Mackie Link.FireWire Owner's Manual

Important safety InstructIons

1. Read these instructions.

2. Keep these instructions.

3. Heed all warnings.

4. Follow all instructions.

5. Do not use this apparatus near water.

6. Clean only with dry cloth.

7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including ampliﬁers) that produce heat.

9. Only use attachments/accessories speciﬁed by the manufacturer.

10. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.

11. Refer all servicing to qualiﬁed service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as when liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

FCC Information

NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with

the limits for Class B digital devices, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.

Product Serial #:

Purchased at:

Date of purchase:

contents

Important safety InstructIons .................................2

IntroductIon ...................................................................................

The Link.FireWire Interface .........................................................4

Bundled Software ..............................................................................4

GettInG started .............................................................................5

Installing the Software ....................................................................5

Connecting the Link.FireWire .....................................................6

Two Modes of Operation ................................................................7

LInk.fIrewIre features ............................................................8

Front Panel ............................................................................................8

Rear Panel ..........................................................................................10

appendIx a: servIce InformatIon ............................12

Warranty Service ............................................................................12

Troubleshooting ...............................................................................12

Repair ...................................................................................................13

appendIx B: connectIons ................................................14

appendIx c: LInk.fIrewIre specIfIcatIons

Analog Speciﬁcations ...................................................................16

......16

Digital Speciﬁcations ....................................................................17

System Requirements ...................................................................17

AC Power Requirements .............................................................18

Physical Dimensions and Weight ............................................18

Block Diagram Link.FireWire ....................................................19

What is Latency? ............................................................................20

tapco LImIted warranty ..................................................22

Don’t forget to visit our website at www.tapcogear.com

for more information about this and other TAPCO products.

IntroductIon

Thank you for purchasing the TAPCO Link.FireWire Audio Interface for digital recording systems. This is a complete, compact solution for computer-based music production on either a Macintosh or a PC.

The Link.FireWire is a 4x6 audio interface that is powered directly oﬀ the FireWire connection (or by the included external power supply), and also includes Tracktion 2.1, our powerful audio and MIDI sequencing software for digital recording. This hardware and software combination provides all you need to record and create wonderful music using your laptop or desktop computer.

The Link.FireWire Interface

The Link.FireWire interface provides either two analog audio inputs that can accept microphone level, line level, or direct instrument input signals, or a stereo S/PDIF digital input. The analog audio signals are routed to high-quality ADCs (Analog-to-Digital Converters) operating at

44.1, 48, 88.2, or 96 kHz with 24-bits. The digital signals are then routed to the FireWire port for connection to your computer.

The analog inputs are “combo” jacks that accept either a mic-level balanced XLR connector or a line-level (or instrument-level if the INSTR button is pushed in) balanced or unbalanced 1/4" TRS or TS connector.

Stereo master mixes can also be transferred from your host computer back to the Link.FireWire for monitoring during tracking or overdubbing. Monitoring is provided by the headphone jack on the front and by balanced outputs on the back, which can be connected to your studio monitors. The Monitor outputs and Phones output each have their own level controls. The master mix also appears on the S/PDIF stereo output.

Note: The Link.FireWire provides two output streams from the DAW that is mirrored on the Phones, Monitor, and S/PDIF outputs. Alternate ﬁrmware is available on our website to conﬁgure the Link.FireWire so that it provides six discrete output streams from the DAW. See “Two Modes of Operation” on page 7 for more information.

Bundled Software

The Link.FireWire comes with some powerful software to get you started with your own desktop multitrack audio recording music production studio.

Tracktion is an easy-to-use multitrack audio recording and MIDI sequencing software application, capable of unlimited track count, VST support, automation, and much more. It comes with a variety of EQ, compressor, and eﬀects plug-in processors for creating exactly the sound you want.

GettInG started

Use this section to get your Link.FireWire set up quickly. Also refer to the Link.FireWire Quick-Start Guide included with your Link.FireWire audio interface, which includes a tutorial on how to make a recording using the Link.FireWire and Tracktion.

Installing the Software

• The Link.FireWire CD contains an installer that will install the

drivers on your PC. If you are using a Macintosh (running OS X version 10.3.9 or later), you don’t need to install drivers because the FireWire drivers are included in OS X. Note: If you are using OS X 10.3, be sure to update to the latest released version, 10.3.9.

• Your Link.FireWire CD also contains Tracktion 2.1. Double-

click the ﬁle “TracktionSetup.exe” and follow the instructions to install Tracktion on your PC. For the Macintosh, double-click the ﬁle “TracktionSetup.dmg” and drag the Tracktion icon into your Applications folder.

• Visit http://my.tapcogear.com to register your Link.FireWire.

If you haven’t already done so, set up an account by entering your email address and clicking, “No, I want to create an account.” Then click “Continue.” Enter the information to set up your proﬁle. Then click “Create My Account.” Then proceed to register your Link.FireWire by clicking “TAPCO Product Registration.”

• Your computer

requirements:

PC Requirements

• Windows XP (SP2)

• Pentium III or better processor

• 256 MB RAM (512 MB recommended)

• 30 MB hard disk space

Macintosh Requirements

• OS X (10.3.9 or later)

• Power Mac G3 (600 MHz or faster), G4, or G5 processor

• 256 MB RAM (512 MB recommended)

• 35 MB hard disk space

The Link.FireWire Quick-Start Guide has detailed instructions on installing the software on a PC running Windows XP (SP2) and a Macintosh running OS X (version 10.3.9 or later).

must meet the following minimum system

Connecting the Link.FireWire

POWER

• To stand the Link.FireWire upright, pull the stabilizer bar downward

and twist it out 90º from the body, as shown below.

• Turn down all the Link.FireWire knobs to prevent any loud surprises.

• Connect microphones using the XLR/TRS combo input connectors

on the back of the Link.FireWire. Press the 48V button if your microphone needs phantom power (mostly used for condenser mics).

Caution: DO NOT use phantom power on ribbon microphones. It

can damage the delicate ribbon element in the microphone. Refer to your microphone’s owner’s manual to ﬁnd out if it requires phantom power to operate.

• Connect guitars or other instruments using the XLR/TRS connectors

on the back of the Link.FireWire. Press the front panel LINE/INSTR button (guitar icon) if you are connecting your guitar or instrument directly to the Link.FireWire without using a preampliﬁer or direct box.

• Connect a pair of powered monitor speakers, or an ampliﬁer

connected to speakers, to the Link.FireWire MONITOR jacks on the rear panel. You can also plug in headphones to the front panel PHONES jack.

• Connect the FireWire connector to a FireWire port on your

computer with the FireWire cable provided.

• Launch Tracktion or the DAW software application of your choice

and select Link.FireWire as the audio device for the audio inputs and outputs.

Note: The Link.FireWire is equipped with a 6-pin FireWire connector and comes with a 6-pin to 6-pin FireWire cable. The 6-pin FireWire connector provides power for the Link.FireWire and works with Macintosh laptops and desktops, and most PC desktops with a built-in FireWire connector or with a PCI or PCMCIA FireWire card added. Many laptop PCs have a 4-pin FireWire connector. If this is the case, you will need to purchase a 6-pin to 4-pin FireWire adapter because the 4-pin connection does not provide any power. In this case, you must also use the external power supply (included) to power the Link.FireWire.

Two Modes of Operation

POWER

12V,1A

Laptop

To Active Monitors

To Headphones

To Recorder

To Active Monitors

To Headphones

To Recorder

Returns

from DAW

on FireWire

Stereo Return

from DAW

on FireWire

Same Stereo Mix

at all 3 Outputs

Different Stereo Mix

at each Output

Mirror Mode True 6-Output Mode

L R L R L R L R

6 Returns

(3 Stereo Pairs)

from DAW

on FireWire

TAPCO S•5 or S•8

Active Studio Monitors

Headphones

(plug into front panel)

CD Recorder

The Link.FireWire has two modes of operation, Mirror Mode and True 6-Output Mode.

Mirror Mode: This is the default mode of operation in which two audio streams are returned to the Link.FireWire from the DAW software application and are mirrored on the Phones out, Monitor out, and S/PDIF out.

This is the most common application, where you can monitor the master stereo mix from the DAW in the headphones and studio monitors, and have the mix going to a recorder connected to the S/PDIF output.

True 6-Output Mode: In this mode of operation, six discrete audio streams are returned to the Link.FireWire from the DAW and are routed to the L/R Phones out, L/R Monitor outputs, and the stereo S/PDIF output. This is useful if you want to have a diﬀerent mix going to the headphones for the talent than you have in the studio monitors, while reserving the S/PDIF output for the ﬁnal mix.

Note: In order to change your Link.FireWire to True 6-Output Mode, you must download new ﬁrmware from our website and install it in the Link.FireWire. Go to the product page for the Link.FireWire on our website at www.tapcogear.com to obtain the ﬁrmware and instructions on how to install it.

WARNING: Once you change to True 6-Output Mode, you cannot change back to Mirror Mode. THIS IS A ONE-TIME CHANGE!

LInk.fIrewIre features

POWER

Front Panel

1. INPUT GAIN Control

These knobs adjust the gain of the analog input signal (before the A/D converters). They adjust the signal for both the mic and line inputs. Turn the knob fully counter-clockwise to turn the signal down, and fully clockwise to get the maximum gain.

2. LINE/INSTR Switch

If you are using a microphone or line-level input, leave this switch out. If you are connecting an instrument like a guitar directly to the Link.FireWire, push this switch in. It adjusts the input impedance of the 1/4" input to match the high-output impedance of a guitar pickup.

3. OL/SIG Indicator

This LED illuminates green when there is a signal present (after the GAIN control). If the signal gets too loud and is in danger of distorting (clipping), the LED ﬂashes red. If you see the OL/SIG LED ﬂashing red, turn down the signal either at its source or by using the INPUT GAIN [1] control on the Link.FireWire.

4. 48V Switch

Push this button in if you are using a microphone that requires 48 VDC phantom power. This applies phantom power to pins 2 and 3 of both XLR inputs. It has no eﬀect on the 1/4" inputs. Note: There are just a few microphones (mostly ribbon mics) that can be damaged by phantom power. Consult your microphone’s owner’s manual to see if it needs phantom power or not. If it does, always turn oﬀ the phantom power switch before connecting or disconnecting your microphone.

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