Apogee ensemble User manual

Quick Start Guide
Fall 2014
Apogee Ensemble
Thunderbolt™Audio Interface

2| Ensemble Quick Start Guide
Contents
Overview ........................................................................................... 3
Introduction ........................................................................................................................3
Package Contents..............................................................................................................4
Ensemble Product Tour ......................................................................................................6
Getting Started.................................................................................. 8
System Requirements ........................................................................................................8
Install Ensemble Software..................................................................................................8
Apogee Maestro...........................................................................................................8
Connect Ensemble to your Computer................................................................................9
  PoweringtheunitOn/O ...........................................................................................10
Update Ensemble’s Firmware ..........................................................................................11
To Play Sound Out............................................................................................................12
Setting Up Ensemble with your DAW ........................................................................13
Connect Speakers .....................................................................................................16
Connect Headphones................................................................................................17
To Get Sound In................................................................................................................18
Select the Input Source .............................................................................................19
Adjust the Input Gain .................................................................................................20
Toggling Phantom Power...........................................................................................21
Monitoring the Input Signal ..............................................................................................22
Using your DAW to Monitor .......................................................................................22
Using Maestro’s Mixer for Direct Monitoring .............................................................23
Additional Support ......................................................................... 26

Ensemble Quick Start Guide | 3
Overview
Introduction
ApogeeEnsembleistheall-in-oneThunderbolt™2audiointerfaceoeringunsurpassedsoundquality,lowest
latency performance and the most comprehensive studio functionality ever. Ensemble includes 8 Advanced Stepped
Gainmicpreamps,monitorcontrollerfunctionalityincludingtalkback,frontpanelGuitarI/O,twoheadphoneoutputs
anddigitalI/Oforatotalof30x34I/O.Blendingacclaimedinnovations,groundbreakingnewfeaturesandan
eortlessuserinterface,Ensemblefreesyoutocaptureinspirationwhencreativelightningstrikes.
Features
• Thunderbolt™ 2 Mac audio interface
• Analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) for recording up to 24-bit/192kHz
•ProprietaryThunderboltaudiodriverandESSSabre32DACoerfull32-bitplayback
- Groundbreaking low latency performance
- Core Audio-optimized hardware DMA Engine frees your Mac CPU
• 2 high-resolution OLED displays show levels and settings
• Input select buttons and controller knob for convenient selection of parameters and settings
• 4 assignable buttons to control:
- Talkback mic (built-in or external)
  -Outputsettingssuchasspeakersetselection,mute,dim,sumtomono
• Complete input/output control with Apogee’s Maestro software
•WorkswithProTools,Logic,AbletonandanyCoreAudiocompliantapponMac
• Designed in California – Assembled in the U.S.A.

4| Ensemble Quick Start Guide
Package Contents
The following items are included in the box with Ensemble:
Ensemble
3-pin IEC power cable
Rubber feet
Quick Start Guide
Warranty Booklet
Register your product
• Access Apogee’s expert Technical Support for free
• Receive important product update information by email
• Take the Customer Satisfaction Survey for a chance to win Apogee gear!
Register now:
www.apogeedigital.com/register

Ensemble Quick Start Guide | 5
Ensemble
3-pin IEC power cable Quick Start GuideRubber feet Warranty Booklet

6| Ensemble Quick Start Guide
Ensemble Product Tour
Guitar Inputs
(11-12)
Input Select
Buttons
Input
Controller Knob
OLED
Displays
Output
Controller Knob
Headphones 1&2
Controller Knobs
Guitar Outputs
(11-12)
Assignable
Buttons
Headphones 1&2
Output Jacks
Built-In Mic
(Mono 9-10)
Power
Button
Inputs 1-4
Combi Jacks XLR Mic/Line
1/4” Hi-Z Instrument
Inputs 5-8
XLR Mic/Line Optical
ADAT/SMUX/SPDIF
Coaxial
S/PDIF
Digital Audio I/O
BNC
Word Clock
IEC
Power
Monitor Out
1/4” TRS
Line Out 1-2
Analog Out
D-Sub Balanced
Line Out 3-10
Analog Inserts
Ch 1-2 Send/Return
1/4” TRS
Serial
Number
Thunderbolt™2
Front Panel
Rear Panel

Ensemble Quick Start Guide | 7
IN1 1
43 -30 INT
44.1
Input Display
Currently
Selected
Input
Gain Level
Sample Rate
Clock Source
Soft Limit
Insert
Group
Polarity
Invert
Hi-Pass
Filter
Input
Over
Indicator
Input
Level
Meters
G1/G2
Connected via
Thunderbolt
Standalone
Analog Inputs 1-8
Input Source
Instrument
Line In
Mic
Phantom
Power
Indicator
Output Display
Currently
Selected
Input
Indicator
Currently
Selected
Ouput
Currently
Selected
Output
Indicator
Output Level
Mute
Dim
Sum to Mono
G1/G2
Headphones
1 & 2
Analog Outputs 1-10
Output
Level
Meters
Connection Status
Output Over Indicator
Input Display Output Display

8| Ensemble Quick Start Guide
Getting Started
System Requirements
• Computer: Thunderbolt™ equipped Mac
• Memory:4GBRAMminimum,8GBRAMrecommended
• OS X 10.9.3 or greater
Install Ensemble Software
1. Go to http://www.apogeedigital.com/support/ensemble-thunderbolt
2. Download the latest Ensemble software installer.
3. Openthedownloaded.dmgleanddouble-clickEnsembleSoftwareInstaller.pkgthat’sinside.
4. Follow the prompts. You will be required to restart your computer.
Apogee Maestro
Apogee Maestro is a controller software for Ensemble.
All of Ensemble’s settings and parameters can be
controlled from this application. When installing the
latestsoftwarefromtheApogeeWebsite,Apogee
Maestro is placed in your Mac’s Application folder.

Ensemble Quick Start Guide | 9
Connect Ensemble to your Computer
Ensemble features two Thunderbolt™ 2 connections to enable daisy-chaining of other Thunderbolt peripherals to
your computer. It does not matter which position Ensemble is placed in the chain.
1. UsingacertiedThunderboltcable,connectEnsembletoaThunderboltportonyourcomputer.
2. ConnectothercertiedThunderboltdevicestoEnsemble’sremainingThunderboltport.
MakesurethatyourMachastheThunderboltlogo.TheMiniDisplayPort,featuredonmanypre-ThunderboltMacs,
istheexactsizeofaThunderboltportbutdoesNOTsupportThunderboltdevices.Seethedierencebelow:
G1
G2
4
8
3
7
2
6
1
INPUT OUTPUT
5
A
C
B
D
Note: Apogee cannot guarantee performance if utilizing an uncertied Thunderbolt device
in the same chain as Ensemble. To see if a device is certied, please go to:
https://thunderbolttechnology.net/products
✖ Mini Display Port ✔ Thunderbolt Port

10 | Ensemble Quick Start Guide
Powering the Unit On
1.Ensureanyspeakersorampliersconnectedtothe
outputsareturnedo,orthevolumeturnedtothe
minimum setting.
2. Press Ensemble’s Power button.
Afteramoment,theunitwillpowerup.
3. Power on or raise the volume level of any
speakersorampliersconnectedto
Ensemble’s outputs.
Powering the Unit O
PoweringtheEnsembleoisthereverseofpowering
the unit on.
1.Powero,orturnthevolumetominimum,
anyspeakersorampliersconnectedto
Ensemble’s outputs.
2. Press Ensemble’s Power button.
Note: Thunderbolt peripherals will continue
to operate when Ensemble is powered off.

Ensemble Quick Start Guide | 11
Update Ensemble’s Firmware.
1. Open Ensemble Thunderbolt Firmware Updater.app
located in your computer’s Applications > Utilities folder.
Afterthesoftwareinstallation,youmay
bepromptedtoupdatethermware.
2. Select “Update”.
3. Follow any prompts that may appear.
4. When the progress reaches 100%
andsays“UpdateComplete”,you
are done and can quit the updater.

12 | Ensemble Quick Start Guide
To Play Sound Out
Select Ensemble for Mac System Sound Output
TogetsoundfromgeneralaudioapplicationssuchasiTunesandSafaritoplayoutofEnsemble,
it must be selected as the output device in Mac System Preferences:
1.Selecttheiconintheupper-left
corner of your Mac’s display.
3. In the System Preferences
controlpanel,select“Sound”.
4. At the top of the Sound
Preferencespanel,select
the “Output” tab.
5. Under “Select a device for sound output:”
select Ensemble Thunderbolt.
2.Fromthedrop-downmenu,select
“System Preferences...”.

Ensemble Quick Start Guide | 13
Select Ensemble in Logic Pro X
1. Go to Logic Pro X > Preferences > Audio.
4. Select “Apply Changes” and close the
Preferences window.
3.StartbysettingtheI/OBuerSizeto“64
Samples”. Adjust the setting based on your
computer’s performance.
2.IntheDevicesTab,select“EnsembleThunderbolt”in
the Output Device and Input Device drop-down boxes.
Setting Up Ensemble with your DAW
Most professional applications have their own audio preferences that are separate from the Mac System Preferences.
BasicstepsforsettingupEnsembleareprovided.Formoredetailonthistopic,refertothedocumentationthatcomes
with your recording program.

14 | Ensemble Quick Start Guide
Select Ensemble in Pro Tools 11
1. Go to Setup > Playback Engine. 3.StartbysettingtheH/WBuerSizeto“64
Samples”. Adjust the setting based on your
computer’s performance.
4. Select OK.
Pro Tools will restart.
2.InthePlaybackEnginedrop-downbox,
select “Ensemble Thunderbolt”.

Ensemble Quick Start Guide | 15
Select Ensemble in Ableton Live
1. Go to Live > Preferences. Select the Audio tab. 3.InAudioInput&AudioOutputDevice,select
“Ensemble Thunderbolt”.
4.Startbysettingthebuersizeto“64samples”.
Adjust the setting based on your
computer’s performance.
2.InDriverType,select“CoreAudio”.

16 | Ensemble Quick Start Guide
Connect Speakers
The balanced Monitor Outputs 1 & 2 on Ensemble’s rear panel
arespecicallydesignedforconnectingstudiomonitors.
From the Front Panel From Maestro
1.Using1/4”TRScables,connectthe
leftmonitorspeakertoMonitorOut1,
and the right monitor speaker to Monitor Out 2.
2. Turn the Output knob to adjust
the volume to your speakers.
2. Open Maestro and locate the volume knobs in the
upper-right corner of the window.
3. Press the Output knob to
toggle the monitor output
muteonando. 3. Drag the speaker volume knob up or down to
adjust the speaker volume level.
4. Click the mute button next to the speaker
volume knob to toggle the speaker output’s mute
onoro.

Ensemble Quick Start Guide | 17
Connect Headphones
Ensembleprovidestwoheadphoneoutputjacksonthefrontpanel.Bydefault,theseheadphoneoutputsmirrorthe
main monitor outputs 1 & 2.
From the Front Panel From Maestro
1. Connect to the headphone output with
a 1/4” Stereo headphone plug.
2. Turn the corresponding
Headphone Output knob
to adjust the volume to
your headphones.
2. Open Maestro and locate the volume knobs in the
upper-right corner of the window.
3. Press the Headphone
Output knob to toggle
the Headphone Output
muteonando.
3. Drag the headphone 1 or Headphone 2
volume knob up or down to adjust the headphone
volume level.
4. Click the mute button next to the Headphone 1
or Headphone 2 volume knob to toggle
theHeadphoneoutputmuteonoro.

18 | Ensemble Quick Start Guide
To Get Sound In
Ensemble is equipped with eight premium-quality Advanced Stepped Gain microphone preamps
andfourinstrumentinputsontherearpanel,aswellastwoguitarinputsonthefrontpanel.
Connect to one of the two Hi-Z guitar
inputs on the front panel.
Connect a microphone or line level input
to any of the eight XLR inputs on Ensemble
Thunderbolt’s rear panel.
Connect a high impedance (Hi-Z) instrument
such as akeyboard or guitar with a 1/4”
cable to one of the combi connectors on
the rear panel.

Ensemble Quick Start Guide | 19
Select the Input Source
NOTE: G1 and G2 are always instrument
inputs and therefore have no option to
change the input source.
From the Front Panel From Maestro
1. Press and hold the
desired Input Select
button for at least
1 second.
1. Open Maestro and select the
Input tab at the top
(or use the keyboard
combination [command 1]).
2.TotherightofAnalogLevel,clicktheboxinthedesired
input channel to select your input source.
2. Turn the Input knob to
highlight “Input”.
3. Press the Input knob to
change the input source.
4. Press and hold the Input
Select button for at least
1 second to return to the
Input level meter screen.
• Set to “Mic” if connecting a microphone.
• Set to “Inst” if connecting instruments.
• Set to “+4dBu” or “-10dBV” if connecting
a line level signal such as an external
preamp or mixer.
• Set to “Mic” if connecting a microphone.
• Set to “Inst” if connecting instruments.
• Set to “+4dBu” or “-10dBV” if connecting
a line level signal such as an external
preamp or mixer.
IN1
1
Input Mic
Soft Limit Off
Group Off
Insert Off
Off
48v On
Off
-30 INT
44.1

20 | Ensemble Quick Start Guide
Adjust the Input Gain
From the Front Panel From Maestro
1. Press the desired
Input Select button.
1. Open Maestro and select the
Input tab at the top
(or use the keyboard
combination [command 1]).
2. On the desired input
channel,dragtheGain
knob up or down to adjust
the gain level.
3.Alternatively,youcantypea
gain value in the box below
the knob.
2. Turn the Input knob.