Apogee Trak 2 User manual
Apogee Trak2
Everything You Need... And More.
With the Trak2, you can have everything
you need for a high-quality digital session –
in one compact single-unit rack space. A
superb mic pre; incredible A/D; any inter-
face you need; and behind it, Apogee’s leg-
endary name and reputation for the very
highest audio quality available in the indus-
try today.
A superb mic preamp...
At the front of the Trak2 is a discrete micro-
phone preamplifier which stacks up favorably
against the best-known mic pres available.
Accessible via rear panel XLRs or the front-
panel universal XLR/1⁄4in connectors, the
sound of this preamp will have you wanting
to use it on every session, analog or digital.
The preamp also accepts hi-Z instrument
inputs at the front panel, for maximum versa-
tility. Just plug an input into the front panel
and it‘s selected automatically.
An insert point is included to provide an
analog output or to allow the insertion of
analog processors into the Trak2 signal path.
...An incredible A/D
From the analog stage, the signal passes to
the very latest in A/D conversion technology
from Apogee’s award-winning engineering
design team.
The 2-channel, 24-bit A/D operates at
44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96 kHz with a dynamic
range in excess of 117 dB and an overall level
of quality exceeding that of systems costing
several times the price.
The A/D also includes Apogee’s renowned
Soft Limit process, which maximizes record-
ing level without overs; and the return of
Apogee’s unique Soft Saturate system, which
simulates analog tape compression. Either
feature can be switched in and out on one or
both channels.
Maximum Interface Versatility
Two Apogee Multimedia Bus (AMBus) slots
are provided in addition to the built-in AES-
S/PDIF output, enabling the Trak2 to connect
to a wide variety of industry standard inter-
faces including Digidesign’s Pro Tools, ADAT,
TDIF, SDIF-II, SSL HiWay, and others, with
new cards being added all the time. Many
cards support Apogee Bit-Splitting, which
enables you to use standard 44.1/48, 16-bit
recorders to store 20-, 24-bit, and even 96
kHz signals.
The Trak2 features the latest version of the
Apogee Ultra-Low Jitter Clock, used to lock
the unit to incoming digital or video signals
and virtually remove jitter. Also included is
the latest incarnation of Apogee’s industry-
standard UV22 system for digital word-length
reduction, UV22 HR (High Resolution), which
takes a high-resolution digital signal and
reduces the word-length to 16 or 20 bits for
CD or DVD-V mastering and Internet applica-
tions while maintaining 24-bit detail.
Add a D/A
The Trak2 includes a special slot for an
optional 2-channel or 8-channel D/A card
with specifications matching those of the A/D
section, turning the Trak2 into a complete
digital audio conversion system with two A/D
channels and up to 8 D/A.
Hear the Apogee Difference
You’ve never encountered anything like the
Trak2 from Apogee Digital. With the
sweetest-sounding mic preamp you’ve ever
heard, superb 24-bit, 96kHz A/D and
optional D/A conversion, interfacing with
almost any digital system including a direct
connection to Pro Tools…the possibilities
are endless.
Try the Trak2 at your authorized dealer
today…and hear The Apogee Difference.
PRELIMINARY DATA SHEET
Apogee Trak2
REFERENCE STANDARD MICROPHONE PREAMPLIFIER/CONVERSION SYSTEM
•Superb two-channel microphone preamplifier with
±90dB gain, phantom power, front-panel universal input
socket, high-impedance direct instrument input, analog
out …and an incredible sound.
•Two channels of Apogee’s true 24-bit, 96 kHz A/D con-
version with 117 dB dynamic range.
•AES/EBU and S/PDIF out plus two AMBus card slots to
interface with Pro Tools, ADAT, TDIF, SDIF-II, etc.
•Apogee Soft Limit®helps you record at a higher level
without overs; Soft Saturate™gives you the sound of
analog tape compression!
•Apogee low-jitter master clock.
•Apogee’s enhanced UV22HR™translates 24-bit signals
to 20 or 16 bits while maintaining high-resolution detail.
•Video sync capability.
•Clear LCD display shows configuration and signal flow.
•Cursor controls/delta-wheel for fast settings changes.
•Settings can be saved to presets and recalled.
•Programmable Quick Keys for instant access to
frequently-used functions.
•Easy-to-read 2-channel LED bar metering
•User-definable over detection (1-4 digital full scale)
The Trak2’s innovative interface marks a new departure for Apogee. Instead of many multi-function buttons, a single Delta-wheel and cursor
controls allow you to navigate an interactive menu system that provides status and configuration information quicky and intuitively.
APOGEE ELECTRONICS CORPORATION, 3145 Donald Douglas Loop South, Santa Monica, CA 90405-3210, USA.
Electronics
www.apogeedigital.com
Microphone Preamplifier
•Ultra-wide gain/attenuation range: –90 to +90 dB
•Fully-balanced audio path
•Fluid Gain Control (FGC) –sophisticated relay/MDAC
Attenuation/Gain Control
•Gain Ride Mode (GRM) –MDAC only Attenuation/Gain Control
•User definable gain step size (.5dB, 1dB, 2dB, 3dB, 4dB)
•UltraTrak –Linked ratio gain adjustment.
•Accepts microphone, high impedance or line-level inputs.
•Per channel selectable 20 dB pad, polarity inversion and 40/90Hz
HPF.
•Front panel “universal”1⁄4in/XLR inputs with High Impedance Auto-
Detect.
•+48V Phantom Power with Auto-Sense/Disable.
Sends
•Drive balanced or unbalanced lines.
•+28dBu of gain adjustment.
•Send in/out selectable on a per channel basis.
•‘Send Out’directly connects Mic-Pre Out to A/D Input
Returns (Line –A/D Input)
•Accepts balanced/unbalanced signals.
•Input stage servo-balances any unbalanced signal.
•+4dBu/–10dBv input levels.
•Common-mode and single-ended DC removal.
•Digital gain control.
•A/D Auto Calibrate.
LCD Display
•High Resolution 240X66 dot, mixed graphics/text mode display.
•High-visibility white backlight.
•Active Status Display –graphical representation of Trak2 signal flow.
•Comprehensive menu system and easy-access interface with delta-
wheel.
Metering
•Multi-mode Average/Fast Peak/2 sec or Infinite Hold
•Phase (Phase Gain plus Absolute Phase Angle)
•Overs –User definable 1–4 consecutive digital full scale and LCD tab-
ulation.
Digital I/O
•Built-in combination AES-S/PDIF output supports single-wire
operation at high sample rates
•44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96 kHz sampling rates
•Two AMBus slots for multiple interface options
•Full 8-channel AMBus architecture allows for multitrack digital format
conversion
Synchronization
•Crystal: 44.1kHz –96kHz
•Word Clock I/O: 44.1kHz –96kHz
•AMBus cards
•Optional card slaves unit to NTSC, PAL, and B&W video sync.
Additional features include
•10 to 8 Digital Routing
•UV22HR –Internet-compatible 20/16-bit output from high resolution
sources without loss of quality; Low/High settings for multi-pass and
mastering operation.
•Adjustable Soft Limit with digital adjustment control for maximum
digital level without overs.
•Soft Saturate with digital adjustment control simulates analog tape
compression
•MIDI In/Out/Thru and serial port
•User-assignable ‘Quick Keys’
•System Auto Calibration (when optional DAC is installed)
•Digital oscillator.
•System Pin 2/3 Hot.
•Digital In DC Removal.
•96kHz Headphone D/A with high output 40W power amplifier.
•User saveable/recallable presets.
Optional DAC Boards
•2- or 8-channel D/A card plugs into expansion slot and allow for:
Digital attenuation/gain control of individual channels.
D/A Auto Calibration.
Overdub Mode (Confidence Monitoring).
APOGEE TRAK2 – FEATURE OUTLINE
The features and specifications above, and other information provided in this data sheet, are
subject to change without notice. Apogee Electronics Corporation reserves the right to make
design changes without prior warning, and the appearance or mention of any feature, future
enhancement, capability or performance parameter given in this document is not a guarantee
of its availability in or in conjunction with an actual unit. Apogee, Trak2, UV22, UV22HR, Soft
Limit, Soft Saturate, AMBus, Clocked by Apogee, Apogee Bit-Splitting and the “96k” device
are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apogee Electronics Corporation. Other trade-
marks are the property of their respective owners.
Apogee’s Trak2 is a reference-standard microphone preamplifier/conversion system incorporating balanced sends, balanced returns, auxiliary
universal 1⁄4in/XLR front panel inputs, 24-bit/96kHz analog to digital conversion, two AMBus digital I/O slots, a built-in AES-S/PDIF digital out-
put, word clock I/O, comprehensive peak/average/phase metering, graphics/text LCD display, easily navigated front panel controls, a commu-
nications port enabling remote operation via MIDI and/or RS-232 plus firmware upgrades via the Internet, optional video synchronization,
optional two channel 24-bit/96kHz D/A, optional eight channel 24-bit/96kHz D/A, optional DSP expansion board.
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