Brand:

• AKG

Models:

• Lyra

Overview:

This guide will walk you through setting up the Lyra microphone on you system.

Section 1 - Windows

Windows Notes

• ​For optimal operation with all software, the user must match the sample rate and bit depth in their system/driver settings with the sample rate and bit depth in their software settings.
• For optimal performance and ease of setup, it is advisable to set the Lyra sample rate at bit depth in the system/driver settings before opening DAW/recording software applications.
• As with all high-resolution audio devices operating on the Windows platform, using the ASIO driver is recommended for optimal performance.
• The ASIO Driver is only applicable to Windows systems.
• For all troubleshooting, make sure the user is plugging the microphone directly into the USB port on their Windows computer and not running through a hub or adapter as to eliminate unknown variables. 

Section 1.1 - Windows System Settings

• Navigate to the Windows Settings menu.
• Select the System menu, then select the Sound menu from the list at left.
• Select the AKG C44-USB Microphone from the drop-down menu for the output device and input device.

• Go to the Sound Control Panel by clicking the link from the list at right.

• Click the Playback tab.
• Select the AKG C44-USB Microphone.
• Select Properties.
• Select the Advanced tab.
• Select the desired Sample Rate/Bit Depth setting from the Default Format drop-down menu.

• Click the Recording tab.
• Select the AKG C44-USB Microphone.
• Select Properties.
• Select the Advanced tab.
• Select the desired Sample Rate/Bit Depth setting from the Default Format drop-down menu.

Section 1.2 Windows - ASIO Driver Setup 

• Download the latest ASIO driver from www.asio4all.com.
• As of this writing, Version 2.14 is the latest version.
• Install the ASIO Driver by following the instructional prompts on the Windows computer.
• When prompted to “choose components”, make sure “Off-line Settings” is selected.

• Open the ASIO Off-line Settings menu from the Windows Start menu.

• Click the wrench in the bottom corner to open advanced settings.

• 
  Make sure the AKG C44USB Microphone is selected as the active device (both inputs and outputs), and make sure all other devices are not active.

• From this menu, you can set all of the buffer settings as desired.

 ​Section 1.3 Windows - Audacity 

• Open the Audacity application.
• From the edit menu, open the Preferences menu.

• From the Preferences menu, select the Quality tab.
• Make sure the Sampling settings match the sample rate and bit depth settings in the System.
• Settings.

• ​Select the AKG C44USB as both the input (microphone) and output (headphones/speaker) from the drop down menus in the recording window.
• Make sure that “2 (Stereo) Recording” is selected.
• Begin recording.

Audacity does not give the option of using the ASIO driver. 

For Audacity, select the MME driver.

Section 1.4 Windows – Ableton Live

• Open the Ableton Live application.
• Select Preferences from the Options menu.

• From the Audio tab, Select “ASIO” as the Driver Type, and “ASIO4ALL v2” as the Audio Device.

• By selecting “Hardware Setup” in the Audio tab, you can make sure your ASIO settings are correct.

• Make sure that the Sample Rate is set to the same setting as the Windows System Settings.
• From the Audio tab, you can also set the buffer settings. As a rule, the larger the buffer size, the greater the chance of input latency.
• ​Set the input on your audio track to input ½.
• Begin recording.

Section 1.5 Windows – Pro Tools

• Open the Pro Tools application and create a new session.
• Make sure the sample rate and bit depth are set to the same settings as the Windows System Settings.

• ​To setup the AKG C44USB, go to Setup > Hardware…
• Select ASIO4ALL v2 as the Peripheral and click “Launch Setup App”.
• Follow set up as detailed in Section 1.2 ASIO Driver Setup.

• Create a stereo audio track and select “HD Audio Stereo Input 1-2” as the input and “HD AudioOutput 1-2 (stereo)” as the output.
• Begin Recording.

Section 1.6 Windows – Reaper 

• Open Reaper application.
• Open the Preferences menu from the Options tab.
• Select “Device” under Audio in the list at left.
• Select the “ASIO” as the Audio System.
• Select ASIO4ALL v2 as the ASIO Driver.
• Check “Enable Inputs” and make sure that the AKG C44USB is selected from the drop down menus (1&2).
• Select AKG C44USB for the output range (1&2).

• Click ASIO Configuration and make sure the settings are the same as detailed in Section 1.2.​
• Create a new audio track by selecting Insert a New Track in the Track menu.
• From the dropdown menu on the track, select Input: Stereo – AKG C44 USB.

Section 1.7 Windows – Skype

• Open the Skype application.
• From the Skype Settings menu, select the Audio & Video tab.
• Select the AKG C44USB as the microphone, and if desired, select the AKG C44 USB as the Speaker output.
• You can test the audio by selecting “Test audio” from the Audio & Video menu.

​Section 2 -Mac OS 

​Section 2.1 - Mac OS System Settings

• Open Mac System Preferences > Sound.
• Select the output tab and select AKG C44USB as the output. NOTE: the output volume slider should move when you rotate the headphone volume knob on the microphone.

• Select the Input tab and select the AKG C44USB as the input. NOTE: you should see signal in the input meter when you scratch the microphone grill.

​​

Section 2.1.1 - Setting Sample Rate/Bit Depth

• Open Audio MIDI Setup; Applications > Utilities > Audio MIDI Setup.
• From the Audio Devices window, select the AKG C44USB inputs.
• Select the desired sample rate/bit depth settings from the Format drop-down menu.

• ​From the Audio Devices window, select the AKG C44USB outputs.
• Select the desired sample rate/bit depth settings from the Format drop-down menu.

​​Section 2.1.2 - Creating an Aggregate Device

In some instances, you may want to use the AKG C44 USB microphone as the input device, but may

not want to use the AKG C44USB headphone output as the output device. In order to do this, some

software requires that the user create an aggregate device.

To create an aggregate device, open Audio MIDI Setup; Applications>Utilities>Audio MIDI Setup.

• From the Audio Devices window, press the + sign in the bottom left-hand corner and select “Create Aggregate Device”.

• ​From the Aggregate device menu, select your desired outputs and inputs from the list.
• Next, select which device you would like to use as your clock source.
• In most cases, it is advisable to use the input device as the clock source. It is also advisable that you select the “Drift Correction” option next to the device that is NOT the clock source.

• ​Once you’ve created the device, you can name the device from the device list at left. In this case, “AKG C44USB/Scarlett”.
• When selecting the input and output in your software, select your new aggregate device.

​Section 2.2 - Mac - Garageband 

• Open the Garageband application.
• When prompted, select New Project, Empty Project.
• Make sure that the AKG C44 USB is selected as both the Input Device and Output Device from the Choose a Project screen.

• ​Once you’ve created the project, you will be prompted to choose a track type. Select the microphone option from the Audio section.
• Select Input 1+2 as the input.
• Begin recording.

Section 2.3 - Mac – Logic

• Open the Logic application.
• Go to Logic > Preferences > Audio and select the Devices Tab.
• Select AKG C44USB as the Input and Output device from the Input and Output drop-down menus.
• Click Apply Changes.

Section 2.4 - Mac – Ableton Live

• Open the Ableton Live application.
• Go to Ableton > Preferences and select the Audio Tab.
• Select the AKG C44USB as the input and output device.
• From this screen, you will also want to make sure your In/Out sample rate is set to the same settings as the system settings.

• Select 1/2 as the input on your audio track.
• Begin recording.

Section 2.5 - Mac – Pro Tools 

• Open the Pro Tools application.
• You will be prompted to Create or Open a session.
• Make sure that the session sample rate/bit depth settings match the Lyras settings in the Mac OS system settings.
• From the drop-down menu, select the Aggregate Device you created for Lyra.

• Make sure to set your track inputs are set to Interface, In 1-2, and Interface, Out 1-2.

​Section 2.6 - Mac – Skype 

• Open the Skype application.
• Go to Skype > Audio & Video Settings.
• Select AKG C44USB as the Microphone and Speakers.

​Section 3 – Apple iOS 

• For Lyra achieve proper operation on iOS devices, it is required to use a powered USB hub to provide standard 5V USB power to the Lyra. iOS devices provide only 3.3V, which will power the microphone LEDs, but not activate the circuit.
• Most iOS devices will require a camera kit in order to connect USB to the iOS device.
• See next slide for setup details.

​Section 4 – Android 

• Lyra is compatible with Android OTG compatible devices ONLY.
• In most cases, an OTG converter cable/dongle will be required to connect Lyra to an Android device.
• In most cases, additional power will not be required to use Lyra with OTG compatible Android devices.
• Users may experience some volume settling if using a Full Speed Android device (Lyra operates using the High Speed protocol).