RME OCTAMIC XTC [38/62] General

User’s Guide OctaMic XTC © RME

16. General

The USB port of the OctaMic XTC provides two functions:

¾ Firmware update under Windows and Mac OS X (also see chapter 21.7)

¾ Usage as audio interface under Mac OS X and with Apple’s iPad

As Windows does not support Class Compliant mode with USB 2.0 directly, special support for

the OctaMic XTC has to be installed first. This is done with the RME Driver Installer for MADI-

face XT, MADIface USB and OctaMic XTC (Firmware Enabler). After that the XTC firmware

update tool can update the firmware to the latest version. Both tools are found on the RME web-

site (www.rme-audio.de

) in the section Downloads.

Under Mac OS X no preparation is required, the firmware updater is fully operational as soon as

a OctaMic XTC is connected via USB.

Thanks to native support of the Class Compliant mode the OctaMic XTC operates under Mac

OS X like an audio interface. It provides 24 channels of I/O, see chapter 18.2

Exciting as well as useful is the usage of the OctaMic XTC as hardware frontend for Apple’s

iPad. The XTC provides the iPad with the professional analog I/O connections it lacks: Superb

microphone preamps with AutoSet, professional balanced line inputs, instrument inputs, 2 hi-

power headphone outputs, and all common digital interface ports - ADAT, AES and MADI. All

this can be used with up to 24 channels in and out simultaneously. Everything is available fully

digital via USB, in uncompromised quality with up to 192 kHz and 24-bit. And of course a

Sysex-capable double MIDI I/O.

Note that since iOS 5 multichannel recording is supported, and since iOS 6 multichannel play-

back as well. At this time only djay and Auria support more than one stereo output, others are

expected to follow soon.

17. System requirements

¾ Apple computer with OS 10.6 or higher

¾ Any Apple iPad with at least iOS 5. iPhone and iPod Touch can not be used.

¾ Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit (Dock or Lightning to USB)

18. Operation

Mac Computer: Connect the XTC to the Apple Computer via USB. In the system tool Sound

and the Audio MIDI window the OctaMic XTC is now shown and can be used as record and

playback device.

iPad: Connect the USB cable to the XTC and the Camera Connection Kit. Start the iPad and

plug the Camera Connection Kit into the Dock connector. Audio playback in iTunes now auto-

matically switches to the XTC. Use the XTC’s Digital Routing screen to assign record and play-

back channels to the analog and digital I/Os of the XTC.

Apps that support MIDI and are ready for Core MIDI (available since iOS 4.2) will offer dialogs

to select the desired XTC MIDI inputs and outputs.