•Those 4 input jacks on the front look different, What are they?

So you noticed our unique connectors, eh? These are the new ?combo‚ connectors from Neutrik that allow you to plug in any 1/4" line level signal or any XLR (3-prong) microphone, both into the same clever connector. This means you can plug in any balanced or unbalanced audio signal without getting messy adapters or without changing a professional signal to unbalanced just to interface with your PC. This allows you to go directly into your PC from any source so you don't need a mixer just to get audio into the PC. You won't find this on any plain old audio card.

•How many tracks can I record with the Q10?

The amount of tracks you can record with the Q10 depends on the audio software you use, and how powerful your computer is. The only limitation of the Q10 is that 10 (8 analog and 2 digital) tracks can be recorded simultaneously. The total number of tracks available depends on a number of factors. Bit depth, sample rate, (higher ones mean less tracks), installed RAM, hard drive speed and processor speed, are among the most significant.

•Does the Aardvark replace the soundcard that came with my computer?

The Q10 functions differently that a consumer soundcard such as SoundBlaster. If your computer is used strictly for high resolution pro audio, the Q10 will be the only soundcard necessary. If you plan on using the computer for games and other applications with low resolution audio, you’ll want an additional consumer soundcard.

•Can I potentially damage non-powered microphones by using the phantom power?

The Phantom Power switch on the front of the Q10 lets you use "condenser"type microphones which are the best of the best when it comes to microphones, usually used for critical vocals or acoustical instruments. These "condenser" microphones cost a little more and need a perfectly matched 48 V Phantom Power supply to keep them working properly. You can use up to four condenser microphones with your Q10 and all four are guaranteed to sound equally amazing. Just hit the button on the front and you‚ve got a truly professional audio interface for any top microphone.

•What is the S/PDIF input and what do I need to use it?

It is possible to buy cables designed for use with S/PDIF, but in most cases, any RCA cable will do. S/PDIF optimized cables are typically unnecessary unless the signal is traveling over 10 feet.

•What is Wordclock and what do I need to use it?

Fortunately, most dealers sell cables conveniently named “word clock cable”, making it relatively easy to find the proper cable. Sometimes, these cables are referred to as “75 ohm BNC”

•What is the Latency of the Direct Pro Q10?

This is not as simple a question as it seems. There are different types of latency that can occur on a system, and latency itself can vary a great deal depending on what audio software is used, and how powerful the computer is. Here is a simple breakdown of the different latencies you need to be concerned with.

• Monitoring Latency: This is the ability to listen to the incoming signal through the outputs of the Q10, and overdub tracks so they are in sync with one another. The Q10 provides zero Monitoring latency.
• Mixing Latency: Mixing latency refers to how long it takes for audio software to respond to commands such as volume changes, and transport controls. In ASIO programs such as Cubase, it can get as low as 4ms. Non-ASIO programs may experience anywhere from 50 to 300ms latency.
• SoftSynth Latency: This refers to the time it takes for a software synthesizer to respond to an incoming MIDI command, such as pressing the key on a controller keyboard. Most Software Synthesizers are ASIO compatible, so you’re likely to encounter 4ms to 12ms latency on a decent machine. Some programs use DirectSound instead of ASIO, which creates slightly higher latency, but is still tolerable.

•How do I use the inserts on the Q10?

The 4 inserts are directly tied to inputs 1-4 of the Q10 so you can use your analog processors with the Q10 inputs, then go through the A/D and then into the computer. This effectively "inserts" your outboard processor after the mic preamp and just before the A/D converter. These inserts let you get the most out of the Q10's mic preamps and your analog effects gear, seamlessly integrating the Q10 with your existing studio.