Apogee symphony i/o mk II User manual

Apogee Symphony I/O Mk II
User’s Guide
Version 2.0 April, 2016
!!

Contents
Overview!5......................................................
Introduction"5.............................................................................................................
Features"5..................................................................................................................
Package Contents"6..................................................................................................
Register your product : apogeedigital.com/register"6.................................................
Symphony I/O Mk II Panel Tour"7...............................................................................
Front Panel"7.............................................................................................................
Rear Panel"7..............................................................................................................
Getting Started!8.............................................
Thunderbolt Notes"8..................................................................................................
Symphony I/O Mk II Software"9..................................................................................
System Requirements"9.............................................................................................
Download and Install Software"9................................................................................
Update Symphony Firmware"10.................................................................................
Navigating The Front Panel Touchscreen"11...............................................................
Getting Started with Audio Software"13.....................................................................
Select Symphony for Mac System Sound Output"13..................................................
Route Mac System Sound to Different Outputs"14.....................................................
Select Symphony in your DAW"15..............................................................................
Select Symphony in Logic Pro X"15...........................................................................
Monitoring the Input Signal"16....................................................................................
Using your DAW to Monitor"16...................................................................................
Enable Input Monitoring in Logic Pro X"16..................................................................
Enable Input Monitoring in Pro Tools"16.....................................................................
Using Symphony’s Low Latency Mixers"17................................................................
Low Latency Monitoring"17.................................................................................
Main Features!18.............................................
I/O Modules"18..........................................................................................................
Mk II I/O Modules"18..................................................................................................
8x8 Mk II Module"18..................................................................................................
16x16 Mk II Module"19..............................................................................................
Other Compatible I/O Modules"19..............................................................................
Mic Pre Module"19.....................................................................................................
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2x6 Analog + AES + 8 Optical Module"20..................................................................
8x8 Analog + 8 AES/Optical IO Module"21.................................................................
16x16 Analog IO Module"22.......................................................................................
Incompatible I/O Modules"22.....................................................................................
Option Card Slot"23...................................................................................................
Pro Tools HD Option Card"23.....................................................................................
Monitor Control Center"24..........................................................................................
How to set the Monitor Outputs as a fixed Line-Out"24..............................................
How to Setup and Use Multiple Speaker Sets"24.......................................................
How to connect and configure a Surround Speaker Setup"25....................................
Adjust for Volume Differences Between Speakers"26.................................................
Setup Headphone/Speaker Mixes via Maestro Mixer"27.............................................
Clocking with External Equipment"28.........................................................................
Configure Symphony as Clock Master "28.................................................................
Configure Symphony as Clock Slave"29.....................................................................
Maestro!30......................................................
Maestro Features"30..................................................................................................
Devices Sidebar"30....................................................................................................
Device Icon and ID Button"30....................................................................................
Toolbar"30..................................................................................................................
Input Tab Window"31.................................................................................................
Mic Pre Module Input Tab"32......................................................................................
Output Tab Window"33..............................................................................................
Speaker & Headphone Controls"34............................................................................
Device Settings Tab Window"34.................................................................................
Input Routing Tab Window"35....................................................................................
Output Routing Tab Window"36.................................................................................
Mixer Tab Window"37................................................................................................
System Setup Tab Window"38...................................................................................
Menu Bar Menus"39...................................................................................................
Reference!40..................................................
Understanding Latency"40.........................................................................................
Soft Limit"42..............................................................................................................
Pin Out Diagrams"43..................................................................................................
Analog and Inserts"43................................................................................................
AES IN/OUT"44..........................................................................................................
Specifications!45.............................................
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System Requirements"45...........................................................................................
Factory Hardware Reset / Initialize"45........................................................................
Technical Details"46...................................................................................................
General Details"46......................................................................................................
Additional Support!47......................................
General Support"47...................................................................................................
Apogee Pro Care"47..................................................................................................
Warranty Information and Legal Notices!48.......
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Overview
Introduction
Symphony I/O Mk II is a multi-channel audio interface featuring Apogee’s newest flagship AD/DA
conversion, modular I/O (up to 32 inputs and outputs), intuitive touchscreen display and optional
world-class microphone preamps. Designed to deliver professional sound quality for audio
recording, mixing and mastering, Symphony I/O is the ultimate music production centerpiece for
any modern studio.
Features
•Best AD/DA conversion of any Thunderbolt™ audio interface
•Up to 32 channels of modular analog I/O with optional 8 mic preamps
•Best per-channel value of any interface in it’s category
•Choice of Thunderbolt, Pro Tools® HD (Mac/PC) or Waves SoundGrid® connectivity*
•Ultra-low latency performance
•Intuitive touchscreen display and front panel control
•Option card slot for future platform flexibility
•Designed in California, Built in the U.S.A.
*Pro Tools HD and Waves SoundGrid connectivity coming soon!!
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Package Contents
•Symphony I/O Mk II
•3 pin-IEC power cable
•QuickStart Guide
•Warranty Booklet
!
Register your product : apogeedigital.com/register
•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!
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Symphony I/O Mk II Panel Tour
Front Panel
1. Headphone Output!
a. 1/4” TRS connection provides an
assignable stereo headphone output!
2. Touchscreen!
a. Symphony I/O’s front panel touchscreen
offers convenient access to every setting
b. Routing and the low latency Mixer can only
be controlled in Apogee Maestro software
3. Control knob!4. Power button"
Rear Panel
1. Module Slot 1!
2. Module Slot 2!
3. Thunderbolt ports (Symphony Mk II Thunderbolt model Only)!
4. Option Card Slot!
5. Word Clock I/O!
6. AC Power"
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Getting Started
Before powering on, ensure that any speakers or amplifiers connected to Symphony’s analog outputs are powered off
or the volume is turned down to the minimum setting. This will prevent potential damage to your speakers and other
equipment from “pops” that may occur as the unit boots up.
1. Power off speakers
2. Power Symphony On
3. Power on speakers.
Likewise, before powering Symphony off, ensure any speakers or amplifiers connected to Symphony’s analog outputs
are powered off, or the volume turned down to the minimum setting.
1. Power off speakers
2. Power Symphony Off
Thunderbolt Notes
•Symphony I/O’s rear panel Thunderbolt 2 ports allow you to chain up to 6 Thunderbolt peripherals from your Mac.
•Under most circumstances, the order in which peripherals or ports are connected doesn’t matter.
•Exception: If you’re connecting both Thunderbolt 1 and Thunderbolt 2 peripherals, connect the Thunderbolt 2
devices closer to your Mac in the chain.
•i.e. Mac > Thunderbolt 2 devices > Thunderbolt devices
•Thunderbolt peripherals continue to operate when Symphony is powered off. This ensures that displays, hard drives,
or other essential equipment doesn’t lose connection to the computer when Symphony is not in use.
•A non-Thunderbolt device (i.e. Firewire, HDMI, DisplayPort, etc.) may be connected to the chain, but it or the
adapter for the device must be placed at the end.
Some older Macs have mini DisplayPort connections that, while identical in appearance to a Thunderbolt port, don’t
support Thunderbolt peripherals. Verify that the Thunderbolt logo is present on your Mac’s ports.
!!
X Mini DisplayPort"""✓Thunderbolt Port!
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Symphony I/O Mk II Software
System Requirements
Symphony I/O Mk II Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt port-equipped Apple Mac, 4GB memory required, 8GB recommended
Mac OS X Mavericks 10.9.5 or greater
Download and Install Software
Before using your Symphony I/O, you must download the latest Symphony I/O Mk II Software Installer from
Apogee’s website here: www.apogeedigital.com/support/symphony-io-mk-ii
The download comes in the form of a .dmg image file. Open it to view the
contents.
Inside you will find these items:
•Symphony I/O MkII Thunderbolt Release Notes
•Symphony IO MkII System Software Installer.pkg
•Symphony IO MkII Uninstaller
Double-click to launch the Symphony IO MkII System Software Installer.pkg
A dialog box will appear with a series of steps
Follow the prompts to complete the installation
Once complete you will be required to restart your
computer
!!
As a result of the software install:
•Apogee Maestro controller software is placed in the Mac’s Applications folder
•When connected, Symphony Thunderbolt appears as an audio input/output device in Mac Sound System
Preferences
•Symphony Thunderbolt Firmware Updater.app is placed in the Mac’s Utilities folder!
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Update Symphony Firmware
The first time Symphony is used after the software
installation, you will likely need to update the
firmware.
Warning: Do not disconnect power or interrupt the
firmware update process before it is complete as this may
damage the unit.
1. Make sure Symphony is connected to the computer and is powered on.
2. Open the Symphony
Firmware Updater.app which
is located in the Mac’s
Applications > Utilities folder.
3. Select “Update” and follow any prompts that may
appear.
Symphony may reboot several times - this is normal.
4. When the progress reaches 100% and says “Update
Complete”, you are done and can quit the updater.!
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