ProjectMix I/O User Guide
3
Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of the M-Audio
®
ProjectMix I/O FireWire audio interface and control surface. The ProjectMix I/O is designed
to be a complete all-in-one recording and mixing interface for your computer-based digital audio workstation. Its integrated design features
a high-resolution, multi-channel interface based on M-Audio’s popular FireWire audio technology combined with a versatile, ergonomically
designed control surface.
The ProjectMix I/O analog mic and line inputs, as well as the ADAT and S/PDIF inputs and outputs provide a high-resolution, 24 bit audio
“front end” for your digital audio workstation. This allows you to record up to sixteen channels of analog audio at 24-bit/48kHz resolution
from your choice of line, microphone or digital sources, while outputting twelve independent audio streams from the host computer. The
unique control surface of the ProjectMix I/O features nine touch-sensitive motorized faders, a set of transport and multi-function controls, a
scrub/shuttle wheel, and a bank of encoder knobs supported by a detailed, backlit LCD which give you direct, immediate communication
with your audio software.
The ProjectMix I/O offers a host of useful features and functions, so to get the most out of your new machine we recommend you read
through this manual before starting your work. While many of the ProjectMix features may be obvious just by looking at the unit, there are
many useful underlying functions that you should be aware of before you start. This manual will show you how to connect the ProjectMix I/O
to your studio equipment, how to use the driver software and how to configure the unit for use with your specific Digital Audio Workstation
(DAW) software.
We suggest you pay particular attention to the special sections in this manual that cover your DAW software. In addition, you may also want
to refer to your software's documentation for a clear understanding of how certain features of the ProjectMix I/O are integrated. A thorough
knowledge of your own DAW software will make using your new ProjectMix I/O an exciting and successful experience.
What's in the Box
Before you begin setting up your ProjectMix I/O, please check that the following equipment was included in your box:
<
M-Audio ProjectMix I/O
<
6-Pin-to-6-Pin FireWire Cable
<
6-Pin-to-4-Pin FireWire Cable
<
External Power Supply
<
M-Audio FireWire Series CD-ROM (includes drivers, documentation, and control panel application)
<
Printed Quick Start Guide
About ProjectMix I/O
The ProjectMix I/O features a professional quality FireWire audio interface which is capable of 16 simultaneous inputs and 12 simultaneous
outputs. It offers eight mic inputs with high-quality preamps and phantom power, eight line inputs, four line outputs, eight channels of ADAT
lightpipe I/O, and coaxial S/PDIF I/O. In addition to professional features like word clock I/O, the ProjectMix I/O gives you a conveniently
located front-panel instrument input, two front-panel headphone outputs, and footswitch control. A single IEEE 1394 cable connects the
ProjectMix I/O to your computer’s FireWire port. (If your computer is not equipped with a native FireWire port, you may purchase a FireWire PCI
card at any computer electronics retailer.)*
*
NOTE
: Please check the Product Support page at www.m-audio.com for a list of compatible 1394A PCI and PCMCIA adapters.
The ProjectMix I/O is also a full-featured control surface, with touch-sensitive motorized faders, rotary encoder knobs, and dedicated mute,
solo, select and record switches, as well as banking switches to address all channels of your DAW software. It features a full transport control
section, including jog/scrub wheel, loop and locate buttons, and a full complement of multi-function soft buttons dedicated to work with your
specific audio application.
The easy-to-use software control panel of the ProjectMix I/O provides you with powerful routing and
mixing control. Using the panel you can route any analog or digital input to any output, you can
select digital input and output types, create special headphone mixes and select functions for the
encoder knobs to control a number of other features.
IMPORTANT
: We've enclosed two high-quality FireWire cables with your Project I/O – a six-pin-to-
six-pin cable and a six-pin-to-four-pin cable. Determine whether your computer is equipped with a
six-pin or four-pin interface and choose the appropriate cable for connecting ProjectMix I/O to your
computer. We strongly suggest you use one of the enclosed cables (or one of equal quality) for
optimum audio performance. Also note that the ProjectMix I/O requires the included external power
adapter; it will not function using only FireWire bus power.
NOTE
: Some computer manufacturers may use a different nomenclature to refer to their FireWire
connections, such as Sony's "Link," or simply "1394."
Introduction • What's in the Bowx • About ProjectMix I/O
