Metric Halo 2882 operating guide - Manual (Page 95)

Mobile I/O User’s Guide
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sult the documentation for your Macintosh for more information. Please
note that localized versions of the Mac OS use different, translated names
for both the Extensions folder and the System Folder.
The ASIO Drivers folder, by convention, is the location that each ASIO host
uses to manage ASIO drivers. Most hosts follow the convention that ASIO
drivers are stored in a folder named “ASIO Drivers” that is located in the
same folder as the host application. Each host has its own ASIO Drivers
folder; they are not shared. You need to install the Mobile IO ASIO driver in
the ASIO Drivers folder for each host you want to use with Mobile I/O. If
your host does not follow the convention, you will have to consult the docu-
mentation provided with the host to determine where to install the ASIO
driver.
G ROUND L OOPS
Audio systems, in general, are susceptible to ground loop problems. Digital
Audio Interfaces for computers are even more susceptible to grounding
issues since they must interface with the computer’s system ground, which
tends to be much more dirty than the ground used by audio gear. By taking
care when you connect the various components of your audio system you
can avoid the hums, buzzes, and noises that characterize ground loops and
other grounding problems.
First of all, most grounding issues go away if you utilize balanced intercon-
nects between your audio gear. Balanced interconnects inherently reject
ground differentials and common mode interference introduced by ground-
ing problems. Balanced connections are not much more expensive than
unbalanced connections and solve so many problems that if both ends of
the connection support balanced interconnect, you should not even con-
sider using unbalanced cables.
You may get the idea that we hate unbalanced connections. You’re right. We
do. You should too.
If you have to use unbalanced connections, or if any ground-related prob-
lems remain, you will find that the key to the issue is ensuring that you have
a common hard ground between all the gear that you are interfacing. This is
commonly referred to as a technical ground. A technical ground is charac-