Apogee ONE User manual

User’s Guide
September 2011

i ONE by APOGEE – User’s Guide
Table of Contents
Package Contents 1
Introducing ONE 2
Quick Start 3
System Requirements 3
Getting Started 3
Install Apogee Software 3
Connect the USB cable 3
Choose ONE for Mac Sound I/O 3
Connect Headphones or Speakers 3
Open iTunes and Play 4
Adjust Volume 4
Congure ONE’s Input 4
Open and Set Up GarageBand ‘09 5
GarageBand Preferences 5
Set the Input Level 5
Record! 5
Connecting ONE 6
Connecting an Apple Macintosh computer 6
Connecting ONE’s breakout cable 6
Connecting Headphones 7
Connecting Powered Speakers 7
Connecting a Home Stereo 8
Connecting a Microphone 8
Connecting an Instrument 9
Connecting a Line output (CD, Mixing console) 9
Hardware and Software Controls 10
ONE Top Panel Encoder 10
Setting the Output Level 10
Muting the Output 10
Setting the Input Gain 10
Top Panel 48V Indicator 10
Top Panel 3-Segment LED Meter 10
OS X Audio MIDI Setup 11
Selecting ONE for Mac Sound Input/Output 11
Controlling ONE’s Input/Output Parameters 11
Setting ONE’s Sample Rate 11
OS X System Preferences - Sound 12
Apogee Control Panel (Logic Pro 8, GarageBand) 13
Maestro Control 13
Apogee Maestro 14
Maestro Control 14
Maestro Control - continued 15
Maestro Mixer - Overview 16
Do I need the Maestro Mixer? 17
Maestro Mixer - Controls 18
Maestro Mixer - Audio software settings 19
Maestro Mixer - Maestro settings 19
Maestro Menus 20
Preferences - continued 20
Maestro Menus - continued 21
Apogee Maestro 2 22
Devices Sidebar and Device Icon & ID Button 22
Input Tab Window, Output Tab Window 23
Device Settings Window, Mixer Tab Window 24
System Setup Window, Menu Bar Menus 25
Menu Bar Menus 26
Low Latency Mixing 27
Maestro Mixer Settings 28
Maestro Mixer Settings 29
Working With ONE 30
How do I set a recording level? 30
How do I set my software’s I/O buer? 30
What sample rate should I record at? 31
Can I record my session on the the startup hard drive? 31
How do I set the input control of my powered speakers? 31
Conguring Core Audio Applications 33
Logic Pro/Express (8.0.3 or later) 33
Soundtrack Pro 33
Final Cut Pro 34
GarageBand ‘08 (or previous) 34
MainStage 35
Live 35
MOTU Digital Performer 36
Steinberg Nuendo 36
Troubleshooting 37

1 ONE by APOGEE – User’s Guide
The following items should be included in the ONE package:
ONE
USB Cable
QuickStart Guide Software CD
Breakout Cable

2 ONE by APOGEE – User’s Guide
Introducing ONE
ONE is a pocket-sized USB audio interface featuring
the award-winning sound quality that made Apogee
Electronics famous. Designed to work easily with
Apple’s GarageBand, ONE empowers you to create
professional recordings anywhere.
With ONE, you can record a single channel of audio
using a specially tuned internal microphone, an
instrument input for guitar, bass or keyboard, or a
world-class microphone pre amp input.
Listening with ONE is an entirely new experience as
well. Hear your recordings and your iTunes library with
incredible dimension and clarity through ONE’s studio-
quality stereo outputs.
Internal Microphone
Encoder
Breakout Cable Port
Encoder Function
Indicators
Input/Output Meter
USB Port
Headphone/Speaker Out
48V Indicator

3 ONE by APOGEE – User’s Guide
Quick Start
This Quick Start section describes how to set up ONE with your Apple
Macintosh computer, connect speakers or headphones to play back
music and podcasts with iTunes, and connect mics and instruments
to record and play back your own creations with GarageBand.
System Requirements
Your Mac should meet the following requirements:
• Intel or PPC G5 processor, OS X 10.5.7 or greater
• 1 GB minimum of installed RAM, 2 GB reccommended
As ONE is powered through the USB
connection, the LED will light,
indicating that ONE is now powered on.
Choose ONE for Mac Sound I/O
After connecting ONE to your
Mac, the dialog box shown at the
left will appear. Click Yes.
Connect Headphones or Speakers
Connect headphones to ONE’s front
panel jack.
It’s also possible to connect a pair of
powered speakers to the jack using
an adapter cable. The cable should
have an 1/8” stereo jack to connect
to ONE and two suitable jacks for
connection to the speakers.
Getting Started
Install Apogee Software
Insert the included CD into your Mac,
double click the “ONE Software Installer”
icon, and follow on-screen instructions.
When the installation is complete you will
be required to restart your Mac.
Please check www.apogeedigital.com/onesupport
for updated ONE software.
Connect the USB cable
After restarting your Mac, connect ONE’s
USB port to a USB port on your Mac,
using the provided cable.
When connecting the USB cable to
ONE, be sure to properly orient the
connector with the at side up (as shown
at right) before inserting it.

4 ONE by APOGEE – User’s Guide
Connect a microphone to the
breakout cable’s (XLR) input
or an instrument to the (1/4”)
input.
Adjust Volume
If the LED on ONE’s top panel is lit,
turn the top panel encoder clockwise
to raise the output volume. You should
now hear the iTunes selection playing
through your headphones or speakers.
If another Encoder Funtion LED is lit,
click the encoder once until the
LED is lit, then turn the encoder.
Congure ONE’s Input
Connect the supplied input breakout
cable to ONE’s back panel
connector.
Be sure to properly orient the breakout
cable connector so that the contact
pins are on the bottom (as shown here)
Open iTunes and Play
Open iTunes (found in your Mac’s Applications folder), choose a
selection, and click Play.
Open Apogee Maestro software, installed in your Mac’s Applications
folder.
In the Maestro Control window, select one of the following options
from the Input menu:
Int Mic - to use ONE’s internal mic
Ext Mic - to use a mic connected to the input
Ext 48V Mic - to use a phantom-powered mic connected
to the input
Inst - to use an instrument connected to the input.

5 ONE by APOGEE – User’s Guide
Open and Set Up GarageBand ‘09
Open GarageBand, found on your
Mac’s Applications folder. In the Project
Window that appears during launch,
click Voice or Acoustic Instrument
then click Choose to create an audio
track.
In GarageBand, show the Track Info
pane by double-clicking the track icon,
then click Real Instrument. At the
bottom of the window, select Mono 1
(ONE) in the Input Source menu and
select On in the Monitor menu.
GarageBand Preferences
If ONE doesn’t appear in the Input
Source menu, open GarageBand
Preferences (GarageBand >
Preferences), click Audio/MIDI, and
select ONE in the Audio Output and
Audio Input menus.
Important! To experience the full audio
resolution of ONE, open GarageBand
Preferences, click Advanced, and select
Best in the Audio Resolution menu.
Set the Input Level
Click the GarageBand track’s
Record enable button to see the
input signal on the track
meters and hear it in your
headphones.
Click ONE’s encoder until the
input LED lights ( or as
chosen on page 11) and turn the
encoder to set the recording level
in GarageBand’s meters. See
the ONE User’s Guide for a more
detailed description of setting
recording levels.
Record!
Once you’ve set a level, click the Record button in
GarageBand’s transport control. The newly created region
appears in GarageBand’s timeline - you’re now
recording with ONE!

6 ONE by APOGEE – User’s Guide
Connecting ONE
The connection of ONE to your Mac, headphones, speakers,
microphones and other audio hardware devices is described in this
section.
Connecting an Apple Macintosh computer
• Using the provided USB cable, connect
the Micro-B connector to ONE’s back
panel connector. Be sure to properly
orient the USB cable with the at side
up (as shown at right) before inserting
it. Connect the Type A connector to your
Mac computer.
• For the best system stability, it’s
recommended to connect directly to your Mac’s USB port,
without passing through a USB hub.
• lt’s recommended to install Apogee software as described on
page 3. If Apogee software isn’t installed, it’s possible to set most
parameters in OSX’s Audio MIDI Setup, as described on page
11.
Connecting ONE’s breakout cable
• To connect an input, rst it’s necessary
to connect ONE”s breakout cable to the
back panel connector.
• Be sure to properly orient the breakout
cable connector so that the contact
pins are on the bottom (as shown at
right).
• Ensure that the breakout cable connector snaps into place. To
disconnect the breakout cable, press in the buttons on either
side of the connector and pull out.

7 ONE by APOGEE – User’s Guide
Connecting Headphones
• Connect headphone directly to ONE’s front panel jack. If
your headphones include a 1/8” to 1/4” adaptor, remove it before
making the connection.
• Open Apogee Maestro software and select Stereo in the Output
Level menu.
Connecting Powered Speakers
• Connect powered monitors to ONE’s front panel jack using
an adaptor cable with an 1/8” stereo plug to connect to ONE and
two suitable plugs for connection to your speakers.
• Open Apogee Maestro software and select Stereo in the Output
Level menu.
• To set the speakers’ input level control (sometimes labelled input
sensitivity), please see the description on page 23.
• If hum or buzz is heard in the speakers, please see the
Troubleshooting tip on page 29.

8 ONE by APOGEE – User’s Guide
Connecting a MicrophoneConnecting a Home Stereo
• Connect ONE’s breakout cable to the rear panel connector,
and connect the microphone to the ONE breakout cable’s
(XLR) input.
• Open Apogee Maestro software and select Ext Mic in the Input
menu. When using a phantom-powered mic, select Ext 48V Mic.
To answer questions concerning 48V phantom power, please
see page 24.
• Connect a home stereo to ONE’s front panel jack. using an
adaptor cable with an 1/8” stereo plug to connect to ONE and
two RCA plugs to connect to the stereo component’s CD or Aux
input.
• Open Apogee Maestro software and select Stereo in the Output
Level menu. Set the output level to 0 dB, and use the stereo
component’s level control to set the listening level.
• If your microphone is equipped with a 1/4” mono jack output,
connect it to the breakout cable’s (1/4”) input.
• In the Maestro Input menu, select Inst.

9 ONE by APOGEE – User’s Guide
Connecting an Instrument Connecting a Line output (CD, Mixing console)
• Connect a guitar, bass or keyboard to the ONE breakout cable’s
(1/4”) input.
• Open Apogee Maestro software and select Inst in the Input
menu.
As a general rule, it’s recommended to connect balanced sources
to ONE’s (XLR) input and unbalanced sources to ONE’s (1/4”)
input. Open Apogee Maestro software and select the appropriate
connection in the Input menu.
• In most cases, signals transmitted via XLR or TRS (tip-ring-
sleeve) 1/4” connectors (shown below) are balanced. Connect
XLR ouputs directly to ONE’s (XLR) input directly. Connect 1/4”
TRS outputs using a 1/4” TRS to XLR male adaptor.
• Signal transmitted via RCA or TS (tip-sleeve) 1/4” connectors
(shown below) are unbalanced. Unbalanced connections
are most often found on instruments, CD players and other
consumer audio hardware.
• Connect 1/4” TS connectors directly to ONE’s (1/4”) input.
Connect RCA outputs using an RCA to 1/4” TS adaptor.
RCA
XLR
1/4” TS
1/4”TRS
Unbalanced
Balanced

10 ONE by APOGEE – User’s Guide
Hardware and Software Controls
ONE is designed to be simple to use but controllable with a variety
of hardware and software controls, described in this section. Though
several options are offered, you can choose the hardware and
software controls that best suit your individual preferences.
To set ONE's output level (i.e the listening level of headphones or
connected speakers), click the encoder until the LED lights.
Now, turn the encoder to the desired listening level.
To set the gain (i.e the recording level) of ONE’s active input, click
the encoder until the input LED or lights. Now, turn the
encoder until the desired recording level is obtained (as seen in
your recording software).
To mute the output, press and hold down the encoder until the
LED blinks; press and hold again to unmute the output.
ONE’s top panel encoder provides simple and immediate control of
input and output level settings.
ONE Top Panel Encoder
Setting the Output Level
Setting the Input Gain
Muting the Output
To select another input as the active input, open a software
control panel (either Apogee Maestro, Audio MIDI Setup, or the
GarageBand/Logic control panel) and select the desired input, as
described on the following pages.
1 second
When Input is set to Ext 48V Mic, a red LED above the LED
lights to indicate the presence of 48 volt phantom power on the
breakout cable’s XLR connector. This voltage is necessary to power
condenser mics. Read more about phantom power on page 24.
Top Panel 48V Indicator
The top panel level meter displays either the input or output level,
depending on the encoder selection. When an input has been
selected, the signal level after the application of input gain is
displayed. When the output has been selected, the signal level after
the output level control is displayed. See page 14 for information
about the difference between the top panel meters and Apogee
Maestro meters.
Top Panel 3-Segment LED Meter

11 ONE by APOGEE – User’s Guide
OS X Audio MIDI Setup
The OS X utility Audio MIDI Setup provides settings to choose ONE
for Mac sound input/ output and control ONE’s parameters. To open
Audio MIDI Setup, choose Applications > Utilities > Audio MIDI
Setup.
Selecting ONE for Mac Sound Input/Output
Controlling ONE’s Input/Output Parameters
1 Select ONE in the Default Input menu.
2 Select ONE in the Default Output.
3 Leave System Output set to Built-In Audio to send OS X alert
sounds and user interface sound effects via the Mac’s built-in
speakers.
1 Select ONE in the Properties For menu.
2 Select the active input in the Audio Input Source menu:
Select Int Mic to use the internal mic;
Select Ext Mic to use a mic connected to the breakout
cable’s (XLR) input;
Select Ext 48V Mic to use a phantom-powered mic
connected to the input;
Select Inst to use an instrument connected to the input.
3 To set ONE’s input gain, use the Volume slider under Audio
Input.
4 Select an output operating characteristic in the Audio Output
Source menu:
Select Stereo when connecting ONE to headphones,
powered speakers, a mixing console or a home stereo;
Select Amp when connecting ONE to an instrument amplier.
Setting ONE’s Sample Rate
ONE operates at a sample rate of 44.1kHz or 48kHz . In most cases
the sample rate is set by the audio application with which ONE is
streaming audio. For example, when working with GarageBand,
ONE’s sample rate is automatically set to 44.1kHz, to match the
GarageBand song’s sample rate. For those audio applications that
don’t include a sample rate selection, such as Apple’s iTunes, ONE’s
sample rate may be selected in either Format menu under Audio
Input or Audio Output. For more information on which sample rate to
work at, see page 11.

12 ONE by APOGEE – User’s Guide
OS X System Preferences - Sound
The OS X System Preferences Sound window provides settings
to choose ONE for Mac sound input and output and control ONE’s
input/output parameters. If you didn’t choose ONE for Mac sound I/O
in step 3 of the Quickstart guide, you may do so in this window.
1 Choose Apple > System Preferences and click Sound.
2 Click Output.
3 In the devices list, select an operating characteristic for ONE’s
output:
Select ONE: Stereo when connecting to
headphones, powered speakers, a mixing console or
a home stereo.
Select ONE: Amp when connecting to an instrument
amplier.
4 Set ONE’s output level with the Output volume slider.
5 Click Input
6 In the devices list, select the active ONE input:
Select ONE: Int Mic to use the internal mic;
Select ONE: Ext Mic to use a mic connected to the breakout
cable’s (XLR) input;
Select ONE: Ext 48V Mic to use a phantom-powered mic
connected to the input;
Select ONE: Inst, to use an instrument connected to the
input.
7 Set ONE’s input gain with the Input volume slider.

13 ONE by APOGEE – User’s Guide
Apogee Control Panel (Logic Pro 8, GarageBand)
The Apogee Control Panel, found in Apple’s Logic Pro 8 and
GarageBand software, provides control of ONE settings.
Maestro Control

14 ONE by APOGEE – User’s Guide
Apogee Maestro
Apogee Maestro software provides the most complete control
of ONE, including control of all parameters, store/recall of
congurations and low-latency mixing. To open Maestro, choose
Applications > Apogee Maestro.
Maestro consists of two windows, Maestro Control and Maestro
Mixer, described below.
Maestro Control
Interface Menu - When multiple Apogee interfaces are connected to
the Mac, this menu is used to select the interface whose settings are
displayed in Maestro.
Identify Unit - Clicking on this button veries that communication
is established between Maestro software and ONE hardware by
lighting the four input/output icons. Click the button again to return
ONE's LEDs to their normal function.
Input - Selects ONE's active input in this menu:
Select Int Mic to use the internal electret
microphone mounted on ONE's top panel, just below the
encoder knob.
Select Ext Mic to use a mic connected to the
breakout cable’s (XLR) connector.
Select Ext 48V Mic to use a phantom-powered mic
connected to the input;
Select Inst to use an instrument connected to the input.
Input Level Software Encoder – The gain of the selected input is
controlled from this software encoder. The gain value is indicated in
the box to the right of the encoder.
Input Meter - this meter displays input level and digital overs after
conversion from analog to digital.

15 ONE by APOGEE – User’s Guide
Maestro Control - continued
Output Level - Select the operating characteristics of ONE's output
in this menu:
1 Select Stereo when ONE's output is connected to
headphones, powered speakers, a mixing console or a home
stereo
2 Select Amp when ONE's output is connected to an instrument
amplier. ONE's output level is xed (i.e. hardware and software
output level controls won't change the output level) and reduced
to a level better suited for instrument amplier inputs.
Output Level Software Encoder – The output level may be
controlled from this software encoder. The level value is indicated in
the box to the right of the encoder.
Output meter - this meter displays output level and digital overs
before conversion from digital to analog.
Mute - Checking this box mutes ONE’s output.

16 ONE by APOGEE – User’s Guide
Maestro Mixer - Overview
Before describing the functions of Maestro’s Mixer window, a bit of
background information concerning latency and computer-based
digital recording setups will help to better understand these Mixer
functions.
When recording with most computer-based digital audio applications,
a delay between the input and output of the recording system
often disturbs the timing of the musicians who are performing. This
delay, known at latency, means that the musician hears the notes
he produces a few milliseconds after having produced them. As
anyone who has spoken on a phone call with echo knows, relatively
short delays can confuse the timing of any conversation, spoken or
musical.
Figure A
To illustrate the effect of latency, gure A depicts the typical signal
path of a vocal overdub session. A vocalist sings into a microphone,
which is routed through a hardware interface to the audio software
application for recording. In the software application, the vocalist’s
live signal is mixed with the playback of previously recorded tracks,
and routed back through the hardware interface to the vocalist’s
headphones. Because of the audio application’s latency, the vocalist
hears his performance delayed by several milliseconds in his
headphones.

17 ONE by APOGEE – User’s Guide
Maestro Mixer - Overview continued
By routing the hardware input directly to the hardware output and
mixing in playback as shown in Figure B, it’s possible to create a
headphone listening signal with a much shorter delay.
First, the signal being recorded (in this case, a vocal mic) is split in
the hardware interface and routed to both the software applicaton
for recording and directly back to the hardware outputs without going
through the latency-inducing software; this creates a low latency
path from mic to headphones. Next, a stereo mix of playback tracks
is routed to the low latency mixer and combined with the hardware
input(s). This allows the performer to hear both himself without a
confusing delay plus the playback needed for overdubbing.
Note that the software application’s mixer is used to set a stereo
mix of playback tracks while the low latency mixer is used to set the
balance between the stereo playback mix and the hardware inputs.
Do I need the Maestro Mixer?
The Maestro mixer serves to provide a low latency listening mix
while recording. Therefore if you’re using ONE to listen to iTunes or
audio from another program, there’s no need to use the mixer. Set To
Hardware to None to disable the mixer.
It’s also possible that the latency of your particular recording system
is low enough to be unnoticeable by you or other performers. If
you’ve set your audio software’s input/output buffers according to
the guidelines on page 22 and latency doesn’t bother you or other
performers, there’s no need to use the Maestro mixer.
Figure B

18 ONE by APOGEE – User’s Guide
Maestro Mixer - Controls
The following Maestro Mixer controls are used to create a listening
mix while recording with ONE.
Input 1 - This fader adjusts the level of ONE's hardware input in the
listening mix. The input is routed to the center of the output stereo
eld. Adjust the Input gain (as described on page 5) before setting
this fader.
Input 1 meter - this meter displays the input level after conversion
from analog to digital.
From Software - This fader adjusts the level of playback from audio
applications in the listening mix.
From Software meter - This meter displays the stereo output level
of the audio software which with ONE is streaming audio.
Mute-Solo buttons - These buttons allow the associated channel
to be muted (M) or soloed (S). Soloing one channel mutes all other
channels.
To Hardware meters - This meter displays the stereo output level of
the Maestro mixer.
To Hardware menu - When this menu is set to None, the mixer is
disabled and completely removed from the signal path.
When this menu is set to Out L-R, the Maestro Mixer is inserted
between the software output and ONE's hardware output. When To
Hardware is set to Out L-R, set the From Software fader to 0 dB to
hear playback from iTunes or other Core Audio applications.