User manual M-AUDIO OMNI I-O

[. . . ] . 30 Introduction Congratulations on your purchase of the Omni I/O Integrated Desktop Audio Station, designed and manufactured by M Audio. The Omni I/O is a "front end" companion to the Delta 66 or Delta 44 by M Audio, offering you truly professional options for both recording to and monitoring from your Delta Series audio card. Please read this manual to familiarize yourself with the Omni I/O and its features, and to understand how you can make the versatility of the Omni I/O work best for you. Before connecting the Omni I/O, you must install your Delta 44 or Delta 66 card, carefully following the procedure found in the manual for your Delta card. 1. [. . . ] If you use only the MIDI synthesizer that is part of your computer's sound card (like a Dman PCI, a Sound Blaster, or Yamaha OPL), we suggest taking the audio output of the sound card and plugging it into the Omni Aux Input (using the proper adapter cable). We chose the stereo 1/4" TRS jack so that more Aux Ins would fit on the Omni. Many people use up to four MIDI devices, so more inputs is preferable, though it does require a special cable. If you need additional inputs, a line mixer can combine several devices to one of the Omni stereo auxiliary inputs. If you've followed the basic playback setup in section 6, you are ready to monitor your MIDI instruments and therefore ready to start sequencing using your MIDI sequencing software. Even if you wish to begin your recording project with some live audio tracks, you may want to establish a MIDI metronome "click track" as a timing reference. 9. 2 Setting MIDI Playback Levels Playback levels of your MIDI tracks will be controlled by your sequencing software. We suggest setting the output control on each of your MIDI sound modules to the maximum setting (if they seem noisy at that setting while no MIDI is playing, choose 12 o'clock or 3 o'clock). Then, set the playback level of your MIDI track by adjusting the MIDI volume of that particular patch being used (this can be done within the sound module or on the sequencer MIDI track), and/or by adjusting the MIDI velocity setting on the MIDI track in the sequencer. By setting the MIDI playback level on each individual MIDI track, that setting is saved with your software's song file. By leaving the MIDI sound modules on their maximum setting, or by leaving them on one particular setting (like 9 o'clock or 12 o'clock), the MIDI levels saved in your software will give you "instant recall" of consistent playback levels. 18 10. Recording Audio to the Delta 44 or 66 Take some time to read the Delta manual that came with your Delta card. Recording audio tracks requires a proper record setup, but setup for monitoring those signals while recording is equally important. Having read the basic recording setup in section 7 of this manual, you understand that Omni Mic/Instr Channel 1 is connected to the Delta H/W (hardware) In1. Omni Mic/Instr Channel 2 is connected to the Delta H/W (hardware) In 2, and Omni Line Ins 3 & 4 are connected to Delta H/W Ins 3 & 4 respectively. This is the Omni recording section, and these are the "record channels. " Below, for your convenience, we've created a chart describing what "source" you should select within your music software for your respective Omni inputs. Next, you'll want to set up the way you monitor the signals you are recording, then set up the gain structure for your recording levels. OMNI Input: Mic In1 Instr In 1 Mic In 2 Instr In 2 Line In 3 Line In 4 Aux In 1 to "Ins 1, 2" Aux In 2 to "Ins 3, 4" Set Input "SOURCE" To: Left PCM In 1/2 Delta Left PCM In 1/2 Delta Right PCM In 1/2 Delta Right PCM In 1/2 Delta Left PCM In 3/4 Delta Right PCM In 3/4 Delta Left PCM In 1/2 Delta Right PCM In 1/2 Delta Left PCM In 3/4 Delta Right PCM In 3/4 Delta Software W/ Stereo Ins Stereo PCM In 1/2 Delta Stereo PCM In 3/4 Delta Delta ASIO: ASIO In 1 ASIO In 1 ASIO In 2 ASIO In 2 ASIO In 3 ASIO In 4 ASIO In 1 ASIO In 2 ASIO In 3 ASIO In 4 M Audio Delta EASI: Input 1 Input 1 Input 2 Input 2 Input 3 Input 4 Input 1 Input 2 Input 3 Input 4 M Audio Delta EASI: Input 1/2 Input 3/4 Aux In 1 to "Ins 1, 2" Aux In 2 to "Ins 3, 4" Recording software will vary, but once you've set up your levels, recording them is fairly basic. Recording is also covered extensively in your Delta manual, and there should also be a tutorial in your software's manual. With the gain controls on the Omni turned down, plug a microphone or an instrument (such as electric or acoustic guitar) into Mic/Instr Channel 1 and/or Channel 2. Or, plug a line level device such as a CD player or additional mic/instrument pre-amps into Line Ins 3 & 4. 19 1. 10. 1 Monitoring the Signals You Are Recording We've spoken about listening to the playback of recorded audio files while the Delta Patchbay/Router is set to the "software" outputs. Only certain music software allows you to use that setting to monitor the signals you are recording. [. . . ] Also, recording to the same track could cause a feedback loop if you're recording effects at the same time you're recording the instrument or mic. Assume that you have a vocal mic plugged into Mic/Instr Channel 1, recording onto "Left PCM In 1 Delta. " The software outputs are set to Delta WavOut 1/2, and according to monitor setup A(section 10. 1), this is being sent to Delta H/W Out 1. Take the outputs of your effects unit, and "return" them to Omni Line Ins 3 & 4. Set two tracks of your music software to record "Left and Right PCM 3/4 Delta" (or one track to "Stereo PCM" if your software records stereo tracks). [. . . ]