Terratec MIC 2, MIC 8 User Manual

English Manual

Version: 11.11.02

CE Declaration

We:

TerraTec Electronic GmbH, Herrenpfad 38, D-41334 Nettetal, Germany

hereby declare that the products:

AudioSystem EWS MIC 2 and AudioSystem EWS MIC 8

to which this declaration refers are in compliance with the following standards or standardizing documents:

1. EN 55022 Class B

2. EN 55024

The following are the stipulated operating and environmental conditions for said compliance:

residential, business and commercial environments and small-company environments.

This declaration is based on:

Test report(s) of the EMC testing laboratory

In most cases, the designations used in this manual for software and hardware are also registered trademarks and are thus subject to the relevant regulations.

©TerraTec

Meticulous care has been exercised in the preparation of all text passages and illustrations in this manual. TerraTec Electronic GmbH and its authors, however, accept no liability, legal or otherwise, for any errors or the consequences of such errors. We reserve the right to technical modifications.

All text passages in this documentation are copyrighted. All rights reserved. No part of this documentation may be reproduced in any form whatsoever, by photography, microfilming or other process or rendered into a language/form usable by computers without the prior, written consent of the authors. All rights for use and propagation by presentation, radio and television are also reserved.

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Contents

From opening the package to installation. .............................................................................7

Setups - Short and to the point for busy pros....................................................................... 8

The following is a brief description of the PCI card installation for experienced users.......... 9

Important notes for EWS88 MT owners............................................................................10

Installation of the EWS PCI card - step by step.................................................................10

Installing the driver software. .............................................................................................12

Driver installation under Windows 98 SE.........................................................................12

Driver installation under Windows Me. ............................................................................ 13

Installation under Windows 2000. .................................................................................. 15

Installation under Windows XP........................................................................................ 17

The EWS 19" module............................................................................................................19

The rear panel. ................................................................................................................19

The front panel................................................................................................................21

The connectors of the PCI card.............................................................................................23

The drivers. ........................................................................................................................25

The Wave driver. .............................................................................................................25

The System-OUT driver. ...................................................................................................25

The ASIO driver. ............................................................................................................. 26

The GSIF driver. ...............................................................................................................27

The MIDI driver................................................................................................................27

In detail - special properties of the drivers. .................................................................... 28

32-bit data transfer. ....................................................................................................... 28

DirectSound & WDM....................................................................................................... 28

WDM sample rate (SR) interpolation. ............................................................................. 29

WDM kernel streaming. .................................................................................................. 29

The ControlPanel. ...............................................................................................................29

The “Digital Mixer” page.................................................................................................... 30

The “Settings” page. .......................................................................................................... 31

Wave playback/record mode. .........................................................................................34

The “Settings Mic2/8” page. ..............................................................................................34

Signal routing of the EWS MIC8(2)+ systems ..................................................................... 36

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The mixer icon on the Windows taskbar............................................................................. 37

Multiple card mode and managing cascaded cards. ....................................................... 38

ASIO & GSIF.................................................................................................................... 39

Cascading of multiple EWS systems and synchronization............................................... 39

Practical section.................................................................................................................. 43

Sample applications.......................................................................................................... 43

Set A - Studio recording.................................................................................................. 43

Setup B - Live recording without a PC. ............................................................................ 44

Set C - The PC as a digital mixer...................................................................................... 45

Multiple audio cards in a single system. ............................................................................46

Always right on time - digital synchronization. ...................................................................46

Useful information about digital cables (optical waveguides and AES/EBU). ..................... 47

Appendix ............................................................................................................................ 48

Block diagram: EWS MIC2 analog section ..........................................................................48

Block diagram: EWS MIC8 analog section .......................................................................... 49

Technical Details ...............................................................................................................50

EWS MIC2 / MIC8 ........................................................................................................... 50

EWS88 Version 2.0 PCI card ............................................................................................51

Service at TerraTec..............................................................................................................55

Hotline, Mailbox, Internet................................................................................................55

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Safety note. Please ensure that all analog devices are turned off before plugging them in. This will protect you from any possible - albeit weak - electrical shocks, as well as protecting your speakers and your hearing from sudden peaks. For digital devices, be sure to at least reduce the volume of your playback equipment.

Welcome!

We're pleased that you have chosen a TerraTec AudioSystem and would like to congratulate you on this decision. You've purchased a sophisticated product representing the state of the art of studio technology, and we're convinced that our product will prove extremely useful to you in the coming years and provide you with a great deal of entertainment.

This manual describes the EWS MIC2 and MIC8 AudioSystems, as well as their “Plus” versions (+) including PCI cards. It covers the correct use of the systems in complete detail, and provides practical tips so that you can get started as soon as possible. But first, here's a quick overview:

Connection versatility - with a system.

The EWS MIC2 and MIC8 19" modules feature a range of professional connector options that predestine them to become the audiophile hub of your home or project studio.

If you have purchased the Plus version of the MIC2 or MIC8, even more options are available on the included PCI card: additional S/PDIF connections (coaxial), as well as a range of connectors for internal PC peripherals. The killer feature: a dedicated analog output that lets you play the system sounds of the operating system - without disturbing your musical work!

ä For everything you need to know about audio connections, see page 19.

Choice preamps - made by SPL.

When it came to selecting microphone preamps, years of experience and our desire for the best possible audio quality made our choice an easy one: SPL. Important parts of the sophisticated analog circuitry were developed in cooperation with SPL's engineers for a sound as clear as glass and which doesn't stop dead at the XLR connector, as is often the case.

ä For everything you need to know about audio quality, please turn to page 50.

Nerve center - the software.

As you know, a professional AudioSystem is no sound card for wild-eyed gamers, but the heart of your day-to-day studio work with your PC. And despite its extensive routing options, the EWS software gives you a clear overview at all times and - depending on the complexity of your switching needs - stays transparent and intuitive.

ä For everything you need to know about the EWS ControlPanel, see page 29.

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Pure performance - the drivers.

The selection of drivers for the EWS MIC series leaves nothing to be desired. Our sophisticated software architecture based on Microsoft's WDM technology guarantees the troublefree deployment of the card in all modern Microsoft Windows operating systems.

The thoroughly proven ASIO drivers have often been used as a reference and guarantee the lowest possible latency between the software-based sound generation and audio output. And support for the GSIF model provides performance levels in TASCAM's GigaStudio that makes many hardware synths look pale.

ä For the details on driver use, please turn to page 25.

We hope you enjoy your work with the EWS MIC system and would like to suggest that you browse this hopefully entertaining manual when you get the chance. In addition to the important information about its technology, we have outlined a number of typical applications as well as tips and tricks wherever appropriate. We're convinced that even experienced users will profit from this guide.

Thanks for your attention and here's to your creativity.

...your TerraTec Team

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From opening the package to installation.

Before installing the AudioSystem or the PCI card of the Plus version, please take note of any special points pertaining to the configuration of your computer. Also refer to the manual of your computer and other studio peripheral devices for their settings.

Please observe the following instructions to ensure a trouble-free installation. If difficulties arise nevertheless, please reread the relevant chapter in this manual carefully.

If you are still having problems, please call our service hotline. The phone numbers and hours of the hotline can be found in the Appendix of this documentation.

Scope of delivery.

Start by making sure that the contents of the package are complete.

The scope of delivery of the EWS MIC2 and EWS MIC8 AudioSystems includes at least the following:

· 1 19" MIC2 or MIC8 rack module

· 1 splitter cable with MIDI and WordClock sockets

· WordClock T adapter

· WordClock terminator

· 1 customer service card

· 1 registration card with the serial number

· This manual

The scope of delivery of the EWS MIC2+ and EWS MIC8+ AudioSystems also includes:

· 1 PCI card, type EWS88 MT 2.0 or higher

· 1 connector cable, rack module to EWS88 PCI card (4 m)

· 1 thin sync cable to internally connect multiple EWS88 boards

· 1 installation and driver CD with software for EWS88 MT 2.0 or higher.

Please return the enclosed registration card to us at the earliest possible opportunity or register online at http://www.terratec.com/register.htm. This is important for support

and hotline services.

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Setups - Short and to the point for busy pros.

Stand-alone mode. The EWS MIC2 and MIC8 AudioSystems can be used stand-alone, i.e. without a connection to a computer:

1. For use as a simple but high-quality microphone preamp (in conjunction with a mixer, for example) simply connect your microphones to the inputs on the rear of the module. Enable phantom power if needed (see page 21) and connect the MIC outputs to the LINE inputs of your mixer or tape deck.

2. The modules can also be connected directly to an ADAT device such as an ADAT multitrack recorder. In this case, connect line devices or microphones to the inputs of the MIC module and transfer the signals to the recorder (EWS MIC2/8 ADAT optical OUT to ADAT unit IN) using optical waveguides (not included). Ensure that the optical output of the MIC module is not set to S/PDIF (see page 19). You must also select the desired sampler rate (44.1 or 48 kHz). A switch is also available for this function (see page 19).

3. Conversely, digital signals from an ADAT can also be converted and output as a high-quality analog signal. Connect the optical output of the ADAT (OUT, lit when a signal is present) to the appropriate input of the module. The sampler rate is determined by the ADAT player. No further settings are required; the format will be identified automatically.

In conjunction with Macs or PCs, or with studio devices with ADAT interfaces. The EWS MIC2 and MIC8 AudioSystems can also be used as pure AD/DA converters on any ADAT interface. These can be found (in some cases as optional extras) on devices such as

· digital mixers

· hardware multitrack recorders

· synthesizers and samplers

· computers with suitable PCI cards.

The EWS MIC modules do not need to be configured for playback, as the configuration essentially corresponds to the scenarios 2 and 3 above (MIC module as an alternative converter for ADATs). The installation of TerraTec software is also not required when using the modules with a Mac or PC (this also applies in conjunction with an already-installed AudioSystem EWS88 D, the TerraTec ADAT interface). However, please note the instructions on synchronization and switching of the optical output on page 46.

EWS MIC2+ and EWS MIC8+: with PC using the included PCI card. The AudioSystems EWS MIC2+ and MIC8+ are supplied with an EWS88 MT Version 2.0 (or higher) PCI card. The system-specific PCI card supports a wide range of routings that would not be possible in standalone use or in combination with ADAT interfaces from other manufacturers. Before you install the EWS88 MT PCI card, check the CN1 and JP1 jumpers on the card. If you would like to use the digital input (coax) on the PCI card, set JP1 and CN1 to 1 and 2 respectively. To use the

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digital interfaces of the MIC module (ADAT, S/PDIF or WordClock), set the JP1 and CN1 jumpers to 2 and 3 respectively.

Operation with additional EWS systems. An EWS88 MT PCI card can be used with up to three further EWS88 MT/D systems in the same computer. A maximum of one EWS88 MT can be used together with a maximum of one EWX 24/96 or a maximum of one DMX 6fire. For information on synchronizing multiple PCI systems, please refer to Chapter “Multiple audio cards in a single system.” starting on page 46.

The following is a brief description of the PCI card installation for experienced users.

· The AudioSystem EWS88 MT is a PCI card with busmastering support. Please choose a slot which is far away from the graphics card(s) or SCSI/RAID controllers i.e. as far close to the “bottom” as possible in most installations. Also keep in mind that the heavy connector cable and various audio cables (S/PDIF, System-OUT) will be dangling from the back of the card.

· A special cable (4 m) is included to connect the 19" EWS MIC2 or MIC8 module. The power supply is not realized via this cable. Please ensure that all screws are securely tightened. Ensure that the computer and the EWS MIC module are switched off before plugging or unplugging the 4 Meter connector cable.

· You will need one (1) IRQ. Installing multiple audio systems of the TerraTec EWS family is no problem - the cards will run in IRQ-sharing mode.

· You will also need a number of free address ranges (generally no problem).

· The driver installation under Windows (98SE to XP) follows the Microsoft guidelines. The

drivers can be found on the included CD-ROM. Important note: The drivers have not yet been certified by Microsoft. You will receive a warning to this effect in Windows 2000 and XP which you can ignore. Continue the installation.

· After installing the drivers, open the Device Manager and check for yellow exclamation marks. If you find any, you can usually solve the problem by repeating the installation according to the instructions. Please also read the FAQ (frequently asked questions) on the product CD for other suggested solutions.

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· After the drivers have been installed, install the software. You can start the installation

using the autostart function of the CD, for example. You must install the EWS Control- Panel. The full functionality cannot be controlled using the Windows Standard Mixer.

· The WDM audio drivers can be selected in the applications as usual. ASIO or GSIF (GigaStudio) drivers are available in compatible programs; WDM kernel streaming is “not visible” (i.e. it is always available for applications and cannot be selected explicitly). The respective buffer sizes can be configured in the EWS ControlPanel (not to be confused with the Windows Control Panel).

Important notes for EWS88 MT owners.

If you are already using an AudioSystem EWS88 MT and are now the proud owner of an EWS MIC2 or MIC8 module, please observe the following points:

· It is not possible to use the 5¼" module of the EWS88 MT and the new 19" module at the same time on only one PCI card. Parallel connection of the modules can damage them. DAMAGE OF THIS KIND IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY!

· Please also note that cards with a board version 2.0 or later must be used to ensure trouble-free operation with an EWS MIC module. In the event that you have an older board version (this information can be found on the component side of the board, near the edge) please contact TerraTec technical support BEFORE INSTALLING (see page 55). A board version 2.0 or later is required when using 4 meter cables.

· EWS Control Panel. Be sure to install the latest version of the EWS ControlPanel software (1.03.35.12X or later) as earlier versions do not support the enhanced routing options of the MIC module.

· The EWS ControlPanel will automatically recognize the replacement of the 5¼" front module with a 19" MIC module. As the input gains can be adjusted directly using pots on the module itself, the mixer-side analog input levels are superfluous.

Installation of the EWS PCI card - step by step.

· Switch off your PC and all connected peripheral devices such as your printer and monitor. Leave the AC cable connected for the time being, so that your computer is still grounded.

· Touch the metal chassis at the rear of the PC to ground and to discharge static. Now unplug the cord from the AC socket.

· Remove the cover from the case of your PC.

· Look for a free PCI expansion slot, remove the screw holding the slot blanking plate (if

present) and remove the plate. Should it be necessary to break a plate out of the case, do so with great care to avoid injury.

· Check the jumpers of the card as described on page 8.

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· To ensure the optimal function of your AudioSystem, look for an expansion slot that is not immediately next to an already-installed card. Some cards, such as video or SCSI/RAID adapters, can send out signals which can interfere with the sound card.

We also recommend a slot as close to the bottom of the computer as possible, as you can / must connect several cables directly to the card itself. Due to certain physical properties of our planet, it is very likely that these cables will dangle downward. ;-)

· Carefully remove the PCI card from its packaging. Pick it up by the edges with one hand while your other hand is resting on the metal of the PC case. This will ensure that your body is completely discharged (no joke) via your computer without affecting the card. Please do not touch the components of the board.

· First, connect the internal cables (e.g. from the CD drive or other EWS cards). For further information on the various connections, please see page 23.

· Align the audio card so that the strip with the golden connector pins is located exactly over the PCI slot.

· Insert the card into the slot. You might have to press the card firmly into the slot to make good contact. Take care to ensure that the contacts are precisely in line in order to avoid damaging the audio card or the motherboard in your PC.

· Secure the card with the screw from the slot blanking plate (these screws are generally also included with PC cases).

· Switch on and boot the computer to continue with the driver installation.

MIC 2/8 (English) 11

Installing the driver software.

The AudioSystem EWS MIC8(2)+ (including PCI card) currently comes with drivers for Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Windows 95/98 and Windows NT 4 are not supported. You should therefore determine which operating system you are using before installing the card. For information on your operating system and its version number, please check the “System” dialog in the Windows control panel.

Driver support for Apple Macintosh computers (OS9 and OSX) was in development as this manual went to print. Please check the TerraTec website from time to time for drivers as they become available.

In the following driver installation descriptions, <CD> stands for the drive letter of the CD-ROM drive containing the driver CD of the AudioSystem EWS MIC8(2) +.

Driver installation under Windows 98 SE.

1. Boot your computer after installing the EWS88 MT PCI card.

2. During the boot, the Windows hardware wizard will identify the new hardware as a “PCI Multimedia Audio Device”. Confirm by clicking “Next”.

3. The hardware wizard will ask you how you would like to continue. Select the “Search for the best driver for my device (Recommended)” item and confirm with “Next”.

4. Select the checkbox “Specify a location” and enter the path to the driver on the CD. <CD>:\Driver\. Alternatively, you can also select the path to the best driver of your

EWS88 MT PCI card using the mouse by clicking “Browse...”. Confirm by clicking “Next”.

5. In the final window, the hardware wizard will report that the driver software has been installed successfully. Close the wizard by clicking “Finish”.

If contrary to all expectations a request should appear for you to perform some action and you are not sure about it, then pressing the Enter key is generally a safe action.

If Windows requests a second driver file, please refer to the aforementioned directory on the EWS MIC8 (2)+ CD-ROM. It is also possible (e.g. if this is the first sound card installation in your system) that some additional Windows extensions have to be installed. Please have your Windows CD ready for this purpose.

After successful driver installation, the additional bundled software can be added easily using the autorun option(<CD>:\autorun.exe).

Follow the instructions on the screen to install the various bundled software programs. A particular bundled software can also easily be removed from your system. For this purpose, call up “Control Panel -> Software” and locate the programs to be removed. Select these and click “Add/Remove Programs...”.

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Installed drivers should look like this.

After a successful driver installation, you should verify the correct condition of your Windows 98SE system. The Device Manager presents an overview of installed and recognized hardware components of your computer. The Device Manager can be found on the Control Panel under “System.”

If everything is correctly set up, the window should look like this. The figure shows the expanded view of the “Sound, video and game controllers” branch. To obtain this view, simply click the “+” symbol on the

left side.

Driver installation under Windows Me.

1. Boot your computer after installing the EWS88 MT PCI card.

2. During the boot, the Windows hardware wizard will identify the new hardware as a “PCI Multimedia Audio Device”. Select here “Specify the location of the driver” and confirm with “Next”.

3. Activate now the checkbox “Specify a location:”, and enter the path <CD>:\Driver\. Confirm by clicking “Next”. Alternatively, you can change to the re-

spective directory by clicking on “Browse...”.

4. The hardware wizard will now search for the AudioSystem EWS88 MT driver and will display the location of the driver. Confirm by clicking “Next".

5. In the final window, the hardware wizard will report that the driver software has been installed successfully. Close the wizard by clicking “Finish”.

After successful driver installation, the additional bundled software can be added easily using the autorun option(<CD>:\autorun.exe).

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Installed drivers should look like this.

After a successful driver installation, you should verify the correct condition of your Windows ME system. The Device Manager presents an overview of installed and recognized hardware components of your computer. The Device Manager can be found on the Control Panel under “System” > “Hardware”. Then click the “Device Manager” button.

left side.

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Installation under Windows 2000.

1. Boot your computer after installing the EWS88 MT PCI card.

2. During the boot, the Windows hardware wizard will identify the new hardware as a “Multimedia Audio Controller”. Confirm by clicking “Next”.

3. Mark the “Search for a suitable driver for my device (recommended)” checkbox and insert the EWS product CD if you have not done so already. Click “Next”.

4. The hardware wizard will now inform you that it will search for drivers for a “Multimedia Audio Controller”. Activate the checkbox “CD-ROM drives” and confirm with “Next”.

5. The hardware wizard will now indicate that it has found a suitable driver for the “Multimedia Audio Controller” on the CD-ROM (<CD>:\driver\). Click “Next” to start

the installation.

6. The following dialog box may appear at this point or later in the installation:

This is no cause for alarm. Click “Yes” to continue. The installation will now be executed.

If contrary to all expectations an additional request should appear for you to perform some action and you are not sure about it, then pressing the Enter key is generally a safe action.

After successful driver installation, the additional bundled software can be added easily using the autorun option(<CD>:\autorun.exe).

Follow the instructions on the screen to install the various bundled software programs. A particular bundled software can also easily be removed from your system. For this purpose, call

MIC 2/8 (English) 15

up “Control Panel -> Software” and locate the programs to be removed. Select the various programs and click “Add/Remove Programs...”.

Installed drivers should look like this.

After a successful driver installation, you should verify the correct condition of your Windows 2000 system. The Device Manager presents an overview of installed and recognized hardware components of your computer. The Device Manager can be found on the Control Panel under “System” > “Hardware”. Then click the “Device Manager” button.

left side.

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Installation under Windows XP.

1. Boot your computer after installing the EWS88 MT PCI card.

2. During the boot, the Windows hardware wizard will identify the new hardware as a “Multimedia Audio Controller”. If you have not done so already, insert the EWS MIC8(2)+ product CD-ROM now. Next, mark the “Install the software automatically [Recommended]” checkbox and click “Next”.

3. The hardware wizard will now inform you that it will search for drivers for a “Multimedia Audio Controller”.

4. The following dialog box may appear at this point or later in the installation:

This is no cause for alarm. Click “Yes” to continue. The installation will now be executed.

5. In the final window, the hardware wizard will report that the driver software has been installed successfully. Close the wizard by clicking “Finish”.

If contrary to all expectations an additional request should appear for you to perform some action and you are not sure about it, then pressing the Enter key is generally a safe action.

If Windows requests a second driver file, please refer to the aforementioned directory on the EWS MIC8(2)+ CD-ROM. It is also possible (e.g. if this is the first sound card installation in your system) that some additional Windows extensions have to be installed. Please have your Windows CD ready for this purpose.

After successful driver installation, the additional bundled software can be added easily using the autorun option(<CD>:\autorun.exe).

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+ 38 hidden pages

Terratec MIC 2, MIC 8 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

From opening the package to installation.

Setups - Short and to the point for busy pros.

Important notes for EWS88 MT owners.

Installation of the EWS PCI card - step by step.

Installing the driver software.

Driver installation under Windows 98 SE.

Driver installation under Windows Me.

Installation under Windows 2000.

Installation under Windows XP.