Nanoface User manual
Disclaimer Contents The information contained within this manual is solely advisory. 4 What is the Nanoface? ALVA is not responsible for actions you may take without proper advice. You should not rely on this information as absolute and are responsible for understanding the given information. You should not rely on this information as absolute. If you do act upon the suggestions contained in this document, you are fully responsible for yourself and your actions. 6 Quick Info Cable connectors .
1 What is the Nanoface? The Nanoface philosophy: Reduce to the max. Most interfaces provide a big software package with useful features, but have a steep learning curve and consume the most important thing a musician doesn’t have. Time. Time to mess with all the technical stuff. But creativity needs boundaries. In an unlimited space there is no need to be creative, as all destinations can be reached – with just some knowledge and craftsmanship.
2 Quick info Nanoface connections Breakout cable Extension cable option available (1 & 3 m / 3.2 & 9.8 ft.
Encoder operations Mode Reset the Nanoface LEDs on Additional operations LEDs on Monitoring On/Off Output 1/2 The last Nanoface settings are stored in the internal memory. Double click Out The Nanoface starts where you left it before a disconnection from the host computer or a restart. Out Press Encoder To reset the Nanoface to the default parameters: Click + hold the encoder during power up (USB re-connection or start of the host computer).
Peakmeters Signal levels LED no. 10 Red Out 1/2 (XLR) Level in dB 0 9 Orange -3 8 Green -6 7 Green -9 6 Green -12 5 Green -15 4 Green -17 3 Green -19 2 Green -23 1 Green -27 48V 2 Quick info Step In level mode the Nanoface shows the level of output 1/2, input 1/2 or 3/4. If the encoder is turned the peakmeters switch from the level mode to gain mode. Level mode Gain mode The view switches back automatically after 1 second.
3 Getting started 1. Connect the breakout cable 2. Connect the Nanoface to the computer Mount the included breakout cable with the XLR and RCA connectors to the 15-pin port on the rear of the Nanoface. It’s possible to connect the Nanoface to every Windows or Mac computer with a standard USB 2.0 port: Optional extension cables for the breakout cable are available from ALVA in lengths of 1 a) Connect the included USB cable to the USB 2.0 port on the back of the Nanoface. m (3.3 ft.) and 3 m (9.8 ft.).
Driver installation Windows 32 bit and 64 bit Always check the ALVA website for the latest drivers: www.alva-audio.com 2. Windows audio setup Set the Nanoface as default audio device for playback and recording. 1. Driver installation 1. Connect the Nanoface to your computer with the included USB cable. 2. Open the Windows driver folder on the included CD and select 32 bit or 64 bit - depending on your Windows version. Double click the file Setup.exe. 3.
Driver installation Always check the ALVA website for the latest drivers: www.alva-audio.com Mac OS X 2. Mac OS X sound setup Select ALVA Nanoface: Output in the sound setup of OS X. 1. Driver installation 1. Connect the Nanoface to your computer with the included USB cable. 2. Open the Mac OS X driver folder on the included CD and double click the .dmg file. It contains the driver installation file. 3. Double click the .mpkg file. Follow the instructions.
4 Using the Nanoface The usability concept of the Nanoface: Encoder What can be controlled: • Output 1/2: gain • Output 3/4 (Phones): gain • Route output 1/2 to Phones output Example 1: Simple audio playback: • Output 1/2 on Phones output: gain 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. • Input 1/2: gain (mic/instr.
Encoder operations Gain control for inputs and outputs Analog inputs and outputs on the Nanoface Press the encoder to switch between the input/output modes. Turn encoder to the right to increase and turn to the left to decrease the gain. Mode LEDs on The encoder controls the analog outputs 1/2 (RCA connectors) on the breakout cable. Output 1/2 Out Press Encoder The encoder controls the Phones/Line output 3/4 (1/4” connector on right side).
Encoder operations Duplicate the signal from output 1/2 on the phones output 1. Switch to headphones output mode. 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. Encoder operations Output 3/4 3/4 2. Press and hold the encoder. Turn it to the left. Switch analog input 2 to the Hi-Z instrument input (“guitar input”) 1. Switch to input 1/2 mode. Press the encoder until the input LED (“In”) shines.
Encoder operations Set the preamp gain for the analog inputs 1/2 (microphones) 1. Switch to input 1/2 mode. Press the encoder until the input LED (“In”) shines. If LED 3/4 also shines, press the encoder 3 times until only the “In” LED is on. The encoder controls now the gain for both XLR inputs on the breakout cable. Encoder operations Turn phantom power (48V) on/off 1. Switch to input 1/2 mode Input 1/2 Input 1/2 Press the encoder until the input LED (“In”) shines.
Encoder operations Switch hardware monitoring for analog input 1/2 on/off 1. Switch to Output 1/2 mode. Nanoface Hardware Monitoring Output 1/2 Press the encoder until only the “Out” LED shines. Analog inputs 1/2 (XLR or Hi-Z input) is routed directly to the RCA outputs 1/2 Out Analog inputs 1/2 + software output 1/2 are mixed to a mono signal on phones output 1/2 2. Switch hardware monitoring on: Double click the encoder. Audio software The “In” LED starts blinking.
5 Connecting equipment Connectivity • Audio: 6 inputs + 6 outputs • MIDI: 1 x input + 2 x output • 4 x analog I/O (channels 1-4) • Digital optical SPDIF I/O (channels 5-6) • 2 x Mic preamps including phantom power CD/DVD player Main speakers (on the digital optical output) (on the digital input) Output 1/2 The Nanoface provides 6 audio I/Os – more than enough for a small home studio, a DJ- or surround setup.
Connecting the outputs Speakers 1. Cable Connection 2. Playback with audio programs Connect the speakers to the output RCA connectors on the breakout cable. Output 1 goes to the left speaker and output 2 to the right. The Nanoface provides 4 analog outputs in two stereo pairs: Choose the Nanoface in the Windows or Mac OS X audio setup as the default sound device. The outputs are labled Out 1 / Out 2 and use unbalanced connections to match the connectors of usual home audio equipment.
Connecting the outputs Headphones (or 2nd pair of speakers) 1. Cable Connection 1. Switch to headphones output mode. Connect the headphones to the phones output on the right side of the Nanoface. A 1/4 inch TRS connector or an adapter from Mini-TRS-plug to 1/4 inch TRS is necessary. Press the encoder until the headphones LED and the LED Ch. 3/4 shines. This means the phones output plays now channels 3/4. With a Y-TRS-adapter the phones output can be used as 2nd line output for a 2nd pair of speakers.
Connecting the outputs Digital equipment to the optical S/PDIF output 1. Cable Connection To send a digital signal from the Nanoface to another device, connect a standard optical lightpipe cable from the optical output on the back of the Nanoface to digital input of your external equipment. This could be an external DA converter, a HiFi system, another audio interface or an external DA converter. 2. Playback with audio programs Standard Windows or Mac OS X programs usually cannot play on the output 5/6.
Connecting the outputs MIDI sound equipment Connecting the inputs 1. Cable Conncetion MIDI keyboard 1. Cable Connection Connect external MIDI equipment via standard 5-pin MIDI cables to the MIDI outputs 1 and 2. The Nanoface provides a MIDI input and two MIDI outputs via standard DIN-jacks on the breakout cable. 2. MIDI programs 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.
Connecting the inputs 3. Select the channel for the preamp gain Dynamic microphones Press the encoder until the input LED (“In”) shines. If LED 3/4 also shines, press the encoder 3 times until only the “In” LED is on. 1. If phantom power is activated, turn it off. The 1st red LED in the channel(s) to which the microphone will be connected has to be tunred off (input 1 = left LED; input 2 = right LED). Attention! Activated phantom power can damage other equipment (e. g. ribbon mics).
Connecting the inputs 3. Turn phantom power on Condenser microphones The 1st red LED of the left chain (= input 1) or turns on. If channel 2 is selected, the 1st LED in the right chain turns on. 1. Cable Connection 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.
Connecting the inputs Electric guitar or bass 1. Cable Connection 5. Set the preamp gain Connect the electric guitar or bass to the Hi-Z input on the right site of the Nanoface (guitar symbol). 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. 2. Switch to input 1/2 Press the encoder until the input LED (“In”) shines.
Connecting the inputs External equipment to the line inputs 3/4 Connecting the inputs Digital equipment to the optical S/PDIF input 1. Cable Connection 1. Cable Conncetion Connect any line level equipment to the RCA input connectors on the breakout cable. This could be a tape recorder, a synthesizer output, a CD player or a turntable (with RIAA EQ preamp). To send a digital signal to the Nanoface, connect a standard optical lightpipe cable to the optical input on the back of the Nanoface.
6 Appendix 3. Declaration of Conformity CE . The Nanoface has been tested and found to comply with the limits of the European Council Directive on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to electromagnetic compatibility according to RL2004/108/EG, and European Low Voltage Directive RL2006/95/EG. 1. Nanoface downloads Driver and manual updates can be found on our website: www.alva-audio.com FCC . This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
