this parameter is set to “ A/ D - D/ A ” mode the interface operates like a standard analog-to-digit al (A/ D), digit al-to-analog (D/ A), and S/ P D I F format c[...]

User Guide 31 ProFire 2626 A/ D Mode: In this mode, ProFire 2626 acts only as an analog-to-digital (A/ D) and S/ P DI F format converter . The interface does not perform any digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion, but instead allows the analog inputs to be routed to both the analog and optical output ports simultaneously. 44.1-4 8 kHz (Optical Port B c[...]

User Guide 32 ProFire 2626 About The About tab provides version information for the Control Panel, driver , and any connected ProFire 2626 interfaces. This page also features convenient links to driver updates, downloadable manuals, F AQs, tec h support, product registration, and the M-Audio home page. Note that clicking the link buttons will open [...]

User Guide 33 ProFire 2626 Digital Clocking Y our computer-based DA W stores and manipulates music as digit al s amples. Those samples are sent to and from your DA W as “snapshots” of data. These snapshots are all the same size—16-bit or 24-bit, depending on your selected resolution—each with a beginning and an end, and are sent in sequenti[...]

User Guide 34 ProFire 2626 Scenario 1: ProFire 2 626 as Clock Master By selecting “internal” as the sync source in the Control Panel, you designate ProFire 2626 as the clock master . Y ou will then need to select “external” (or “slave” on certain devices) mode on each of your other digital devices (this is usually an internal menu setti[...]

User Guide 35 ProFire 2626 Scenario 2: ProFire 2 626 Slav ed to an Optical Input If you prefer to use another device as clock master , you will need to configure that device to act as master and select that device’s input on ProFire 2626 as the sync source. This loc ks (or “slaves”) ProFire 2626 (and any other devices connected to ProFire 26[...]

User Guide 36 ProFire 2626 Scenario 3: ProFire 2 626 Slav ed to S/ PD I F Input Y ou may need to use a two-track device as clock master . This is because many two-trac k digit al devices, such as consumer CD players, are not designed to be locked to other devices due to their lack of digital inputs. Configure ProFire 2626 to synchronize externally[...]

User Guide 37 ProFire 2626 MID I ProFire 2626 provides 16 channels of MI DI I /O over st andard 5-pin DI N connectors found on the breakout cable. These I/O ports can be used to connect M I D I-compatible devices to your computer such as controller keyboards, drum machines, or sound modules. Alternatively , these ports can be used to send and recei[...]

User Guide 38 ProFire 2626 Connection Diagram and Example Scenarios ProFire 2626 is a flexible interface with a variety of inputs and outputs. This flexibility allows ProFire 2626 to be used in a many different applications ranging from studio multi-tracking and on-location recording to multi-c hannel surround mixing. This guide cannot cover ever[...]

User Guide 39 ProFire 2626 •  Ifyouarerecordingthedirectoutputofanyelectricguitarsorbasses,connecttheseinstrumentstoAnalogInputs1 and 2 (1) on the front panel. Be sure the Mic/ Inst Button (2) is in the “in” position for each c hannel that is using the front panel inputs. If an[...]

User Guide 40 ProFire 2626 Example Scenario #1: Recording a Duo This example demonstrates how ProFire 2626 can be used to record a duo consisting of a guitarist/vocalist and a percussion player . In this scenario, the guit arist/vocalist is playing an electric guit ar while singing into a microphone. The percussionist is performing on a variety of [...]

User Guide 41 ProFire 2626 • Input Connections: The electric guitar is recorded “direct” by connecting it to the first channel’s front-panel Instrument Input (1) with a standard 1/4” TS instrument cable. W hen using a front panel input, make sure that the Mic/ Inst button (2) for that channel is in the “in” position. If a 1/4” line[...]

User Guide 42 ProFire 2626 Configuring the Mixer , Router , and Settings tabs Setting up the DS P Mixer: The default input c hannel configuration of the D S P Mixer should work well for most recording scenarios (including this one). Y ou can verify and/or change the mixer input assignments by clicking the downward arrow ( ) at the top of each inp[...]

User Guide 43 ProFire 2626 Configure the Master V olume Knob to Control Y our Studio Monitors: Since the studio monitors are connected to analog outputs 5/6, make sure that the “ Analog Out 5/6” box is chec ked under the “Master V olume Knob” section of the Settings tab. Make sure that the “ Analog Out 1/2” and “ Analog Out 3/4” bo[...]

User Guide 44 ProFire 2626 Example Scenario #2: Mixing in Surround This example demonstrates how ProFire 2626 can be used to create a six-channel surround mix. In this scenario, your audio application must have provisions for multi-channel surround mixing (suc h as surround panners and a 6-channel master output). Many DA W applications now include [...]

User Guide 45 ProFire 2626 Input Connections: Since we are simply mixing for this scenario and are not recording anything, we do not have to use any inputs. Since the optical and coaxial (S/ P DI F) inputs are not being used in this scenario, these inputs should be disabled from the Router t ab of the Control Panel. Doing so will minimize the amoun[...]

User Guide 46 ProFire 2626 Routing your DA W application outputs: In this scenario, your audio application will output a mix consisting of six channels. T he ProFire 2626 Router must be correctly configured so that these channels leave the interface through the correct analog outputs. T o make sure all of your outputs are correctly routed, go to t[...]

User Guide 47 ProFire 2626 T roubleshooting Problem: No sound. Possible Cause 1 : P ower supply not connected. V erify that the ProFire 2626 power supply is properly attached to the interface and plugged into a working AC outlet. Next, make sure the interface is powered on using the Power Button (9). Possible Cause 2 : Improper connection to extern[...]

User Guide 48 ProFire 2626 Problem: No visual activity on Signal/Clip LE D indicators. Possible Cause 1 : P oor quality cabling. V erify that your audio cables are plugged in properly and are in good working order . Possible Cause 2 : T he output volume of your audio source is set too low. Raise the volume of the device. Possible Cause 3 : Micropho[...]

User Guide 49 ProFire 2626 Problem: Windows user s experience high latency and limited performance when using Steinberg Nuendo or Cubase SX. Possible Cause: Cubase S X and Nuendo may be using the default “ ASI O Multimedia Driver . ” W hile this driver will allow you to use ProFire 2626, it does not provide the best possible performance with th[...]

User Guide 50 ProFire 2626 W arranty Warranty T erms M-Audio warrants products to be free from defects in materials and workmanship, under normal use and provided that the product is owned by the original, registered user . Visit www .m-audio.com/warranty for terms and limitations applying to your specific product. Warranty Registration Immediatel[...]

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