Frontier Design AlphaTrack Controller User manual

AlphaTrack™ User’s Guide

Version 1.0

This User’s Guide provides detailed information about installing and using the AlphaTrack DAW
controller from Frontier Design Group. The included AlphaTrack CD-ROM contains additional
information, including guides for using AlphaTrack with specific computer applications.

IMPORTANT: The AlphaTrack CD-ROM contains setup guides for some applications. Updated
guides, and additional setup guides for other applications will be added to our web site as they
become available. Please check our web site (www.frontierdesign.com) for AlphaTrack updates.

WARNING: Avoid excessive heat, moisture, vibration, shock, dust, or other conditions that could
damage the AlphaTrack. There are no user serviceable parts. Do not attempt to open the unit.

Contents

Overview..................................................................2

Installing Drivers in Windows 2000/XP/Vista........3

Updating Drivers in Windows 2000/XP/Vista ........3

Removing Drivers in Windows 2000/XP/Vista.......4

Installing Drivers in Macintosh OS X .....................5

Updating Drivers in Macintosh OS X......................5

Removing Drivers in Macintosh OS X....................5

Local Controls..........................................................6

Control Modes .........................................................7

Troubleshooting.......................................................8

Declaration of Conformity.....................................11

FCC Statements .....................................................12

Trademark Notices.................................................12

Limited Warranty...................................................13

AlphaTrack User’s Guide v1.0 Page 1 of 14

Overview

The AlphaTrack features a variety of controls, as well as an LCD display and LED’s for feedback,
organized into four basic groups:

• Fader and Encoder group. This group consists of the 100mm, touch-sensitive, motorized
fader, the adjacent SOLO, MUTE, and REC illuminated buttons, the 3 touch-sensitive
encoders, the LCD display, and the 5 mode buttons (PAN, SEND, EQ, PLUG-IN, AUTO).
This set of controls typically provides comprehensive access to the DAW parameters one
track at a time.

• Programmable Function buttons. The buttons labeled F1 through F4 are often user­programmable, although this depends on the particular application being used. They also
have alternate functions (F5-F8), which are accessed by pressing SHIFT in combination
with the F1-F4 button.

• Transport controls, including the scroll/shuttle touch strip. A set of standard transport
buttons (REW, FFWD, STOP, PLAY, and RECORD) provide quick and familiar time line
controls. The touch strip below these buttons is typically used to also control the time
line. This strip can detect both 1- and 2-finger moves as well as left, middle, and right
taps. These operations are usually used to control time line scroll or shuttle moves, and
actions like time line marker creation and navigation.

• Other miscellaneous controls:

o < TRACK and TRACK > buttons for navigating to the previous and next tracks in

a DAW project.

o The LOOP button, which typically toggles loop operations on and off.
o The FLIP button. In many applications this is used to flip parameter assignments

between an encoder and the high-resolution fader.

o The SHIFT button. SHIFT can be used with many controls to provide additional

functionality. The SHIFT button itself can often be used in a “sticky” mode to
permit one-handed access to the alternate button and encoder functionality.

o Footswitch input allows hands-free punch-in recording on many applications.

AlphaTrack User’s Guide v1.0 Page 2 of 14

Installing Drivers in Windows 2000/XP/Vista

1. IMPORTANT: Make sure that your AlphaTrack is NOT connected to your computer to begin
this installation!

2. Insert the AlphaTrack CD-ROM into your computer’s CD-ROM drive. In a few moments, the
AlphaTrack menu will appear. (If it does not, use Windows Explorer to navigate to the top
folder of the CD-ROM, and double-click the “autorun.exe” file.)

3. Select ‘Install Driver and Plugins’ from the menu to run the automatic installer. Follow the
on-screen prompts, making sure to select any application specific plug-ins you want to install.
(These can be added at a later time if needed).

4. When the Windows Logo warning appears, select “Continue Anyway.”

5. Once the installer has run connect AlphaTrack to any available USB port on your computer.
AlphaTrack will be detected automatically, and the “New Hardware Wizard” will appear.

6. When asked if Windows can connect to Windows Update, select “No” and then click “Next.”

7. Select “Install the software automatically” and then click “Next.”

8. When the Windows Logo warning appears, select “Continue Anyway.”

9. When the Wizard finishes this part of the AlphaTrack software installation, click “Finish.”

10. After a few seconds, another “New Hardware Wizard” will open automatically. Repeat steps
5–7 to install the AlphaTrack WDM Interface.

11. It is recommended that you restart your computer to complete the installation process.

The AlphaTrack icon should appear in the Task Bar on the desktop (usually at the bottom right

of the screen).

Updating Drivers in Windows 2000/XP/Vista

1. Disconnect AlphaTrack from your computer.

2. Download and copy the latest AlphaTrack installer from www.frontierdesign.com to your

computer.

3. Double click on the installer to launch, and follow the steps 3-9 of “Installing Drivers in

Windows 2000/XP/Vista” above. Driver files will be replaced by the posted version.

AlphaTrack User’s Guide v1.0 Page 3 of 14

Removing Drivers in Windows 2000/XP/Vista

1. Open the Windows Task Manager by simultaneously pressing Ctrl, Alt, and Delete.

2. Select the “Processes” tab, and select “AlphaTrack Applet.exe” in the list.

3. Click “End Process” and then “Yes”. Then close the “Windows Task Manager” window.

4. Navigate to your WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 folder, and delete the “AlphaTrack Applet.exe” file.

5. Navigate to your WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS folder, and delete the “AlphaTrack.sys”
and “AlphaTrackWdm.sys” files.

6. In the WINDOWS\INF folder, search for all files containing the
string “AlphaTrack” In Windows Explorer, you can navigate to the
WINDOWS\INF folder, click the Search button, and enter text in
the dialog boxes as shown in this picture. You should find the
“AlphaTrack” string within a file of the form “oem#.inf” where “#” is
a number. Delete that file and also delete any “oem#.PNF” files
that have the same “#” number.

7. Open the Start menu (in the bottom left of the desktop) and click
“Run…” to open the “Run” dialog box. In the “Open” field of the
“Run” dialog box, type “regedit” and then click “OK” to start the
Registry Editor.

8. Navigate to this entry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\FDG_WDM\*FDG000C

9. Click on the *FDG000C folder to select it.

10. Go to the Edit menu, and select Permissions.

11. In the “Permissions for Everyone” area, click to place a check mark in “Allow” for “Full Control”
and then click “OK.”

12. Make sure the *FDG000C folder is still selected.

13. Go to the Edit menu again, and select Delete.

14. Repeat steps 8 through 13 to delete this entry also:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USB\Vid_165b&Pid_fad1

15. Restart the computer. The Windows driver has now been completely removed.

AlphaTrack User’s Guide v1.0 Page 4 of 14

Installing Drivers in Macintosh OS X

1. IMPORTANT: Make sure that your AlphaTrack is NOT connected to your computer during this
installation!

2. Insert the AlphaTrack CD-ROM into your computer’s CD-ROM drive. The “AlphaTrack Installer”
window will open with a picture of the AlphaTrack in its background.

3. Double-click the file called “AlphaTrack Installer” to start the installer.

4. Follow the prompts to install the driver. (Note: you will need the computer administrator’s
password to install the AlphaTrack drivers.)

5. Restart your computer to complete the driver installation process.

6. Connect AlphaTrack to any available USB port on your computer. The AlphaTrack icon (an

image of the AlphaTrack) should appear in the Status Bar (usually at the top right of the
screen).

Updating Drivers in Macintosh OS X

1. Disconnect the AlphaTrack from your computer.

2. Download and copy the latest AlphaTrack Macintosh installer from
your computer.

www.frontierdesign.com to

3. Repeat steps 3-6 of “Installing Drivers in Macintosh OS X” above. Driver files will be replaced by

the posted version.

Removing Drivers in Macintosh OS X

1. IMPORTANT: Make sure that your AlphaTrack is NOT connected to your computer during this

installation!

2. Insert the AlphaTrack CD-ROM into your computer’s CD-ROM drive. The “AlphaTrack Installer”

window will open.

3. Double-click the file called “AlphaTrack Remover” to start the remove procedure.

4. Follow the prompts to remove the driver. This process is much like an installation, but driver

components are being removed instead of installed.

5. Restart your computer to complete the driver removal process.

AlphaTrack User’s Guide v1.0 Page 5 of 14