Apogee Element Series Quick Start Guide Fall 2016
Contents Overview ............................................................................................ 3 Introduction.........................................................................................................................3 Package Contents...............................................................................................................6 Element Series Product Tour...............................................................................................
Overview Introduction Legendary Sound Quality. The Power of Thunderbolt. Elegant Simplicity. Apogee’s Element 24, 46 and 88 are Thunderbolt audio I/O boxes for Mac. The Element Series takes the best of cutting-edge Apogee gear like Symphony I/O Mk II, Ensemble Thunderbolt and Groove and puts it into simple form factors. With streamlined hardware features and advanced software control, the Element series delivers ultimate recording quality and performance at unprecedented prices.
The Elements of Excellent Audio Ad Analog to Digital Conversion A high-quality A/D converter is critical for capturing every detail of your recordings into your computer. The Element series features some of the best Apogee A/D conversion. Recording through an Element ensures you will minimize unwanted noise and maximize the signal quality. Your t racks will sound amazing and mixing your project will be easier.
Cl Clocking An audio interface relies on a clock source like an orchestra relies on a conductor. A digital audio clock provides a timing signal to all the parts of a digital audio system so that each part of the AD/DA process may be synchronized. Element has its own built-in clock source and provides professional Word Clock IN and OUT for syncing with other digital audio gear. Use Element as the master clock to take advantage of Apogee’s superior built-in clocking technology.
Package Contents The following items are included with your Element Series Interface Apogee Element 24 • Universal Power Supply with standard 3 pin-IEC cable • Quick Start Guide • Warranty Booklet Apogee Element 46 • Universal Power Supply with standard 3 pin-IEC cable • Quick Start Guide • Warranty Booklet Register your product Apogee Element 88 • Rack mounting kit • Universal Power Supply with standard 3 pin-IEC cable • Quick Start Guide • Warranty Booklet • Access Apogee’s expert Technical Support fo
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Element 24 Product Tour Inputs 1-2 Combi Jacks XLR Mic/Line 1/4” Hi-Z Instrument 1/4” Stereo Headphone Output Status LED Front Panel Rear Panel Optical 2 Balanced L/R XLR Outputs ADAT/SMUX/SPDIF BNC Word Clock 8 | Apogee Element Series Quick Start Guide Serial Number Thunderbolt™ Power
Element 46 Product Tour Inputs 1-4 2 1/4” Stereo Status Headphone Outputs LED Combi Jacks XLR Mic/Line 1/4” Hi-Z Instrument Front Panel Rear Panel 2 Balanced L/R XLR Outputs Optical ADAT/SMUX/SPDIF Serial Number Thunderbolt™ Power BNC Word Clock Apogee Element Series Quick Start Guide |9
Element 88 Product Tour Inputs 5-8 Inputs 1-4 Combi Jacks XLR Mic/Line 1/4” Hi-Z Instrument 2 1/4” Stereo Status Headphone Outputs LED XLR Mic/Line Front Panel Rear Panel 2 Balanced L/R XLR Outputs 10 2 Balanced 1/4” Outputs | Apogee Element Series Quick Start Guide Optical ADAT/SMUX/SPDIF BNC Word Clock Serial Number Thunderbolt™ Power
Getting Started System Requirements • • • • • Computer: Thunderbolt™-equipped Mac Mac OS 10.10 or greater Memory: 4 GB RAM minimum, 8 GB recommended Connection: Any available Thunderbolt port* Software: Any Core Audio compatible application *Thunderbolt cable not included Install Element Software 1. Download the latest Element Software Package from www.apogeedigital.com/support 2. Open the downloaded .dmg file and double-click the Element Installer.pkg that’s inside. 3.
Connect Element to Your Computer 1. Connect the Power Supply to Element. 2. Connect Element to your Mac using a Thunderbolt cable. NOTE: Make sure that your Mac has the Thunderbolt logo. The Mini DisplayPort, featured on many pre-Thunderbolt Macs, is the exact size of a Thunderbolt port but does NOT support Thunderbolt devices.
Update Element’s Firmware After the software installation, you may be prompted to update the Firmware: 1. Click Update, or manually open the Element Firmware Updater.app from your computer’s Applications > Utilities Folder. 3. Follow any prompts that may appear. 4. When it says Element is up to date, you can quit the updater. 2. Click Start Update.
To Play Sound Out To get sound from general audio applications like iTunes, Spotify, or a web browser to play out of Element, it must be selected as the output device in Mac Sound Preferences: 2. In the Output tab, select Element from the list. IN 1 IN 2 IN 3 IN 4 1 L 2 R Connect speakers to the Main Out XLR jacks, and/or headphones to the HP1 or HP2 jacks. 1. Open Mac System Preferences and click the Sound icon.
For more control over all the outputs of the Element interface, open the Element Control.app located in your Mac’s Applications folder: When opening Element Control for the first time, the Snapshot Template window will appear. Select the “Getting Started” Template. This template will provide the monitor controls below: To adjust the Headphone output volume, click and drag up or down on the HP1, or HP2 Output Level control knob. To change what the Apple keyboard volume buttons control.
Setting up an Input Setup and control the input settings of your Apogee Element interface via the Element Control software. 1. Connect an XLR or ¼” instrument cable to the Input 1 combi jack. 2. Open the Element Control software. 3. Click File > Open Snapshot Template. 16 | Apogee Element Series Quick Start Guide 4. Select “Getting Started” from the Snapshot Template window.
5. In the Analog 1 channel, set the Analog Level setting to: “Mic” if you are connecting via XLR cable. If using a condenser microphone, click “48V” to activate phantom power “Instrument” if you are connecting via ¼” cable. 6. Raise the Gain knob as you input signal. You will see input meter move with this signal. If the Over indicator is triggered, the Gain knob is too high and should be lowered. Continue raising the Gain knob until this meter gets close to the top on your loudest input.
To direct monitor your Input without opening a Recording Program or DAW: 1. Go to File > Open Snapshot Template and select “Direct Monitoring” 2. In the Analog 1 channel, set the Analog Level setting to: “Mic” if you are connecting via XLR cable. If using a condenser microphone, click “48V” to activate phantom power “Instrument” if you are connecting via ¼” cable.
3. R aise the Gain knob as you input signal. You will see input meter move with this signal. Adjust how loudly you hear the input signal by adjusting the speaker or headhpone output volume knob. Continue raising the Gain knob until this meter gets close to the top on your loudest input. If the Over indicator is triggered, the Gain knob is too high and should be lowered.
Setup Element in your DAW Most professional applications have their own audio preferences that are separate from the Mac System Preferences. Basic steps for setting up Element are provided. For more detail on this topic, refer to the documentation that comes with your recording program. Select Element in Garageband: 1. Open Garageband and create a New Empty Project. A B 20 | Apogee Element Series Quick Start Guide 2.
You should be able to see input signal in the level meter, and hear it passing through to the headphone or speaker output. C D F E G 3. In the Track dialog that appears, select an Audio track, Guitar or Mic (C). 4. Expand the Details arrow (D) to select Input 1 (E). 5. Ensure the check box is selected for “I Want to hear my Instrument as I play and record” (F). 6. Click Create (G).
Select Element in Logic Pro X: 1. Go to Logic Pro X > Preferences > Audio. 3. Select “Apply Changes” and close the Preferences window. 4. Go to Track > New Tracks. 2. In the Devices Tab, select Apogee Element in the Output and Input Device drop-down boxes.
A You should be able to see input signal in the level meter, and hear it passing through to the headphone or speaker output. B C D E 5. Select Audio. (A) 6. In the Details drop down (B), select input 1. (C) 7. Check the box for Input Monitoring and Record Enable. (D) 8. Click Create.
Select Element in Pro Tools: 3. Go to the Track > New Menu. 1. Open Pro Tools and create a New Project. 4. Create 1 Mono Audio Track. 5. Select Input 1. 2. Go to Setup > Playback Engine and select Element46 as the playback engine and click OK. 6. Click the Record and Input Monitoring Buttons.
Select Element in Ableton Live: 4. In an Audio Track, select Input 1, and Monitor IN 1. Open Ableton Live and go to the Live > Preferences Menu. 2. Select Element as the Audio Input & Audio Output Device. You should be able to see input signal in the level meter, and hear it passing through to the headphone or speaker output. 3. Change the Buffer Size to “64 samples”. Adjust this setting based on your computer’s performance.
Introduction to Element Control Software All features and settings of your Apogee Element interface are controlled through the Element Control software. When you first open Element Control, you are presented with a basic layout providing the most commonly used features and settings. Apple Keyboard Navigation Tips ▲ ▲ Use the Arrow keys to change Analog input and output settings; Press to scroll the orange focus ring through analog inputs and outputs.
Element Control Primary Window System Sidebar Device Sidebar Analog Input Channels Playback from Software Channels Monitor Control Sidebar Toolbar Channel View Output Signal Level Meters Mixers Master Control Apogee Element Series Quick Start Guide | 27
Element Control Toolbar Device Sidebar Button System Sidebar Button Remote Window Button Essentials Window Button Hover Help Button Talkback Button Clear Meters Button Mute All Button For specific information about Element Control’s features, open the Help window and hover your Mac’s pointer above each setting to see a helpful summary.
Element Control Input and Output Settings Input Label Input Level Meter Input Configuration Section Sound source for this output Input Type Selector Input Gain Knob 48V Phantom Power, Group Soft Limit, Polarity Invert Sound source for this output FX Send to DAW Channel Sound source for this output Mixer Send Pre Button -When this is on, the volume of signal going to the mixer master is not affected by the Mixer 1 fader Mute Button Channel Pan Mixers Sum-to-Mono Button Use to test mono compatibili
Element Control Essentials Window Input Type Selector Sound Source Input Label Clear Meters Button Focus Ring Talkback Button Mute All Button 48V Phantom Power Mute Input Level Meter Soft Limit Group Polarity Invert 30 | Apogee Element Series Quick Start Guide Dim Sum to Mono Output Level Meter
Additional Support For more information • Element Series User’s Guide • Apogee KnowledgeBase and FAQs • Apogee Product Registration • How to contact Apogee Technical Support Please visit: www.apogeedigital.
Certified Green Business *Apogee products are built in the U.S.A. using domestic and foreign parts and components. PN-0070-0002-0000 Rev 1.0.0 AN-0027-0048-0000 Rev 1.0.
