F. A. Q. - Frequently Asked Questions

Product

PHASE 26 USB

Status

06 October 2005

Version

1.0

Questions and Answers

22

Please ensure that you are using the latest driver versions. You can obtain these from our web page.

Internet

TerraTec Electronic GmbH

http://www.terratec.com

Herrenpfad 38

ftp://ftp.terratec.de

D-41334 Nettetal, Germany

An Overview of the Questions

Question 1:
Which hardware configuration do you recommend to take full advantage of the card?

Question 2:
Which operating systems are supported? What additional support is planned for the future?

Question 3:
Do I need an external power supply adapter?

Question 4:
Is it possible to play and/or record analogue or digital signals with different sample rates simultaneously?

Question 5:
Will the PHASE 26 USB system work on a USB 2.0 port?

Question 6:
Does the unit support Steinbergs System-Link?

Question 7:
Can I use the digital outputs to send AC3 or DTS?

Question 8:
Is it possible to add an XG-Wavetable module to the system?

Question 9:
How good is the signal to noise ratio?

Question 10:
How can I identify the PHASE 26 USB firmware version? 

Question 11:
How large is the control parameter for the Input signal on the PHASE 26 USB system?

Question 12:
Playback and record is not working in ASIO mode, what can I do?

Question 13:
What can I do if the PHASE 26 USB control panel has no access to the hardware?

Question 14:
How much is the PHASE 26 USB current consumption?
 
Question 15:
Does the PHASE 26 USB system have a support for GigaStudio?

Question 16:
Do the digital inputs have a sample-rate converter?

Question 17:
What is the best CoreAudio latency on MAC OS X?

Question 18:
Are there any special points to consider by the installation under Windows 2000 or XP?

Question 19:
How much sensitivity do the analogue In and Outputs have?

Question 20:
The recorded Signal is distorted, what went wrong?

Question 21:
Is a ASIO support for MAC OS X planed?

Question 22:
Why can't I hear any Midi sounds?


Question 1:

Which hardware configuration do you recommend to take full advantage of the card?

Answer 1:

The minimum system requirements are:

System requirements PC

System requirements MAC       

System recommendation PC    

System recommendation MAC  


y

Question 2:

Which operating systems are supported? What additional support is planned for the future?

Answer 2:

The card supports driver models as follows :


y

Question 3:

Do I need an external power supply adapter?

Answer 3:

No, you can run the system on a full power USB 1 or USB 2 hub.  In addition, if your hub does not supply enough power (e.g. the MAC keyboard hub) you can operate the PASE 26 USB with an external 9 Volt DC (not included) power supply adapter.


y

Question 4:

Is it possible to play and/or record analogue or digital signals with different sample rates simultaneously?

Answer 4:

Yes, with the exception of ASIO or WDM kernel streaming applications.



y

Question 5:

Will the PHASE 26 USB system work on a USB 2.0 port?

Answer 5:

Yes.



y

Question 6:

Does the unit support Steinbergs System-Link?

Answer 6:

The present firmware version 1.07 does not support System-Link. At the moment we are proofing the feasibility.



y

Question 7:

Can I use the digital outputs to send AC3 or DTS?

Answer 7:

No.



y

Question 8:

Is it possible to add an XG-Wavetable module to the system?

Answer 8:

No.



y

Question 9:

How good is the signal to noise ratio?

Answer 9:

A/D measured: 97 dB (A), 24 bit/ 96 kHz A-D converter with 98 dB (A) S/N-R.

D/A measured: 102 dB (A), 24 bit/ 96 kHz D-A converter with 106 dB (A) S/N-R.



y

Question 10:

How can I identify the PHASE 26 USB firmware version? 

Answer 10:

You can find all version no. and a device status message on the control panel misc side.



y

Question 11:

How large is the control parameter for the Input signal on the PHASE 26 USB system?

Answer 11:

The inputs are designed for 2,1 Volt RMS @ 1 kHz. An input gain setting exists for the microphone input (9mV – 500nV).



y

Question 12:

Playback and record is not working in ASIO mode, what can I do?

Answer 12:

Please make sure that you are using the actual Firmware together with the latest driverset . For the update of your firmware you should refer to the relating chapter within the manual. The actual Drivers + Firmware are located in the downloadsection of our website www.terratecproducer.com .



y

Question 13:

What can I do if the PHASE 26 USB control panel has no access to the hardware?

Answer 13:

Please check the driver installation of the “TerraTec PHASE 26 USB” driver in the “Audio-Video and Gamecontroller” area of the Windows device manager. If it is not possible to install the driver (or the driver installation will not start automatically after plugging-in the device) you have to update the firmware. Please refer to the relating chapter within the manual.



y

Question 14:

How much is the PHASE 26 USB current consumption?

Answer 14:

The maximal current consumption is 240 mA.



y

Question 15:

Does the PHASE 26 USB system have a support for GigaStudio?

Answer 15:

No.



y

Question 16:

Do the digital inputs have a sample-rate converter?

Answer 16:

No. The digital I/O is sample synchronously.



y

Question 17:

What is the best CoreAudio latency on MAC OS X?

Answer 17:

Depending on your system performance less than 7 ms are possible.



y

Question 18:

Are there any special points to consider by the installation under Windows 2000 or XP?

Answer 18:

It is strongly recommended that you log on these systems as "Administrator". Otherwise it may be that speaker configuration can not be changed.



y

Question 19:

How much sensitivity do the analogue In and Outputs have?

Answer 19:

Analogue In

2,1 Vrms @ 1 kHz,  10 kOhm

Analogue Out

2,1 Vrms @ 1 kHz, 220 Ohm



y

Question 20:

The recorded Signal is distorted, what went wrong?

Answer 20:

In most cases you can solve this problem by increasing the buffer size within the ASIO control panel. 



y

Question 21:

Is a ASIO support for MAC OS X planed?

Answer 21:

Yes, as soon Steinberg includes such a support to their OS X products we plan to prepare those drivers.



y

Question 22:

Why can't I hear any Midi sounds?

Answer 22:

Because the PHASE 28 system  is a pure I/O-card for HD-recording and software synthesizers. To play Midi sounds you'll need to use a virtual synthesizer (softsynth) or hook-up a Midi hardware device to the Midi-Out port.



y

For further questions, please contact the Support or call our Hotline under the number +49-2157-817914.

 TerraTec Electronic GmbH
Herrenpfad 38
D-41334 Nettetal

Phone: +49-2157-81790
Hotline: +49-2157-817914

www.terratec.com

ftp://ftp.terratec.de