cymatic audio Live Player LP-16 User Manual
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User’s Manual
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................ 5
2. What’s In the Box ........................................................................................................................................................................ 5
3. Modes of Operation .................................................................................................................................................................... 6
4. LP-16 Connections and User Interface ........................................................................................................................................ 8
Front Panel View ............................................................................................................................................................................. 8
Rear View ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 9
Top View ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 10
5. Signal Flow ................................................................................................................................................................................ 12
6. LP-16 File Terminology and Folder Structure ............................................................................................................................ 13
7. LP-16 Transport Behavior .......................................................................................................................................................... 14
8. Working with USB Media .......................................................................................................................................................... 15
9. Multi-track (MT) Mode Operations and Menus ........................................................................................................................ 16
Multitrack Mode Home Screen ..................................................................................................................................................... 16
Multitrack Mode Menus ............................................................................................................................................................... 17
10. Stereo (ST) Mode Operations and Menus ............................................................................................................................... 20
Stereo Mode Home Screen (Playlist) ............................................................................................................................................ 20
Stereo Mode Menus ..................................................................................................................................................................... 21
11. Supported USB Storage Devices .............................................................................................................................................. 22
USB 2.0 Thumb Drives ............................................................................................................................................................... 22
USB 2.0 Hard Drives .................................................................................................................................................................. 22
12. Connecting the LP-16 to an Audio Mixer ................................................................................................................................ 23
13. USB Interface Mode ................................................................................................................................................................ 25
Using the LP-16 as an Audio Interface with Microsoft Windows .................................................................................................. 26
Minimum System Requirements .............................................................................................................................................. 26
WDM and ASIO Driver Installation ............................................................................................................................................ 26
LP-16 Mixer / Control Panel for PC ........................................................................................................................................... 27
Using the LP-16 as an Audio Interface with OS X .......................................................................................................................... 34
Using the LP-16 as an Audio Interface with an Apple® iPad® ....................................................................................................... 35
14. Updating the Firmware on your LP-16 .................................................................................................................................... 35
15. Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................................................................................... 36
16. Specifications .......................................................................................................................................................................... 38
17. Cymatic Audio Limited Warranty ............................................................................................................................................ 39
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SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
AC adapter
Be sure to use only the supplied 12 V DC, 1000 mA AC adapter, which is equipped with a "center-positive" plug.
The use of an adapter other than the specified type may damage the unit and could pose a safety hazard.
Connect the AC adapter only to an AC outlet that supplies the rated voltage required by the adapter.
When disconnecting the AC adapter from the AC outlet, always grasp the adapter itself and do not pull at the
cable.
During lightning or when not using the unit for an extended period, disconnect the AC adapter from the AC
outlet.
Environment
To prevent the risk of fire, electric shock or malfunction, avoid using your Live Player LP-16 in environments where it
will be exposed to:
• Extreme temperatures
• Heat sources
• Excessive humidity or moisture
• Excessive dust or sand
• Excessive vibration or shock
Handling
Never place objects filled with liquids on the LP-16, as this can cause electric shock.
Do not place an open flame source, such as a lighted candle, on the LP-16 since this can cause fire.
The LP-16 is a precision instrument. Do not exert undue pressure on the keys and other controls. Also take care
not to drop the unit, and do not subject it to shock or excessive pressure.
Take care that no foreign objects (coins, pins etc.) or liquids can enter the unit.
Connecting cables and input and output jacks
Always turn off the power to the LP-16 and all other equipment before connecting or disconnecting the power source.
Make sure to disconnect all connection cables and the power cord before moving the LP-16.
Alterations
Do not open the case of the LP-16, or attempt to modify the product in any way. Doing so will void the warranty. There
are no serviceable parts inside the unit.
Volume
Do not use the headphone output of the LP-16 at a loud volume for a long time since this can cause hearing
impairment.
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Usage Precautions
Electrical interference
For safety considerations, the LP-16 has been designed to provide maximum protection against the emission of
electromagnetic radiation from inside the device, and protection from external interference. However, equipment that
is very susceptible to interference or that emits powerful electromagnetic waves should not be placed near the LP-16,
as the possibility of interference cannot be ruled out entirely. With any type of digital control device, the LP-16
included, electromagnetic interference can cause malfunctioning and can corrupt or destroy data. Care should be taken
to minimize the risk of damage.
Cleaning
Use a soft, dry cloth to clean the LP-16. If necessary, slightly moisten the cloth. Do not use abrasive cleanser, wax, or
solvents (such as paint thinner or cleaning alcohol), since these may dull the finish or damage the surface.
Certifications
CE This product complies with the European Union Council Directives and Standards relating to Directive 2004/108/EC for
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC.
RoHS This product is compliant with the EU Directive 2011/65/EU for the Restriction of the use of Certain Hazardous
Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment. No lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), hexavalent chromium (Cr+6),
PBB or PBDE is intentionally added to this device. Any traces of impurities of these substances contained in the parts are
below the RoHS specified threshold levels.
FCC This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the requirements of 47 CFR of PART 15 limit for radiation and
conduction emission relating to FCC rules Part 15B: 2010.
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1. Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Cymatic Audio Live Player LP-16. The LP-16 is the world’s easiest to use direct from USB
16-track player / MIDI and 18-output, 2-input USB audio interface for PC, Mac® and iPad®.
The LP-16 works as a dedicated multi-track player for live performances, while sparing users the hassles of using a
laptop and computer audio interface in a live environment. The LP-16 does not require any additional computer
hardware, other than a USB hard drive and cabling, in order to play back 16 separate audio tracks directly into the line
inputs of a live sound mixer. These pre-recorded tracks can be individually mixed alongside the audio from live
performers, to augment their performance.
Used in connection with a Windows PC, Mac® or iPad®, the LP-16 also serves as an 18-output/ 2-input USB audio
interface. With a large number of outputs, the individual tracks of a multi-track DAW session can easily be connected to
the individual inputs of an analog studio mixer, perfect for analog summing and mixing “out of the box”, imparting
classic analog flavor to your next mix session.
The LP-16 User Manual contains in-depth details of your Live Player’s features and functionality, including:
Direct from USB hard drive multi-track playback (16 tracks at 24-bit or 16-bit, 44.1/48kHz)
Intuitive user interface to edit and save settings, song and playlist files
Creation and editing of settings and playlist files offline, using Windows playlist software
16 unbalanced analog 1/4" tip-sleeve outputs
1/8” Stereo Line level input
Front panel ¼” headphone output with dedicated level control
Zero latency hardware input monitoring (USB Interface Mode)
2-input / 18-output USB audio interface, 24 bit/44.1/48 kHz USB Class Compliant
Mac® OS-X® compatible: Core Audio plug and play drivers
Windows® PC compatible (Windows XP, Vista, 7 & 8 32-bit/64-bit) WDM and ASIO® drivers.
IPad® compatible: Plug and play. USB adapter required including
o Apple® Lightning to USB Camera Adapter
o Apple® USB Camera Connection Kit
Foot Switch connector for hands free playback/pausing of track playback
MIDI I/O with synchronized Standard MIDI File player functionality
2. What’s In the Box
LP-16 recorder
AC/DC power adapter and power cable
USB cable
Quick Start Guide
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3. Modes of Operation
The LP-16 offers three different modes of operation, depending on your specific needs:
Multi-Track Mode: This mode, hereby abbreviated as “MT Mode”, is the main operational mode of the LP-16. In MT
mode, the unit can play back up to 16 separate tracks of audio, which are each output to a separate physical ¼” output
connector on the rear panel of the unit.
The most common use for MT mode is to play back separate, pre-recorded “backing tracks” in a live music
environment, used to augment and expand upon live tracks played by live musicians.
By feeding the pre-recorded tracks into separate channels of the live sound mixer, the FOH engineer can mix together
the individual pre-recorded tracks alongside the live tracks, just as if they were coming from individual live musicians.
This provides much more flexibility than if all the pre-recorded tracks were “pre-mixed” to a stereo track that could not
be altered or adjusted in any way.
You may copy multiple .wav files to a USB drive, attach the drive to the LP-16, and playback the files in MT mode,
without any external software, using the following steps:
Create a folder within the ‘Recording’ Folder (this folder is created on the USB device when you first plug it in)
Copy 16 .wav files to this folder
If the .wav files do not contain any numbering, they will be assigned to the LP-16 channels in alphabetical
order.
In order to get a channel assignment you can number them in two ways:
Number as prefix with underscore (always two digits)
01_Guitar.wav
02_Drums.wav
09_vocals.wav[…]
16_bass.wav
Number as Suffix with underscore (always two digits)
Guitar_01.wav
Drums_02.wav
vocals_04.wav[…]
bass_12.wav
Additionally, the LP-16 also works with an external Windows software named “LP-16 Playlist Editor“, available for
download at www.cymaticaudio.com/downloads
The LP-16 Playlist Editor is required to configure a “multi-track file playlist”, with the ability to step through them in
order as the concert progresses.
The external playlist software also allows for applying assorted playback settings to each playlist file.
For specific details of operation for the external playlist software, please refer to its user’s manual, available at:
www.cymaticaudio.com/downloads
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Stereo Mode: The LP-16 also offers a “stereo player mode”, hereby referred to as “ST Mode”. This mode is ideal for
playback of stereo audio files, such as pre-show, post-show, and break music.
In ST mode, the LP-16 plays back 44.1 and 48 kHz stereo wave files that are stored in the “Music” folder on the attached
USB drive. The stereo files can be configured to output from a specific pair of rear-panel audio connectors of your
choosing, and can also be monitored from the front panel headphone output.
To transfer stereo audio files to the Music folder of the USB drive:
Attach your USB drive to the LP-16
The LP-16 will check the drive for proper formatting, and place the needed folders on the drive
Unplug the drive from the LP-16 and attach it to a computer containing the desired stereo audio files
Copy the desired files from the computer’s hard drive, to the “Music” folder on the USB drive
Attach the USB drive to the LP-16.
The files now residing in the “Music” folder of the attached drive are now available to the LP-16 when used in
ST mode.
Note: The LP-16 only plays back stereo files in the “.wav” format. It does not play back stereo files in other commonly
available consumer formats such as MP3, AAC, WMA, and FLAC.
If the stereo files you wish to use are in one of these other formats, make sure to first convert them to the .wav file
format, using an audio utility on your computer.
There are many freeware utilities available online that can convert from the above unsupported formats, to a standard
wave file. For example, the free Apple ITunes software performs this type of conversion; instructions for doing so can
be read at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1550
USB Interface Mode: In USB Interface mode, the LP-16 acts as a 2-input, 18-output audio interface for OS X, Windows,
and iOS. For more details, please refer to the section titled “USB Interface Mode”
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4. LP-16 Connections and User Interface
Front Panel View
USB Storage Connector: Attach a USB thumb drive or USB hard drive to this connector, when using the LP-16 in either MT or ST
mode.
MIDI input: The MIDI input receives incoming MIDI messages, and can also be configured as a MIDI through port using the MIDI
settings menu.
Configuring the MIDI input as a through port can be useful in certain live sound scenarios. On stage, you could have a MIDI
Keyboard connected to the LP-16’s MIDI input, and play over the same MIDI device that the LP-16 is using. Alternatively, you can
turn MIDI through off to if you want to prevent ‘accidental’ play-out
MIDI Output: The MIDI output connector can output the MIDI data from Standard MIDI Files (SMF) that reside in the attached
drive’s project folder, alongside the multitrack files. With this capability, the LP-16 can trigger external MIDI hardware such as
MIDI synthesizers or MIDI-enabled lighting controllers, at the same time it plays back multi-track audio files.
Foot Switch Connector: The footswitch connector allows connection of a standard on/off foot pedal, which can be configured to
start, pause, and un-pause playback of the current song.
Headphone Out: The headphone connector outputs a stereo signal, which works as follows:
In MT mode, the connector outputs a mono mix of all 16 tracks, mixed together at unity gain
In ST mode, the connector outputs the stereo file currently being played back
In USB mode, the connector outputs the stereo DAW signal
Headphone Volume: This knob allows volume adjustment of the front-panel headphone output.
For more details of the above connectors’ functions, refer to the “Menus” section of this user’s manual.
USB Host Connector
MIDI I/O Connectors
Footswitch Connector
Phones Output &
Phones Volume
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Rear Panel View
Mono Line-Level Output Connectors: These unbalanced connectors each output a separate mono audio track, sourced from the
currently playing multi-track song file.
Stereo 3.5mm Input: This connector is used as a 2-channel, unbalanced line-level input when the LP-16 is operating in USB
interface mode.
USB Device Connector: This female USB connector is used to attach the LP-16 to an OS X or Windows computer, or an iOS
device, allowing the LP-16 to act as a 2-input, 18-output audio interface.
External Power Supply Connector: Connect the included external power supply to this connector.
Power Switch: Use this switch to turn power on/off to the LP-16.
Mono line-level
output connectors
3.5mm Stereo
Line Input
USB Host
Connector
Power
Supply
Connector
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Top Panel View
The top panel buttons perform the following functions, depending on which of the three modes is currently active :
Multitrack Mode
Stereo Mode
USB Interface Mode
❾
Switch to stereo mode
Switch to multitrack mode
No Function
❿
Show multitrack mode menu
Show stereo mode menu
Show input settings menu
⓫
Go back to previous screen
Go back to previous screen
Go back to previous screen
⓬
Go to previous song
Go to previous song
No Function
⓭
Go to next song
Go to next song
No Function
⓮
Pause/Stop playback
Pause/Stop playback
No Function
⓯
Start playback
Start playback
No Function
⓰
Show folder contents screen
Show folder contents screen
No Function
⓱
Selection up
Selection up
Selection up
⓲
Select
Select
Select
⓳
Selection down
Selection down
Selection down
In addition, four separate key combinations are also available that perform the following functions:
⑩
⑯
⑬
⑱
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Stop & Play
Toggles between stereo player and multi-track player mode
Stop & Next
increment next song while in play list mode
Stop & Previous
Decrement next song while in play list mode
Previous/Next/Select
Send midi all notes off in multi-track player mode
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5. Signal Flow
The LP-16 contains 16 separate line-level outputs, which are sent out of 16 separate mono, unbalanced line-level
outputs.
In MT mode, the LP-16 also contains an internal digital mixer that provides a mono mix down of the 16 separate
audio streams, mixed together at unity gain. This internal mix is sent out of the front-panel headphone output.
When operating as a USB computer audio interface, the stereo line input allows recording of 2 incoming channels
to the DAW, while 18 separate DAW output channels can be sent to the LR-16 (16 to the rear-panel outputs and
an additional stereo channels sent to the headphone output).
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