1 IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Read these instructions. Keep these instructions. Heed all warnings. Follow all instructions. Do not use this apparatus near water. Clean only with dry cloth. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. 8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat. 9. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer. 10. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time. 11. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as when liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped. FCC Information NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for Class B digital devices, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense. Product Serial #: Purchased at: Date of purchase: Part No. SW0221 Rev. B1 11/05 ©2005 LOUD Technologies Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2 LOUD TECHNOLOGIES INC. END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT Tracktion 2.0 By clicking on the "I Accept" button, installing, copying or otherwise using the Software, you agree to be bound by the terms of this License Agreement. If you do not agree to the terms of this License Agreement, click on the "I Do Not Accept" button and/or do not install the Software. 1. License. YOU (either as an individual or an entity) MAY: (a) use the Software on a maximum of two (2) computers; (b) physically transfer the Software from one computer to another provided that the Software is used on no more than two computers at a time and that you remove any copies of the Software from the computer(s) from which the Software is being transferred; and (c) install another copy of the Software in the event that the first Software installation is unusable. YOU MAY NOT: (a) distribute copies of the Software or the documentation to others; (b) modify, rent, lease or grant sublicenses or other rights to the Software; and (c) use the Software in a computer service business, network, time-sharing, multiple CPU or multiple user arrangement without the prior written consent of LOUD Technologies Inc. 2. Copyright. This License is not a sale of the Software or any other copy. LOUD Technologies Inc. and Raw Material Software retain title and ownership of the Software and documentation, including all intellectual property rights. No title to the intellectual property in the Software is transferred to you. You will not acquire any rights to the Software except as expressly set forth above. 3. Reverse Engineering. You agree that you will not attempt, and if you are a corporation, you will use your best efforts to prevent your employees and contractors from attempting to reverse engineer, disassemble, compile, modify, translate, or otherwise alter the Software or any associated LOUD Technologies Inc. hardware in whole or in part. 4. Limited Warranty. LOUD Technologies Inc. warrants that the media on which the Software is furnished will be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal use for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of purchase. If a defect appears during the warranty period, return the diskette/compact disk to LOUD Technologies Inc., and you will receive a free replacement. This Limited Warranty is void if failure of the Software has resulted from accident, abuse, or misapplication. Any replacement Software will be warranted for the remainder of the original warranty period. The foregoing is your sole and exclusive remedy for breach of warranty. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS THAT VARY BY JURISDICTION. 5. No Other Warranties. LOUD Technologies Inc. AND ITS LICENSOR(s) (hereafter collectively referred to as "LOUD Technologies Inc.") DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE LOUD Technologies Inc. SOFTWARE NOR ANY THIRD-PARTY SOFTWARE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD (collectively the "Software") ARE ERROR FREE. YOU EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE SOFTWARE AND DOCUMENTATION ARE PROVIDED "AS IS." LOUD Technologies Inc. DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER 3 WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE SOFTWARE. SHOULD THE SOFTWARE PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU (AND NOT LOUD Technologies Inc. OR AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE) ASSUME THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION. 6. No Liability for Consequential Damages. IN NO EVENT SHALL LOUD Technologies Inc. BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR INDIRECT DAMAGES OF ANY KIND ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE LOUD Technologies Inc. SOFTWARE, EVEN IF LOUD Technologies Inc. HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. LOUD Technologies Inc.'S LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM, LOSSES, DAMAGES OR INJURY, WHETHER CAUSED BY BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY OF LIABILITY, SHALL NOT EXCEED THE LICENSE FEE PAID BY YOU. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. 7. Term. This Agreement is effective until terminated. You may terminate this Agreement at any time by uninstalling the Software together with destroying any copies in any form. This Agreement, including the license to use the Software, will terminate automatically if you fail to comply with any term or condition 8. Upgrades. LOUD may at its discretion release upgrades to the Software. LOUD has no obligation to offer free or discounted upgrades to any end user of the Software. 9. Governing Law and Severability. This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Washington and will be interpreted as if the agreement were made between Washington residents and performed entirely within Washington. If for any reason a court finds any provision of this License unenforceable, that provision will be enforced to the maximum extent possible, and the remainder of the License shall continue in full force and effect. 10. Entire Agreement. This is the entire agreement between you and LOUD Technologies Inc. AND supersedes any prior agreement, whether written or oral, relating to the subject matter of this Agreement. No amendment or modification of this agreement will be binding unless in writing and signed by a duly authorized representative of LOUD Technologies Inc. 4 CONTENTS IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS .................................2 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................6 The Link.USB Interface ...................................................................6 Bundled Software ..............................................................................6 GETTING STARTED .............................................................................7 Installing the Software....................................................................7 On a PC...............................................................................................8 On a Mac .........................................................................................11 Authorizing Tracktion 2 ...........................................................12 Connecting the Link.USB ............................................................12 Hookup Diagram ............................................................................13 Making a Recording .......................................................................14 LINK.USB FEATURES........................................................................19 Front Panel.........................................................................................19 Rear Panel ..........................................................................................21 APPENDIX A: SERVICE INFORMATION............................23 Warranty Service ............................................................................23 Troubleshooting...............................................................................23 Repair ...................................................................................................25 APPENDIX B: CONNECTIONS ................................................26 APPENDIX C: LINK.USB SPECIFICATIONS ....................28 Block Diagram Link.USB ..............................................................30 What is Latency? ............................................................................31 TAPCO LIMITED WARRANTY ..................................................32 Don't forget to visit our website at www.tapcogear.com for more information about this and other TAPCO products. 5 INTRODUCTION Thank you for purchasing the TAPCO Link.USB Audio Interface for digital recording systems. This is a complete, compact solution for computer-based music production on either a Macintosh or a PC. The Link.USB is a 2x2 USB interface that is powered directly off the USB connection, and also includes Tracktion 2, our powerful audio and MIDI sequencing software for digital recording. This hardware and software combination provides all you need to record and create wonderful music using your laptop or desktop computer. The Link.USB Interface The Link.USB interface provides two analog audio inputs that can accept microphone level, line level, or direct instrument input signals. The analog audio signals are routed to high-quality ADCs (Analog-toDigital Converters) operating at 44.1, 48, 88.2, or 96 kHz with 24-bits. The digital signal is then routed to the USB port for connection to your computer. The analog inputs are "combo" jacks that accept either a balanced XLR connector or a balanced or unbalanced 1/4" TRS or TS connector. When a microphone is plugged into an XLR input, that channel automatically adjusts to become a mic input. When a 1/4" TRS or TS connector is plugged in, that channel adjusts to become a line-level input (or an instrument-level input if the INSTRUMENT button is pressed in). Master mixes can also be transferred from your host computer back to the Link.USB for monitoring during tracking or overdubbing. A front panel MIX knob is provided to add low-latency direct monitoring (from the analog inputs) to playback monitoring (from the USB input). Monitoring is provided by the headphone jack on the front, and by balanced outputs on the back, each with their own level controls. Bundled Software The Link.USB comes with some incredibly powerful software to get you started with your own desktop multitrack audio recording music production studio. Tracktion 2 is an easy-to-use multitrack audio recording and MIDI sequencing software application, capable of unlimited track count, VST support, automation, and much more. It comes with a plethora of plug-ins to give you a wide variety of EQ, compressor, and effects processors to use in creating exactly the sound you want. 6 GETTING STARTED Use this section to get your Link.USB set up quickly. Installing the Software · · The Link.USB CD contains an installer that will install the Tracktion 2 software application, plug-ins, and drivers. Visit http://my.tapcogear.com to register your Link.USB. If you haven't already done so, set up an account by entering your email address and clicking, "No, I want to create an account." Then click "Continue." Enter the information to set up your profile. Then click "Create My Account." Then proceed to register your Link.USB by clicking "TAPCO Product Registration." Your computer must meet the following minimum system requirements: PC Requirements · Windows XP (SP2) · Pentium III or better processor · 256 MB RAM (512 MB recommended) · 40 MB hard disk space Macintosh Requirements · OS X (10.3 or later) · Power Mac G3 (600 MHz or faster), G4, or G5 processor · 256 MB RAM (512 MB recommended) · 35 MB hard disk space · 7 To install the software on a PC running Windows XP (SP2): 1. Turn off any (non-essential) applications. 2. Insert the Link.USB CD-ROM into your PC's CD-ROM drive. 3. The CD should begin automatically, bringing up the Link.USB installer. If not, click Start in the task bar, then click Run and click Browse. Browse to ...