TECHNICAL NOTES
SYSTEM SETUP
Type: Use Hilo to Compare Mixes
Description: This is one of the slickest ways to use Hilo - to easier compare alternate
mixes. A simple one button push and you quickly and easily toggle between up to six alternate mixes.
1. Once you have your stereo mixes done,
import the wave files into stereo tracks of
your DAW.
3. Using Hilo’s Output Mix Routing Page,
route the USB Play 1&2 to the Montitor and
Phones outputs.
2. Assign your first stereo track to USB
Play 1&2. Assign the second stereo track to
USB Play 3&4, track 3 to USB Play 5&6...
4. In Hilo’s Tools screen, select Save
Scene, then save to Scene 1. Now your first
mix will be heard in Scene 1.
5. Go back to the Output Mix page and mute
USB Play 1&2 and route 3&4 to the Monitor
and Phones. Then Save Scene as Scene 2.
6. Repeat the process. USB Play 5&6 get
saved to Scene 3, 7&8 to Scene 4...
7. Play all of the DAW tracks at once. Using the Recall Scene button, simply recall
scenes 1 to 6, each with a different mix.
TECHNICAL NOTES
SYSTEM SETUP
Type: Listening to iTunes, iPad, iPod, iPhone and other mobile devices
Description: Of course Hilo is a professional workhorse, but there’s no reason you can’t
also have some fun and take advantage of its audio quality and feature set for use with
portable devices. Here are a few set ups that work quite well.
Keep in mind that you are not just limited to iTunes formats. Using WinAmp or any audio
player in a PC or Mac computer, you can also playback high res wave files up to 192 kHz
and FLAC files as well. There are also apps for iPad/Pod/Phone that also allow you to play
higher quality audio file types. Golden Ear for $7.99 works quite nicely.
And with Hilo’s battery option, you can take it anywhere.
iTunes
Plug in Hilo, open iTunes and Play music.
Next.
Hilo’s default sends USB Play 1&2 to all
outputs, so as soon as the computer sees
Hilo, it’s ready for iTunes (or WinAmp, or
whatever your computer wants to use.)
iPad
Using Apple’s iPad Camera Commection Kit,
plug the USB adapter into the bottom of the
iPad, the plug Hilo’s USB cable into that.
Then play some tunes. Remember that you can
get apps from Apple to play high res WAV and
FLAC files, so you can go beyond MP3.
If it does not play (check the All I/O
meters page for audio activity), then
check your computer’s audio device
selection
utility.
iPod/iPhone
Just make or purchase a cable
that goes from stereo mini
plug to two XLR male connectors, then pop it into Line In
L&R. (Also works with iPad)
Hilo offers 8 Trim levels for
these inputs, so using the
Line In Trim button on the
Home page, select +0dBv for
optimum level.
Hilo’s default routing set-up send
USB channels 1&2 to both the Phones
and Monitor outputs, so you are good
to go immediately.
TECHNICAL NOTES
SYSTEM SETUP
Type: Location Recording
Description: There are many technical challenges when recording on location: potentially having just one chance to capture the audio; the inconvenience of small tape machines
and their issues with environmental conditions; and of course the availability (or not)
of power. Hilo is small, portable, offers flexible onboard montoring and accepts standard
video battery packs, via its DC power input. With a mic preamp, Hilo connected via USB to
a laptop and battery, you are literally good to go to capture pristine audio anywhere and
any time.
1. Microphones into Mic Preamps (or mixer), then into Hilo LINE IN L&R. Can also be
plugged into AES/EBU or S/PDIF digital inputs if the preamp has digital output available.
2. Hilo LINE OUT L&R and AES/EBU OUT for redundancy/safetly recording.
3. MONITOR OUT L&R to powered monitors.
4. PHONES output for headphones.
5. BATTERY IN connects to external battery pack (if AC is not available)
6 Hilo USB connection to computer for DAW recording and playback.
TECHNICAL NOTES
SYSTEM SETUP
Type: Aurora/Hilo Home Studio - Look Ma, no Mixer
Description: One of the perks of working at Lynx is that I can have a small home studio
for composition, making demos and rescuing audio off of my vintage reel to reel tapes. Not
long ago I was tracking, using Aurora for recording to Reaper via USB. The Aurora Remote
Control handled the routing and I sent a two channel monitor and headphone mix to Hilo via
AES/EBU from Aurora. I used Hilo’a analog Line IN and OUTs for some signal processing. It
was good fun. Then after a few productive hours I realized that I had not turned on the
mixer - had not even thought about it. Of course the mixerless studio is about as likely
as the paperless toilet, but this was a start. Here’s the rig (although I don’t have 16
channels of preamps. Yet.)
Will this work with Pro Tools HD, HDX? In a word,
Yes. With the LT-HD card in Aurora, set the Aurora
16 to 32 channel mode. Then Pro Tools can build a mix
for Digital Out 1&2, which can then be sent to Hilo
for monitoring and signal processing. Pretty slick.
TECHNICAL NOTES
SYSTEM SETUP
Type: Audiophile - Listening to Hi Res Audio Files
Description: With its sleek appearance, user friendly touch screen and unmatched audio
quality, Hilo is perfectly suited for the needs of audiophile music enthusiasts. With support for sample rates up to 192k, independent balanced outputs, and a variety of digital
formats, Hilo integrates into the systems of the most demanding connoisseur of fidelity.
Often a music server system is designed for multiple independent play streams going to
different locations. In the scenario below, we’ll imagine that there are two playback
streams occurring simultaneously: Music playing from media playback software directed to
the Line Outs, and a signal from stereo receiver streaming to the Optical Digital Input
and routed to the Monitor Outputs. The media playback is operating at 192kHz, whereas the
Digital signal from the receiver is at 48kHz. Hilo will resample the latter.
1. First the cable connections:
USB > Computer
Optical IN > Stereo receiver
Optical Out
Line Out L&R > Speakers in
Room B
Monitor Out L&R > Speakers in
Room A
2. Make sure that the HiloLT-USB Mode is
8-channel from the Tools Menu:
3. Set the Optical Out Mode to SPDIF from
the Home menu:
4. Set the Digital In Source to SPDIF Optical:
5. Turn the Sample Rate Converter Mode to On
in the Tools Menu:
6. In the Computer set the Sample Rate to
192kHz.
If using Windows and ASIO, do this from
within the media playback software.
If using Windows and WDM, do this from the
Sound Section of Control Panel.
In OSX, this is done from Utilities > Audio
MIDI setup.
7. Now, in the Hilo Output Mix Routing Page
Set up the Line Out as pictured:
8. And set the Monitor Out as pictured:
You can also choose either input source or
a different third source to drive the headphones.
Now, we can have hi-resolution audio playing
from a media file player, delivered to the
speakers in one room. And a signal from an
AV receiver, upsampled to 192k, and sent to
speakers in another room. All with independent level control.
TECHNICAL NOTES
SYSTEM SETUP
Type: Mastering with Analog Signal Chain
Description: After the audio has been recorded and mixed in the digital domain, many mastering engineers utilize analog processing, such as EQs, compressors and limiters, reverbs
and delays, to complete the project and add their signature touch. Hilo’s extensive routing capabilities allows the mastering engineer to convert the digital mix to analog, send
the audio through their analog processors while monitoring the audio through headphones
and reference monitors. The processed mix is then converted back to digital and routed
back to the computer DAW as well as a CD recorder or other digital recording device.
1. USB between Hilo and the computer for playback from the DAW and recording processed
audio back to the DAW.
2. Hilo LINE OUT L&R to the analog processing equipment.
3. Hilo LINE IN L&R brings in the processed signal from the analog processing equipment.
4. MONITOR OUT L&R to powered monitor speakers or amplifier/monitor combinations.
5. PHONES jack on Hilo front for headphones.
6. AES/EBU OUT to two track digital recorder (CD recorder or Masterlink)
TECHNICAL NOTES
SYSTEM SETUP
Type: Hilo as Monitor Controller
Description: With three separate Analog stereo outputs, Hilo can function as a handy Monitor Controller, to allow easy switching between two or even three sets of speakers. You
can even compare different mixes by sending them out different USB channels from your DAW
and selecting these channels from Hilo’s touch screen.
Inputs: Build your mix in your DAW application and use channels 1&2 Out of the AES16, connecting to Hilo AES IN.
Outputs: Use the LINE OUT LEFT and RIGHT for your main monitor speakers. Use MONITOR OUT
L&R for your secondary monitors. The PHONES OUT on the front panel can be used for headphones or a third set of monitors.
Alternately, you can send digital audio in
via S/PDIF or USB. You also have the option of bringing in Analog Audio via the
LINE IN XLR inputs.
TECHNICAL NOTES
SYSTEM SETUP
Type: Overdubbing a track with Different Headphone Mixes
Description: Hilo is the ideal go-to box for overdubbing into existing sessions. Portable,
easy to use, and, of course, fantastic sounding – a musician can lay down major label release quality parts in the most modest of environments.
In this scenario, let’s imagine that we have a project well underway in one of the major
DAW applications (Pro Tools, Cubase, Sonar, Logic, etc). Now we wish to overdub an electric guitar part. Both the musician and the engineer should have control over the mix
levels. The engineer has set up busses with mix elements separated to different Hilo play
devices. For example, Drums bussed to Out 1+2, guitars to 3+4, bass and keys to 5+6 and
vocals to 7+8. This is done so that there is independent level control of these groups for
the engineer and performer.
The guitar is plugged into
an amp, and being recorded
by two microphones plugged
into a stereo mic pre-amp.
The recording engineer is
monitoring through speakers
in the Control Room.
The Musician will be
listening to headphones
plugged directly into
Hilo.
The cable connections:
Monitor Out > Speakers in Control room
Headphone Out > Phones on musician
Line In > Signal from stereo mic preamp
USB > Recording computer (alternatively we could do this as going to an AES16e card)
Set up
Play
Play
Play
Play
the
1+2
3+4
5+6
7+8
Busses in DAW organized as:
= Drums
= Guitars
= Bass and Keys
= Vocals
Now the Hilo settings:
Open the Output Mix Routing Page. We’ll
start with the performer’s headphone mix.
Here we have the 4 USB Play streams assigned
to the Phones Out, as well as the Line in
carrying the incoming guitar audio. The performer thought the vocals were a bit loud,
so the screen shows USB 7+8 attenuated by
6dB.
For the Engineer’s mix, we will set up the
Monitor Out settings. The engineer doesn’t
want to hear the vocal at all, so USB Play
7+8 is muted, and he also prefers the guitar
tracks lower, so USB Play 3+4 is attenuated
by 3dB. This is how the screen will look for
his mix:
Now we’re ready to record. The Engineer will
use USB Record 1+2 as the input signal for
the record track in the DAW. Over all listening level can be set with the Rotary knob
on the Hilo.
The engineer likes this set up and has a
second guitar player coming in the next day
for more overdubs. To save this scene (including routing and levels), click on the
TOOLS icon on the bottom, bush the Save
Scene button, push Scene 1.
To recall the setting, push the Recall Scene
button, then Scene 1 and the settings are
all recalled.
TECHNICAL NOTES
SYSTEM SETUP
Type: Setting up a Voiceover Studio
Description: Hilo is an excellent solution for voiceover recordings that are typically one
or two artists at a time. The easy-to-use interface and flexible monitoring capabilities
for monitors and headphones make Hilo the perfect choice for this application.
1. Plug mic into Mic Preamp, set the appropriate level.
2. Mic Preamp analog output to Hilo LINE IN L.
3. USB Connection to computer for DAW recording and playback.
4. Hilo PHONES jack on the front panel for Voiceover Talent
5. Hilo LINE OUT L&R and AES/EBU OUT can be used for analog and digital recording devices,
either as primary or back up recorders (in addition to or instead of DAW recording via
USB).
6. Hilo MONITOR OUT L&R to powered monitors or power amp/monitor combinations.
TECHNICAL NOTES
SYSTEM SETUP
Type: Archiving Records
Description: Preserving your treasured vinyl collection has never been easier. Using Hilo
to transfer your records into your Mac or PC is as simple as connecting your Phono Preamplifier to Hilo’s Line IN Left and Right, then connecting the USB from Hilo to your computer. You can then record using your audio software program. Set Hilo as your default sound
device in your computer and listen to the playback.
Quality RCA Male to XLR-Male adapter
cables can be purchased from the Lynx
Webbite for just $6.50 each plus shipping and handling.