Purebits X2 User manual
USB AUDIO INTERFACE
OWNER'S MANUAL
Purebits
http://purebits. om
HARDWARE VR. 1.4
X2 Owner's Manual - Rev. 1.4 - page 1
Table of Contents
Pre autions and warnings............................................................. 2
Introdu tion................................................................................. 3
Key features................................................................................. 3
Produ t features........................................................................... 4
What's in the pa kage................................................................... 5
Installation................................................................................... 6
Generic Windows drivers................................................................ 6
ASIO drivers............................................................................... 10
Controls and Indi ators............................................................... 10
Front Panel................................................................................. 10
Rear Panel.................................................................................. 11
Using the X2................................................................................ 11
Pla ing...................................................................................... 11
Recording................................................................................... 16
CE De laration of Conformity....................................................... 17
END USER WARRANTY................................................................. 17
Pre autions and warnings
Please read carefull this manual before operating the unit!
This devi e uses low voltage (5V) power supply from the omputer USB port.
It must be used only on a CE ompliant personal omputer.
All registered trademarks and brand names used in this document are the registered
property of their respective owners.
X2 Owner's Manual - Rev. 1.4 - page 2
Introdu tion
X2 is an USB soundcard providing stereo analog input/output. It has been designed
and manufactured for acoustics measurement and Live Recordings purposes, but can
be used also for general tasks.
X2 is completel plug&pla in PC, Mac and Linux/Unix environments, does not require
an external power suppl and is enclosed in a robust and light-weight aluminum
case.
Key features
Full Compliant with USB 1.1
Bus powered (does not require an external power suppl )
16-bit Delta-Sigma ADC and DAC
Sampling Rate:
- DAC: 32, 44.1, 48 kHz
- ADC: 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 32, 44.1, 48 kHz
Uses onl Burr-Brown Codec and Operational Amplifiers in the audio signal path.
For more information about specifications and performance see the Burr-Brown (Texas
Instruments) website http://www.ti.com and search for PCM2906 (codec) and
OPA2353 (Opamp).
Available in 2 color options:
Black anodized aluminum enclosure Natural anodized aluminum enclosure
X2 Owner's Manual - Rev. 1.4 - page 3
Produ t features
2 channel IN / 2 channel OUT USB soundcard (16 bit, up to 48 kHz (*) sample
rate), compatible with all Windows versions (no driver required), Linux and Macintosh.
High accurac A/D and D/A converters from Burr-Brown:
(*) The soundcard can operate also at a sample frequency of 9 kHz, but the audio bandwidth
is limited to 22 kHz.
No external power suppl required. Powered from USB port.
Ver robust anodized aluminum enclosure.
Compact size: 54 x 23 x 80 mm
2 color options: Anodized black or anodized natural
Input and output stages based on state of the art Burr-Brown operational amplifiers
USB soundcard Stereo JACK Input connector. Fixed input gain.
USB soundcard Stereo JACK Output. It can drive Line/headphone loads.
Phantom power optimized for Panasonic WM6x series electret microphonic capsules
(3,6 V). Alwa s enabled.
X2 power consumption is 0.325 W
X2 Owner's Manual - Rev. 1.4 - page 4
What's in the pa kage
X2 audio device
USB cable
Two stereo Jack to 2 RCA converters
One stereo RCA-RCA cable
X2 Owner's Manual - Rev. 1.4 - page 5
Installation
Generic Windows drivers
The X2 device does not require an additional driver to operate.
Locate an USB port of our computer and onne t, with the cable provided in the
package, the X2 devi e. The blu led in the front panel of the X2 will light. The first
installation from this point depends from our operating s stem.
Windows XP and 2000
After the X2 connection the s stem will displa the message “Found new Hardware”
and will install automaticall the required drivers.
After this step, the X2 will be read to use.
Windows Millenium
After the X2 connection the s stem will displa the message “Add new Hardware
Wizard”. Follow the instructions and enable (if asked) the option “Search for the best
driver”. After completing this procedure, the X2 will be read to use.
Windows 98 SE
After the X2 connection, the s stem will displa the message “Add new Hardware
Wizard”, that will refer to an USB Composite Device (the displa ed name could be
different depending on the local and language version of the operating s stem).
X2 Owner's Manual - Rev. 1.4 - page 6
Click Next and the following window will appear:
Select the “Search for the best driver” option and click Next.
The following window will appear:
X2 Owner's Manual - Rev. 1.4 - page 7
Now the standard USB Audio windows driver must be installed:
1- Tr deselecting all options and click Next.
If no suitable drivers are found, repeat this step:
2a- Insert our Windows 98 CDROM, select the CD-ROM option and click Next.
2b- Alternativel (if our Windows 98 installation files are on the hard disk) use the
“Specif a location” option, Browse for the Windows 98 cabs files (usuall the are in
C:\Windows\Options\Cabs location) and click Next.
After this operation, a new window will appear, informing that Windows is read to
install the best driver for this device.
The message will inform: Location of the driver C:\WINDOWS\INF\USB.INF (this
may vary depending on your Windows installation folder).
Click Next and the last screen will inform that Windows has finished installing the
software and an USB Composite Device is installed. Click Finish.
After this operation another “Add new Hardware Wizard” will be displa ed. Follow
exactl the same procedure described above and install the USB Human Interfa e.
The final dialog will give ou the information:
Location of the driver C:\WINDOWS\INF\HIDDEV.INF
After this installation, the last “Add new Hardware Wizard” will be displa ed. Follow
again the same procedure to install the USB Audio Devi e.
The final dialog will inform:
Location of the driver C:\WINDOWS\INF\WDMA_USB.INF (this may be different
depending on many factors)
Now the X2 is operative, and can be disconnected and reconnected to the pc at an
time without additional installation requirements.
The driver installed are the standard MME and/or the WDM drivers (backward
compatible with the MME drivers).
Verif ing the correct installation
In Windows XP and Windows 2000, right-click the My Computer icon on the
desktop, click Properties and S stem Properties, then the Device Manager button.
In Windows 98 SE and Windows Millenium, right-click the My Computer icon on
the desktop, click Properties and, in the S stem Properties screen, the Device
Manager tab.
If the X2 is installed correctl , 3 new devices should be listed:
X2 Owner's Manual - Rev. 1.4 - page 8
USB Audio Devi e in the Sound, video and game ontrollers section:
Composite USB Devi e in the USB Controller (Universal Serial Bus) section:
USB Human Interfa e Devi e in the Human Interfa e Devi es section:
X2 Owner's Manual - Rev. 1.4 - page 9
ASIO drivers
The X2 sound card is compatible with ASIO drivers. To use the X2 with ASIO, a
generic ASIO driver can be used. There are some freeware ASIO drivers on internet.
We suggest ASIO4ALL b Michael Tippach, that can be downloaded from here:
http://www.asio4all.com/
Another free generic ASIO driver is ASIO2KS, b Tobias Erichsen.
It can be downloaded from http://www.asio2ks.de/
Please refer to the respective webpages for instructions about the use of these
drivers.
ASIO is a trademark of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH
Controls and Indi ators
Front Panel
[1] Stereo IN
- Stereo input of the soundcard
- The gain of the input be adjusted b means of the Windows mixer (see below)
- The phantom power suppl (3.6 V) is alwa s enabled. The voltage is obtained from
an 8.2KOhm resistor connected to a ver clean source. This voltage is suitable for
most microphone electret capsules such as the Panasonic WM61 series.
[2] Power suppl led
- It lights when the device is connected to the computer usb port.
[3] Stereo OUT
- Stereo output of the Soundcard.
- It can drive an Headphone.
X2 Owner's Manual - Rev. 1.4 - page 10
Rear Panel
[4] USB
USB connector. It allows to connect the soundcard to the PC b means of an USB
cable.
Using the X2
Pla ing
When the USB device is connected to the computer, a new audio device will be
automaticall available in the s stem. If some other audio devices are present (such
as a built-in soundcard on the motheboard or another soundcard), the USB audio
device can be selected as preferred audio device in Windows from Control Panel /
Multimedia properties.
Alternativel , the USB audio device can be selected, among all other soundcards, from
our audio software.
The X2 doesn't need an additional software setting to work. The sample rate is set
automaticall when the recording and/or pla ing of a sound is started.
The standard Windows mixer can be used for adjusting the output sound level. It can
be accessed from Windows taskbar START / Programs / Accessories.
The Windows mixer can be started also b writing SNDVOL32 in the “Run” field of
Windows menu.
X2 Owner's Manual - Rev. 1.4 - page 11
In Windows 98:
In Windows XP:
X2 Owner's Manual - Rev. 1.4 - page 12
write SNDVOL32 in the next window:
The Windows mixer will be shown. If more than one soundcard is installed in our
computer, the USB Audio Device must be selected in the Windows mixer. To do this,
simpl select the Options/Properties menu item:
and in the next window select USB Audio Devi e and the Playba k section.
X2 Owner's Manual - Rev. 1.4 - page 13
Enable the “Master Out” and “Wave” checkboxes and disable all other ones.
NOTE: the “Master Out” and “Wave” names could be different depending on our
Windows operating s stem language settings.
NOTE: There is no Re ording section available in the mixer for the X2. The input
gain is fixed.
Now the mixer will look as follows:
X2 Owner's Manual - Rev. 1.4 - page 14
To obtain the best audio results it is recommended to keep alwa s the Wave slider at
the maximum level and to use the Master Out to adjust the output level.
NOTE: when a full-scale digital signal is pla ed and the Wave slider is at 100%, it is
recommended to keep the Master Out slider at about 80%. Otherwise a distortion
could occour on the output.
This is a design choice: the internal gain of the output buffers are fixed in this wa in
order to offer an extra-gain amplification in case of low level signals.
X2 Owner's Manual - Rev. 1.4 - page 15
Recording
Examples of use:
- MLS anal sis with Sample Champion measurement software (with autos nc feature
enabled): right channel input connected to right channel output, left chennel input
connected to the microphone, left channel output connected to power amplifier and
loudspeaker.
These connections can be obtained b using the provided JACK to RCA converters and
the RCA-RCA cable, as shown in the following picture:
X2 Owner's Manual - Rev. 1.4 - page 16
CE De laration of Conformity
This equipment has been tested and found to compl with the limits for:
CEI EN 55022 (Radiated and conducted Class B Emissions)
CEI EN 55024 (Radiated and conducted Immunit )
CEI EN 61000-4-3 (Radiated RF Immunit )
CEI EN 61000-4-2 (ESD Immunit )
Tested b Laboratorio CE s.a.s,
Via Garibaldi – 00010 Montelibretti (Roma) - ITALY
Jul 2004
Complete compliance documentation is available on request.
END USER WARRANTY
Purebits and its owner, Paolo Guidorzi, warrants the X2 unit audio interface against
defects for a period of one ear from the date of purchase. This warrant is non-
transferable and is applicable onl to the original purchaser.
Purebits will replace or repair an product recognized as defective.
This warrant cannot be applied to damages that are consequence of misuse or
modifications. The device does not contain user-serviceable parts. Opening of the unit
voids the warrant .
THIS PRODUCT IS DISTRIBUTED "AS IS". NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND IS
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. YOU USE THIS PRODUCT AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE
MANUFACTURER WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL
OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES WHILE USING OR MISUSING THIS PRODUCT.
Technical support contact:
Paolo Guidorzi - Purebits.com
email: support@purebits.com
To obtain warrant service the purchaser must send an email request to the above
address before returning the product. An authorization number and further
instructions for the shipment will be sent to the purchaser. The returned unit must be
shipped to Purebits offices in Ital with prepa ed freight. An other kind of shipment
will be rejected.
If the defect is not a consequence of misuse or modification, the product will be
replaced or repaired at no cost and returned to the user at no extra charge.
All features and specifications contained in this document are subject to change
without notice.
X2 Owner's Manual - Rev. 1.4 - page 17
Table of contents
