PreSonus FireStudio Project User Manual

FIRESTUDIO

PROJECT

24-bit, 96 kHz Recording Interface

with 8 Microphone Preamplifiers

FIRESTUDIO

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Main

User’s Manual

Version 2.0

PRESONUS LIMITED WARRANTY

PreSonus Audio Electronics Inc. warrants this product to be free of defects in material and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of original retail purchase. This warranty is enforceable only by the original retail purchaser. To be protected by this warranty, the purchaser must complete and return the enclosed warranty card within 14 days of purchase. During the warranty period, PreSonus shall, at its sole and absolute option, repair or replace, free of charge, any product that proves to be defective on inspection by PreSonus or its authorized service represen t ative. To obtain warranty service, the purchaser must first call or write PreSonus at the address and telephone number printed below to obtain a Return Authorization Number and instructions about where to return the unit for service. All inquiries must be accompanied by a description of the problem. All authorized returns must be sent to the PreSonus repair facility postage prepaid, insured, and properly packaged. PreSonus reserves the right to update any unit returned for repair. PreSonus reserves the right to change or improve the design of the product at any time without prior notice. This warranty does not cover claims for damage due to abuse, neglect, alteration, or attempted repair by unauthorized personnel and is limited to failures arising during normal use that are due to defects in material or workmanship in the product. Any implied warranties, including implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, are limited in duration to the length of this limited warranty. Some states do not allow limitations on ho w long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitation may not apply to you. In no event will PreSonus be liable for incidental, consequential, or other damages resulting from the breach of any express or implied warranty, including, among other things, damage to property, damage based on inconvenience or on loss of use of the product, and, to the extent permitted by law, damages for personal injury. Some states do not allow the exclusion of limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights, which vary from state to state. This warranty only applies to products sold and used in the United States of America. For warranty information in all other countries please refer to your local distributor.

PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc. 7257 Florida Blvd. Baton Rouge, LA 70806 www.PreSonus.com

SAFE OPERATION GUIDELINES

To avoid damage to your FireStudio Project and your other audio equipment, please review and adhere to the following safety guidelines:

 Follow the safety guidelines in the manual.

 Do not drop your FireStudio Project.

 Do not install the unit near a heat source (radiators, heat registers, ampl ifi er heat sinks , etc.).

 Do not expose your FireStudio Project to liquids. Do not place containers filled with liquids

near your FireStudio Project.

 Do not allow dust particles to collect in excess on your FireStudio Project. Keeping the unit

covered when not in use is highly recommended and will extend the life of your product.

 Protect the power supply and its cord from being walked on, wheeled over, or pinched. If the

power supply becomes damaged, purchase a new one.

 Unplug your FireStudio Project when not in use for long periods of time and during electrical

storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other extreme we at her .

 Use only the attachments/accessories recommended or manufactured by PreSonus for your

FireStudio Project.

 All domestic PreSonus products should be serviced at the PreSonus factory in Baton Rouge,

Louisiana. If your FireStudio Project requires a repair, contact techsupport@presonus.com to arrange for a return-authorization number. Customers outside the U.S. should contact their local distributor. Your distributor’s contact information is available at www.presonus.com.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 OVERVIEW

1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 3

1.2 Features .................................................................................................................................................................. 4

1.3 What is in the Box ................................................................................................................................................... 5

1.4 System Requirements ............................................................................................................................................... 6

2 GETTING STARTED

2.1 Hardware Installation .............................................................................................................................................. 7

2.1.1 Installation in Microsoft Windows .................................................................................................................... 7

2.1.2 Installation in Mac OS X .................................................................................................................................. 7

2.2 Studio One Artist ......................................................................................................... ............................................. 8

2.2.1 Installation and Authorization ............................................................................................................................ 8

2.2.2 Enabling the FireStudio Project Driver ............................................................................................................. 9

2.2.3 Configuring Your External MIDI Devices .......................................................................................................... 10

2.2.4 Configuring Your Audio I/O .............................................................................................................................. 13

2.2.5 Creating a New Song ....................................................................................................................................... 14

2.2.6 Cue Mix and the FireStudio Project .................................................................................................................. 17

2.3 Sample Hookup Diagrams ...................................................................................................................................... 20

2.3.1 Recording a Band with a FireStudio Project ..................................................................................................... 20

2.3.2 Using Multiple FireStudio Projects with the HP60 ............................................................................................ 21

3 CONTROLS & CONNECTIONS

3.1 PreSonus Universal Control Application Introduction .............................................................................................. 22

3.1.1 Universal Control Application Icon ................................................................................................................. 22

3.1.2 Launch Window ............................................................................................................................................... 23

3.1.3 WDM Settings (Windows PC Only) .................................................................................................................. 25

3.1.4 Device Window: FireStudio Project Mixer ........................................................................................................ 26

3.2 Front-Panel Layout ................................................................................................................................................ 29

3.3 Back-Panel Layout ................................................................................................................................................ 32

4 CASCADING UNITS

4.1 Using Multiple FireStudio-Family Interfaces ............................................................................................................. 34

5 TECHNICAL INFORMATION

5.1 Troubleshooting ..................................................................................................................................................... 36

5.2 Specifications ........................................................................................................................................................ 38



1.1 INTRODUCTION

OVERVIEW

FIRESTUDIO

Mic Instrument

™

345678

Mic Line

12345678

48V

1/2

0 60

+30-10

1234

48V

0dB

-6dB

-40dB

3/4

0 60

0 10-80

+20-20

+30-10

48V

0dB

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-40dB

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Thank you for purchasing the PreSonus FireStudio Project. PreSonus Audio Electronics has designed the FireStudio Project utilizing high-grade components to ensu re optimum p erforman ce that will last a lifetime. The FireStudio Project is equipped for professional-quality computer recording, with 24-bit, 96 kHz converters; 8 PreSonus XMAX microphone preamplifiers; S/PDIF and MIDI I/O; Universal Control compat ibility; and Studio One Artist music-production software. All you need is a computer with a FireWire connection, a few microphones and cables, monitor speakers or headphones, and your instruments!

PreSonus Audio Electronics is committed to constant product improvement, and we value your suggestions highly. We encourage you to contact us at 225-216-7887 with questions or comments about your PreSonus FireStudio Project. We believe the best way to achieve our goal of constant product improvement is by listening to the real experts: our customers.

We suggest that you read this manual to familiarize yourself with the features, applications, and connection procedure for your FireStudio Project before connecting it to your computer.

Thank you, again, for buying our product. Enjoy your FireStudio Project!

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OVERVIEW

1.2 FEATURES

The FireStudio Project is a powerful and affordable computer recording system. The FireStudio Project comes complete with eight high-quality PreSonus XMAX microphone preamps, S/PDIF and MIDI I/O, rock-solid drivers, expandability, and powerful music-recording and -production software.

Summary of FireStudio Project features

 High-Speed FireWire (IEEE 1394) audio interface  Up to 96 kHz sampling rate  8 XMAX Class A microphone preamplifiers (+60 dB gain) w/trim control  8 Analog mic/line inputs, 2 instrument inputs  8 Analog line outputs  S/PDIF digital input and output  MIDI input and output  Balanced send/return for Channels 1 and 2  Zero-latency monit orin g with Universal Control  Separate balanced mai n out pu ts a nd 8 balanced analog outputs  Built-in zero-latency DSP mixer  Mac OS X and Windows compatible

The FireStudio Project includes PreSonus Studio One Artist recording software, which comes with over 4 GB of plug-ins, loops, and samples, giving you everything you need for music recording and production.

Summary of Studio One Artist features

 Unlimited track count  Unlimited inserts and sends  20 high-quality native effects plug-ins

o Amp Modeling (Ampire) o Delay (Beat Delay) o Distortion (Redlight Distortion) o Dynamic Processing (Channel Strip, Compressor, Limiter, Tricomp) o Equalizer (Channel Strip, Pro EQ) o Modulation (Autofilter, Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, X-Trem) o Reverbs (MixVerb, Room Reverb) o Utility (Binaural Pan, Mixtool, Phase Meter, Spectrum Meter, Tuner)

 Over 4 GB of loops, samples, and instruments, featuring:

o Presence: Virtual Sample Player o Impact: Virtual Drum Machine o SampleOne: Virtual Sampler o Mojito: Virtual Analog-Modeled Subtractive Synthesizer

 Innovative and intuitive MIDI mapping  Powerful dra g -an d- dr op f unctionality for faster workflow  Mac OS X and Windows compatible

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OVERVIEW

1.3 WHAT IS IN THE BOX

Your FireStudio Project package contains the following:

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 FireStudio Project recording interface

 6-foot, 6-pin-to-6-pin FireWire cable

 6-foot, standard IEC power cable

 Software installation discs:

o PreSonus FireStudio Universal driver

installation disc

o Studio One Artist installation DVD

 PreSonus warranty card

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OVERVIEW

1.4 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Here are the computer-system requirements for FireStudio Project and Studio One Ar ti st.

 Macintosh

o Operating Systems:

 Mac OS X 10.4.11 or Mac OS X 10.5.2 or higher

o Hardware:

 Minimum:

 PowerPC G4 1.25 GHz or Intel Core Solo 1.5 GHz processor  1 GB RAM  DVD drive

 Recommended:

 PowerPC G5 or better or Intel Core Duo o r Intel Xeo n process or or be tter  2 GB or more RAM  DVD drive

 Windows PC

o Operating Systems:

 Windows XP or Vista

o Hardware:

 Minimum:

 Intel Pentium 4 1.6 GHz processor or AMD Athlon 64 (Turion)  1 GB RAM  DVD drive

 Recommended:

 Intel Pentium 4 2.8 GHz EM64T or better or AMD Athlon 64 3000+ or

better

 2 GB or more RAM  DVD drive

NOTE: The speed of your processor, amount of RAM, and size and speed of your hard drives will greatly affect the overall performance of your recording system. A more powerful system (faster processor with more RAM) allows for lower latency (signal delay) and better overall performance.

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GETTING STARTED

2.1 HARDWARE INSTALLATION

This installer and driver can be used for any interface in the FireStudio Project family line (FireStudio Mobile, FireStudio Project, FireStudio Tube, FireStudio Lightpipe, FireStudio [26x26], and StudioLive 16.4.2). For more information on the Universal Control application and multiple interface integration, please review Sections

3.1 and 4.1.

2.1.1 Installation in Microsoft Windows

After you insert the installation CD into your CD or DVD drive, th e FireStudio Project installer will ta ke you through each step of the installation process. Please read each message carefully, ensuring especially that you do not connect your FireStudio Project until the installer has finished and you have rebooted your computer.

The FireStudio Project Installer was designed to be as simple and easy-to-follow as possible. Please read each message carefully to ensure that the FireStudio Project driver is properly installed.

Before continuing the FireStudio Project Installation Setup, please close all applications and disconnect your FireStudio Project from your computer. If you see any Windows Security alerts, click “Install this driver software anyway” (Vista) or “Continue anyway” (XP).

At the end of the installation, you will be prompted to reboot your computer to complete the installation. Click “Finish” to automatically restart your PC. Once your computer has rebooted, connect the FireStudio Project. When the Found New Hardware wizard launches, follow the recommended steps. When the sync light remains solid blue, your FireStudio Project is synced to your computer and is ready to use!

2.1.2 Installation in Mac OS X

After inserting the installation CD into your disc drive, browse the disc and run the FireStudio Project installer, which will take you through each step of the installation process. Please read each message carefully, ensuring especially that you do not connect your FireStudio Project unt il the installer has finished and you have rebooted your computer.

To begin installing the FireStudio Project driver on your Mac, double click on the FireStudio Project logo. The FireStudio Project installer requires that your user password be entered as a security measure. Once you have entered your password, click “OK” to proceed with the rest of the installation.

When the Installer has finished, connect your FireStudio Project to your computer with a FireWire cable. Once the sync light is solid blue, your FireStudio Project is ready to use.

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GETTING STARTED

2.2 STUDIO ONE ARTIST

Every PreSonus interface comes complete with Studio One Artist recording software. Whether you are about to record your first album or your 50

, Studio One Artist provides you with all the tools necessary to capture and mix a great performance. As a valued PreSonus customer, you are also eligible for an upgrade discount for Studio One Pro when you are ready to master your work, create a digital version for the Web, or incorporate third-party VST plug-ins into your recording process. For more details on the Studio One Pro upgrade program for PreSonus customers, please visit www.presonus.com

2.2.1 Installation and Authorization

Once you have installed the FireStudio Project drivers and connected your FireStudio Project, you can use the PreSonus Studio One Artist music-production software included with your FireStudio Project to begin recording, mixing, and producing your music. To install Studio One Artist, insert your installation disc into your computer’s DVD drive. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation process.

Installing Studio One Artist

To Install Studio One Artist, insert your Studio One Artist installation DVD into your computer’s DVD drive.

PC Users: Launch the Studio One Artist installer and follow the onscreen instructions.

Mac Users: Simply drag the Studio One Artist application into the Applications folder on your Macintosh HD.

Create a User Account

After installing Studio One Artist, launch the program, and the Activate Studio One menu will appear. If you are a new Studio One user, you will need to create a user account. Follow the Create Account link if your computer is connected to the Internet. Once you have created your account, continue to Activating Studio One Artist Online.

If your computer is not connected to the Internet, visit the Studio One product page at www.presonus.com on an Internet-connected computer to create your account. After you have created your account, skip to Activating Studio One Artist Offline.

Activating Studio One Artist Online

Now that you have created a user account, you can activate your copy of Studio One Artist. Launch Studio One Artist, and the Activate Studio One menu will appear.

Click on the Activate Online link and enter your previously created account Username, Password, and the Product Key you received with the Studio One Artist installation disc. Click on the Activate button to finish the activation process.

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GETTING STARTED

Activating Studio One Artist Offline

Once you have created a user account, launch Studio One Artist. From the Activate Studio One Menu, click on the Activate Offline link. Follow the instructions to log in to your previously created user account, register the product, and obtain a license file.

Next, copy the license file to the computer on which Studio One has been installed, and locate the license file as instructed in the Activate Studio One menu. The activation process is now complete.

Installing Bundled Content for Studio One Artist

Studio One Artist comes bundled with an array of demo and tutorial material, sampled instruments, loops, samples, and unique third-party content. The Studio One Artist bundle includes all that you need to begin producing music.

Upon completing the Studio One Artist installation and activation process, the Studio One Content Installer will appear. If it does not appear, navigate to Help/Studio One Installation.

At the top of the installation menu, select the source from which the content will be installed, as well as the location where you wish to install the content. The source of the content will be the same DVD from which you installed Studio One Artist. By default, Studio One Artist will point to your DVD drive as the content source. Listed in the installation menu are separate entries for each available item. Click in the checkbox next to each item you wish to install, then click on the Install Packets button at the bottom left of the menu to install the selected content.

When finished installing content, click on the Done button to exit the menu. Studio One Artist content can be installed at any time by accessing the

Help/Studio One Installation menu. If you choose not to install any portion of the content, you can install it at a later time.

2.2.2 Enabling the FireStudio Project Driver

Studio One and Studio One Artist were designed with PreSonus interfaces in mind. Your FireStudio Project is already integrated into Studio One Artist, so setup is quick and easy. When Studio One Artist is launched, by default you will be taken to the Start page. On this page, you will find document-management and deviceconfiguration controls, as well as a customizable artist profile, a news feed, and links to demos and tutorials from PreSonus. If you have an Internet co nnection on your computer, these links will be updated as new tutorials become available on the PreSonus Web site.

Complete information on all aspects of Studio One Artist is available in the

Reference Manual

PDF located on the Studio One Artist Installation disc. The informat ion in this manual covers only the most basic aspects of Studio One Artist and is intended to get you set up and recording as quickly as possible.

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GETTING STARTED

 Start Page: Setup Area

Shows Active Audio Driver and Sample Rate and Provides Quick Links to Configure Audio and MIDI

In the middle of the Start page, you will see the Setup area. Studio One Artist automatically scans your system for all available drivers and selects a driver. By default, it will choose a PreSonus driver if one is available.

Selecting a Different Audio Driver From the Start Page

If you do not see “PreSonus FireStudio” on the Start page when you launch Studio One, click on the Configure Audio Devices link in the Setup area to open the Audio Setup Options window.

In the Audio Device menu, select “PreSonus FireStudio.” Click the Apply button and then OK.

After you have verified that the PreSonus FireStudio Project driver has been detected, please continue to Section 2.2.3 to set up your external MIDI devices. If you do not have any MIDI devices to connect at this time, please skip to Section 2.2.4.

2.2.3 Configuring Your MIDI Devices

From the External Devices window in Studio One Artist, you can configure you r MIDI keyboard controller, sound modules, and control surfaces. This section will take you through setting up your MIDI keyboard controller and sound module with the FireStudio Project. Please consult the Reference Manual located on your Studio One Artist installation DVD for complete setup instructions for other MIDI devices.

Setting up an external MIDI keyboard controller from the Start page.

A MIDI keyboard controller is a hardware device that is generally used for playing and controlling other MIDI devices, virtual instruments, and software parameters. In Studio One Artist, these devices are referred to as Keyboards, and they must be configured before they are available for use. In some cases, your MIDI keyboard controller is also used as a tone generator. Studio One Artist views the two functions of these types of hardware as two different devices: a MIDI keyboard controller and a sound module. The MIDI controls (keyboard, knobs, faders, etc.) will be set up as a Keyboard. The sound module will be set up as an Instrument.

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+ 28 hidden pages

PreSonus FireStudio Project User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual