Zoom Thunderbolt TAC-2 User manual

Operation Manual
© 2013 ZOOM CORPORATION
Copying or reprinting this manual in part or in
whole without permission is prohibited.

2
Introduction
Introduction ……………………………… 2
Usage and safety precautions………… 3
Part Names ……………………………… 4
Installing the driver …………………… 7
Turning the Power ON ………………… 8
Playback ………………………………… 9
Recording ……………………………… 11
Troubleshooting ……………………… 13
Specifications ………………………… 14
2-in/2-out Thunderbolt™ audio converter
The audio converter usesThunderbolt™, the latest generation of high-speed interface technology.
With this, we have realized a system with low latency that was not possible using USB 2.0. Since it also
supports recording and playback at up to 24-bit/192kHz, it can also be used for the playback of high-
resolution sound sources delivered with superior audio quality over the Internet.
Attention to audio performance
The entire system reproduces the original audio faithfully. An asynchronous transfer system
that is not impacted by computer jitter is used along with the latest AD/DA converter, which
supports 192kHz.
High-performance mic preamps
Burr Brown brand mic preamps that can provide a maximum of +60dB amplification and
+48V phantom power are used for each of the inputs.
dedicated mixer application
Use this application to make internal mixer and monitoring effect settings. For details about
, see the ZOOM website (http://www.zoom.co.jp/downloads/).
Contents
Introduction

3
Usage and safety precautions
Usage and safety precautions
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
In this operation manual, symbols are used to highlight warnings
and cautions that you must read to pre vent accidents. The
meanings of these symbols are as follows.
Warning
Something that could cause serious injury or death
Caution
Something that could cause injury or damage to the
equipment
Other symbols used
An action that is mandatory
An action that is prohibited
Warnings
Alterations
Do not open the case or modify the product.
Precautions
Product handling
Do not drop, bump or apply excessive force to the unit.
Be careful not to allow foreign objects or liquids enter the unit.
Operating environment
Do not use in extremely high or low temperatures.
Do not use near heaters, stoves and other heat sources.
Do not use in very high humidity or where it could be splashed by water.
Do not use in places with frequent vibrations.
Do not use in places with much dust or sand.
Connection cables and input/output jacks
Always turn the power OFF for all equipment before connecting any
cables.
Always disconnect all connection cables and the AC adapter before
moving the unit.
Volume
Do not use at a loud volume for a long time.
Usage Precautions
Interference with other electrical equipment
In consideration of safety, the has been designed to minimize its
emission of electromagnetic waves and to suppress interference from external
electromagnetic waves. However, equipment that is very susceptible to interference
or that emits powerful electromagnetic waves could result in interference if placed
nearby. If this occurs, place the and the other device farther apart. With
any type of electronic device that uses digital control, including the ,
electromagnetic interference could cause malfunction, corrupt or destroy data and
result in other unexpected trouble. Always use caution.
Cleaning
Use a soft cloth to clean the exterior of the unit if it becomes dirty. If necessary, use
a damp cloth that has been wrung out well. Never use abrasive cleansers, wax or
solvents such as alcohol, benzene or paint thinner.
Temperature considerations
Continuous use of this interface for long periods of time, for example, might cause it
to become warm. This is normal as long as it does not become too hot to touch.
Breakdown and malfunction
If the should malfunction or operate abnormally, disconnect it immediately.
Then, contact the retailer where you purchased it or Zoom support and provide the
following information: product model, serial number and details of the symptoms
of malfunction or abnormal operation, as well as your name, address and telephone
number.
Copyrights
t.BDJOUPTIBOE.BD04BSFUSBEFNBSLTPSSFHJTUFSFEUSBEFNBSLTPG"QQMF*OD
t5IVOEFSCPMUBOEUIF5IVOEFSCPMUMPHPBSFUSBEFNBSLTPG*OUFM$PSQPSBUJPOJOUIF64
and/or other countries.
t"MMPUIFS QSPEVDUOBNFT USBEFNBSLTBOE DPNQBOZOBNFTJOUIJTEPDVNFOUBSF
the property of their respective owners.
/PUF"MMUSBEFNBSLT BOESFHJTUFSFE USBEFNBSLTJO UIJTEPDVNFOU BSFGPS
identification purposes only and are not intended to infringe on the copyrights of
their respective owners.
Recording for any purpose other than personal use from copyrighted sources,
JODMVEJOH$%T SFDPSETUBQFTMJWFQFSGPSNBODFTWJEFP XPSLTBOECSPBEDBTUT
without permission of the copyright holder is prohibited by law.
Zoom Corporation will not assume any responsibility related to infringements of
copyrights.

4
Headphones
Guitar
Part Names
Control knob
Use to adjust the
input gain and
volume.
PHONES jack
Connect headphones here.
INSTRUMENT input jack
Connect a guitar/bass here.
Part Names
HINT
t 1SFTTUIFDPOUSPMLOPCUPDZDMFUISPVHIXIBUJUDPOUSPMTJO UIFGPMMPXJOHPSEFS*/165*/165
*/1650651651)0/&4
Top Panel

5
Speakers
Computer
Mic
Part Names
INPUT 1 and INPUT 2 jacks
$POOFDUBNJDPSLFZCPBSEIFSF
*/165JTEJTBCMFEXIFOB DBCMFJTQMVHHFEJOUP
UIF*/4536.&/5JOQVUKBDL
Thunderbolt™ port
Use to connect to a
Computer.
OUTPUT jacks
$POOFDUTQFBLFSTXJUICVJMUJOBNQMJmFSTPSBOBNQMJmFSBOETQFBLFSTZTUFN
5IFTFKBDLTTVQQPSUCBMBODFEPVUQVU
Rear Panel
XLR TRS
1：GND
2：HOT
3：COLD
TIP：HOT
RING：COLD
SLEEVE：GND
12
3

6
Part Names
+48V indicator
This indicator lights when phantom power is
in use and is unlit at other times.
LED meters
These show the input gain or input/output levels
according to the item currently selected for control.
If the signal clips when showing input or output
MFWFMTUIFSFE-&%BUUIFWFSZUPQMJHIUT
Status LEDs
These show the current
DPOUSPMLOPCBTTJHONFOUT
Display
This shows the input gain, and input and output levels, for example.
*/165
*/165
: OUTPUT
1)0/&4
Part Names (continued)

7
Installing the driver
Installing the driver
1. Download the ZOOM TAC-2 Driver from http://www.zoom.
co.jp/downloads/ to your computer.
NOTE
t :PVDBOEPXOMPBEUIFMBUFTU;00.5"$%SJWFSGSPNUIFBCPWFXFCTJUF
t %POPUDPOOFDUUIF when installing the driver.
t 5IFTVQQPSUFEPQFSBUJOHTZTUFNTBSFBTGPMMPXT
.BD049PSMBUFS
2. Click the ZOOM TAC-2 Driver.pkg icon to launch the installer.
'PMMPXUIFJOTUSVDUJPOTUIBUBQQFBSPOTDSFFOUPJOTUBMMUIF;00.5"$%SJWFS
3. Connect the and the computer using aThunderbolt™ cable.
4. Open the Sound pane of the System Preferences and set both
the Input and Output to ZOOMTAC-2.

8
Turning the Power ON
Turning the Power ON
1. Minimize the volume of the devices connected to the .
2. Connect the and the computer using aThunderbolt™
cable. (This turns the power on.)
NOTE
t 5IFVOJUXJMMOPUUVSOPOJGUIFESJWFSJTOPUJOTUBMMFE
 'PMMPXUIFJOTUSVDUJPOPOQBHFUPJOTUBMMUIF;00.5"$%SJWFS
3. Raise the volume of the devices connected to the .

9
Playback
Adjusting the OUTPUT volume
1. Select .
Press repeatedly until the lights.
2. Adjust the volume.
"GUFSZPVGJOJTIEPJOHUIJTUIF-&%NFUFST
will automatically resume showing the output
MFWFMTPGUIF065165KBDLT
Adjusting the OUTPUT volume
Press
Turn

10
Playback
"EKVTUJOHUIF1)0/&4WPMVNF
1. Select .
Press repeatedly until the lights.
2. Adjust the volume.
"GUFSZPVGJOJTIEPJOHUIJTUIF-&%NFUFST
will automatically resume showing the output
MFWFMTPGUIF1)0/&4KBDLT
"EKVTUJOHUIF1)0/&4WPMVNF
Press
Turn

11
Recording
Adjusting input gain
1. Select the input that you want to
adjust.
1SFTTSFQFBUFEMZVOUJMUIF-&%GPSUIFJOQVUUIBU
you want to adjust lights.
HINT
t:PVDBO BEKVTUCPUI*/165BOE
*/165BUUIFTBNFUJNF
2. Adjust the input gain.
HINT
t"EKVTUUIFHBJOTPUIBUBU UIF
NBYJNVNJOQVUMFWFMUIFSFE-&%TBU
UIFWFSZUPQPGUIF-&%MFWFMNFUFST
do not light.
"GUFSZPVGJOJTIEPJOHUIJTUIF-&%NFUFST
will automatically resume showing the levels
of the selected inputs.
Adjusting input gain
Turn
Press

12
Recording
Using phantom power
1. Select the input to which you want
to provide phantom power.
1SFTTSFQFBUFEMZVOUJMUIF-&%GPSUIFJOQVU
to which you want to provide phantom power
lights.
2. Turn phantom power on (or off).
Press and hold for one second.
HINT
t */165 BOE */165 DBO CPUICF
turned ON/OFF at the same time.
Using phantom power
Press and hold
Press

13
Cannot select or use the device
Confirm that thetis connected to the
computer correctly.
Quit all the software that is using thet,
and disconnect and reconnect the Thunderbolt™
cable connected to the .
Reinstall the driver.t
Playback sound cannot be heard or is quiet
$IFDLUIF TQFBLFSDPOOFDUJPOTBOEWPMVNFt
TFUUJOHTPOUIFTQFBLFST
"EKVTUUIFTQFBLFSWPMVNFPSIFBEQIPOFt
volume on the .
$POmSNUIBUUIF0VUQVUPGUIF4PVOEQBOFPGUIFt
4ZTUFN1SFGFSFODFTJTTFUUP;00.5"$
Recorded audio is too loud, too quiet or silent
Adjust the input gain of thet.
Confirm that no connection cable is pluggedt
JOUPUIF*/4536.&/5JOQVUKBDL*GZPVXBOUUP
SFDPSEVTJOH*/165ZPVNVTUEJTDPOOFDUBOZ
DPOOFDUJPODBCMFGSPNUIF*/4536.&/5JOQVU
KBDL
When using a condenser mic, turn phantomt
power on.
$POmSNUIBUUIF*OQVUPGUIF 4PVOEQBOF PGUIFt
4ZTUFN1SFGFSFODFTJTTFUUP;00.5"$
The sound of the device connected to the
input jack is distorted
$POGJSNUIBUUIFSFE-&%T BSFOPUMJHIUJOHt
XIFOUIF-&%NFUFSTBSFTIPXJOHUIFJOQVU
levels. If they are lighting, lower the input
levels.
Sound skips during playback or recording
If you can adjust the audio buffer size of thet
software that you are using, increase the buffer
size.
Cannot play or record
$POGJSNUIBU;00.5"$JTTFMFDUFEJOUIFt
4PVOEQBOFPGUIF4ZTUFN1SFGFSFODFT
Confirm thattis set for input and output in
the software that you are using.
Confirm thattis connected to the
computer correctly.
Quit all the software that is using thet,
and disconnect and reconnect the Thunderbolt™
cable connected to the .
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting

14
Specifications
4QFDJmDBUJPOT
Inputs */165 Connector 9-3534DPNCPKBDLT9-3IPU5345*1IPU
Input gain oE#JOE#TUFQT
Input impedance Lû
.BYJNVNJOQVUMFWFM E#VBUE#'4
Phantom power 7
*/4536.&/5
*/165
Connector 4UBOEBSEQIPOFEJTBCMFT*/165XIFOJOVTF
Input impedance .û
.BYJNVN*OQVUMFWFM E#VBUE#'4
Outputs OUTPUT
L/R
Connector $POOFDUPS534QIPOFCBMBODFE
.BYJNVNPVUQVUMFWFM E#VBUE#'4
Output impedance û
1)0/&4 Connector 4UBOEBSETUFSFPQIPOFKBDL
N8¨JOUPûMPBE
.BYJNVNPVUQVUMFWFM E#VBUE#'4
Output impedance û
Frequency characteristics "UL)[ ¦E#)[oL)[
"UL)[ ¦E#)[oL)[
"UL)[ ¦E#)[oL)[
Input conversion noise .FBTVSFE&*/E#*)'"XJUIE#ûJOQVU
Dynamic range "%E#UZQJDBM*)'"
%"E#UZQJDBM*)'"
Number of audio recording and
playback channels
3FDPSEJOH DIBOOFMT
1MBZCBDL DIBOOFMT
Sampling frequencies L)[L)[L)[L)[L)[L)[
Bit depth CJU
Interface Thunderbolt™
Power Source Thunderbolt™
Power consumption 8NBYJNVN
Dimensions NN%¨NN8¨NN)
Weight (main unit only) H
tE#N7SNT

Z2I-1872-01
ZOOM CORPORATION
4VSVHBEBJ,BOEB$IJZPEBLV5PLZP+BQBO
http://www.zoom.co.jp
t3FPSJFOUPSSFMPDBUFUIFSFDFJWJOHBOUFOOB
t*ODSFBTFUIFTFQBSBUJPOCFUXFFOUIFFRVJQNFOUBOESFDFJWFS
t
Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
t$POTVMUUIFEFBMFSPSBOFYQFSJFODFESBEJP57UFDIOJDJBOGPSIFMQ
FCC regulation warning (for U.S.A.)
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant
UP1BSU PGUIF'$$3VMFT5IFTF MJNJUTBSFEFTJHOFEUPQSPWJEFSFBTPOBCMFQSPUFDUJPOBHBJOTUIBSNGVM
interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference
to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by
one or more of the following measures:
Disposal of Old Electrical & Electronic Equipment
(Applicable in European countries with separate collection systems)
5IJTTZNCPMPOUIFQSPEVDUPSPOJUTQBDLBHJOHJOEJDBUFTUIBUUIJTQSPEVDUTIBMMOPUCFUSFBUFEBTIPVTFIPME
waste. Instead it shall be handed over to the applicable collection point for the recycling of electrical and
electronic equipment. By ensuring this product is disposed of correctly, you will help prevent potential
negative consequences for the environment and human health, which could otherwise be caused by
inappropriate waste handling of this product. The recycling of materials will help to conserve natural
resources. For more detailed information about recycling of this product, please contact your local city
office, your household waste disposal service or the shop where you purchased the product.
Declaration of Conformity:
This product complies with the requirements of EMC Directive 2004/108/
EC and RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU
For EU Countries