Focusrite ITrack One Pre User manual

User Guide

POWER

www.focusrite.com

Version 1.0

OVERVIEW..................................................................... 3

Introduction .................................................................3

Product Compatibility .........................................................3

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Box Contents ................................................................4

HARDWARE FEATURES.......................................................... 5

Top View ....................................................................5

Front View...................................................................6

Rear View ...................................................................6

USING THE iTrack One Pre ....................................................... 7

Power considerations .........................................................7

Audio setup in your app........................................................8

Recording from a microphone and/or instrument ..................................9

Using iTrack One Pre with GarageBand .........................................11

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS ................................................14

PHYSICAL AND ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS ...................................14

TROUBLESHOOTING ...........................................................15

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OVERVIEW

Introduction

Thank you for downloading this User Guide for the iTrack One Pre; we presume you have just become

the proud owner of one. The iTrack One Pre is the most compact Focusrite interface ever. Now

you can record on your iPhone® or iPad® from a microphone or instrument - anywhere, anytime

- at up to 96 kHz sample rate and 24-bit resolution, with all of Focusrite’s famed audio quality.

The iTrack One Pre is compatible with GarageBand, Cubasis and most other iPhone/iPad recording

apps, and lets you expand your creativity by adding vocals and ‘real-world’ instruments to the

software instruments provided by the apps.

This Guide provides an explanation of the iTrack One Pre to help you on your way. Even if

you’re not new to digital recording, please take the time to read through it so that you

are aware of all its possibilities. If you can’t ﬁnd the information you need here, consult

http://www.focusrite.com/answerbase, which contains a comprehensive collection of solutions to

common technical support queries.

Product Compatibility

The iTrack One Pre is compatible with all models of Apple® iPhone or iPad ﬁtted with a Lightning

connector. At the present time, these are as follows:

• iPhone SE

• iPhone 6s

• iPhone 6s Plus

• iPhone 6 Plus

• iPhone 6

• iPhone 5s

• iPhone 5c

• iPhone 5

• iPad Pro (12.9 inch)

• iPad Pro (9.7 inch)

• iPad Air 2

• iPad Air

• iPad mini 4

• iPad mini 3

• iPad mini 2

• iPad mini

• iPad (4th generation)

• iPod touch (6th generation)

• iPod touch (5th generation)

Features

The iTrack One Pre lets you connect a microphone or musical instrument to your iPhone or iPad

(your “iOS device”), and is powered from the iOS device. The signal at the input socket is routed to the

audio recording app on your iOS device via its Lightning connector. You can monitor your recording by

plugging headphones into your device in the usual way.

The iTrack One Pre uses a renowned Focusrite analogue mic pre-amp design: as well as having

great sound quality this can provide 48 V phantom power, so you can use a studio quality condenser

microphone if you have one. The “Combo” input socket also allows direct connection of an electric

guitar or bass - including those with high-output pickups.

With just one gain control, one switch and two LEDs, the iTrack One Pre has been designed to be as

easy to use as possible. Connect it to your iOS device using the Lightning cable supplied, plug your

mic or instrument into the input, set the gain and start recording – that’s really all there is to it.

Note that your iTrack One Pre’s base features a special material using microsuction technology. This

sticks to a ﬂat smooth surface such as a desk top, which means it doesn’t move about while you’re

recording. If this should become less sticky over time because of accumulated dirt or ﬂuff, it can be

cleaned with a damp cloth.

Box Contents

Along with the iTrack One Pre itself you should have:

• Getting Started booklet

• Micro USB-to-Lightning cable (red)

• Micro USB-to-USB ‘A’-type cable (black, for connecting an external power supply)

• Protective bag

HARDWARE FEATURES

Top View

ON 48V

GAIN

2 3

1. ON – once you’ve connected the iTrack One Pre to your iOS device, open the recording app you’re

going to use: after a few seconds this green LED will light, conﬁrming that communication

has been correctly established.

2. GAIN – adjust the recording level so that the LED halo [3] does not turn red.

3. Gain “halo” LED – this is integral to the GAIN knob; this illuminates green to indicate “signal

present” and turns red if the level reaches 0 dBFS, indicating clipping. Once clip level is

reached, the halo stays red for one second, so you will know that the level was too high even

if it was only for a very short peak.

4. Phantom power switch – this is a latching switch and should be set ON if you are using a

microphone which requires 48 V phantom power (condenser or active ribbon types).

5. 48V – this LED will light green when the phantom power is turned on and the microphone

is operating normally. If the LED turns red, it indicates that the iTrack One Pre has entered

“current limiting mode”, which means the phantom power voltage supplied to the microphone

has been reduced. In this case the mic may not work properly, and you should power the

iTrack One Pre from an external USB PSU. See “Power considerations” on page 7 for

more details.

Front View

6. INPUT – a “Combo XLR” input socket. Connect a microphone via an XLR plug, or an instrument

via a ¼” TS (unbalanced) jack. Note that this socket will not work with a balanced source via

a ¼” TRS jack.

Rear View

POWER

7. Device connection – a USB Micro B socket for connecting to your iOS device. Plug the red

cable supplied with the iTrack One Pre in here; the other end of this cable has a Lightning

connector to plug into your compatible iPhone or iPad.

8. POWER – this USB Micro B socket lets you power your iTrack One Pre from a household USB

adaptor (e.g., an iPhone charger). Plug the black cable supplied with your iTrack One Pre in

here; the other end of this cable has a standard USB ‘A’ type plug. You should use external

power if the 48V LED [5] lights red when you are using a condenser mic, or if your iOS device

is low on battery (but note the device will NOT be recharged using this method).

USING THE ITRACK ONE PRE

Power considerations

The iTrack One Pre requires no batteries or separate power supply (but read on!).

When in use, it is powered from the iOS device to which is connected. Because the iTrack One Pre is

an active device, the battery in your iOS device will run down at a faster rate than it does in the device

alone, but this shouldn’t cause you any problems; it is simply good practice to make sure that there

is plenty of battery life in the device before you start recording.

The iTrack One Pre can also supply 48 V phantom power to a condenser (capacitor) microphone.

A condenser microphone consumes power itself, so remember that using one will further affect

the rate at which your battery runs down. Many modern condenser mics will work straightaway,

but some older or professional studio mics may require more current than the iTrack One Pre can

supply from your iOS device. You will know if this is the case because the 48V status LED will turn

from green to red. If this happens, you can power the iTrack One Pre from a standard household USB

power adaptor (e.g., an iPhone charger) using the USB cable supplied.

NOTE: Using an external USB PSU to power the iTrack One Pre does NOT charge the battery in your

iOS device.

To summarise:

• Your iTrack One Pre will normally be powered by your iPhone or iPad

• Use an external USB power supply only if:

• The 48V LED turns red when you connect a condenser mic, or

• Your iPhone or iPad has low battery life

POWER

Powering the iTrack One Pre from an iOS device.

Use the red Lightning

cable to connect devices.

POWER

Audio setup in your app

The iTrack One Pre is currently compatible with all Core Audio iPad apps, including the following:

• Impact by Focusrite (our own recording app)

• Garageband

• Cubasis

• Auria

Whichever recording app you’re using, its input signals – the signals you’re recording – will be derived

from the iTrack One Pre once your iOS device is correctly connected. With most apps this is entirely

automatic, and unlike computer-based DAW applications, no set-up procedure is necessary. If it

appears that your recording app does not automatically select the iTrack One Pre as its input source,

please consult the app’s Help ﬁles to check how to select it manually.

Black power cable with

USB power supply.

Using an external PSU with the iTrack One Pre to enable a

studio quality condenser mic to be used.

Recording from a microphone and/or instrument

Connect the iTrack One Pre to your iOS device using the red Lightning cable supplied. Open the

recording app on the device; the green ON LED will light after a few seconds, conﬁrming that the two

devices are communicating correctly.

POWER

Now connect your audio source. The “Combi” type INPUT socket accepts signals from microphones

or instruments – e.g., guitars or bass guitars.

NOTE: Certain electronic instruments, e.g., keyboards and drum machines may also work

satisfactorily with the iTrack One Pre, though no guarantee can be given for any particular

instrument. Also, bear in mind that the iTrack One Pre is a mono device, and you may need to

take this into account when programming the instrument.

Mics connect via a 3-pin XLR plug; you will probably have one on the end of your microphone cable.

If the microphone needs phantom power to operate (i.e., it is a condenser or active ribbon mic),

switch the phantom power on AFTER plugging the mic in. If all is well, the 48V LED will light green.

If it lights red, the iTrack One Pre is in current limiting mode and the phantom power voltage will

be reduced. If this happens, connect the iTrack One Pre to an external USB power supply using the

black USB cable supplied.

Instruments use a ¼” (6.35 mm) TS (2-pole) jack plug. Do not use TRS (3-pole) jacks with the iTrack

One Pre.

1/4” TRS (3-pole) jack plug 1/4” TS (2-pole) jack plug 3-pin XLR plug (male)

Note that inserting an XLR plug into the INPUT socket will conﬁgure the iTrack One Pre as a mic

pre-amp, with the higher gain that microphones require: if you connect a higher level signal using an

XLR plug, you could easily end up with distortion!

The GAIN control has an integral “halo” LED to indicate signal level. Turn the GAIN control clockwise

while using the mic or instrument until it turns green. The halo should remain green most of the

time while you are playing or singing, but it’s OK if it goes off in the ‘gaps’. If it turns red you have the

gain set too high, and it should be turned down a bit. The best way to test that your gain level is not

too high is to play at the loudest you think you’ll be while recording, and ensure that the gain halo

does not turn red.

Your recording app will let you monitor what you’re recording via a pair of headphones connected

to your iOS device’s headphone output. When you plug the headphones in, the iPad or iPhone will

usually reconﬁgure its audio setup as it disables the internal speaker. The green ON LED on the

iTrack One Pre may go out momentarily – this is normal. You will probably see a message like this:

Screenshot taken from Garageband.

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