• Home
• How To

Ozone-Live Tutorial Part 1

Using your computer to create Music for fun (or profit?)
How to have a good time with the M-Audio Ozone and Ableton Live! with a guest appearance from Propellerhead Reason

Part 1: The M-Audio Ozone (this page)
Part 2: Ableton Live
A Warning - Most computers already have Audio I/O and Midi.
First thing to worry about is that OS 's have a tendancy to like a single audio device to be in control at any one time.
You may need to learn to switch "active devices" when switching between the Ozone and other devices or just forget about that stupid sound card. The Ozone sounds very good - really! Switching is not usually difficult to do, but will be seen to some as an inconvenience. The trouble with most sound cards is they don't have the proper drivers for the good Music software. Only music oriented sound cards or interfaces (like the ozone) are likely to work well with the "good software". It is also not so hard to connect this baby to PC speakers, your stereo or even a mixing board. We'll show you how.

Looking at the Ozone - thoughts:

Looking at the Ozone from above You see a lot going on in a small space. The keyboard is a 25 key keyboard with full sized keys. Each and every key also has a label above it denoting what midi parameter it will be a function key for in "midi" mode. 25 of the most popular midi parameters are therefore easily accessible by pressing the "midi select" button beneath the LED display.
On the left above the keyboard are standard pitch and Modulation wheels. Next to them is a Data Entry slider, used for entering precise values. Next is the 3 character display with the Midi Select button below it.
After that you'll see the "fun looking Logo" with Octave Up and Down buttons beneath it. These are well located since you will surely want to use them at times with a small keyboard such as this.
Now come the 8 "rotary" knobs labeled 1-8. These can be assigned to control any special Midi information on any Midi channel. They have a nice rubbery feel to the knobs themselves and have a nice smooth action. Very nice.
At the end you have your Input/Output level controls including Mic (microphone) and Instrument (Guitar/Bass/Keyboard) Input and monitor levels and headphone volume. There are also LED's for signal, clipping and "phantom" power.
Overall a very large amount of things to fiddle with in a very small space.

Ok now lets look at the back at all of the connectors and switches.

Starting on the left. The Power button comes first. This is to turn the Ozone on and off.
Then the Power connector - where you plug in the wall-wort adapter
After that is the USB port.
You then have a Midi port labeled "USB" which sends Midi info out from your computer. Use this if you want the other Midi Device(s) to be controlled by the computer.
After this is the Midi port labeled "Keyboard" which is a direct Midi out from the keyboard to other Midi devices. Use this if you want the other Midi Device(s) to be controlled by the Keyboard, such as in "standalone" mode.
You next have a "Sustain Switch" jack for controlling sustain pedals in case you are into piano or organs.
Next comes the Headphone Out jack for headphones.
You then have 2 Output jacks to connect to a stereo or monitor speakers, a mixer, etc. These are 1/4 inch jacks, so you will need 1/4 inch to RCA jack cables or some adapters to connect to equipment with RCA jacks.
Next is the "Monitor/Record" pushbutton switch. This can be an important switch. See the manual! ***
After that are the Input jacks. These are 1/4 inch jacks. The first is a Stereo "Aux" jack for instruments with stereo 1/4 inch jacks, or with adapters or special cables can be used for inputting stereo inputs from other line level sources. The "Instrument Jack is used for instrument (guitar/Bass) or line level signals like keyboards. Both jacks don't happily work at the same time. Use the one you need, when you need it. *** see manual.
After those is the Mic (microphone) input. It's an XLR jack. Which is extremeley cool to have! This is one amazing thing to have on a keyboard controller, almost mind boggling.
We end with 2 "boring" switches which are more necessary than boring.
There is the "Direct Monitor" switch which will help you monitor both stereo and mono input devices. Set to "mono" both channels will have the signal of Mics or instruments. Very helpful for properly monitoring to "play" or "sing" along.
Last is "Phantom Power" which turns on or off phantom power to Mics that need it. This is normal to have on a mixing board or quality Mic preamp, but on a keyboard? Wow.

Connecting the Ozone:
Microphone Connection Cables:
Mic Cables

Need a real nice recording mic?
Microphones

Audio out to Stereo System:
Use 1/4" (Ozone) to RCA (Stereo) cables. These are high quality CBI Cables with Belden Cable and Neutrik Connectors.
buy!

Audio out to Computer Speakers:
What you need will depend on the speakers you have. Generally you'll need 1/4" Ozone) to Stereo mini 3.5mm phone plug (PC speakers) adapters.
Adapters

Guitar/Bass Connections:
Guitar/Instrument Cables are all you need.

Keyboard/Effects Connection:
Guitar/Instrument Cables are all you need.

MIDI Connections:
Standard Midi Cables are all you need.

USB Connections:
Standard USB cables ("A" to "B") are all you need.

Installing the drivers:
Follow instructions for your os to install the drivers. The manual is good but you need to be sure not to skip any of the steps required for your os. Go through the manual carefully looking for references to your operating system (os) in order to make sure the driver is properly installed and the Output and *if necessary* input are enabled.

Insert cd, if the cd does not start use windows explorer and go to the Ozone Installer folder.
Double click the installer program.
Click "Continue" on any of those annoying warning messages you get about the software not be certified.
You'll need to restart afterwards. Keep the CD in.
Then turn on the Ozone and and it will be found and you may need to do it all over again....
We did.

OK, you now have the Ozone installed. Thrilling. What next? Well you'll need some software, silly.
*note - sorry about the product links - we have to pay the bills somehow!

Next - Part 2 - Ableton Live with the Ozone!