Lexicon Core2 Owner's Manual

Core2

U s e r G u i d e

Unpacking and Inspection

After unpacking the system modules, save all packing materials in case you ever need to ship the units. Thoroughly inspect the modules and packing
materials for signs of damage. Report any damage to the carrier at once; report equipment malfunction to your dealer.

Communications Notice

This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and if not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, may
cause interference to radio and television reception. It has been type tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B computing device in accordance with the
specifications in Subpart B of Part 15 of FCC Rules, which are designated to provide reasonable protection against such interference in a residential installation. However,
there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment OFF and ON, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

Reorient the receiving antenna
Relocate the computer with respect to the receiver
Move the computer away from the receiver
Plug the computer into a different outlet so that the computer and receiver are on different branch circuits.

If necessary, the user should consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for additional suggestions. The user may find the following booklet prepared
by the Federal Communications Commission helpful: "How to identify and Resolve Radio/TV Interference Problems." This booklet is available from the U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, Stock No. 004-000-00345-4.

Le présent appareil numérique n'émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites applicables aux appareils numériques de la class B prescrites dans le
Règlement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicté par le ministère des Communications du Canada.

Outdoor Antenna Grounding

If an outside antenna is connected to the receiver, be sure the antenna system is grounded so as to provide
some protection against voltage surges and built-up static charges. Section 810 of the National Electrical
Code, ANSI/NFPA No. 70-1984, provides information with respect to proper grounding of the mast and
supporting structure, grounding of the lead-in wire to an antenna-discharge unit, size of grounding
conductors, location of antenna-discharge unit, connection to grounding electrodes, and requirements for
the grounding electrode. See figure below.

Power Lines An outside antenna should be located away from power lines.

Ground
Clamp

Electric
Service
Equipment

NEC — National Electrical Code

Antenna Lead-in
Wire

Antenna Discharge
Unit (NEC Section
810-20)

Grounding Conductors

(NEC Section 810-21)
Ground Clamps
Power Service Grounding

Electrode System
(NEC Art 250, Part H)

"ADAT" is a trademark of the Alesis Corporation.
"Cool Edit Pro" is a trademark of Syntrillium.
"Type IV is a trademark of dbx Corporation.

Copyright 1999, Lexicon Inc.
All Rights Reserved.

Lexicon Part # 070-13748

Lexicon Inc.
3 Oak Park
Bedford MA 01730-1441
Telephone [phone]
Fax [phone]
www.lexicon.com

Table of Contents

1 Getting Started

Introduction ................................................................................................ 1

System Requirements ................................................................................. 2

2 Installation

Precautions ................................................................................................3

Hardware Installation ................................................................................... 3

Setup • Install the Card • Cables/Connections

Software Installation .................................................................................... 6

Install Supported Third Party Software • Install the Lexicon
Studio Driver for Windows • Running the Setup.exe Program

Updating Drivers .......................................................................................... 7

Remove the Old Software • Update Studio Driver • Reinstall
Setup.exe

3 Using the LexPanel

Core2 Tab .............................................................................................. 11

Analog Input • dbx Type IV™

Punch Tab .............................................................................................. 16

Configuring the Punch Tab • The MIX Level Control • The
Monitor Buttons

Clock Source Tab ...................................................................................... 18

4 Using Cool Edit Pro

Installing Cool Edit Pro .............................................................................. 19

Assigning I/O in Cool Edit Pro ................................................................... 20

Optimizing Multitrack Performance in Cool Edit Pro................................. 21

5 Troubleshooting

Common Problems and Solutions ............................................................. 23

Optimizing Windows for Audio Applications .............................................. 26

6 Specifications

Lexicon Inc.
3 Oak Park
Bedford MA 01730-1441
Telephone [phone]
Fax [phone]
www.lexicon.com

Lexicon Part # 070-13748

Lexicon Studio Core2 User Guide

Introduction

Thank you for your purchase of the Core2, Lexicon's 24-bit multitrack digital audio recorder, designed
to give you the highest possible performance in your computer-based hard disk recording system.

Your Core2 package includes:

• a Core2 PCI card in an anti-static pouch

• a disposable anti-static wrist strap

• a breakout connector box

• a Core2 audio connector cable
NOTE: The Core2 cable is a shielded audio cable that has been manufactured specifically for use

with the Core2. Use of any other cable will substanitially reduce audio quality and may otherwise
adversely affect performance.

• a CD containing the Core2 drivers, Syntrillium Software's Cool Edit Pro™ and a Read Me
document with any late-breaking information.

• the Core2 User Guide (this document)

Getting Started

1

Getting Started

The latest updates in both software and documentation are available on our website at
www.lexicon.com.

1

1

Getting Started

System Requirements

The following systems are the minimum required for working with the Core2:

• an IBM-PC or compatible computer with PCI architecture expansion slots, a Pentium micropro­cessor (200MHz or faster), and minimum 64MB of RAM running Windows 95 or later

• a fast, high capacity IDE or SCSI hard disk drive

• peripheral audio equipment such as a mixer, power amplifier, DAT recorder, etc.

Lexicon

2

2

Precautions

InstallationLexicon Studio Core2 User Guide

2

Installation

• Turn off and unplug your computer.

• Use the anti-static wrist strap provided with your system and make sure that you are grounded
during the entire installation process to prevent static charges that can damage components.

• Put the anti-static bags containing your cards near your computer to avoid walking around with
a card and generating static electricity after it is removed from its bag.

• Before handling any Lexicon Studio cards, discharge any personal static electricity that may be
on your clothes or body by touching a grounded metal surface, such as the power supply case
inside your computer.

• Handle the cards only by their edges, as you would a CD. Avoid touching the pins on the bottom
edge of the cards.

• Save the anti-static bag containing your Lexicon audio card. This prevents static electricity from
damaging sensitive electronic components on the card.

Hardware Installation

As some Lexicon Studio software is installed into directories of your audio control software, you
should install and verify that your audio software launches properly before installing Lexicon Studio
(even though it will not be audio-capable until installation of the Lexicon Studio system). Please refer
to your audio software manual for details on installation, and then proceed with Lexicon Studio
hardware and software installation.

3

3

Installation

Lexicon

The Core2 card must be installed in a PCI slot which is a bus master slot to take advantage of its bus
master capabilities. Refer to your computer owner’s manual to determine which slots are available
as bus masters. (On some older motherboards, the PCI slot next to the ISA bus connector [the PCI/
ISA/ shared slot] is not a PCI bus master slot).

Setup

1. Put on the anti-static wrist strap.

2. Place the foam from your Lexicon Studio package on top of a work surface next to your computer.

3. Make sure that your computer is properly shut down and unplugged.

4. Remove the computer top cover and PCI slot cover(s) for the slots you’ve chosen for the Core2
card. If you do not know how to open your computer, consult the manufacturer’s owner’s manual.

5. Touch the computer power supply case to discharge any personal static electricity.

6. Remove the Core2 from its anti-static bag, holding the card only by its edges. Be careful to avoid
touching the pins on the bottom edge of the card.

Install the Card

1. Align the Core2 card over the slot you’ve chosen and insert it.

2. Place one hand along the top edge of the card and push down firmly until the card is fully seated
in the slot. Do not use excessive force.

3. Once the card is fully seated, attach the bracket to the computer chassis with the screws provided
with your computer. If the computer is a tower or mini-tower design, check to see that boards are
not bending under their own weight and shorting against each other.

4. Replace the cover on the computer. Do not operate the system without the cover.

4

4

InstallationLexicon Studio Core2 User Guide

INPUTS

13

24

OUTPUTS S/PDIF

13

24

57

68

IN

(WORD CLOCK)

OUT

Connecting the Core2 Card to the connector box.

Cables/Connections

1. Use only the proprietary Lexicon cable (provided) to connect the Core2 card to the Lexicon
Core2 connector box.

2. With the computer powered down, attach the cable between the connector on the back of the
Core2 card and the Computer port on the connector box.

3. Connect your external audio devices to the connector box, or to the optical connectors on the
Core2 card itself.

The connector box houses four unbalanced 1/4" analog inputs and eight unbalanced 1/4" analog
outputs, as well as a coaxial S/PDIF input and output. The coaxial input can also be used as a
Word Clock input. (See Chapter 3.)

The back plate of the Core2 card carries the optical connectors. These can be configured (via
the Control Panel) to accept either ADAT™ or S/PDIF formats.

The Core2 can run in a variety of modes which affect the number and type of available I/O. These
operating modes are described in detail in Chapter 3: Core2 Basics.

5

5

Installation

Software Installation

Install Supported Third Party Audio Software

The Core2 requires compatible front-end software (such as Syntrillium Software's Cool Edit Pro) to
operate. Please refer to your particular software installation guide for assistance. As Lexicon Studio
installs software within directories of your front-end software, you should install your audio software
first and verify that it launches properly before installing Lexicon Studio (even though it will not be
audio-capable until installation of the Lexicon Studio system).

If you are installing a later version of Lexicon Studio software over your current Studio software, please
skip to the next section entitled

Install the Lexicon Studio Driver for Windows

1. With your Lexicon Studio hardware and third party audio software installed, power up your
computer. Once your computer is fully booted, Windows will identify your Core2 as a new PCI
multimedia device. In the event of booting problems, refer to the troubleshooting section of this
user guide.

2. The Windows Update Device Driver Wizard will appear. Insert the

& Documentation”

for the Lexicon Studio driver.

3. Windows will find the driver information for the Lexicon Studio Sound System on the CD-ROM.
If it does not, you may need to Browse to it. If you encounter problems locating the first file, check
to make sure the path is correct, then click OK. Click the Finish button.

4. When the drivers are loaded, you will be prompted to restart your computer. You should choose
not to restart at this time and proceed with these instructions. Windows will prompt you twice to
restart. Select No at both prompts.

Lexicon

Updating Drivers.

“Lexicon Studio:Core2: Drivers

CD-ROM , and click the Next > button, allowing Windows to perform a search

6

6

Running the Setup.exe Program

1. Insert the

2. Open the contents of the CD-ROM and double-click on Setup.exe to launch the Installer.

3. Click Next > at the Installer welcome screen.

4. At the summary screen, select the desired software and click Next > to choose it.

5. Click Next > to begin the installation.

6. Click Finish to complete the installation.

7. Cold boot your computer (even if you’ve already restarted after installing the Core2 Drivers).

To remove or update this software, remove the install by using the Add/Remove Programs control
panel, highlighting file, and selecting Remove. This control panel is located at Start/Settings/Control
Panel/Add/Remove Programs.

Updating Drivers

If you are installing a newer version of Lexicon Studio software over your current software, follow the
steps outlined below.

Remove the Old Software

As Lexicon Studio software is registered through the Windows Add/Remove Programs control panel,
it must be completely removed to install a newer version. You should never have 2 different versions
of the software installed simultaneously.

1. Go to Start/Settings/Control Panel /Add/Remove Programs.

2. Scroll down to Lexicon Core2.

3. Click the Add/Remove button.

4. Click the Yes button when asked “Are you sure you want to completely remove Lexicon Core2
and all of its components?”.

“Lexicon Studio Core2: Drivers & Documentation”

InstallationLexicon Studio Core2 User Guide

CD-ROM if you haven’t already.

7

7