161 lines
5.2 KiB
Markdown
161 lines
5.2 KiB
Markdown
# ALSA Scarlett Control Panel
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## Scarlett 1st Gen Interfaces
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This document describes how to use the ALSA Scarlett Control Panel
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with the Scarlett 1st Gen interfaces:
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- Scarlett 1st Gen 6i6, 8i6, 18i6, 18i8, 18i20
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Note: The 1st Gen Scarlett Solo, 2i2, and 2i4 have all their controls
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accessible from the front panel of the device, and there are no
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proprietary software controls, so they do not require this control
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panel software.
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## Important Driver Limitations
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The 1st Gen Scarlett devices have some important limitations in the
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ALSA driver implementation that you should be aware of:
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1. **Initial State Detection**: The driver cannot read the current
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state of hardware controls (this appears to be a limitation of the
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device firmware). When alsa-scarlett-gui starts, what you see will
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not reflect the actual state of your device unless the controls
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have previously been set since startup.
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2. **State Update Issues**: The driver only updates the hardware state
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when it thinks a setting needs to be changed. If the driver
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incorrectly believes a control is already in the desired state, it
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won't actually update the control.
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3. **Level Meters**: The driver does not support reading the level
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meters from the hardware.
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4. **Startup Controls**: The driver has no startup controls.
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### Recommended Workaround
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To ensure your settings are properly applied:
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1. Apply a "zero" configuration that sets all controls to values that
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are *not* what you desire.
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2. Then apply your desired configuration
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This two-step process helps ensure that the driver actually sends all
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commands to the hardware. You may want to create a script using
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`alsactl` for this purpose.
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## Main Window
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The main window is divided into three sections:
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- Global Controls
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- Analogue Input Controls
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- Analogue Output Controls
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The particular controls available depend on the interface model.
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Note that the View menu option lets you open two other windows which
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contain additional controls, described in the following sections:
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- [Routing](#routing)
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- [Mixer](#mixer)
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The Levels and Startup windows that are available for later-generation
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interfaces are not available for 1st Gen interfaces due to driver limitations.
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### Global Controls
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Global controls relate to the operation of the interface as a whole.
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#### Clock Source
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Clock Source selects where the interface receives its digital clock
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from. If you aren't using S/PDIF or ADAT inputs, set this to Internal.
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#### Sync Status
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Sync Status indicates if the interface is locked to a valid digital
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clock. If you aren't using S/PDIF or ADAT inputs and the status is
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Unlocked, change the Clock Source to Internal.
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### Analogue Input Controls
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#### Inst
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The Inst buttons are used to select between Mic/Line and Instrument
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level/impedance. When plugging in microphones or line-level equipment
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(such as a synthesizer, external preamp, or effects processor) to the
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input, set it to “Line”. The “Inst” setting is for instruments with
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pickups such as guitars.
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#### Pad
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Enabling Pad engages a 10dB attenuator in the channel, giving you more
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headroom for very hot signals.
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#### Gain
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The Gain switch selects Low or High gain for the input channel.
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### Analogue Output Controls
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The analogue output controls let you set the output volume (gain) on
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the analogue line outputs.
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Click and drag up/down on the volume dial to change the volume, use
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your arrow keys, Home/End/PgUp/PgDn keys, or use your mouse scroll
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wheel to adjust. You can also double-click on it to quickly toggle the
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volume between off and 0dB.
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## Routing
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The routing window allows complete control of signal routing between
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the hardware inputs/outputs, internal mixer, and PCM (USB)
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inputs/outputs.
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To manage the routing connections:
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- Click and drag from a source to a sink or a sink to a source to
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connect them. Audio from the source will then be sent to that sink.
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- Click on a source or a sink to clear the links connected to that
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source/sink.
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Note that a sink can only be connected to one source, but one source
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can be connected to many sinks. If you want a sink to receive input
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from more than one source, use the mixer inputs and outputs:
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- Connect the sources that you want to mix together to mixer inputs
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- Connect mixer outputs to the sinks that you want to receive the
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mixed audio
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- Use the Mixer window to set the amount of each mixer input that is
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sent to each mixer output
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The Presets menu can be used to clear all connections, or to set up
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common configurations:
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- The "Direct" preset sets up the usual configuration using the
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interface as a regular audio interface by connecting:
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- all Hardware Inputs to PCM Inputs
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- all PCM Outputs to Hardware Outputs
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- The "Preamp" preset connects all Hardware Inputs to Hardware
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Outputs.
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- The "Stereo Out" preset connects PCM 1 and 2 Outputs to pairs of
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Hardware Outputs.
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## Mixer
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If you use the Routing window to connect Sources to Mixer Inputs and
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Mixer Outputs to Sinks, then you can use the Mixer window to set the
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amount of each Mixer Input that is sent to each Mixer Output using a
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matrix of controls.
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Click and drag up/down on the gain controls to adjust, or use your
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mouse scroll wheel. You can also double-click on the control to
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quickly toggle between off and 0dB.
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