M-Audio FireWire Solo [4/20] Front panel controls and connectors

Front Panel Controls and Connectors

1. Microphone Input

Mic-level input on balanced XLR connector. This connector is only active when the Front/Rear Input Selector (5) is set to “Front” (OUT

position). Input from this connector appears in your DAW software as a mono signal on the left side of the stereo input pair.

2. Clip indicator

3. Phantom Power Indicator

This indicator illuminates when the Phantom Power Switch (9) is pressed, indicating that +48VDC power is being applied to the Mic

Input (1).

4. Microphone Input Gain

This knob controls the amount of gain at the Microphone Input (1), over a range of 0dB to +40dB or greater.

5. Front/Rear Input Selector

6. Guitar Input

Instrument-level input on unbalanced 1/4” phone connector, for use with guitars, basses or other instrument-level sources. This connector

is only active when the Front/Rear Input Selector (5) is set to “Front” (OUT position). Input from this connector appears in your DAW software

as a mono signal on the right side of the stereo input pair.

7. Clip indicator

This LED illuminates when the Guitar Input signal level exceeds –1 dBFS. If the Clip Indicator glows steadily, reduce the Guitar Input gain

level (8).

8. Guitar Input Gain

This knob controls the amount of gain at the Guitar Input (6), over a range of 0dB to +30dB or greater.

9. Phantom Power Switch

This switch activates the +48V phantom power, for use with condenser mics requiring external power. When Phantom Power is active, the

Phantom Power Indicator LED (3) lights up.

NOTE: It is safe to connect most modern dynamic microphones or line level devices to the channel inputs when phantom power is

activated. However, some older ribbon microphones may be damaged by phantom power, and certain unbalanced line level devices may

malfunction or produce an audible hum when phantom power is active. Consult the documentation for these devices if you are unsure

how to proceed.

10. Output Level Control

This knob controls the amount of output gain to the rear-panel Line Output (18) and the front-panel Headphone Output (11).

11. Headphone Output

Stereo 1/4” TRS phone jack output for connection of headphones for monitoring the output signal. The volume level is controlled by the

Output Level Control (10).

12. Power Indicator

This LED illuminates when the FireWire Solo is powered on, either via bus power or the AC adaptor.