Apogee Symphony 64 ThunderBridge User manual

Symphony 64 |ThunderBridge
QuickStart Guide
V1, March, 2013

Contents
.........................................................................................................Overview!5
Introduction!5
Package Contents!6
Symphony 64 | ThunderBridge Tour!8
..................................................................................System Requirements!10
..............................................................................Connecting to your Mac!12
Install Symphony Software!12
Connecting Multiple Apogee Interfaces!17
Connecting Multiple Thunderbolt Devices!20
.............................................................................................Software Setup!22
Using the Symphony System with Apple Logic!22
Using the Symphony System with Avid Pro Tools!24
...........................................................................................Troubleshooting!26
.......................................................................................Additional Support!27
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4

Overview
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing Apogee’s Symphony 64 | ThunderBridge. This QuickStart guide describes
how to setup Symphony 64 | ThunderBridge with your Thunderbolt equipped Mac, connect your Symphony I/O
or X-Symphony equipped converter, and configure with Logic or Pro Tools.
Symphony 64 | ThunderBridge
64-Channel Thunderbolt connection for Apogee Symphony I/O
Apogee’s Symphony 64 | ThunderBridge connects Apogee’s flagship audio interface, Symphony I/O,
or X-Symphony equipped Apogee converter to any Thunderbolt™ equipped Mac for true Thunderbolt
compatibility and performance. Capable of up to 64 channels of input and output at sample rates up to
192kHz, Symphony 64 | ThunderBridge delivers impressive channel counts at unprecedented speeds
for a latency and hassle free recording experience that meets the requirements of the most demanding
professional audio I/O applications.
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Package Contents
The following items are included in the ThunderBridge box:
•Symphony 64 | ThunderBridge
•DC Power Supply + IEC Cable
•Printed QuickStart Guide
•3 meter PC-32 cable
IMPORTANT: Thunderbolt cable sold separately
Software, firmware and the ThunderBridge User’s Guide are available online only.
Please register your product and download the latest installer here:
http://www.apogeedigital.com/downloads
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Symphony 64 | ThunderBridge Tour
Status LED
Front Panel
Status LEDs - These LEDs indicate the status of the corresponding rear panel PC-32 ports, as described below:
Port 1 and 2 LEDs flash red - no Apogee interfaces detected - install Symphony software, check PC-32 connection.
Port 1 and/or Port 2 LED alternates red to green - the Apogee interface connected to the corresponding port is in an
invalid state: verify that interface sample rate matches DAW session rate; verify that interface is clocked correctly.
Port 2 off - The port is not enabled. See page 17 for info on connecting multiple audio interfaces.
Port 1 and/or Port 2 solidly lit green - Symphony System is correctly configured.
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DC Power Word Clock Out
Symphony PCI
Port 1: CH 1-32
Thunderbolt Ports
Symphony PCI
Port 1: CH 1-32
Rear Panel
DC Power - Connection for the included DC power supply. The unit only powers on when a valid Thunderbolt
connection has been made.
WC OUT - This output is used only as a diagnostic tool. For clocking audio interfaces, use the word clock
output of the interface connected to Port 1 Ch 1-32 or an external master clock such as Apogee Big Ben.
Port 1 Ch 1-32 - Connect the first audio interface to this PC-32 port.
Port 2 Ch 33-64 - Connect additional audio interfaces to this PC-32 port.
Thunderbolt Ports - Connect either Thunderbolt port to the Mac. The remaining port may be used to
connect additional Thunderbolt devices. See page 20 for additional details.
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System Requirements
Mac Computer
•Computer: Thunderbolt-enabled Mac computer, including MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac
•Memory: 2 GB RAM minimum, 4 GB recommended
•Mac OS: 10.7.5 or greater
•Connection: Thunderbolt™ (cable sold separately)
NOTE: 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 difference below:
!! Mini Display Port !! ThunderBolt Port
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Compatible Apogee Interfaces
Apogee Symphony I/O
•Firmware: Release 4.4 or greater
•Connection: PC-32
X-Symphony equipped Rosetta Series/X Series converter
•AD16X, DA16X, Rosetta 800 or Rosetta 200
•X-Symphony option card
•Firmware: v2.7
•Connection: PC-32
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Connecting to your Mac
Install Symphony Software
1. Download the latest Symphony installer package here:
http://www.apogeedigital.com/downloads
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2. If you’re using Symphony I/O, you’ll first want to make sure you’re using the most up to date firmware.
If you’re using an X-Symphony Equipped X Series/Rosetta Series interface, skip to next page.
Once software is downloaded, connect Symphony I/O’s USB port directly to a USB port on your Mac.
Double click on the “SymphonyIO Firmware updater” icon and click update once the app opens.
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3. Connect the included DC power supply to Symphony
64 | Thunderbridge’s DC input and to an AC outlet
using the included cable (or using a standard IEC
cable for your territory). The DC power supply
accepts AC from 90-250 volts.
4. Connect the Primary Symphony port of your
Symphony I/O, X Series, or Rosetta Series interface
to Symphony 64 | ThunderBridge Port 1: CH 1-32
and power on the connected unit.
Symphony I/O should be set to Symphony AIM mode.
(see usersguide for more info).
For info on connecting multiple Apogee interfaces to
Symphony 64 | ThunderBridge, see page 17.
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5. Connect one of Symphony 64 | ThunderBridge’s
Thunderbolt ports to your Mac with a Thunderbolt
cable - it doesn’t matter which connector is used.
See pages 20–21 for details on connecting multiple
Thunderbolt peripherals.
4. Double-click the Symphony I/O Software Installer
icon (in the downloaded folder) to launch then follow
the steps provided. Restarting your Mac is required
once the software installation process is complete.
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Choosing Symphony 64 | ThunderBridge for Mac Sound I/O
Once the Mac has been restarted after installation, a dialog box will prompt you to choose
Symphony 64 | ThunderBridge for Mac sound input and output.
Click Yes to use the audio interface connected to Symphony 64 | ThunderBridge Port 1: CH 1-32
as the default audio input and output with apps like iTunes, Safari and iMovie.
The Status LED will become solid green, indicating that everything is properly connected and you’re ready to go!
16

Connecting Multiple Apogee Interfaces
Symphony I/O
If connecting a second Symphony I/O, connect the Primary port of the second unit to Symphony 64 | ThunderBridge
Port 2: CH 33-64. Please note that Symphony I/O must always be connected directly to one of the two ports on
Symphony 64 | ThunderBridge, so therefore two units is the maximum.
AD-16x, DA-16x, Rosetta 800, or Rosetta 200
If connecting multiple X-Symphony equipped X Series/Rosetta Series interfaces, please see the list of supported
combinations and the corresponding connection diagrams on page 21-33 of the Symphony 64 Usersguide. The
supported configurations for Symphony 64 PCIe are the same as with Symphony 64 | ThunderBridge.
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Connecting Multiple Apogee Interfaces (continued)
Symphony 64 | ThunderBridge Port Selection
1. Open Audio MIDI Setup application, located in the Applications > Utilities folder of your Mac
2. Select Symphony 64 | ThunderBridge from the list of devices on the left
3. Click on the Source selection drop down menu and select Port 1-2: 64ch
4. Be sure all units are connected/powered on and Restart your Mac
After restart, Any connected unit that’s not connected directly to Port 1: CH 1-32 on Symphony 64 | ThunderBridge
will automatically change its clock source to External/Word clock or Loop Sync (if applicable).
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Connecting Multiple Thunderbolt Devices
Thunderbolt supports the connection of up to 6 Thunderbolt devices to each Mac Thunderbolt port.
See the connection guidelines below:
Connection order
When connecting 2-port Thunderbolt devices, there is no required order of connection - simply chain the devices by
connecting the Mac to the first device, the first to the second device, and so on until all devices are connected.
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4
5
3
1
Symphony 64 | ThunderBridge
Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt
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