VRM BoxUser Guide

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ENGLISHImportant Safety Instructions 1. Read these instructions2. Keep these instructions3. Heed all warnings4. Follow all instructions5. Clean VRM Box only with dry cloth6. DonotinstallVRMBoxnearanyheatsourcessuchasradiators,heatregisters,stoves,orotherapparatus(includingamplifiers)thatproduceheat7. Onlyuseattachments/accessoriesspecifiedbyFocusrite8. Useonlywiththecart,stand,tripod,bracket,ortablespecifiedbytheFocusrite,orsoldwiththeVRMBox.Whenacartisused,usecaution whenmovingthecart/VRMBoxcombinationtoavoidinjuryfromtip-over

9. Unplug the VRM Box during lightning stormsorwhenunusedforlongperiodsoftime10. Referallservicingtoqualifiedservicepersonnel.ServicingisrequiredwhentheVRMBoxhasbeendamagedinanyway,such as the headphone,USBorS/PDIFsocketsaredamaged,liquidhasbeenspilledorobjectshavefallenintotheVRMBox,theVRMBoxhasbeen exposedtorainormoisture,doesnotoperatenormally,orhasbeendropped

Nonakedflames,suchaslightedcandles,shouldbeplacedontheapparatus

WARNING:Excessivesoundpressurelevelsfromearphonesandheadphonescancausehearingloss WARNING:ThisequipmentmustonlybeconnectedtoUSB1.0,1.1or2.0typeportstoprotectagainsthazardintheeventofaproductfault

Environmental Declaration Compliance Information Statement: Declaration of Compliance procedure

ProductIdentification: FocusriteVRMBox Responsibleparty: AmericanMusicandSound Address: 5304DerryAvenue#C Agoura Hills, CA 91301 Telephone:800-994-4984

This devicecomplieswithpart15oftheFCCRules.Operationissubjecttothefollowingtwoconditions:(1)Thisdevicemaynotcauseharmfulinterference,and(2)thisdevicemustacceptanyinterferencereceived,includinginterferencethatmaycauseundesiredoperation.

For USA - to the user: 1.Donotmodifythisunit!Thisproduct,wheninstalledasindicatedintheinstructionscontainedinthismanual,meetsFCCrequirements.ModificationsnotexpresslyapprovedbyFocusritemayvoidyourauthority,grantedbytheFCC,tousethisproduct.

2.Important:ThisproductsatisfiesFCCregulationswhenhighqualityshieldedcablesareusedtoconnectwithotherequipment.FailuretousehighqualityshieldedcablesortofollowtheinstallationinstructionswithinthismanualmaycausemagneticinterferencewithappliancessuchasradiosandtelevisionsandvoidyourFCCauthorizationtousethisproductintheUSA.

3.Note:ThisequipmenthasbeentestedandfoundtocomplywiththelimitsforaClassBdigitaldevice,pursuanttopart15oftheFCCRules.Theselimitsaredesignedtoprovidereasonableprotectionagainstharmfulinterferenceinaresidentialinstallation.Thisequipmentgenerates,usesandcanradiateradiofrequencyenergyand,ifnotinstalledandusedinaccordancewiththeinstructions,maycauseharmfulinterferencetoradiocommunications.However,thereisnoguaranteethatinterferencewillnotoccurinaparticularinstallation.Ifthisequipmentdoescauseharmfulinterferencetoradioortelevisionreception,whichcanbedeterminedbyturningtheequipmentoffandon,theuserisencouragedtotrytocorrecttheinterferencebyoneormoreofthefollowingmeasures:

Reorient • or relocate the receiving antenna

Increasetheseparationbetweentheequipmentandreceiver•

Connecttheequipmentintoanoutletonacircuitdifferentfromthattowhichthereceiveris•connected

Consultthedealeroranexperiencedradio/TVtechnicianforhelp•

For Canada - to the user: ThisClassBdigitalapparatuscomplieswithCanadianICES-003CetappareilnumériquedelaclasseBestconformeàlanormeNMB-003duCanada

RoHS Notice Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited has conformed,andthisproductconformswhereapplicable,totheEuropeanUnion’sDirective2002/95/EConRestrictionsofHazardousSubstances(RoHS)aswellasthefollowingsectionsofCalifornialawwhichrefertoRoHS,namely sections 25214.10, 25214.10.2, and 58012,HealthandSafetyCode;Section42475.2,PublicResourcesCode.

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IntroductionVRMBoxcontainsauniquetechnologythatallowsyoutomonitoraudioonapairofheadphones,asifyouwereinarealenvironmentlisteningtorealspeakers.Therearethreeenvironmentsand15pairsofspeakerstochoosefrom,creatingatotalof24listeningscenarios.

VRMBoxhasatactilevolumecontrolwithaclassleadingheadphoneamplifierandexternalS/PDIFinput,completewithbuilt-insample-rateconversion,inapocket-sizedpackagethatfitsneatlyonyourdesk.

What’s in the box1 VRM Box1InstallerCD(includesinstallationfilesforMacintoshandWindowsPC,andthisUserGuide)1USBcable1 Register Me Online card1GettingStartedGuide

VRM Box hardware overview

1. Volumeknob

2. VRM “Active” LED

3. Headphonesocket

4. KensingtonLockport

5. USBsocket

6. S/PDIFinputsocket1

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ContentsImportant Safety Instructions ............................................................ 2Environmental Declaration ................................................................ 2Contents ................................................................................................ 3Introduction .......................................................................................... 3What’s in the box .................................................................................. 3VRM Box hardware overview .............................................................. 3Operating system compatibility ......................................................... 4Installing the software ......................................................................... 4VRM Box hardware setup .................................................................... 4VRM Box as the main audio interface ............................................... 4VRM Box in conjunction with another audio interface .................... 5VRM Box control panel software ........................................................ 5What is Virtual Reference Monitoring? .............................................. 6The problem .......................................................................................... 6The solution .......................................................................................... 6The method ........................................................................................... 6VRM technical data .............................................................................. 6Performance specifications ................................................................ 8Latency and CPU information ............................................................. 8Copyright .............................................................................................. 8

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Operating system compatibilityWindows MacintoshWindowsXP(SP3),Vista,7 OSX10.5Leopard(Intelonly,PPCnotsupported),OSX10.6SnowLeopard.

Formoreinformationoncompatibilityvisitwww.focusrite.com/vrm_box

Installing the software

TheVRMBoxisaclasscompliantdevice,meaningthatthereisnoneedtoinstalldriversforthedevicetoworkasanaudiooutput.However,youmustruntheinstallertobeabletousetheVRMsoftware.

InserttheCDintothecomputerandclickontheinstallericon.FollowtheinstructionsonscreentoinstalltheVRMControlPanelsoftwareanddrivers.

Note for Windows users:Ifthismessageorsimilarappearsduringtheinstallationprocess,press‘ContinueAnyway’tosuccessfullyinstallthedrivers.

VRM Box hardware setupTheVRMBoxcanbeusedasthemainaudiointerface,orinconjunctionwithyourexistingaudiointerface,providingthisinterfacehasaRCAS/PDIFoutput.

VRM Box as the main audio interface

1. UsingtheUSBcableprovided,connecttheVRMBoxtotheUSBportofyourcomputer2. SetuptheVRMBoxasyouraudioplaybackdevice

TousetheVRMBoxastheplaybackdeviceofyourDAWsoftwareyouwillneedtoselecttheVRMASIOdriver(Windows)orVRMCoreAudiodriver(Mac)intheaudiosettingsofyourDAWsoftware.Formoreinformationpleaserefertopage8.

3. Withthevolumecontrolturneddown,connectyourheadphonestoVRMBox4. LoadtheVRMsoftware.ThiscanbefoundinyourApplicationsfolder(Mac)orfromtheStartmenu>AllPrograms>Focusrite(Windows)5. StartplayingaudiofromyourDAWsoftwareoranymediaplayer6. Turn up the volume control on the VRM Box until you have a healthy level in your headphones

USB

USB / FireWire

USBS/PDIF

OUT IN

Windows Mac

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ENGLISHVRM Box in conjunction with another audio interface

1. UsingtheUSBcableprovided,connecttheVRMBoxtothe USBportofyourcomputer2. ConnecttheS/PDIFoutputonyouraudiointerfaceintothe VRMBoxS/PDIFinput3. Inyouraudiointerface’scontrolpanel,ensurethataudiois senttotheS/PDIFoutputofyouraudiointerface4. Withthevolumecontrolturneddown,connectyour headphones to VRM Box5. OpentheVRMsoftware,checktheiconinthebottomright corneroftheVRMsoftwarethattheVRMBoxhas lockedtotheS/PDIFsignal

S/PDIFisunlocked S/PDIFislocked(VRMBoxissynchronisedto theincomingS/PDIFsignal)

6. StartplayingaudiofromyourDAWsoftwareoranymedia player7. Turn up the volume control on the VRM Box until you have therequiredlevelinyourheadphones

VRM Box control panel software

1. Currently selected monitor speaker

2. Monitor speaker selection drop down list:Clicktoselectthemonitorspeakers

3. S/PDIF input status:(seeaboveformoredetails)

4. VRM on / off:ClickthelogototurnVRMon/off.Whenon,thedotinVRMlogoandtheLEDonthehardwarewilllightgreen

5. Environment selection:Clicktochangethelisteningenvironment

6. Information button:Whenpressed,textinformationaboutthelisteningenvironment,monitorspeakers,andlisteningpositionisdisplayed

7. Input level buttons: Whenplayinglouderaudiomaterial(e.g.amasteredmp3),theadditionalprocessingfromVRMBoxmaycausetheoutputto

clip.Pressthe-6dBbuttontopreventthishappening.Conversely,whenplayingquieteraudiomaterial(e.g.anon-masteredrecordingsession),press

the0dBbuttontoachievemorelevelinyourheadphones

8. Environment display:Thisgivesagraphicalrepresentationofthelisteningenvironment,monitorspeakerplacementandlisteningposition

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USB

USB / FireWire

USBS/PDIF

OUT IN

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What is Virtual Reference Monitoring?DevelopedbyFocusrite,VRM(VirtualReferenceMonitoring)isaloudspeaker&roomsimulatordesignedforheadphonelistening.

The problemAccuratemixinghasuntilnowrequiredexpensivemonitorsandacarefullydesignedandtreatedcontrolroom.Currently,bothprofessionalmusicproducersfacingbudgetarylimitations,plusprojectmusicmakerswithoutaccesstosuchfacilities,frequentlyencountermixingand“auditioning”difficulties.

The solutionVRMallowsyoutochoosefromtenpairsofindustrystandardnearfieldandmainmonitorsinanacousticallytreatedspace.EngineersroutinelyassesstheirmixesbyburningCDsandtakingthemintountreatedroomstoreferenceonconsumerstereos.VRMeliminatesthisprocessbysimulatingtwoextrarooms;alargelivingroomandasmallerbedroom.Youcanchoosebetweenarangeofspeakersincludingqualityhi-fi,computer,cheapstereoandtelevisionspeakers.Aswiththecontrolroomsimulation,youcanobservetheeffectsoftypicalroommodesonyourmixes.

The methodVRMusesstandardheadphonestoreproducethedirectsound,togetherwithadigitalsignalprocessingsystemthatisusedtosimulatespecificmonitoringscenarios.TheroommodelsofVRMaremathematicalsimulationsofrealrooms,whichprovidegreaterflexibilityinthepossiblecombinationsofloudspeakersandlisteningpositions.Theloudspeakersimulationsarecreatedusingconvolutionsofimpulseresponsesmeasuredusingtheoriginalloudspeakers.Theaccuracyofthesesimulationsindifferentenvironmentsistakencareofbytheimpulseresponsesthemselvesand the way they are calculated and manipulated.

VRM technical dataRoom Model AvailableSpeakerEmulations

ProfessionalStudio JapaneseWhiteClassic

KRKRP6G2Auratone 5CUSPassiveNearfieldBritishStudioGenelec 1031AKRKVXT8ADAMS2.5ARogersLS3/5aStirlingLS3/5a

Living Room British 90s Hi-Fi

British 80s Hi-Fi

Flat-screen TelevisionGenelec 1031AStirlingLS3/5a

BedroomStudio KRKRP6G2British 90s Hi-FiBritish 80s Hi-FiComputerDesktop

BudgetMicroSystemFlat-screen TelevisionGenelec 1031AKRKVXT8StirlingLS3/5a

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ENGLISHListening environment data

Listening Environment Dimensions Volume ReverbTimeProfessionalStudio 6.10 x 6.48 x 3.53 m 139.40 m³ 0.38 s Living room 5.48 x 4.66 x 2.79 m 71.27 m³ 0.36 sBedroomStudio 3.28 x 3.69 x 2.47 m 29.90 m³ 0.47 s

Loudspeaker emulation data

Description Based On Size(cm) Tweeter Woofer SystemADAMS2.5A ADAMS2.5A 45H,28W,30D Ribbon 8” Active2-waybassreflexUSPassiveNearfield Alesis Monitor One 38H,22W,24D 1”silkdometweeter

w/ferrofluidcooling6.5”mineral-filledpolypropylene cone

Passive2-wayrearfiringport

Auratone 5C Auratone 5C 17H,17W,14D (none) 4” Passivesingledriverclosedbox

British80’sHi-Fi B&WDM12 34H,22W,26D 1” polyester weave dome

6”bass/midrangedriver

Passive2-wayclosedbox

ComputerDesktop CreativeS8S35 15H,8W,10D (none) 2.5” Active single driver rear firingport

Genelec 1031A Genelec 1031A 49H,25W,29D 1” metal dome 8” poly composite driver

Active2-wayventedbox

BudgetMicroSystem GoodmansMS188 28H,18W,19D 1” dome 3.5” Passive2-wayportedbox

British90’sHi-Fi KEF Q55.2 85H,21W,25D 1” 5” Passive2-wayrearportedboxwithpassiveradiator

KRKRP6G2 KRKRP6G2 33H,22W,27D 1”neodymiumsoftdomewithferrofluid

6” glass aramid composite

Active2wayfrontfiringportedbox

KRKVXT8 KRKVXT8 44H,32W,30D 1”silkdomeferrite 8”wovenkevlar Active2wayfrontfiringportedbox

Flat-ScreenTelevision PhocusLCD26TV 45H87W10D(StereoTV)

(none) 2” x 4” oval-shaped driver

Active single driver

BritishStudio QuestedS8R 42H,30W,35D 1”softdome 8” cone Active2-waybassreflexRogersLS3/5a RogersLS3/5a 30H,19W,16D 0.75” 5” KEF B110 Passive2wayclosedboxStirlingLS3/5a StirlingLS3/5a 30H,19W,16D 0.75” 5” KEF B110 Passive2wayclosedboxJapaneseWhiteClassic

YamahaNS-10MPro 38H,22W,18D 1.5” 7” cone Passive2wayclosedbookshelf

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Performance specificationsHeadphone Outputs (Outputs 1-2)

• Outputimpedance:<10Ohms• Poweroutputinto150R:15mV• Poweroutputinto50R:30mW• THD+N:-100dB(0.001%)(-1dBFSinput,20Hz/22kHz bandpassfilter,150Rload)• SignaltoNoiseRatio:>105dB

S/PDIF Digital Input

• AutomaticSampleRateconversion• Supportedsamplerates:continuousfrom32kHzto192kHz• THD+N:<-110dBanysamplerate

Crosstalk (Channel Isolation)

• Anyoutputtooutput:>100dB

Digital Performace

• D/ADynamicRange:120dB(A-weighted)• MeasuredD/ADynamicRange:108dB(A-weighted)• ClockSource:InternalClockonly• Clockjitter<250picoseconds• SupportedSampleRates:44.1kHz&48kHz.• 2inputchannelstocomputer:S/PDIF(2).• 2outputchannelsfromcomputer:Headphones(2).

Connectors and Controls

• StereoS/PDIFinputonRCA• StereoHeadphoneOutputon¼”TRS• HeadphoneOutputLevelcontrol(analogue)• 4-pinUSB2.0compatiblesocket

Indicators

• 1GreenLEDIndicator: Flashing:Unitnotinstalledcorrectlyonhost Off:VRMeffectsturnedoff On:VRMeffectsturnedon

Power

• BuspowerfromUSBbus.

Weight and Dimensions

• Dimensions:68mmx25mmx68mm(WxHxD)• Weight:123g

Latency and CPU informationTheVRMBoxprocessingtakesplaceatadriverlevelonyourcomputer.Thisprocessincursa64samplelatency(about1ms).TheVRMprocessingalsousesacertainamountofCPUresources.

The VRM Box driver will also add additional latency. This latency will dependonhowyouusetheVRMBox:

WhenusingtheVRMBoxasyouraudiointerfaceinyourDAW,thelatencyyouexperiencewillbedependantontheaudiobuffersizeyousetinyourDAW,andinmostDAWstheactuallatencyfigureisdisplayedinthepreferences.Iftheaudiobuffersizeissettolessthan64samples,thentheVRM processing does not have enough time to do the processing and no audiowillpass.VRMCPUrequirementsaremuchhigherwhentheaudiobuffersizeissettoolow,soitisrecommendedthatabuffersizeof512samples(Mac)or10ms(Windows)shouldgivethebeststartingpoint.

WhenusingtheS/PDIFinput(receivingaudiofromanotheraudiointerface),thelatencyfigurewillbedependantontheaudiobuffersizeyousetinyourDAWforthatinterface,PLUSadditionallatencyfromtheVRMBox.Inthiscase,therewillbelatencyincurredfromthetransferofS/PDIFaudiosentfromtheVRMBoxviaUSBusingtheVRMaudiodriver,throughtheVRMprocessing,thenbacktotheVRMBox.Thetotalroundtriplatencyislikelytobeintheregionof20ms(dependingoncomputerspecs).

FormoredetailedinformationpleaserefertotheFocusriteanswerbase:www.focusrite.com/answerbase

CopyrightFocusriteisaregisteredtrademarkofFocusriteAudioEngineeringLimited.TheFocusritelogo,VRMVirtualReferenceMonitoringandtheVRMlogoaretrademarksofFocusriteAudioEngineeringLimited.

Allotherproductnames,trademarks,ortradenamesarethemarksoftheirrespectiveowners,whichareinnowayassociated,connectednoraffiliatedwith Focusrite or its VRM Box product. These other product names, trade marks,andtradenamesareusedsolelytoidentifyanddescribethethirdpartyloudspeakersystems,thesonicbehavioursofwhichwerestudiedforthe VRM technology incorporated within the VRM Box, and to accurately describeanelementoffunctionalitywithintheVRMBox.

The VRM Box is an independently engineered technology which utilises Focusrite’sVRMVirtualReferenceMonitoring(Patentappliedfor)toac-curatelymeasureexamplesofthesonicimpactoforiginalloudspeakersystemsuponanaudiostream,soastoelectronicallyemulatetheperform-anceoftheoriginalproductstudied.Theresultofthisprocessissubjectiveandmaynotbeperceivedbyauserasproducingthesameeffectsastheloudspeakersystemsstudied.

2010 © Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited. All rights reserved