ENGLISH CONTENTS CONTENTS ......................................................................................................................1 IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS...................................................................1 INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................2 GETTING TO KNOW THE UNIT ...............................................................................2 REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS ...................................................................................3 GETTING STARTED ......................................................................................................3 FACILITIES AND CONTROLS .....................................................................................4 DISCRETE CLASS A PRE-AMP ...............................................................................4 MID SCOOP EQ ..........................................................................................................5 OPTICAL COMPRESSOR.........................................................................................6 OUTPUT LEVEL .........................................................................................................6 LATENCY FREE MONITORING ...........................................................................7 MONITOR LEVELS....................................................................................................7 LATENCY FREE MONITORING CONNECTIONS ...........................................8 DIGITAL........................................................................................................................8 DIGITAL CONNECTIONS .......................................................................................8 DIGITAL OUTPUT OPTION ........................................................................................9 MIC PRE-AMP INPUT IMPEDANCE..........................................................................9 VARIABLE IMPEDANCE: IN DEPTH EXPLANATION......................................9 IMPEDANCE SETTING QUICK GUIDE..............................................................10 WORDCLOCK ...............................................................................................................10 WORKING WITH STEREO SIGNALS ......................................................................10 A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO COMPRESSION ..........................................................12 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS........................................................................14 TROUBLESHOOTING .................................................................................................16 CONTACTING US ........................................................................................................16 TWINTRAK PRO AND YOUR STUDIO.................................................................81 SPECIFICATIONS ..........................................................................................................89 FOCUSRITE DISTRIBUTOR LIST............................................................................91 IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS Please read all of these instructions and save them for future reference. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the unit. · · · · · Do not obstruct air vents in the rear panel. Do not insert objects through any apertures. Do not use a damaged or frayed power cord. Unplug the unit before cleaning. Clean with a damp cloth only. Do not spill liquid on the unit. Ensure adequate airflow around the unit to prevent overheating. As this is a Class A unit, we recommend leaving a blank 1U panel above the unit to aid ventilation. Unplug the unit and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions: If the power cord or plug is damaged; if liquid has entered the unit; if the unit has been dropped or the case damaged; if the unit does not operate normally or exhibits a distinct change in performance. Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating instructions. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarised or grounding-type plug. A polarised plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wider blade or the third prong is provided for your safety. When the plug provided does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet. · WARNING: THIS UNIT MUST BE EARTHED BY THE POWER CORD. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD THE MAINS EARTH BE DISCONNECTED FROM THE MAINS LEAD. This unit is supplied pre-configured to operate only at the voltage indicated on the rear panel. Ensure correct mains voltage is available and the correct fuse value is fitted before connecting to the mains supply. To avoid the risk of fire, replace the mains fuse only with the correct value fuse, as marked on the rear panel. The internal power supply unit contains no user serviceable parts. Refer all servicing to a qualified service engineer, through the appropriate Focusrite dealer. RACK VENTILATION: AS THE TWINTRAK PRO IS A CLASS A DEVICE, PLEASE ENSURE IT IS PLACED TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF YOUR EQUIPMENT RACK, WITH SUFFICIENT SPACE ABOVE AND BELOW FOR VENTILATION. 1 ENGLISH INTRODUCTION TwinTrak Pro is an extremely focused and cost-effective stereo processor; the perfect `analogue plug-in' for any modern audio recording studio. It provides all the necessary tools to: · · · · Track stereo or dual mono signals Process stereo or dual mono signals Monitor signals within the mix via a simple hands-on control surface Carry out essential processing for mixdown purposes There are 3 separate signal processing sections within each of TwinTrak Pro's two record paths: · · · Discrete Class A Pre-amp Mid Scoop EQ Optical Compressor To ensure the cleanest signal path to your recording medium both the MID SCOOP EQ and the OPTICAL COMPRESSOR can be individually switched out of the audio path (`hard bypassed') when not in use. GETTING TO KNOW THE UNIT Whilst you are getting to know the unit, use it with a sound source with which you are familiar. For example, you could run a favourite CD through the unit, as working with a familiar track makes interpretation of the results easier. Note, however, that most tracks are already compressed for CD, so you may find it hard to hear the results of using the Optical Compressor. If this is the case, try using `dry' samples instead, or record your own track uncompressed, then play it back through TwinTrak Pro. See TWINTRAK PRO AND YOUR STUDIO on page 17 for further information on how TwinTrak Pro can enhance your current studio setup. TwinTrak Pro combines two facility-enhanced Class A pre-amps with a custom optical dual mono/stereo compressor. In addition, TwinTrak Pro boasts a number of unique features above and beyond its pre-amps and compressors, including variable input impedance, instant `air', mid-scoop EQ and a latency free monitoring section that boasts enhanced routing and control options, featuring a DAC as standard, as well as an optional ADC. When recording, do not assume you must route your signal through a mixing desk: simply connect your sources to TwinTrak Pro and connect the outputs of TwinTrak Pro directly into your sound card or recording device. This form of direct recording will ensure you record the cleanest signal at the highest quality, since it removes the possibility of noise being added to the signal when routing through a mixer. Indeed, with many engineers now mixing within the DAW, and with TwinTrak Pro providing you with two comprehensive record channels and latency-free monitoring, you may no longer need your mixing desk, saving precious studio space. 2 ENGLISH REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS GETTING STARTED 1. Ensure that nothing other than the mains supply is connected to your TwinTrak Pro, then switch it on via the POWER switch on the right hand side of the unit. If your unit is permanently connected to a patchbay, ensure audio is not being fed to any connected speakers, thus avoiding any 'turn-on' speaker pops. 2. Connect the appropriate OUTPUTS (either +4 dBu balanced XLR or ­10 dBV unbalanced jack) from both channels on the rear panel of the TwinTrak Pro to your recorder or audio interface. If using the digital output option, connect the digital output to the digital input of your recorder or audio interface. See page 9 for more information on the TwinTrak Pro digital output option. If using your digital input, connect the digital input to the digital output of your recorder or audio interface. 3. Connect the MONITOR inputs to your desk or sound card output and connect the MONITOR outputs to your monitor amplifier inputs or external powered monitor speakers. 4. Ensure that each processing section is switched out (IN switch disengaged and unlit). 5. Connect your input sources as required. Microphones can be plugged into the XLR MIC INPUTs on the front fascia. If you wish to connect a line-level source (to use the TwinTrak Pro's dynamics processing when mixing down, for example) connect this to the TRS LINE INPUTs on the rear panel. Alternatively, you may connect electric guitars or similar instruments to the INSTRUMENT INPUTs via the unbalanced 1/4" jack inputs on the front fascia. Be sure to select the right gain option (HIGH GAIN switched in for instruments that require extra gain, such as passive instruments) - see page 5 for more on the HIGH GAIN setting. 6. Check that the correct input is selected in the DISCRETE CLASS A PRE-AMP section. If recording a line level source connected to the rear panel LINE INPUT, ensure the LINE switch is engaged. If recording an instrument through the front INSTRUMENT INPUT, ensure the INST switch is engaged. The MIC LED will illuminate if neither the INST or LINE switches are engaged. The MIC input is then automatically selected. 7. Make sure the phase reverse (Ø) and HPF ( LEVEL control is fully counter-clockwise. ) switches are disengaged and that the CHANNEL 1 (L) and CHANNEL 2 (R) - Each channel has a balanced (+4 dBu) TRS jack LINE INPUT connector on the rear panel, with balanced XLR MIC INPUT and unbalanced 1/4" jack INSTRUMENT INPUT connectors located on the front fascia. The TRS jack INSERT connectors on the rear panel allow an additional processor to be inserted into the signal chain between the pre-amps and the other processing sections of the unit. OUTPUTS are provided on both balanced (+4 dBu) XLR and unbalanced (-10 dBV) 1/4" jack connectors. There is also a TRS jack COMPRESSOR SIDE-CHAIN INSERT connector ­ see page 6 for details. - The balanced (+4 dBu) TRS jack FX SEND and FX RETURN connectors allow effects units to be used in the monitor section without affecting what is being recorded. See LATENCY-FREE MONITORING and MONITOR LEVELS on page 7 for further details. MONITORING - The balanced (+4 dBu) TRS jack MONITOR INPUT connectors allow the output of a stereo mixer or sound card to be connected to the TwinTrak Pro's LATENCY-FREE MONITORING system. There are also balanced (+4 dBu) TRS jack HEADPHONES MIX connectors and balanced (+4 dBu) XLR MONITOR OUTPUT connectors, allowing the TwinTrak Pro to be connected to an external monitoring system. See LATENCY-FREE MONITORING CONNECTIONS on page 8 for further details. FX LATENCY-FREE DAC INPUT - The co-axial (RCA phono) S/PDIF connector allows a digital signal to be fed to either the monitoring section, or to the line input for further processing. This section also features a BNC wordclock out connector. See DIGITAL CONNECTIONS on page 9 for further details. ADC OUTPUT - An optional ADC is available and can be retrofitted at any time. This provides an S/PDIF output as well as a BNC wordclock in connection. See DIGITAL OUTPUT OPTION on page 9 for further details. 8. If using a condenser or dynamic microphone that requires phantom power, engage the +48V switch. If you are unsure whether your microphone requires this phantom power, refer to its user guide. Phantom power can damage some microphones, especially ribbon microphones, so beware. 3 ENGLISH 9. Increase the LEVEL control, checking the input level meter LEDs and ensuring the red O/L LED does not illuminate, except occasionally and briefly when the loudest signal is present. Note that the input is graded in dBfs, so a level of around 0dBu will only illuminate the first 2 LEDs. See www.sospubs.co.uk/sos/may00/articles/digital.htm for more about dBu and dBfs. 10. If using a microphone, ensure that the microphone placement is at its best. Before you start recording, alter the position of the microphone until you get as close as possible to the sound you want. Note that moving the microphone may have an effect on the level of the signal entering the TwinTrak Pro, requiring an alteration to the LEVEL setting. 11. You can now eliminate any problematic mid frequencies by using ...