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Alva Nanoface, User Manual, Page: 7 / 25

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Alva Nanoface User Manual Download Page 7

It’s possible to connect the Nanoface to every Windows or Mac 
computer with a standard USB 2.0 port: 

a) Connect the included USB cable to the USB 2.0 port on the back of 
the Nanoface. 

b) The included USB cable provides two connectors. Connect the main 
connector to a free USB 2.0 port. 

Tip

: On every computer system we’ve tested, the Nanoface is sufficiently 

powered by the main connector of the included USB cable. This means: all 
3rd party USB 2.0 cables will work with the Nanoface!

Tip

: In most setups a powered USB hub will also work. Keep in mind every 

device on the hub will consume power from it, so it might help to connect 
only the Nanoface to this hub.

12

13

Mount the included breakout cable with the XLR and RCA connectors to the 15-pin 
port on the rear of the Nanoface.  

Optional 

extension cables 

for the breakout cable are available from ALVA in lengths of 1 

m (3.3 ft.) and 3 m (9.8 ft.). Please visit the ALVa website for more details.

If you want to listen to music from the Nanoface after the installation process, keep a 
double RCA cable ready for the connection of the breakout cable to your speakers or HiFi 
preamp.

Getting started

3

1. Connect the breakout cable

2. Connect the Nanoface to the computer

USB connector

15-pin breakout cable 

port

15-pin breakout cable connector

The Nanoface is 

completely powered by 

the USB connection. 
All features are available 

connecting the Nanoface 

with a simple USB cable to 

the host computer.

Summary of Contents for Nanoface

Page 1: ...Nanoface User manual ...

Page 2: ...o be false misleading or in contravention to law statute or regulation you assume all risks ALVA does not accept responsibility for any loss damage or expense resulting from the use of this information contained in the manual even if the information was false misleading or in contravention to law statute or regulation Please send feedback comments and corrections to info alva audio de The Nanoface...

Page 3: ...ere is no need to be creative as all destinations can be reached with just some knowledge and craftsmanship The ALVA designers decided to try another way Sensible downsizing The Nanoface is designed as partner of modern digital audio workstations There are no software option dialogs or an integrated mixer Just a high speed driver All modern audio programs provide a low latency engine an integrated...

Page 4: ...lectric guitar or bass Phones output Analog output 3 4 Breakout cable Extension cable option available 1 3 m 3 2 9 8 ft Digital S PDIF I O optical MIDI input Analog inputs 1 2 2 x mic preamp 6 7 Quick info 2 Digital S PDIF I O optical Output red light Input Nanoface connections ...

Page 5: ... Press 3 sec 48V Channel 1 Click hold Turn right Gain Channel 2 Hi Z In for Channel 2 1st red LED Channel 1 1st red LED Channel 2 The last Nanoface settings are stored in the internal memory The Nanoface starts where you left it before a disconnection from the host computer or a restart To reset the Nanoface to the default parameters Click hold the encoder during power up USB re connection or star...

Page 6: ... 34 50 20 6 Green 12 24 24 12 12 12 29 11 5 17 29 16 50 5 Green 10 20 20 10 10 15 24 17 5 29 24 13 50 4 Green 8 16 16 8 8 17 18 5 25 44 18 50 10 50 3 Green 6 12 12 6 6 19 13 50 34 5 63 13 50 7 50 2 Green 4 8 8 4 4 23 8 47 Mute 8 4 50 1 Green 2 2 2 2 2 27 2 5 121 5 Mute 2 50 1 50 48V 48V 48V 48V 48V 48V The view switches back automatically after 1 second If Phones output 1 2 and 3 4 is selected the...

Page 7: ... connect only the Nanoface to this hub 12 13 Mount the included breakout cable with the XLR and RCA connectors to the 15 pin port on the rear of the Nanoface Optional extension cables for the breakout cable are available from ALVA in lengths of 1 m 3 3 ft and 3 m 9 8 ft Please visit the ALVa website for more details If you want to listen to music from the Nanoface after the installation process ke...

Page 8: ...ws audio setup Set the Nanoface as default audio device for playback and recording Tip Windows 7 provides speaker sets for stereo and surround The stereo setup assigns channels 1 2 output RCA connectors on the breakout cable to the speakers The 5 1 surround setup assigns the following channels to the speakers Channel 1 Front Left Channel 2 Front Right Channel 3 Sub Channel 4 Center Channel 5 Rear ...

Page 9: ...ion a reboot of the system is necessary Driver installation Mac OS X Getting started driver installation 3 3 Getting started driver installation Driver installation dialog After the successful installation click the Restart button 2 Mac OS X sound setup Select ALVA Nanoface Output in the sound setup of OS X Audio programs like iTunes web browsers or the system sounds use the Nanoface out channels ...

Page 10: ...k The audio application Windows Media Player iTunes or a video program plays the sound to the Nanoface which is the default audio output in the sound setup of Windows or Mac OS X The sound plays on analog output 1 2 The big encoder controls the speakers volume of output 1 2 The encoder can also duplicate the signal from output 1 2 to the headphones output and controls the volume separately from th...

Page 11: ... The encoder controls the analog inputs 3 4 RCA connectors on the breakout cable The encoder controls the Phones Line output 3 4 1 4 connector on right side The encoder controls the preamps before the analog inputs 1 2 XLR connectors on the breakout cable Gain on channel 1 press hold encoder and turn it one step to the left Switch back to 1 2 press hold turn right Gain on channel 2 press hold enco...

Page 12: ...adphones output Press the encoder until the headphones LED shines If LED 3 4 is on go to step 2 if not the signal 1 2 is already duplicated on the phones output LED 3 4 turns off The phones output on right side of the Nanoface plays now the signal of output 1 2 22 23 4 Using the Nanoface Using the Nanoface 4 Duplicate the signal from output 1 2 on the phones output Output 3 4 Input 1 2 In In In 3 ...

Page 13: ...an enough for most microphones Tip To bypass the preamps of the Nanoface turn the encoder for one or both channels all the way down Tip To find the best gain play or sing the loudest reference tone in your performance and raise the gain until it clips Now lower it to a safe value 1 Switch to input 1 2 mode 2 Press and hold the encoder Turn it to the left for channel 1 or turn it to the right for c...

Page 14: ...udio software and the used plug ins and the driver of the audio interface If the latency is too large it s nearly impossible for a live performer to play or sing with software monitoring For example A drummer will have big problems in his performance when he listens to a delayed headphone signal To avoid any software latency the Nanoface provides with hardware monitoring a technique of routing the...

Page 15: ...from output 1 2 can be routed to output 3 4 and individually adjusted The digital I O works in standard SPDIF format This makes the Nanoface the perfect partner for a digital signal from a CD player or an effect unit 29 Output 1 2 Output 3 4 Input 1 Input 2 Hi Z Input 3 4 Phones or 2nd speaker pair Electric guitar DA converter on the digital optical output CD DVD player on the digital input Keyboa...

Page 16: ...a selection from a list of all available audio devices In this case it s possible to choose the Nanoface as playback device even when it s not the default sound device in the operating system Tip It is recommended to switch all system sounds off in Windows to avoid problems with other audio programs 3 Multichannel audio programs The Nanoface is a multitrack audio interface The different outputs ar...

Page 17: ...the phones out 1 Switch to headphones output mode Press the encoder until the headphones LED and the LED Ch 3 4 shines This means the phones output plays now channels 3 4 2 Press and hold the encoder Turn it one step to the left LED 3 4 turns off The phones output plays now the signal of output 1 2 The encoder controls the volume of signal 1 2 separately from the chosen volume of output 1 2 on the...

Page 18: ...utput 5 6 If the Nanoface is the default sound device in the audio setup those programs play on the output 1 2 on the breakout cable speakers Some audio or video programs provide an option to play on an available S PDIF output Keep in mind it s not possible to listen or route the S PDIF output to the speakers or the headphones It s a digital format and needs a previous digital to analog conversion...

Page 19: ...he outputs 37 Connecting equipment to the inputs 5 MIDI sound equipment MIDI keyboard Connecting the outputs Connecting the inputs The Nanoface provides a MIDI input and two MIDI outputs via standard DIN jacks on the breakout cable After the driver installation the MIDI ports are available for any MIDI software As standard MIDI ports each output adds 16 MIDI channels to the setup Sound modules sam...

Page 20: ...der 3 times until only the In LED is on Test the mic you should see activity on the meters of the LED chain Channel 1 left LEDs Channel 2 right LEDs The encoder now controls the gain for both XLR inputs on the breakout cable If you want to set a different gain for every mic continue with step 2 Step 2 Press and hold the encoder Turn it to the left for channel 1 or turn it to the right for channel ...

Page 21: ...put 1 or turns on If channel 2 is selected the 1st LED in the right chain turns on To avoid the accidental activation of the phantom power it s not possible to activate deactivate the phantom power at the same time for both channels It s only possible by a previous selection of input channel 1or 2 If you don t press the encoder long enough the Nanoface changes to input 3 4 Attention Before you con...

Page 22: ...1 2 together press and hold the encoder and turn it to the left 5 Set the preamp gain Turn the encoder gradually to the right to raise the gain turn it to the left to lower it The Nanoface provides a gain of up to 43 dB on the instrument input The gain is adjustable in 20 steps Make sure the input signal is not clipping red top LEDs turn on For an exact control of the available headroom to the cli...

Page 23: ...to the clipping border please use the level meter readouts in your audio software 5 Connecting equipment to the inputs In 3 4 1 Cable Conncetion To send a digital signal to the Nanoface connect a standard optical lightpipe cable to the optical input on the back of the Nanoface This could be an external AD converter a CD player HiFi system or another audio interface 2 Record the signal To record fr...

Page 24: ...against harmful 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 ...

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