M-audio AUDIOSPORT QUATTRO MAC user guide

Audiosport Quattro Mac

Users Guide

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Quattro Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

What’s in the Box? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Minimum System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Quattro Front Panel: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Quattro Quick Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Theory of Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Hardware & Software Installation on the Mac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Configuring OMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Hooking up your AudioSport Quattro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

The Quattro and the Macintosh Sound Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

ASIO Operation on the Macintosh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

ASIO Control Panel and Operating Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Using the Input and Output Level Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Using Direct Monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

MIDI Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Optimizing Your System for Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Technical Specs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Limited Lifetime Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

QuattroMac-072601

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the AudioSport Quattro USB Audio Interface, designed and manufactured by M Audio. The Quattro provides four audio inputs and four audio outputs, plus a 1x1 MIDI port on your USB equipped Macintosh computer. High performance, 24-bit/96kHz audio is now possible in a compact, portable package. All audio inputs and outputs are switchable between balanced (+4dBu) and unbalanced (-10dBV) operation to accommodate any audio need.

The USB port is a convenient, high-speed connection that requires no tools to install, with no need to open or reconfigure your computer. By following the instructions in this manual, you will be up and running in no time.

Quattro Features

• Four (4) analog audio inputs on 1/4” TRS jacks.

• High performance, 24-bit/96kHz A/D and D/A converters, with 101dB dynamic range on input and 104dB on output.

• Input Level switch for +4/-10 input line level settings (one for each stereo pair, 1/2 & 3/4).

• Output Level switch for +4/-10 output line level settings (one for each stereo pair, 1/2 & 3/4).

• Direct Monitor switch for computer bypass monitoring option (one for each stereo pair, 1/2 & 3/4).

• One (1) MIDI Input and one (1) MIDI Output on front panel.

• Expansion jack for connection to the Omni I/O Desktop System by M Audio.

What’s in the Box?

Your Quattro USB Audio Interface box contains:

• This manual.

• The Quattro USB Audio Interface.

• One (1) USB cable.

• One (1) 9vAC 1,000mA wall-wart power supply.

• One (1) driver disk containing additional software.

Minimum System Requirements

Mac

• Mac OS 9.1 minimum

• Mac G3 with onboard USB

• 128 MB RAM for 96kHz operation, 64MB for 48kHz or less.

• Opcode’s OMS required for MIDI operation

Quattro Front Panel:

1. 1/2 “Input Level” switch: In the ‘out’ position, the Quattro Inputs 1 & 2 are set to -10dBV line level operation. Pressing in and engaging this switch sets the these inputs to +4dBu line level.

2. 1/2 “Output Level” switch: In the ‘out’ position, the Quattro Outputs 1 & 2 are set to -10dBV line level operation. Pressing in and engaging this switch sets these outputs to +4dBu line level.

3. 1/2 “Direct Monitor” switch: In the ‘out’ position, Quattro Inputs 1 & 2 are routed to the computer for monitoring. Pressing in and engaging this switch connects Inputs 1/2 to the Quattro Outputs 1/2.

4. 3/4 “Input Level” switch: In the ‘out’ position, the Quattro Inputs 3 & 4 are set to -10dBV line level operation. Pressing in and engaging this switch sets the these inputs to +4dBu line level.

5. 3/4 “Output Level” switch: In the ‘out’ position, the Quattro Outputs 3 & 4 are set to -10dBV line level operation. Pressing in and engaging this switch sets these outputs to +4dBu line level.

6. 3/4 “Direct Monitor” switch: In the ‘out’ position, Quattro Inputs 1 & 2 are routed to the computer for monitoring. Pressing in and engaging this switch connects Inputs 1/2 to the Quattro Outputs 1/2.

7. “MIDI In” port: This MIDI jack provides MIDI input to your computer.

8. “MIDI Out” port: This port provides MIDI Output from your computer.

9. Power switch and LED: Pressing in and engaging this switch will power on the Quattro and light the corresponding LED.

Quattro Rear Panel:

1. “9VAC” power jack: This jack accepts the wall-wart power supply that came with the unit. Only the proper power-rated supply should be used.

2. “To Omni I/O” connector: This 15-pin DB connector accepts the female end of the Omni I/O connection cable (supplied with the Omni I/O).

3. USB jack: This jack accepts the device-end of a standard USB cable.

4. Audio “In 4” through “In 1”: These 1/4” jacks accept either TRS or TS 1/4” plugs. These are line level inputs, and generally will be connected to the outputs of a line level instrument or preamp.

5. Audio “Out 4” through “Out 1”: These 1/4” jacks accept either TRS or TS 1/4” plugs. These are line level outputs, and generally will be connected to a mixer, power amp, powered speakers, or a sound system.

Quattro Quick Start

It is recommended that you read this manual fully before installing and using your AudioSport Quattro. This Quick Start guide may serve as an overview to the steps ahead.

1. Plug the Quattro wall-wart into your wall receptacle and to the Quattro 9vAC power jack.

2. Connect the USB cable to your computer and the Quattro. Install OMS, then run the AudioSport Installer program supplied on the driver disk (for MIDI, you will need to configure OMS). If you have a music program that is ASIO compliant, drag the Quattro’s ASIO driver to the music program’s ASIO folder. Power down the computer. Power up the Quattro, then power up the computer.

3. With all audio levels turned down, connect your instruments to the Quattro audio inputs, and connect the Quattro’s audio outputs to a mixer or monitoring system.

4. Configure your music software and start recording.

Theory of Operation

The USB port provides a high-speed connection to your computer. Devices can be “hot-plugged” into the USB port with no need to power down the computer. Additionally, there’s no need to open the computer, no tools are required, nor is it necessary to configure the device other than plugging it in to the USB port and installing the drivers.

The AudioSport Quattro utilizes the convenience of your computer’s USB port to bring high quality, high resolution audio to your desktop or laptop computer.

In theory, multiple devices can be connected to the USB port (with the addition of a USB hub). The AudioSport Quattro requires all of the bandwidth that is available on the USB port, and therefore it is required that you plug the Quattro directly into your computer’s USB port, and not into a USB hub with other USB devices. Of course, if you are using a USB keyboard and mouse, you may have those plugged into your computer’s other USB port (two are usually supplied).

Your AudioSport Quattro USB Audio Interface is a 96kHz/24-bit capable device. That means that you can record at any sampling rate that your recording software will allow, up to 96kHz at a bit width of 24-bits, and at 16- or 24-bits at a sampling rate of 48kHz or less. An ASIO control panel is included with your driver software, which allows you to set the Quattro to its several operating modes.

The Quattro provides four audio inputs as two stereo pairs, i.e. 1/2 and 3/4, and four audio outputs, also as stereo pairs 1/2 and 3/4, The Quattro adds 1x1 MIDI operation (one input and one output port) to your USB equipped Macintosh, which can be used as your only MIDI interface or in conjunction with additional MIDI devices. Note that Opcode’s OMS, or “Open Music System” MIDI manager program is required for MIDI operation on the Mac, and must be installed prior to installing the Quattro drivers.

When all four input and output stereo pairs (two input pairs and two output pairs) are enabled, the Quattro will operate in 16-bit mode at either the 44.1k or 48k sampling rates. With three stereo pairs enabled, i.e., either one input and two output pairs or two input and one output pair, the Quattro will operate at 48kHz sampling rate or lower, and at either 24- or 16-bit. When one stereo pair is enabled and in 24-bit mode, the Quattro will operate at the 96kHz sampling rate or lower. This is explained more fully in the section, “ASIO Control Panel Operating Modes.”

The AudioSport can be configured for +4 or -10 line level operation simply by pressing a button on the front panel. This allows for seamless integration into the studio, compatible with professional balanced (balanced TRS, +4dBu) or semi-pro (unbalanced TS, -10dBV) audio devices (see section, “Using the Input and Output Level Switches”).

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