Iconnectivity AX 2.0 Manual - 2023-09-12
Iconnectivity AX 2.0 Manual - 2023-09-12
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v2023-0003
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS......................................................................................................................... 3
AURACLE X SOFTWARE.................................................................................................................................... 6
Installation......................................................................................................................................... 6
MAIN MENU...........................................................................................................................................7
Audio................................................................................................................................................. 7
PlayAUDIO Series Audio Menu Items......................................................................................... 8
Scene Selection...........................................................................................................................8
Failover Arm/ Disarm selection....................................................................................................8
Tripping the Failover Alarm & Backup Scene Selector................................................................8
Output Mode Selection................................................................................................................ 8
Outputs/Headphones Shared Settings...................................................................................................... 9
Outputs Mode.............................................................................................................................. 9
Headphones mode.................................................................................................................... 10
Failover Settings...................................................................................................................................... 11
MIDI Learn (PlayAUDIO1U).................................................................................................................... 13
MIDI Routing................................................................................................................................................. 14
General Info...............................................................................................................................14
MIDI Ports & Channels.........................................................................................................14
Physical MIDI ports.............................................................................................................. 14
Virtual MIDI Ports................................................................................................................. 14
MIDI Channels..................................................................................................................... 15
How To Route MIDI................................................................................................................................. 16
Filter & Remap................................................................................................................................ 17
Input/Output...............................................................................................................................17
Filter...........................................................................................................................................17
Remap....................................................................................................................................... 18
Clear All..................................................................................................................................... 18
Back button................................................................................................................................18
Presets............................................................................................................................................ 19
Interfaces with multiple presets............................................................................................................... 19
Interfaces with single presets.................................................................................................................. 19
Backup / Restore............................................................................................................................ 20
Backup.....................................................................................................................................................20
Restore.................................................................................................................................................... 20
RTP / Network MIDI........................................................................................................................ 21
RTP / Network MIDI Menu.......................................................................................................................21
USB Host Reservation.................................................................................................................... 23
Making USB Host Reservations:............................................................................................................. 23
Notes on USB MIDI controllers and iConnectivity Interfaces.................................................................. 24
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Control Ports................................................................................................................................... 25
Control Ports Action Page......................................................................................................... 26
Device Settings Changes.....................................................................................................26
Failover Arm State dropdown menu:.............................................................................. 26
Preset Load Mode.......................................................................................................... 26
Preset Number................................................................................................................26
Scene Change Mode...................................................................................................... 26
MIDI Message Actions......................................................................................................... 27
Firmware......................................................................................................................................... 28
Updating Firmware.................................................................................................................................. 28
APPENDIX A: MORE RESOURCES..................................................................................................................29
Mac, macOS, OS X, and iOS are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the United States and/or
other countries.
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other
countries.
iConnectivity is a trademark of iKingdom Corp. For more details see iConnectivity Patents.
Installation
Windows users, please uninstall all older iConnectivity drivers and download the newest Unified
driver here at https://www.iconnectivity.com/windows-drivers before proceeding. You must have
administrative access to complete installation.
The audio page is customized to the device you are configuring. These pages will contain some items
that are universal and some that are specific to the audio interface you are connected to..
Current interface lineup showing the audio page include; AUDIO2+, AUDIO4+, AUDIO4c,
PlayAUDIO12, PlayAUDIO1U, MIDI2+ and MIDI4+.
Audio output and routing can be manipulated in the following ways on the Audio page: Level, Mute,
Stereo/Mono, Headphone Mix, Pan, and Solo.
Sample Rate
At the bottom of the Audio page (you may have to scroll down depending on the size and resolution
of your screen), choose the recording sample rate of the AUDIO series interface from between 44.1,
48, 88.2*, and 96KHz*.
*Note: changing the sampling rate to 88.2 or 96KHz will render a channel change and some modes
may be unavailable. After changing sample rates on the PlayAUDIO12 it will be necessary to select
an output mode. While no output mode is selected no audio will output from the PlayAUDIO12
Scene Selection
Select the scene you wish to be active. Scene Selection buttons also respond in real time to scene
selection changes made on the interface, and vice versa.
To be able to arm automatic failover you must select a failover signal in the Failover Settings menu
item on the bottom of the Audio menu page as well as activate that failover signal. You may arm or
disarm automatic failover by clicking the appropriate button above.
When the Failover alarm is tripped by an interruption in the selected Trigger Mode exceeding your
configured audio or MIDI timeout threshold, the Failover Arm / Disarm selection menu will be modified
to include a red Failed Over visual alarm, as well as an button to clear the failover alert. Clicking the
Clear Failover Alert button will remove the visual alarm but will not toggle the interface to Scene A.
Both the PlayAUDIO12 and PlayAUDIO1U can be configured to use the ¼” TRS headphone jack as a
pair of unbalanced audio outputs using a TRS to dual TS cable (not included), or as a mixable
headphone output for monitoring the other outputs.
Outputs Adds headphone outputs left and right as discrete audio outputs 11 and 12
(PlayAUDIO12) or outputs 13 and 14 (PlayAUDIO1U)
Headphones Calls an additional mixing page allowing you to adjust the levels of each output
sending to the headphone output. More info about Headphones mode can be
found in the Headphones Mode section of this manual.
Mute All Mutes all rear analog outputs but leave the headphones output active
Unmute All Unmutes any and all muted rear analog outputs
Max All Levels Changes the level of output on rear analog outputs to maximum level
Outputs Mode
Faders Drag fader up or down, or click on the vertical fader travel path to adjust output
level
Headphones mode uses the headphone port as an independent, mixable stereo monitor output.
Faders Changes the audio output level by dragging up or down, or clicking a location in
the vertical fader path
For more info on the specific audio page data you will see please take a look into our videos on
youtube and our user guide for the AUDIO4c.
Failover settings are set to a standard default setting seen above but should be configured based on
the capabilities and tolerances of your specific rig.
Trigger Mode Audio Tone: Use a tone generator like our LifeSine VST available for
download to stream a constant tone to a virtual audio channel.
Interruptions in the tone above the Audio Timeout threshold will trigger
an automatic failover.
MIDI Stream: Use a constant MIDI stream like sync or clock to stream
a failover signal for automatic failover detection. Interruptions in the
MIDI stream above the MIDI timeout threshold will trigger an automatic
failover.
Audio Trigger Host Connected: Automatic failover will be triggered when failover is
armed and the Host (device connected to the USB DAW port) is
unplugged from the interface.
Failover Signal: Automatic failover will be triggered when failover is
armed and audio signal on the audio channel selected in the Audio
Channel menu is interrupted at or longer than the Audio Timeout
threshold.
Audio Channel Select the virtual audio channel for the PlayAUDIO1U to listen for
failover tone
Audio Time Out Set the tone timeout threshold for automatic failover. Spend some time
here testing the minimum timeout threshold to find the value that works
for your hardware configuration. Some older machines or very large
sessions may require longer timeout values to accommodate
computing resource limitations.
MIDI Trigger Host Connected:Automatic failover will be triggered when the Host
(device connected to the USB DAW port) is unplugged or otherwise
loses connection to the interface.
MIDI Recognized: You must first route a constant MIDI signal like
clock or sync from a connected device to any virtual MIDI port on the
USB DAW port. Automatic failover will be triggered if the current scene
is armed and there is an interruption in MIDI traffic at or above the
MIDI Timeout threshold.
Failover Signal: You must first route a constant MIDI signal like clock
or sync from a connected device to the virtual MIDI port enumerated in
the MIDI port field. Automatic failover will be triggered if the current
scene is armed and there is an interruption in MIDI traffic at or above
the MIDI Timeout threshold on the MIDI port selected in the MIDI port
field.
MIDI Port Set the virtual MIDI port for automatic failover monitoring when using
the MIDI Trigger mode Failover Signal.
MIDI Timeout Set the MIDI timeout threshold for automatic failover
1. Plug in a MIDI controller capable of sending CC messages into the USB HOST port of the
PlayAUDIO1U.
2. Navigate to the Audio page for the PlayAUDIO1U in Auracle X.
3. Click the Toggle MIDI Learn Set button to outline available parameters to be mapped. MIDI CC
mappable fields will become outlined in blue.
4. Click the field of the object you wish to MIDI map. The object will slowly glow in blue.
5. Engage the knob or fader on your MIDI controller that you wish to map to the object field from
the step above until the field of that object is steadily highlighted in blue.
6. Repeat for more MIDI mapping, or click Toggle MIDI Learn Set again to turn off the MIDI learn
function and return to normal operation.
General Info
Different iConnectivity interfaces have differing numbers of MIDI port types and amounts, but they can
all be configured using our Auracle X software MIDI Routing page. The number and types of MIDI
port sources and destinations will depend on the interface type you are using, but every MIDI port
includes its own 16 MIDI channels (1-16). These can be used to send and receive SysEx/MIDI data to
and from any other port.
USB Host Port USB A port used for connecting USB MIDI controllers
USB DAW Port USB B or USB C port used for connecting USB devices eg PCs and tablets
RTP MIDI Port RJ45 port for connecting CAT5e ethernet cables
The USB Host, USB DAW, and RTP MIDI ports are single physical ports that encapsulate multiple
virtual MIDI ports. The example below depicts the physical RTP MIDI port routing menu. The physical
RTP port is indicated by the gray RTP MIDI header and white RJ45 icon. Under the RTP MIDI virtual
RTP MIDI ports are indicated in white with a virtual port name and clickable pencil icon for
customizing respective virtual port names.
Each virtual RTP port can be connected via an RTP network session
to other RTP capable iConnectivity interfaces, computers, or tablets &
smartphones. Special adapters may be necessary to make this
connection to some PCs, tablets, and smartphones.
The physical USB Host and USB DAW ports also include multiple
virtual ports per their respective physical ports.
MIDI Channels
MIDI information is further separated by MIDI channels. Separating MIDI information by MIDI
channels is useful for keeping MIDI intended for separate destinations separate from each other
when using the same virtual MIDI port. MIDI channel separation can either be handled by assigning
MIDI channels per device through that devicesʻ MIDI menu, or by using the MIDI Remap function
detailed later in this manual.
Select the Output port you wish to route your selected MIDI input to.
Thatʻs it.
Depending on the interface, most MIDI Inputs will be routed to one MIDI Output when first connected
or Factory reset, representing what we think is a great starting point. Please keep in mind that you will
likely need to continue routing MIDI in your DAW to complete the MIDI path between devices.
You may also find it helpful to rename MIDI Input and/or Output ports to something more meaningful
for your personal use case.
To rename MIDI ports click the pencil icon and enter your personalized port name into the name field
and click save when done.
Each MIDI port can be remapped or filtered based on channel or data types (ie Note, Control
Change, Pitch Bend, etc). Like the MIDI Routing page, you must first select an Input port for the Filter
and Remap options to populate in the field the the left. Note that Output is also selectable to the right
of input to filter or remap MIDI data at the Output port.
Feast your eyes on this video for help with the Filter & Remap section of iConnectivity devices.
Input/Output
Selects whether to modify the input to the interface or the output from the interface. The terms
referenced are from the interface’s point of view.
Filter
Disable MIDI data type per port and channel channel by selecting the appropriate port on the left
column, and by clicking the clickable square at the intersection of the desired MIDI channel (column)
and data type (row).
To filter all channels of a MIDI data type (for example, all Note On/Off messages) you may select the
clickable square in the column marked All to the far right of the grid of clickable squares.
Remapping allows you to change the channel path of MIDI information per port and channel by
remapping incoming and outgoing MIDI messages to another MIDI channel of your choosing.
Clear All
Clear the current configuration.
Back button
Select to return to the main menu.
Note on saving on the PlayAUDIO12: The only way to save a preset on the
PlayAUDIO12 is to tap the rotary encoder on the front panel of the unit. All cap touch
buttons will flash amber to indicate that settings at the preset level have been saved
Backup
1. With your interface plugged in to your computer navigate to the Presets page of the device
whose presets you wish to save.
2. Click the Backup Interface Presets to File button.
3. Choose the file path and name in your systemʻs file manager and click save.
Restore
1. With your interface plugged in to your computer navigate to the Presets page of the device
whose presets you wish to restore.
2. Click the Restore Interface Presets From File button.
3. Choose the preset file from your systemʻs file manager and click Open.
Note: restoring a preset restores the saved preset from file to the preset slot it was saved from. It is
necessary to then load the preset using the Load Preset option.
While it is helpful to have some knowledge of computer networking, it is not absolutely necessary for
building and maintaining RTP MIDI networks.
For great advice on how to setup an RTP network please check out this instructional video
IP Settings
Subnet Enter a custom subnet if Set as Static is selected, or displays the interface’s
subnet if Set as Static is not selected.
Gateway Enter a custom gateway address iif Set as Static is selected, or displays the
interface’s gateway if Set as Static is not selected.
Save Click to save the current IP settings. The ethernet cable connected to the
interface you are configuring needs to be removed and reinserted to apply
edited values in the Set as Static, IP, Subnet, and Gateway.
Session active Click blue to make the session available for configuring and click gray to
button disable.
Pencil icon Click to edit the name of the virtual MIDI port.
RTP virtual port Displays the name of the virtual RTP session.
label
Initiator / Responder
Initiator Select Initiator to allow the virtual RTP port to initiate an RTP session. RTP
sessions must always have initiator and one responder.
IP Enter the address of the Responding RTP session when connecting using IP
address.
Port Enter the port of the Responding RTP session when connecting using IP
address.
Name field Enter the bonjour name of the Responding RTP session when connecting
using Name .
Responder Select Responder to open the virtual RTP port to session Initiator requests.
Bonjour Name Enter the Bonjour name of the RTP session in this field.
Connection Status Displays “Not Connected” unless connected to a USB Host device.
Port Reservation Displays the currently reserved USB Host device, or “non” if no reservation
has been made.
● Each iConnectivity interface that has a USB Host port(s) has limits regarding power
consumption by connected USB MIDI devices as well as number of available virtual MIDI ports
to populate.
● Please consult the documentation for your specific interface regarding power availability for
individual as well as cumulative power available to USB Host ports
● If your device requires more power than is available according to the power specifications of
your interface, you will need to power your USB MIDI device with an external power supply.
● When using multiple MIDI devices this way, use the USB Host Reservation menu to assign
static host ports for your MIDI devices so they retain their host port assignment between power
cycles and/or unplugging and replugging USB Host devices.
● You can connect a powered USB hub to any of our host ports to add more controllers but there
will still be a limit for each interface that doesn’t change.
● A maximum of eight controllers are supported for the following interfaces: PlauAUDIO1U,
PlayAUDIO12, AUDIO4+, AUDIO4c, MIDI4+, mio4, mioXM
● A maximum of 10 controllers are supported for the following interfaces: mio10, mioXL.
On the PlayAUDIO12, the control ports are marked In and Out and can be connected with a ¼” TRS
cable to daisy-chain multiple PlayAUDIO12 units together in an aggregate device to ensure
simultaneous failover switching among multiple devices. There is no menu page for the control ports
on the PlayAUDIO12. To activate synchronous failover between two PlayAUDIO12s, connect the
primary PlayAUDIO12 Out port to the secondary PlayAUDIO12 In port using a ¼” TRS cable.
The Control In port on the PlayAUDIO12 can also be used with a footswitch such as the Boss FS-6 to
toggle between scenes A and B. Use a ¼” TRS cable to connect the In control port of the
PlayAUDIO12 to the “A & B” port of the Boss FS-6 to manually switch active scenes.
The control ports on the PlayAUDIO1U can be configured to send MIDI cc or program change
messages, as well as perform failover functions as listed below.
Status Lights up green when a connected and compatible control switch is actuated
regardless of enabled status.
Port Name Identifies the control switch by jack and number and type (Tip or Ring).
Switch Type Select input or output; input receives the switch actuation, output sends a
selected control action.
Toggle Toggles the automatic failover detection between armed and disarmed if a
MIDI or Audio signal condition is met.
Select The preset selected in the Preset Number dropdown menu is called.
Preset Number
Chooses between Preset 1-Preset 16 to select the preset to recall when Preset Load Mode is on
Select and the control is activated
Toggle Activating the control toggles between Scene A and Scene B. Depending on
the polarity of your switch, toggle action will be initiated either when the
control is activated or when it is released.
In addition to failover arm, preset, and scene change messages, the PlayAUDIO1U control ports can
be configured to send a MIDI control change or program change number when activated.
Message Selects Control Change or Program change as the type of message sent.
Use the Firmware menu to inspect, update, or rollback your interface’s firmware version.
Updating Firmware
1. Connect a computer with the Auracle X software to a USB DAW port on your iConnectivity
interface. If you are plugged into the wrong port for firmware updates a popup will appear
informing you of the correct USB DAW port to use.
2. Connect to the internet to download the latest firmware update from our website
OR
3. Click Choose File to select a firmware file from your computer’s file system.
The iConnectivity Knowledge Base main page is located at: iConnectivity Support Website.
Download our latest Unified Windows Driver from the website Windows Drivers page.
MIDI protocols are explained on our Knowledge Base Intro to MIDI Connections page.