Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 User manual

MANUAL

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Document authored by: Native Instruments GmbH
(06/2016)
Special thanks to the Beta Test Team, who were invaluable not just in tracking down bugs, but
in making this a better product.
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Table of Contents
1 Welcome to KOMPLETE AUDIO 6! ...............................................................................7
1.1 This is Included in the Box..........................................................................................................7
1.2 Document Conventions ...............................................................................................................8
2 Installing KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 ....................................................................................9
2.1 Installing KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 on Mac OS X ................................................................................9
2.2 Installing KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 on Windows .................................................................................10
2.2.1 Important Installation Information ............................................................................ 10
2.2.2 Installing the Driver Software .................................................................................... 11
2.2.3 Connecting the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 to Your Computer............................................... 12
3 Basic Configuration ...................................................................................................14
3.1 Selecting the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 as Your System's Default Audio Output Device ......................14
3.1.1 On Windows ............................................................................................................... 14
3.1.2 On Mac OS X .............................................................................................................. 14
3.2 Using the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 as an Audio Output Device with Music Software .........................15
4 The Hardware in Detail ..............................................................................................16
4.1 Front Panel .................................................................................................................................17
4.2 Rear Panel ..................................................................................................................................18
4.3 Top Panel....................................................................................................................................20
5 Advanced Configuration .............................................................................................22
5.1 Advanced Configuration on Windows (Control Panel) .................................................................22
5.1.1 Audio Settings Page .................................................................................................. 23
5.1.2 Diagnostics Page....................................................................................................... 27
5.2 Advanced Configuration on Mac OS X (Audio MIDI Setup) ..........................................................30
5.2.1 Input Pane ................................................................................................................. 31
5.2.2 Output Pane .............................................................................................................. 32
Table of Contents
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 - Manual - 4

6 Using the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 (Setup Scenarios) ........................................................33
6.1 Connecting Speakers ..................................................................................................................33
6.1.1 Connecting Active Monitor Speakers.......................................................................... 33
6.1.2 Using KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 in a Setup with Passive Speakers..................................... 34
6.2 Connecting Headphones .............................................................................................................35
6.3 KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 in a Recording Setup ...................................................................................36
6.3.1 Connecting a Condenser Microphone......................................................................... 37
6.3.2 Connecting a Dynamic Microphone............................................................................ 39
6.3.3 Connecting a Guitar / Bass Guitar (with headphones) .............................................. 41
6.3.4 Connecting Line Level Equipment (Synthesizer/Computer/Tapedeck/Mixer Line Out) 43
6.4 KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 with MIDI Devices ........................................................................................45
6.5 Using the Digital Input and Output ............................................................................................47
6.5.1 Connecting a DAT Tapedeck ...................................................................................... 47
6.5.2 Connecting a Synthesizer via Digital I/O.................................................................... 48
6.6 Direct Monitoring ........................................................................................................................49
7 Troubleshooting ........................................................................................................50
7.1 Solving Hardware-related Problems ...........................................................................................50
7.2 How to Check Whether the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 Drivers are Installed Correctly ...........................51
7.3 Troubleshooting (Windows).........................................................................................................52
7.4 Choosing the Correct USB Cable.................................................................................................52
7.5 Getting Help ...............................................................................................................................52
7.5.1 Readme, Knowledge Base, Technical Support ........................................................... 52
7.5.2 Forum ........................................................................................................................ 53
7.6 Updates ......................................................................................................................................53
7.7 Resolving Ground Loop Issues ....................................................................................................54
Table of Contents
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 - Manual - 5

8 Appendix ..................................................................................................................55
8.1 Technical Specifications.............................................................................................................55
8.2 About Latency and Buffers .........................................................................................................55
8.3 Different Types of ASIO (Windows) ..............................................................................................56
Index ........................................................................................................................57
Table of Contents
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 - Manual - 6

1 Welcome to KOMPLETE AUDIO 6!
Thank you for your purchase of KOMPLETE AUDIO 6. It is the ultimate hardware complement
for a variety of home studio and DJ applications. The KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 provides the follow-
ing features:
▪24-bit analog-to-digital / digital-to-analog converters
▪2 analog inputs with XLR / 1/4" jack combo sockets, 48V phantom power, and individual
input gain control knobs on the interface's front panel
▪2 additional balanced inputs with 1/4" TRS jack sockets on the interface's rear panel
▪4 analog and 2 digital outputs
▪1/4" TRS jack headphone socket with button to switch between source outputs 1/2 and 3/4
▪S/PDIF Digital I/O
▪Up to 96kHz sampling rate
▪15 status LED indicators for monitoring the interface's connections
▪ASIO and Core Audio low-latency drivers
1.1 This is Included in the Box
The KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 box contains the following items:
▪The KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 audio interface
▪A USB 2.0 cable
▪A registration flyer with your KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 hardware serial number and a link to the
hardware registration page, where you can register your hardware and download the driver
software for your Windows computer.
Welcome to KOMPLETE AUDIO 6!
This is Included in the Box
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 - Manual - 7

1.2 Document Conventions
This document uses particular formatting to point out special facts and to warn you of poten-
tial issues. The icons introducing the following notes let you see what kind of information can
be expected:
The speech bubble icon indicates a useful tip that may often help you to solve a task
more efficiently.
The exclamation mark icon highlights important information that is essential for the giv-
en context.
The red cross icon warns you of serious issues and potential risks that require your full
attention.
Furthermore, the following formatting is used:
▪Text appearing in (drop-down) menus (such as Open…, Save as… etc.) in the software and
paths to locations on your hard disk or other storage devices is printed in italics.
▪Text appearing elsewhere (labels of buttons, controls, text next to checkboxes etc.) in the
software is printed in blue. Whenever you see this formatting applied, you will find the
same text appearing somewhere on the screen.
▪Text appearing on labels of the hardware is printed in orange. Whenever you see this for-
matting applied, you will find the same text on the hardware.
▪Important names and concepts are printed in bold.
▪References to keys on your computer’s keyboard you’ll find put in square brackets (e.g.,
“Press [Shift] + [Enter]”).
►Single instructions are introduced by this play button type arrow.
→Results of actions are introduced by this smaller arrow.
Welcome to KOMPLETE AUDIO 6!
Document Conventions
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 - Manual - 8

2 Installing KOMPLETE AUDIO 6
This chapter describes how to install the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 audio interface on your comput-
er.
▪If you want to use the audio interface with a Mac, see section ↑2.1, Installing KOMPLETE
AUDIO 6 on Mac OS X.
▪If you want to use the audio interface with a computer runnig Windows, see section ↑2.2,
Installing KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 on Windows.
2.1 Installing KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 on Mac OS X
Mac OS X: No driver installation required. On Mac OS X no driver installation is re-
quired. As a class-compliant USB 2.0 device, KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 uses the operating
system’s built-in drivers provided by Apple.
To connect the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 to your computer:
►Connect the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 to a USB 2.0 port on your computer using the USB
cable provided in the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 box.
Installing KOMPLETE AUDIO 6
Installing KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 on Mac OS X
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 - Manual - 9

2.2 Installing KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 on Windows
In order for the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 to work with your Windows computer, the following two
components will be installed on your system during the software installation process:
▪The KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 driver handles the communication between the audio interface and
your computer.
▪The Control Panel software allows you to adjust several settings affecing performance as
well as control sync and pre-amp settings for Windows.
2.2.1 Important Installation Information
Before starting the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 driver software installation, here are some points to
be aware of:
▪Make sure you have downloaded the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 driver software to your computer
by following the instructions on the registration page:
http://www.native-instruments.com/go-ka6
If you have already registered your device but need to download the installer again, you can
find the relevant downloads in the "My Account" section of the NI website:
https://www.native-instruments.com/en/my-account/my-products-serials
▪Carefully review the installer screens and the suggested installation paths in order to avoid
that any unwanted folders are created on your hard disk.
▪Moving any folders related to Native Instruments software after installation is not recom-
mended. Future software updates rely on the directory locations set during initial installa-
tion.
It may be necessary to disable your anti-virus software during installation, please refer to
the software's own documentation for further information.
Do not connect the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 to your computer before the driver software in-
stallation process is finished.
Installing KOMPLETE AUDIO 6
Installing KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 on Windows
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 - Manual - 10

2.2.2 Installing the Driver Software
To install the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 driver software on Windows:
1. Locate and double-click the Komplete Audio 6 Driver Setup PC.exe file to start the installa-
tion procedure.
2. In the installation prorgam’s Welcome screen, click Next. Then, follow the on-screen in-
structions.
Installing KOMPLETE AUDIO 6
Installing KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 on Windows
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 - Manual - 11

3. On the last screen of the software installation, click Finish.
→All software components are now installed, and the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 can be con-
nected to your computer as described in the following section.
2.2.3 Connecting the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 to Your Computer
To connect the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 to your computer:
Installing KOMPLETE AUDIO 6
Installing KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 on Windows
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 - Manual - 12

►Connect the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 to a USB 2.0 port on your computer using the USB
cable provided in the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 box.
Installing KOMPLETE AUDIO 6
Installing KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 on Windows
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 - Manual - 13

3 Basic Configuration
In order for the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 to operate as your computer's default soundcard, you will
need to select it within the system's audio preferences. Find the relevant instructions in chap-
ter ↑3.1, Selecting the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 as Your System's Default Audio Output Device.
To use the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 as your music software's default audio output, see the infor-
mation given in chapter ↑3.2, Using the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 as an Audio Output Device with
Music Software.
3.1 Selecting the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 as Your System's Default Audio
Output Device
In the following sections, you will learn how to set up the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 as your sys-
tem's default audio output device.
3.1.1 On Windows
1. Open Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound.
2. In the Sound control panel, select the Playback tab.
3. Select the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6’s pair of outputs (Ch A, Out 1|2 or Ch B, Out 3|4) that
you want to set as default by clicking the corresponding entry.
4. Click Set Default.
5. Click OK to confirm your selection and close the window.
→KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 is now selected as the default audio output device.
3.1.2 On Mac OS X
1. Open the System Preferences under the gray Apple Icon menu in the top left corner of
your screen.
2. Below Hardware (second row from top), select Sound.
3. In the Sound control panel, select the Output tab.
Basic Configuration
Selecting the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 as Your System's Default Audio Output Device
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 - Manual - 14

4. Select the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 from the list of available soundcards.
5. Close the panel.
→KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 is now selected as the default audio output device.
3.2 Using the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 as an Audio Output Device with Music
Software
Before using the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 with music production or DJ software, you will need to
set it up as the software's audio output device. Most music production and DJ programs pro-
vide direct access to the soundcard properties in the audio and MIDI setup section of their
preferences dialog. Please refer to the documentation of your music production or DJ software
for more information on how to configure audio and MIDI interfaces.
Basic Configuration
Using the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 as an Audio Output Device with Music Software
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 - Manual - 15

4 The Hardware in Detail
The KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 processes both incoming audio and the audio sent to your computer
(and external equipment) in analog and digital form. It is a stand-alone device which draws
power from the USB connection of your computer. Thus, an external power supply is unneces-
sary. The device provides:
▪sound conversion (from analog to digital and vice versa)
▪playback/monitoring (from an input device or computer to headphones/speakers)
▪recording (from analog/digital inputs into digital data)
The KOMPLETE AUDIO 6.
The Hardware in Detail
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 - Manual - 16

4.1 Front Panel
The front panel of the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6.
(1) INPUT 1 and INPUT 2 (Line and Microphone): These inputs have a combination socket for
use with XLR or 1/4" jack connectors. When connecting an XLR connector, an XLR lock latch-
es. You can easily release the connector by pressing the release tab.
The input GAIN knob lowers/raises the amount of signal going into the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6.
The LINE/INST toggle button selects either LINE mode for strong-signaled inputs (like a syn-
thesizer or the output of an electric piano) or INST for weak-signaled inputs (such as a guitar
or a bass guitar). XLR connected gear is not affected by this button.
(2) MONITOR section: The ON switch turns direct monitoring on/off. With direct monitoring ac-
tivated, the unaffected input signal will be heard with zero latency. The ON switch also dou-
bles as a monitor selector switch. When held for one second, it cycles through three monitor
modes: monitor signal to outputs OUT 1/2; monitor signal to outputs OUT 3/4; and monitor
signal to both output pairs OUT 1/2 and OUT 3/4. The LEDs from the MONITOR section on the
device's top panel display which monitoring mode is currently active.
The MONO switch toggles the monitor output selection between a mono signal and a stereo
signal. Switching to a mono setting aids in monitoring a mono signal, such as a guitar’s mono
input.
The Hardware in Detail
Front Panel
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 - Manual - 17

The VOLUME control lowers/increases the output level of the monitor signal.
(3) Headphones section: The PHONES socket is for plugging in headphones with a 1/4" TRS
jack.
The VOLUME control lowers/increases the output signal of the headphones. The toggle switch
1/2 and 3/4 allows you to determine which output is monitored by the headphones.
4.2 Rear Panel
The rear panel of the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6.
(1) Phantom power button (48V): The phantom power button supplies 48V to condenser micro-
phones, which need this DC voltage to power their active electrical circuitry. This feature elimi-
nates the need for direct boxes or other additional hardware when using a condenser micro-
phone.
Be aware that phantom power can cause serious damage to ribbon microphones. Check
your microphone's manual to see whether it is safe to use phantom power on it. If it
isn't, make sure to disable phantom power on the interface before connecting: Switch
the 48V phantom power button on the device's rear panel off. The 48V LED on the devi-
ce's top panel stops lighting orange when phantom power is disabled.
The Hardware in Detail
Rear Panel
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 - Manual - 18

(2) USB port: The USB port socket connects the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 device to your computer
laptop or workstation via USB 2.0.
(3) MIDI: The MIDI input (IN) and output (OUT) sockets connect to MIDI devices such as MIDI
controllers and hardware synths or workstations. These connections also send and receive MIDI
data to and from your computer, and can be utilized by the music software of your choice.
(4) MAIN outputs 1/2: The MAIN 1/2 outs are balanced outputs. Normally, these are coupled
to a mixer, mixing board, or active speakers via 1/4" jacks. However, you can also use RCA
(phono) cables with suitable 1/4" jack adapters.
(5) Outputs 3/4: The OUT 3/4 sockets are balanced outputs. They offer the option of additional
outputs when setting up 4-channel applications, such as surround sound. They also make as-
signing certain instruments to certain outputs / output pairs or monitoring with a second pair
of speakers possible. These outputs have no dedicated volume control (the output is always at
0 dB) so you will need to control the volume from within your software or the gear they are
connected to.
(6) BALANCED IN 3/4: The IN 3/4 sockets are balanced 1/4" jack sockets. They are used with
synths, tapedecks, CD players, or any other devices or instruments that don’t require phantom
powering.
(7) IN and OUT 5/6: The RCA (phono) sockets 5/6 are used for digital input/output (ADAT In/
Out), and syncing to external digital clocks. Typically, DAT tapedecks or synthesizers with digi-
tal ins/outs utilize these sockets.
The Hardware in Detail
Rear Panel
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 - Manual - 19

4.3 Top Panel
The top panel of the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6.
▪Volume control knob (MAIN VOLUME 1/2): The knob at the center of the top panel provides
a master volume control for the main outputs (MAIN 1/2).
The Hardware in Detail
Top Panel
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 - Manual - 20