M-Audio SONO 61 ProKeys Sono Audio Setup and Controls, Using the Microphone and Instrument Inputs

ProKeys Sono 61 User Guide 23

ProKeys Sono Audio Setup and Controls

Using the Microphone and Instrument Inputs

To record the microphone and instrument inputs of ProKeys Sono into your audio application:

1.Select “ProKeys Sono 61” or “USB Audio Interface 9” as an audio input device within your application’s setup menu.. Please see your audio application’s documentation to learn how to do this..

2.Select “ProKeys Sono 61” or “USB Audio Interface 9” as the audio track’s output within your recording software.. Again, see your audio application’s documentation to learn how to do this..

ProKeys Sono features high-gain, low-noise preamplifiers on its microphone (channel one) and instrument (channel two) inputs.. Channel one features a low-impedance input with an XLR connector and is designed to receive the output of a dynamic microphone.. Channel two has a 1/4” high-impedance instrument input and is designed to accept signals from an electric guitar, bass, or other high-impedance source.. You may attach a direct box or passive transformer to the microphone input (channel 1) if you would like to plug another guitar, bass, or other high-impedance instrument into the ProKeys Sono Microphone input..

Setting Input Gain

The M-Audio ProKeys Sono Mic input (channel one) and Instrument input (channel two) each provide up to 35dB of gain.. Microphones, electric guitars, and basses typically emit low “instrument” level signals and require preamplifiers (such as the ones in ProKeys Sono) to boost the signals before being recorded..

Plug in your microphone or instrument with the gain controls turned down.. While playing your instrument or singing into the microphone at the loudest section of the song, slowly turn the gain knob clockwise until the red clip LED begins to illuminate.. Then, turn the knob counter-clockwise until the clip indicator no longer illuminates.. At this point, you should be ready to record with the optimum gain setting..

Please keep in mind that the red LED indicates that your input is clipping (distorting) digitally.. This is not the same kind of analog-style distortion found on guitar amplifiers and stomp boxes.. Digital distortion is generally considered to be harsh and unmusical and it is recommended that you use the signal/peak LEDs to avoid this type of clipping..

9Windows XP/Vista Users:

In Windows XP, ProKeys Sono will appear as “USB Audio Device” if the optional drivers have not been installed.. If the drivers have been installed, ProKeys Sono will appear as “ProKeys Sono 61*”.. In Windows Vista, ProKeys Sono will appear as “ProKeys Sono 61*” regardless of whether or not the optional drivers have been installed..

*Note that the actual ProKeys Sono name displayed by the computer may vary slightly..

Tip: As described in the “About the audio inputs” box in the “Hardware Connections” chapter earlier in this User Guide, the XLR/Left Aux inputs and Instrument/Right Aux inputs are merged (or “summed”). As a result, if you are not using one of the inputs, be sure to turn its gain knob all the way down (fully counter-clockwise) since any possible background noise or unintended signals entering the unused input during recording may also be amplified and heard in the recording.