[. . . ] For best results, Producer USB drivers and hardware should be installed first, and your recording software second (unless recording software already exists on the computer). Installation Instructions for Windows XP and Vista PLEASE NOTE: Make sure Producer USB is not connected to your computer when beginning the installation. The following instructions will indicate when you should connect the interface to your computer. Install the Producer USB drivers by doing one of the following: · Download the latest Producer USB drivers from the Support > Drivers page at www. m-audio. com. This is highly recommended as it provides you with the newest drivers available. [. . . ] The installation should automatically complete. 4 2. | Pro Tools Vocal Studio User Guide Follow the driver installer's on-screen instructions. During installation, Mac OS X will ask you to enter your user name and password. If you have not configured a password for your computer, leave the password field blank and click OK. If you are not the computer's owner, ask the owner or your Administrator for this information. When the installer has completed, click "Restart. " Your computer will reboot automatically. After your computer has finished starting up, connect Producer USB to an available USB port on your computer. NOTE: In order to hear audio from Producer USB, you MUST connect your headphones, powered speakers, mixer or stereo system to the 1/8-inch headphone jack on the front of Producer USB. Sound will NOT come out of your laptop or computer speakers while Producer USB is connected to your computer. 3. 4. The Software Control Panel The Producer USB Software Control Panel lets you adjust settings such as input gain, monitor mix levels, and output volume. The Control Panel is divided into separate pages, each accessible by clicking on the corresponding tab. To open the Producer USB Software Control Panel: Windows XP/Vista users: A small M-Audio logo appears in the system tray, generally located at the bottom of your Windows desktop. Mac OS X users: The Producer USB Control Panel can be found in System Preferences, under "Other. " NOTE: The Software Control Panel is available only after the Producer USB driver software has been installed. It will not appear if Producer USB is being used as a class compliant device (this means using the device with the drivers already built into the computerís operating system). Also note that the Producer USB driver software must be installed and the device connected in order for Pro Tools M-Powered Essential to function. Levels Tab (All Systems) 1. Input Gain Control - This slider controls the level coming from the microphone. If the input meters on your audio software are showing red, lower the input gain level. Monitor Mix Control - This slider controls the level of signal from the microphone that is sent directly to the mic's integrated 1/8-inch monitor output. This signal is blended with the output signal from your audio software. This monitoring method (called "Hardware Monitoring" or "Direct Monitoring") lets you listen to your input signal before any 2. 1 2 3 Pro Tools Vocal Studio User Guide | 5 When monitoring your input using the Monitor Mix Control, make sure that your audio software is not outputting signal from the track you are currently recording. This would cause "double-monitoring, " resulting in an undesired "phasing" or "slap-back" echo. Consult the documentation for your audio application regarding disabling software monitoring. The Monitor Mix Control has no effect on what is actually recorded in your audio software. [. . . ] (It should be all the way down by default. ) In your recording software, select M-Audio Producer USB as the input source for a new track. While speaking, singing, or playing a musical instrument into the Producer USB microphone (at the loudest level you expect to occur during your recording, ) slowly turn up the Input Gain slider until the red clip indicator begins to illuminate in your recording software. Then, turn the Input Gain slider down until your recording software's clip indicator no longer illuminates. At this point, you should be ready to record with the optimum gain setting. [. . . ]