Focusrite Vocaster Hub User Guide

Contents

Introduction

This is the User Guide for Vocaster Hub, the software application used to control your Vocaster interface. This guide describes the Vocaster Hub software. For more information about your Vocaster interface, read this user guide and the user guide for your Vocaster hardware.

You can download the Vocaster One and Vocaster Two User Guides from: focusrite.com/downloads

System Requirements

IMPORTANT: Please visit the following link for up-to-date information on computer and operating system compatibility for Vocaster Hub: support.focusrite.com

Installing Vocaster Hub

You can install Vocaster Hub on Windows and Mac. To download and install Vocaster Hub:

1. Go to the Focusrite downloads website: focusrite.com/downloads
2. Find your Vocaster on the Downloads website.
3. Download Vocaster Hub for your operating system (Windows or Mac).
4. Open the Downloads folder on your computer and double-click the Vocaster Hub installer.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Vocaster Hub. If installing for Windows, your computer will restart.
6. If not already connected, connect your Vocaster interface to your computer with the USB cable.
7. Open Vocaster Hub; it will detect your Vocaster One or Vocaster Two automatically.

I can't see my Vocaster in the software?

If your Vocaster is not recognised in Vocaster Hub, use the links in the software to visit our Help Centre, or contact our Support Team.

Image Description: A screenshot of the Vocaster Hub software showing the main interface with controls for Host and Guest inputs, and a Mix section. A note indicates to click the 'Help Centre' to fix connection problems.

Contact our Technical Support Team.

Vocaster Hub Layout

Vocaster Hub's layout varies depending on which Vocaster interface you connect. The functionality of each section remains the same. The following diagrams show the layouts for Vocaster One and Vocaster Two.

For the rest of this guide, screenshots will use a Vocaster Two, with notes for Vocaster Two-only features.

Image Description: Two diagrams illustrating the Vocaster Hub interface. The left diagram shows 'Vocaster One' with sections for Host input (Mic Level, Auto Gain, Enhance, Mute) and Mix section (Host, Aux, Loopback 1, Loopback 2, Show Mix). The right diagram shows 'Vocaster Two' with similar sections but includes a 'Guest' input.

Key Features

Image Description: A diagram of the Vocaster Hub interface with callouts to different sections. 'Host Input' points to the Host section. 'A Mixer Channel' points to a channel strip in the Mix section. 'See "Microphone Input Controls" on page 6' is linked to the Host input. 'See "Speaker Mute" on page 8' and 'See "Settings Page" on page 10' are linked to the top right area. 'See Mute, Enhance and Auto Gain "Mute" on page 7' is linked to the Host and Guest input controls. 'The Mix section' and 'See "The Mix Section" on page 9' are linked to the Mix section.

Microphone Input Controls

Mic Level Slider and Meter

The Mic Level section of Vocaster Hub mirrors the preamp controls on the front of the Vocaster hardware. It shows the Mic Level slider (gain) and the signal level in the meter.

Slider: The Mic Level slider is a software representation of the knob on the Vocaster top panel. You can click and drag the slider to increase (right) or decrease (left) the gain. Moving the hardware knob will move the slider accordingly.

Image Description: A visual representation of the 'Mic Level' slider in Vocaster Hub, showing the slider position and the meter indicating the audio level.

Meter: The meter indicates the audio level when you speak into your microphone. It lights green and turns yellow as the signal gets louder. For optimal gain, speak into the microphone as if recording and adjust the slider or knob so the meter turns yellow at your loudest.

Clip Indicator: The red part on the far right of the meter indicates when the signal has clipped. Clipping can cause microphone distortion. If the clip indicator appears, turn down the knob or move the slider left to reduce gain. Click the red clip indicator to clear it for all inputs and mix channels.

Mute

The Mute button in Vocaster Hub functions the same as the Mute button on the Vocaster: press it to turn your microphone 'off'.

Image Description: Two buttons labeled 'Mute', one showing 'Mute Off' and the other 'Mute On'.

When Mute is on, the hardware buttons for Auto Gain and Mute light red, and the Gain halo on your Vocaster pulses red.

Enhance

The Enhance button applies three effects to optimize your voice recording signal, applied in this order: High-Pass Filter (HPF), Compressor, and Three-Band EQ (Equaliser).

Image Description: Two buttons labeled 'Enhance', one showing 'Enhance Off' and the other 'Enhance On'.

Descriptions of each effect are beyond the scope of this guide. For more information, search for the name of each effect online.

Enhance Presets

Enhance has presets that apply different parameters to your voice for various sound qualities. The parameters for each preset are detailed in the "Enhance Presets' Parameters" section on page 11.

The available presets are: Clean, Warm, Bright, Radio.

Image Description: A dropdown menu showing preset options: Clean, Warm, Bright, Radio.

Other Buttons

Auto Gain

Auto Gain is a software version of the button on Vocaster. Click this button to start the Auto Gain process.

Image Description: A button labeled 'Auto Gain' with a graph icon.

Speak normally for ten seconds while the timer counts down. Auto Gain measures your voice level and sets the gain so the loudest parts are around -6 to -16dB in your recording software.

Image Description: A progress indicator showing 'Speak at your normal volume...' and a timer counting down, with options to 'Save as new preset' and 'Cancel Auto Gain'.

48V

Condenser microphones require 48V (phantom power) to operate. You can turn on 48V using the button in Vocaster Hub, which is the same as pressing the 48V button on the Vocaster's rear panel.

Image Description: Two buttons labeled '48V', one showing '48V Off' and the other '48V On'.

Most podcasting microphones do not need 48V.

Speaker Mute

This button mutes the speaker outputs of your Vocaster. Click the speaker icon to toggle between mute on (red) or off (black).

Image Description: Two speaker icons, one labeled 'Off' (black) and the other 'On' (red with a slash through it).

NOTE: To avoid audio feedback loops when using a microphone, turn off your speakers while recording podcasts and use headphones for monitoring.

The Mix Section

The Mix Section at the bottom of Vocaster Hub lists all input channels for your 'Show Mix' with a Slider, Meter, and Mute button.

Image Description: A diagram showing a channel strip with a 'Slider', 'Meter', and 'Mute Button' labeled for the 'Host' input.

Sliders and Mutes

The Sliders and Mute buttons adjust the level going to your Show Mix (headphone/speaker mix) and Video Call L & R channels. These sliders do not affect your recording levels if you are recording each channel individually in your recording software.

Mixer Channels

• Host: Adjusts the level sent from the Host microphone input to the Show Mix.
• Guest (Vocaster Two only): Adjusts the level sent from the Guest microphone input to the Show Mix.
• Aux: Adjusts the level sent from the Phone/Device input to the Show Mix.
• Bluetooth (Vocaster Two only): Adjusts the level sent from a Bluetooth Device connected to your Vocaster Two to the Show Mix. Your Bluetooth device's volume buttons also control the Slider's level.
• Loopback 1: Adjusts the level sent from Loopback 1 to the Show Mix. Loopback 1 signal comes from applications sending audio to Software Playback 1 and 2.
• Loopback 2: Adjusts the level sent from Loopback 2 to the Show Mix. Loopback 2 signal comes from applications sending audio to Software Playback 3 and 4.
• Show Mix: This is the main mix of all Vocaster's inputs. You can record the Vocaster Hub mix by selecting the ‘Show Mix' input in your recording software. The slider adjusts the overall level to your recording software.

IMPORTANT: If clip indicators light in the Mix section, reduce the source level, not the slider. For Show Mix, adjust the other sliders.

Settings Page

Click this icon to open Vocaster Hub's Settings page.

Image Description: An icon representing a list or menu.

In the settings page, you will see the following information:

• Version: Shows the version of Vocaster Hub you are using.
• Vocaster Status: Shows what device Vocaster Hub recognises, the Sample Rate (always 48kHz), and the Firmware version of your Vocaster.
• Analytics: Use this tick box to opt in to usage analytics to help improve Vocaster Hub. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information.

Updating

Updating the Vocaster Hub Software

Vocaster Hub updates automatically. A dialogue box appears when a new version is available upon opening Vocaster Hub. You can choose to install the update, skip it, or 'Remind Me Later'.

Updating your Vocaster's Firmware

Vocaster Hub notifies you when a firmware update is available for your device.

Image Description: A screenshot of the Vocaster Hub software showing an 'Update Available' message for the Vocaster device.

Your Vocaster will need to update before you can use it with Vocaster Hub.

Your Vocaster may need an update out of the box and occasionally afterwards as the device is improved.

Click 'Start Update', and Vocaster Hub will display this updating screen:

Image Description: A screen showing 'Updating your Vocaster' with a progress indicator and a warning not to turn off or disconnect the device.

After the update, Vocaster Hub returns to the main Vocaster window, and you can continue to use your Vocaster.

Enhance Presets' Parameters

This table shows the parameters used to create the presets for the Vocaster's Enhance feature.

Troubleshooting

For all troubleshooting queries, please visit the Focusrite Help Centre at support.focusrite.com

Copyright & Legal Notices

Focusrite is a registered trademark and Vocaster is a trademark of Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited.

All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.

© 2022 Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited. All rights reserved.