EST U168XT User Manual Download Page 4

ESI 

U168 XT

 

 

4

1. Introduction 

U168 XT is a USB 2.0 Hi-Speed audio interface for Mac and PC, bringing USB audio technology 
to a new level by providing better performance for better results. 

This interfaces provides not less than 16 input channels and 8 output channels that are all available 
for simultaneous usage. The 24-bit / 96kHz solution not only provides balanced 1/4" TRS line 
connectors, it also includes 4 integrated microphone preamps with XLR inputs on the front of the 
unit with swit48V phantom power, 2 Hi-Z instrument inputs for electric guitars as well as 
coaxial digital S/PDIF input and outputs. There are two independent headphone outputs on the 
front, next to an integrated monitoring mixer. External keyboards, synthesizers and sound modules 
can be connected via the MIDI inputs and outputs on the backside of the unit. 

U168 XT provides fast high performance low latency drivers based on our EWDM and 
DirectWIRE technology with support for the latest WDM, ASIO 2.0 and CoreAudio technology for 
both Mac and PC, making it possible to use the interface with all current standard audio 
applications available for professional usage. 

All this makes the stylish U168 XT an audio interface, bringing USB audio for professional 
applications to a new level.

 

1.1 Features 

The front panel of the U168 XT hardware has these main features: 

 

 

1.

 

microphone and Hi-Z instrument input channel 1

 with XLR/TRS combo connector, use this 

connector to connect a dynamic or condenser microphone or an electric guitar. Next to it is the 

on switch

 that enables this input for usage when pressed. When not pressed, the corresponding 

line input on the backside of the unit is used instead. With the 

gain knob

 you can control the 

input level which is indicated with the LEDs above it. The 

+48V switch

 enables phantom 

power if required for a condenser microphone; when enabled this is shown with the LED next 
to it. Please note that for microphones you should use XLR connection while a guitar needs to 
use a TRS connection. 

2.

 

microphone and Hi-Z instrument input channel 2

 with XLR/TRS combo connector, use this 

connector to connect a dynamic or condenser microphone or an electric guitar. Next to it is the 

on switch

 that enables this input for usage when pressed. When not pressed, the corresponding 

line input on the backside of the unit is used instead. With the 

gain knob

 you can control the 

input level which is indicated with the LEDs above it. The 

+48V switch

 enables phantom 

power if required for a condenser microphone; when enabled this is shown with the LED next 
to it. Please note that for microphones you should use XLR connection while a guitar needs to 
use a TRS connection. 

3.

 

microphone input channel 3

 with XLR connector, use this connector to connect a dynamic or 

condenser microphone. Next to it is the 

on switch

 that enables this input for usage when 

Summary of Contents for U168XT

Page 1: ...Professional 24 bit USB Audio Interface User s Guide ...

Page 2: ...ESI Copyright 2016 2017 Revision 2 May 2017 www esi audio com ...

Page 3: ...allation 7 2 1 System Recommendation 7 2 2 Hardware Installation 7 2 3 Driver Software Installation 7 2 3 1 Installation under Windows 7 2 3 2 Installation under Mac OS X 9 3 Control Panel 10 3 1 Latency settings 11 4 Specifications 11 5 General Information 13 ...

Page 4: ...s these main features 1 microphone and Hi Z instrument input channel 1 with XLR TRS combo connector use this connector to connect a dynamic or condenser microphone or an electric guitar Next to it is the on switch that enables this input for usage when pressed When not pressed the corresponding line input on the backside of the unit is used instead With the gain knob you can control the input leve...

Page 5: ... monitor mix This makes sure that you are not listening to a microphone or guitar input signal on only the left or right speaker while monitoring 6 input selection LEDs showing the selection of the physical inputs for input channels 1 to 4 When the corresponding LED is on the input on the front is used When the LED is off the line input from the backside of the unit is used instead 7 headphone sig...

Page 6: ... unit to a standard laptop lock connector preventing it from being stolen 17 mix output provides balanced unbalanced 1 4 TRS connectors for the stereo master mix signal from the integrated monitoring mixer of U168 XT This connects typically to your studio monitors if you choose to use the integrated mixer 18 line outputs channel 1 to 8 these balanced unbalanced 1 4 TRS connectors provide each inde...

Page 7: ...de of U168 XT Once this connection is made simply install the hardware by plugging it into your computer with the supplied USB cable USB port of a computer 2 3 Driver Software Installation After the connection of U168 XT the operating system automatically detects it as a new hardware device However you need to install our driver in order to use it We strongly recommend to download the latest drive...

Page 8: ... appear Click Next and then the dialog on the right will appear Now click Install Files are now being copied After some time an additional dialog will appear Confirm this by clicking Next Again some files are being copied and typically you will be prompted with a Windows Security message like this Confirm it by clicking Install After a while the installation then will be completed and the followin...

Page 9: ... use U168 XT under Mac OS X you need to install the driver from the included Installation DVD from the Mac OS X folder or from newer driver download from our website which is recommended The driver and control panel gets installed by double clicking on the dmg file and then in the window that opens again double clicking on the installer After that follow the instructions on your screen At the end ...

Page 10: ...T can either get it s master clock from the S PDIF input when enabled and a signal is connected to it or switch automatically back to generating its own master clock Next to that you can choose the physical analog inputs 15 16 or the digital S PDIF input as a signal source for the input channels 15 16 OUTPUTS The main parts of the OUTPUTS section contains volume control sliders and signal level me...

Page 11: ...ze and value Depending on the typical application e g for playback of software synthesizers a smaller latency is an advantage At the same time the best latency setting indirectly depends on the performance of your system For recording applications a typical latency buffer size between 4 and 8ms is standard a value displayed typically inside your audio application Note that the latency has to be se...

Page 12: ...endent headphone outputs with 1 4 stereo phone connector separate stereo mix output as master monitoring output integrated monitoring mixer controlled on front panel 16 channel MIDI I O with one MIDI input and one MIDI output powered by included DC 12V power supply dimensions roughly 45 0cm x 14 5cm x 4 5cm Audio Specifications supports up to 24 bit 96kHz A D Converter 107dB 60dBFS A Weighted 20Hz...

Page 13: ... provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment 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 interfer...

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