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Important safety InstructIons1. Readtheseinstructions.2. Keeptheseinstructions.3. Heedallwarnings.4. Followallinstructions.5. Donotusethisapparatusnearwater.6. Cleanonlywithdrycloth.7. Donotblockanyventilationopenings.Installinaccordancewiththemanufacturer’s

instructions.8. Donotinstallnearanyheatsourcessuchasradiators,heatregisters,stoves,orother

apparatus(includingamplifiers)thatproduceheat.9. Onlyuseattachments/accessoriesspecifiedbythemanufacturer.10. Unplugthisapparatusduringlightningstormsorwhenunusedforlongperiodsof

time.11. Referallservicingtoqualifiedservicepersonnel.Servicingisrequiredwhenthe

apparatushasbeendamagedinanyway,suchaswhenliquidhasbeenspilledorobjectshavefallenintotheapparatus,theapparatushasbeenexposedtorainormoisture,doesnotoperatenormally,orhasbeendropped.

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 equip-ment 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.

PartNo.SW0461Rev.A02/07©2007LOUDTechnologiesInc.AllRightsReserved.

Product Serial #:

Purchased at:

Date of purchase:

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Please write your Tracktion License Number here (packaged with the Link.FireWire CD):

Enter your my.mackie.com login information here:

Login email address _____________________________________

Password ______________________________________________

Don’t forget to visit our website at www.tapcogear.com for more information about this and other TAPCO products.

____–____–____–____–____

contents

Important safety InstructIons .................................�

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

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

GettInG started .............................................................................5Installing the Software ....................................................................5

On a PC: .................................................................................................................................6

Link.FireWire Console (PC only) ......................................................................10

On a Mac: ...........................................................................................................................11

Connecting the Link.FireWire ..................................................13

Hookup Diagrams ..........................................................................14

Making a Recording .......................................................................16

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IntroductIonThankyouforpurchasingtheTAPCOLink.FireWireAudioInterface

fordigitalrecordingsystems.Thisisacomplete,compactsolutionforcomputer-basedmusicproductiononeitheraMacintoshoraPC.

TheLink.FireWireisa4x6audiointerfacethatispowereddirectlyofftheFireWireconnection(orbytheincludedexternalpowersupply),andalsoincludesTracktion2.1,ourpowerfulaudioandMIDIsequencingsoftwarefordigitalrecording.Thishardwareandsoftwarecombinationprovidesallyouneedtorecordandcreatewonderfulmusicusingyourlaptopordesktopcomputer.

The Link.FireWire InterfaceTheLink.FireWireinterfaceprovideseithertwoanalogaudioinputs

thatcanacceptmicrophonelevel,linelevel,ordirectinstrumentinputsignals,orastereoS/PDIFdigitalinput.Theanalogaudiosignalsareroutedtohigh-qualityADCs(Analog-to-DigitalConverters)operatingat44.1,48,88.2,or96kHzwith24-bits.ThedigitalsignalsarethenroutedtotheFireWireportforconnectiontoyourcomputer.

Theanaloginputsare“combo”jacksthataccepteitheramic-levelbalancedXLRconnectororaline-level(orinstrument-leveliftheINSTRbuttonispushedin)balancedorunbalanced1/4"TRSorTSconnector.

StereomastermixescanalsobetransferredfromyourhostcomputerbacktotheLink.FireWireformonitoringduringtrackingoroverdubbing.Monitoringisprovidedbytheheadphonejackonthefrontandbybalancedoutputsontheback,whichcanbeconnectedtoyourstudiomonitors.TheMonitoroutputsandPhonesoutputeachhavetheirownlevelcontrols.ThemastermixalsoappearsontheS/PDIFstereooutput.

Note:TheLink.FireWireprovidestwooutputstreamsfromtheDAWthataremirroredonthePhones,Monitor,andS/PDIFoutputs.AlternatefirmwareisavailableonourwebsitetoconfiguretheLink.FireWiresothatitprovidessixdiscreteoutputstreamsfromtheDAW.RefertotheLink.FireWireOwner’sManualformoreinformation.

Bundled SoftwareTheLink.FireWirecomeswithsomepowerfulsoftwaretogetyoustarted

withyourowndesktopmultitrackaudiorecordingmusicproductionstudio.Tracktionisaneasy-to-usemultitrackaudiorecordingandMIDIsequencing

softwareapplication,capableofunlimitedtrackcount,VSTsupport,automation,andmuchmore.ItcomeswithavarietyofEQ,compressor,andeffectsplug-inprocessorsforcreatingexactlythesoundyouwant.

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GettInG startedUsethissectiontogetyourLink.FireWiresetupquickly.Refertothe

Link.FireWireOwner’sManual(PDFfile)formoredetailedinformationabouttheoperationoftheLink.FireWire.

Installing the Software• TheLink.FireWireCDcontainsaninstallerthatwillinstallthe

driversonyourPC.IfyouareusingaMacintosh(runningOSXversion10.3.9orlater),youdon’tneedtoinstalldriversbecausetheFireWiredriversareincludedinOSX.Note:IfyouareusingOSX10.3,besuretoupdatetothelatestreleasedversion,10.3.9.

• YourLink.FireWireCDalsocontainsTracktion2.1.Double-clickthefile“TracktionSetup.exe”andfollowtheinstructionstoinstallTracktiononyourPC.FortheMacintosh,double-clickthefile“TracktionSetup.dmg”anddragtheTracktioniconintoyourApplicationsfolder.

• Visithttp://my.tapcogear.comtoregisteryourLink.FireWire.Ifyouhaven’talreadydoneso,setupanaccountbyenteringyouremailaddressandclicking,“No,Iwanttocreateanaccount.”Thenclick“Continue.”Entertheinformationtosetupyourprofile.Thenclick“CreateMyAccount.”ThenproceedtoregisteryourLink.FireWirebyclicking“TAPCOProductRegistration.”

• Yourcomputermustmeetthefollowingminimumsystemrequirements:

PC Requirements • WindowsXP(SP2) • PentiumIIIorbetterprocessor • 256MBRAM(512MBrecommended) • 30MBharddiskspace Macintosh Requirements • OSX(10.3.9orlater) • PowerMacG3(600MHzorfaster),G4,orG5processor • 256MBRAM(512MBrecommended) • 35MBharddiskspace

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To install the software on a PC running Windows XP (SP2):1. Turnoffany(non-essential)applications.2. InserttheLink.FireWireCD-ROMintoyourPC’sCD-ROMdrive.3. TheCDbeginsautomatically,bringinguptheLink.FireWireinstaller.

Ifitdoesn’t,clickStartinthetaskbar,thenclickRunandclickBrowse.BrowsetoyourCDdriveanddouble-clickLink.Firewire_SETUP.EXE.ThenclickOKtostarttheinstallation.

4. TheLink.FireWireInstalleropens.Click“Next.”

5. NextyouwillseetheLicenseAgreement.Readthroughthetextandclick“IAgree.”

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6. ThenextwindowremindsyoutomakesuretheLink.FireWireisNOTconnectedtoyourcomputeryet.Readtheinstructionsandthenclick“Continue.”

7. Youmaygetawarningaboutrunningtheinstallerbecauseithasn’tpassedWindowsLogotesting.It’sokay.We’vetesteditanditiscompatiblewithWindowsXP.Click“ContinueAnyway.”

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8. NowitistimetoconnectyourLink.FireWiretoyourcomputer.Followtheinstructionsandthenclick“Next.”

9. Waituntilthe“FoundNewHardwareWizard”popsup.Thismaytakeaminuteorso.Thenclick“Cancel”tocontinue.

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10. Youwillgetanotherwarning,thistimeaboutinstallingthehardware.It’sokay.Click“ContinueAnyway.”

11. NexttheLink.FireWiredriversandcontrolpanelwillbeinstalledonyourcomputer.

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11. Whentheinstallationiscompleted,awindowwillpopuptoletyouknowthattheinstallationwassuccessful.Click“Finish”tocompletetheinstallation.

NowyouarereadytouseyourLink.FireWire.TheinstalleralsoplacesashortcuttotheLink.FireWireConsoleonyourdesktop.

Link.FireWire Console (PC only)YoucanusetheConsoletochangethesamplerate,latency,andinput

source(AnalogorS/PDIF)foryourLink.FireWire.

Thesamplerateandlatencyvalue(alsoknownasbuffersize)mayalsobesetinyourDAWsoftwareapplication’s“Settings”window.Makesurethesamevalueappearsinbothplaces.

YoucanleaveyouranaloginputsandS/PDIFinputsconnectedtotheLink.FireWireatthesametime.Usethe“inputselect”intheConsoletochoosewhichinputisactive.Youcanswitchbackandforth,buttheycannotbothbeactiveatthesametime.

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Macintosh OS X Audio MIDI Setup (version 10.3.9 or later):

TheMacintoshOSXdoesnotrequireFireWiredriverstobeinstalled.OSXprovidesadedicatedsetuputilityforaudioandMIDI.YoucanusetheAudioMIDISetuputilitytochangethedefaultaudioinputandoutputandgeneralsystemsettingsonyourMacintosh.1. GototheApplicationsfolderandopentheUtilitiesfolder.2. Double-click“AudioMIDISetup.”

3. ClicktheAudioDevicestab,andselectTapcoLINK.firewireinthe“PropertiesFor”drop-downbox.

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4. HereyoucanseethesettingsfortheTAPCOLink.FireWire.YoucanalsochoosetousetheLink.FireWireasyourdefaultinputoroutput,aswellasdesignateittobeusedforsystemsoundoutput.

5. You’rereadytogowithanyMacOSXCoreAudiohostapplication(i.e.,Tracktion,Logic,Cubase,Nuendo,Live,DigitalPerformer,etc.).

TheTAPCOLink.FireWireshouldnowappearasa2x2audiointerface(ora2x6audiointerfaceifyouhaveinstalledthe“True6-OutputMode”firmware)availableforanyDAWapplicationthatyouhaveinstalledonyourcomputer.

Note:SincethereisnoFireWireConsolefortheMacintosh,itisnecessarytoselectthesamplerateandlatencyvalue(alsoknownasbuffersize)intheDAWsoftwareapplication’s“Settings”window.

AsonthePC,youcanonlyhavetheanaloginputsortheS/PDIFinputsactiveatanyonetime.WhenusingtheLink.FireWireonaMac,ifanactivedeviceappearsontheS/PDIFinput,itautomaticallyoverridestheanaloginputs.YoucanstillleaveyouranaloginputsandS/PDIFinputsconnectedtotheLink.FireWireatthesametime,butwhentheS/PDIFdeviceisturnedon,itswitchestotheS/PDIFinputsandturnsofftheanaloginputs.

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Connecting the Link.FireWire• TostandtheLink.FireWireupright,pullthestabilizerbardownward

andtwistitout90ºfromthebody,asshownbelow.• TurndownalltheLink.FireWireknobstopreventanyloudsurprises.• ConnectmicrophonesusingtheXLR/TRScomboinputconnectors

onthebackoftheLink.FireWire.Pressthe48Vbuttonifyourmicrophoneneedsphantompower(mostlyusedforcondensermics).

Caution:DONOTusephantompoweronribbonmicrophonesunlessyourmicrophonestatesthatitisokay.Itcandamagethedelicateribbonelementinthemicrophone.Refertoyourmicrophone’sowner’smanualtofindoutifitrequiresphantompowertooperate.

• ConnectguitarsorotherinstrumentsusingtheXLR/TRSconnectorsonthebackoftheLink.FireWire.PressthefrontpanelLINE/INSTRbutton(guitaricon)ifyouareconnectingyourguitarorinstrumentdirectlytotheLink.FireWirewithoutusingapreamplifierordirectbox.

• Connectapairofpoweredmonitorspeakers,oranamplifierconnectedtospeakers,totheLink.FireWireMONITORjacksontherearpanel.YoucanalsopluginheadphonestothefrontpanelPHONESjack.

• ConnecttheFireWireconnectortoaFireWireportonyourcomputerwiththeFireWirecableprovided.

• LaunchTracktionortheDAWsoftwareapplicationofyourchoiceandselectLink.FireWireastheaudiodevicefortheaudioinputsandoutputs.

Note:TheLink.FireWireisequippedwitha6-pinFireWireconnectorandcomeswitha6-pinto6-pinFireWirecable.The6-pinFireWireconnectorprovidespowerfortheLink.FireWireandworkswithMacintoshlaptopsanddesktops,andmostPCdesktopswithabuilt-inFireWireconnectororwithaPCIorPCMCIAFireWirecardadded.ManylaptopPCshavea4-pinFireWireconnector.Ifthisisthecase,youwillneedtopurchasea6-pinto4-pinFireWireadapterbecausethe4-pinconnectiondoesnotprovideanypower.Inthiscase,youmustalsousetheexternalpowersupply(included)topowertheLink.FireWire.

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Hookup Diagrams

POWER12V,1A

FireWire Connection

Laptop

Guitar

Microphone

TAPCO S•5 or S•8Active Studio Monitors

Headphones

(plug intofront panel)

Typical Hookup:AguitarisconnectedtoInput1withtheINSTR(ument)buttonpushedin,andamicrophoneisconnectedtoInput2.ThetwosignalsarestreamedtothelaptopovertheFireWireconnection,andthestereomixisreturnedtotheLink.FireWireformonitoringthroughtheheadphonesandthestudiomonitors.

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POWER12V,1A

FireWire Connection

S/PDIF Connection

S/PDIF Connection

2-Channel Mic Pre

CD Recorder

Laptop

Guitar

Microphone

TAPCO S•5 or S•8Active Studio Monitors

Headphones

(plug intofront panel)

Microphones

Using the S/PDIF Connectors:InadditiontotheguitarandmicrophoneconnectedtoInputs1and2,a2-channelmicrophonepreamplifierwithabuilt-inA-to-DconverterisconnectedtotheS/PDIFinputontheLink.FireWire.WithS/PDIFselectedastheinputsource,thetwosignalsarestreamedtothelaptopovertheFireWireconnection,andthestereomixisreturnedtotheLink.FireWireformonitoringthroughtheheadphonesandthestudiomonitors,andalsorecordedontheCDrecorderconnectedtotheS/PDIFoutput.

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Making a RecordingThefollowingexampleofarecordingsessionusesaguitarplugged

directlyintotheLink.FireWirechannel1input,andamicrophonepluggedintothechannel2input,torecordaudiotracksintheTracktionsoftware.

Beforestarting,makesureyouhavecorrectlyinstalledtheTracktionsoftware.1. Connectyourequipmentusingthe“TypicalHookup”diagramon

page14asaguide.2. OntheLink.FireWirefrontpanel,settheINPUTGAIN,MON,and

PHONESknobstominimum.Pressthe48Vbuttononthefrontpanelifyourmicrophoneneedsphantompower.PresstheLINE/INSTRbuttononChannel1ifyouarenotusingaguitarpreampordirectbox.

3. Onyourcomputer,openTracktion.MakesureyouhavetheLink.FireWireselectedastheaudioinput/outputdevice(undertheSettingstab>Audio>WaveDevice).

YoucanselectthesamplerateandthelatencyintheSettingstab.FormoredetailsaboutTracktion,presstheHelp!buttoninthelowerleft-handcorner.

Wave Device

Sample Rate/Latency

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Latencydescribestheamountoftimeittakesforaudiotogetinandoutofyoursoftwareapplication.Thelowerthelatencysetting,thefasteraudiocangetintoandoutofthesoftwareapplication.However,alowlatencysettingrequiresmoreresourcesfromyourcomputer,soyouneedtofindahappybalance

betweenfindingthelowestlatencysettingyoucanattainbeforethecomputerbeginstohavetroubleroutingandrecordingaudio(e.g.,dropouts,pops,distortedaudio).See“WhatisLatency”onpage20oftheLink.FireWireOwner’sManual(PDF)formoreinfo.

4. ClicktheNewProjectbuttonundertheProjectstab.

Enteranameforyournewprojectandclick“Save.”

LOOK

CLOSER

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5. “Newedit#1”appearsatthetopoftheitemlist.AneditisTracktion’swayofkeepingaversionofyoursong.Youcanrenamethesongbyclickingontheeditandenteringthenewnameinthepropertiespanelatthebottomofthescreen.

6. Double-clickon“newedit#1”toopenuptheEditscreen.Anewprojectstartswitheighthorizontaltracks,stackedvertically.Youcanaddorremovetracksonceyougetgoing.TrackscanalsoberenamedbyselectingthemandtypingthenewnameinthePropertiespanel.

7. ThetwoaudioiconsrepresenttheLink.FireWire’stwoinputs.Ifthesetwoiconsdonotappear,makesureLink.FireWireisselectedastheaudiodeviceunderthe“Settings”tab.

8. ClickontheInput1icon,anddragittotrack1.Asitgetsclose,anarrowpopsoutandconnectstheicontothetrack.Thisindicatesthatthetrackisarmedforrecording.Todisconnectanicon(anddisarmthetrack),dragittotheleftandthearrowwilldisappear.

Record

M=MuteS=Solo

Pan andvolume

ChannelMeter

Play

RTZ

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9. PlaytheguitarandslowlyturnupthefrontpanelINPUT1GAINknobabouthalfway.YoushouldseetheinputmetersinTracktionindicatingthatasignalispresent.Makesuretheoverloadindicatordoesn’tlight.Ifitdoes,turndowntheGAINknobuntilthemusicalpeaksnolongerlighttheoverloadindicator.Ifthemeterisbarelyindicatingasignal,turnuptheGAINknob.

10. Wewillbeginbyrecordingtheguitar.ClickontheInput1icontohighlightit.Theinputmeters(inthePropertiespanel)willshowthesignallevelbeingrecorded.

11. PutontheheadphonesandslowlyturnupthePHONESknobtoacomfortablelisteninglevelwhileplayingtheguitar.Nowyoucanmonitorwhatyouareplaying.

12. Torecord,clicktheRecordbuttonintheTransportarea(orpressthe“R”keyonthekeyboard).Tracktionrecordsanyarmedtracks.Playyourguitarastheverticalcursorlinemovestotheright.

13. Tostoprecording,clicktheRecordbuttonagain(orthe“R”key).Asquigglyline(amplitudevs.timewaveform)ofyourrecordingisdisplayed.

14. Toplaybackyourguitarrecording,clicktheRTZ(ReturntoZero)buttonintheTransportareaandclickthePlaybutton.Ifyouarehappywiththerecording,dragtheInput1icontothelefttodisarmthetrack.

15. Torecordsomevocals,dragtheInput2icontotrack2.ThisarmsthetrackforrecordingthemicrophoneconnectedtoInput2ontheLink.FireWire.AdjusttheInput2GAINknobsoyourvocalsdonotlighttheoverloadindicatorinTracktion.

16. ClicktheRecordbuttontorecordyourvocalswhilelisteningtotheguitartrack.

17. Youcanrecordmoreinstrumentsonmoretracksandbuildamultitrackmasterpiecebycontinuinginasimilarfashion.Asyourecordandplayothertracks,youcanmuteanytracksyoudon’twanttohearbyclickingthe“M”buttonatthefarrightsideofthetrack.

18. Tracktionhasanumberofplug-insthatyoucanusetoenhanceeachtrack.RefertotheTracktionUser’sGuideorReferenceManualformoreinformationonusingplug-insandcreatingastereomixforburningtoCDorcreatinganMP3file.

“TAPCO”isaregisteredtrademarkofLOUDTechnologiesInc.Allotherbrandnamesmentionedaretrademarksorregisteredtrademarksoftheirrespectiveholders,andareherebyacknowledged.

©2007LOUDTechnologiesInc.AllRightsReserved.

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