Montarbo DSI-22 USB Audio Interface

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing a Montarbo product. Montarbo, an Italian company founded in 1962, has been dedicated to music and professional audio. Montarbo products are original, state-of-the-art, and designed with meticulous attention to detail and durability, adhering to high quality standards and environmental consciousness.

The DSI-22 sound card is extremely easy to use, enabling high-quality recordings in a simple and intuitive manner. Its microphone preamps and high-resolution converters (up to 24-bit/192kHz) deliver clear, defined sound with very low noise and a wide dynamic range, capturing every detail of your recordings. The DSI-22 interface works seamlessly with Mac or PC and includes a dedicated ASIO driver to significantly reduce latency. Its extremely compact and lightweight design makes it ideal for mobile recording and music production.

Package Contents

• 1 x Audio Interface
• 1 x 6.35mm to 3.5mm stereo adapter
• 1 x USB cable
• 1 x User Manual - Section 1
• 1 x User Manual - Section 2

System Requirements

Windows:

Windows 10 (32-bit or 64-bit), or later versions.

Mac:

The sound card is automatically recognized upon connection. It is recommended to connect the device with the PC turned off.

Minimum Hardware Requirements

• CPU: Core 2 DUO CPU
• Port: USB 2.0
• RAM: 4GB

Device Description and Controls

The Montarbo DSI-22 features the following controls and connections:

• 1 INST 1: Press this button to connect an electric instrument (bass, guitar, etc.) or other equipment with high output impedance to the Channel 1 6.35mm jack input.
• 2 48V: This button activates +48V phantom power for Channels 1 and 2. Ensure connections are made before turning on 48V, and turn it off before disconnecting the microphone cable.
• 3 INST 2: Press this button to connect an electric instrument (bass, guitar, etc.) or other equipment with high output impedance to the Channel 2 6.35mm jack input.
• 4 INPUT GAIN CH 1: Adjust this knob to achieve an optimal recording level for Channel 1, indicated by the LEVEL indicators. CLIP LEDs should only flash on signal peaks.
• 5 INPUT GAIN CH 2: Adjust this knob to achieve an optimal recording level for Channel 2, indicated by the LEVEL indicators. CLIP LEDs should only flash on signal peaks.
• 6 LEVEL: This LED scale indicates signal levels. Adjust the knobs and your DAW controls so that CLIP indicators flash only on musical peaks.
• 7 MONITOR: Use this knob to adjust the overall output signal level for your listening monitors.
• 8 MIX: This knob balances the headphone listening between the INPUT 1/INPUT 2 signals and the signal recorded on the PC (PLAYBACK), ensuring zero-latency monitoring.
• 9 MONO: Switch to toggle mono listening.
• 10 HEADPHONE VOLUME: Use this knob to adjust the headphone listening level. Always start from the minimum and gradually increase. Listening at high levels can damage your hearing.
• 11 COMBO INPUTS: Combo input connections for audio sources to Channels 1 and 2. Make connections with the sound card turned off.
• 12 HEADPHONE: Connect your headphones to this output. To control the output level, use the dedicated knob or the input gain of the sources you intend to listen to.
• 13 MONITOR: Connect your listening monitors to these balanced Left/Right outputs. To control the overall output level, use the dedicated knob or correctly set the IN/OUT level from your DAW or control panel.
• 14 USB PORT: Connect this port to your PC to provide power and audio connection to your sound card.

Technical Specifications

Usage with Windows

1. Download the latest drivers from: www.montarbo.com
2. Install the drivers on your PC following the instructions.
3. Turn off your computer and connect the sound card using the provided USB cable.
4. Restart your computer; it will detect the sound card. Make the necessary settings via the dedicated control panel.

Usage with Mac

No additional dedicated drivers are required. Connect the sound card to your Mac's USB port, and the system will operate autonomously.

Warnings

Please observe the warnings in this manual in conjunction with "User Manual - Section 2". Read the manual before use. Keep this manual handy for future reference.

Compliance Information

EMI Classification: According to standards EN 55032 and 55035, this is a Class B equipment, designed and suitable for residential environments.

FCC Notice (USA Market): This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.

Simplified EU Declaration of Conformity: The full text of the EU declaration of conformity is available at: https://www.montarbo.com/downloads/

Trademarks: Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Mac and macOS are trademarks of Apple Inc. ASIO is a registered trademark of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.