maono AMC2 Neo One Stop Streaming Audio Mixer and Sound Card User Manual

User Manual
Portable Live Streaming and Podcast Console
For Computer & Smartphone

AMC2 Neo One Stop Streaming Audio Mixer and Sound Card

Maono[ˈmɑnoʊ], meaning “vision” in Kiswahili, is the Global Best Selling Internet Microphone Brand that products are sold well in 153 countries worldwide. With the beautiful vision of becoming a global leading brand of Internet audio products that deliver a pleasant sound experience, Maono is always working with audio professionals, influencers, and users, to make the world’s best microphones and audio products.

Thanks for choosing Maonocaster C2 Neo podcast console.
Please read the User manual carefully to have a better using experience.

Accessory List

• Maonocaster C2 Neo Podcast Console
• 3.5mm TRRS Audio Cable
• USB-A to USB-C Cable
• User Manual

Product Features

The Maonocaster C2 Neo audio console is the latest addition to the Maonocaster series. It features a simplified and compact design that reduces the learning curve and improves portability without compromising on the audio quality. We have also redesigned the I/O to make it work better with both PC and mobile devices.
The C2 Neo has an XLR microphone input with built-in premium preamps and phantom power that supports high-end dynamic and condenser microphones. You can use either Bluetooth or 3.5mm AUX input for accompaniment. Additionally, you can utilize pitch presets, reverb presets, and three custom sound pads to elevate your content creating experiences.

Product Feature Highlights

• +48V phantom power for condenser Microphone.
• Bluetooth and AUX input to enrich your content.
• Independent microphone and accompaniment volume control.
• Side chain and music only feature.
• Direct monitoring and loopback switch.
• Two-level noise canceling to reduce ambient noise.
• USB-C for easy connection with computer and mobile device.
• USB-C pass-thru charging for select mobile devices.
• Compatible with Windows and macOS.
• Built-in Battery, up to 6 hours of off-grid operation.

Applications

Podcasting, recording, and streaming on computers, tablets, and smartphones.
Compatible with mainstream recording and streaming software.

Specifications

(Including buttons)

Layout

1. Microphone gain knob ➀ , fader ➁ , and level meter_ ➂
   First rotate left and right to control the gain of the microphone. Keeping the gain low will reduce the amount of environmental noises being recorded.
   Then slide up and down the fader to control the volume of the microphone.
   The color distribution of the level meter: 1-6 green; 7-8 orange; 9 red.
   To achieve the best audio quality, please keep the level meter in green and orange section

2. Accompaniment volume knob
   Rotate left and right to control the volume of audio input from USB-C input port, 3.5mm accompaniment input and Bluetooth input.

3. Battery level display
   When all 4 LED lights are on, it means 100% battery level; when 3 LED lights are on, it means 75%; when 2 LED lights are on, it means 50%; when 1 LED light is on, it means 25%. When charging, the battery level indicator LED lights will blink in sequence and a red light remains on.

4. Bluetooth LED indicator ➀ and switch button ➁
   4.1. After turning on the Bluetooth by long press the switch button, the LED indicator flashes and the device actively searches for and connects to paired devices. It stays on after a successful connection.
   4.2. Press and hold the Bluetooth button for more than 2 seconds to turn the Bluetooth off.

5. USB &Stream Output level knob ➀ and output level meter ➁
   Rotate left and right to control the volume of audio output from 3.5mm stream output and USB-C output. The level meter on the right shows the output level.

6. Headphone volume fader
   Slide up and down to control the headphone volume.

7. 48V phantom power supply switch
   This button controls the phantom power of XLR microphone input . When the button is turned on, the LED indicator turns red.
   Whether to turn on phantom power depends on the type of XLR microphone you are using. In most cases, only XLR condenser microphones require phantom power to function. If your microphone does not require phantom power, turning it on may damage it.
   Tip : Phantom power cannot be turned on when there is no XLR microphone connected.
   If you don’t know what type of microphone you have, please contact your microphone manufacturer for confirmation.
   Select Maono XLR condenser microphone models: PM320, PM350, PM500, A03Pro
   Select Maono XLR dynamic microphone models: PD100, PD200, PD200X, PD400X, HD300

8. There are five function keys in this area, namely Reverb Preset, SideChain(Music Only), Direct Monitoring (Loopback), Pitch Presets, and Noise Reducer.
   8.1 Reverb Presets
   This function has 6 preset reverb effects. Short presses can switch back and forth between the original sound, KTV, church, hall, valley, and room among these 6 sound effects. When switching, the light color will change and come with voice prompts. The effect of reverb and echo changes after switching.
   8.2 SideChain and Music Only
   The SideChain function automatically lowers the volume of background music when you start to speak, highlighting your voice. It is suitable for chatting scenes in live broadcasts and podcasts. The Music Only mode can eliminate the vocal part in the accompaniment input and retain the music part, which is convenient for users to sing along. The SideChain function and Music Only function are turned off at default.Button Operation| Function
   ---|---
   Short Press| Turning On/Off SideChain
   Long Press >2 Second| Turning On/Off MusicOnly

Tips: Voice prompts and LED indicator shows the current status.

8.3 Direct Monitor and Loopback
Direct Monitor is turned on and the loopback is turned off by default.
If you don’t want to hear your own voice recorded via microphone, you can turn off the Direct Monitor feature.
If the Loopback feature is enabled, the audio sent to the device via USB will be sent back to the USB connected device; if it is disabled, the audio sent to the device can be heard through the headphones, but will not be recorded. Turning off this feature can avoid unwanted echos.

Tips : Voice prompts and LED indicator shows the current status.

8.4 Pitch Presets
This feature adds pitch changing effects to the microphone input.
Short press to loop through the five pitch presets available and turn off the pitch changing feature.
The LED indicator shows the current status.
8.5 Noise Reducer
This feature reduces background noise from recording. The first setting is Noise Cancellation Low, and the red LED indicator lights up. Short press again for Noise Reduction High, and the LED light turns purple. Press again to turn off the Noise Cancellation and the LED will be off.

9. Custom Sound Effect Buttons
   Maonocaster C2 Neo provides users with 3 custom sound effect buttons. You can record their favorite song, music, beat and other sound clips into the device through microphone, external audio accompaniment, Bluetooth input to use in live broadcasting and recording.
   A/B/C buttons can record sound effects within 20 seconds.
   ※ The product does not have custom sound preloaded and need to be recorded by the user first..
   9.1 Erase existing sound effects: Press and hold any of the previously recorded custom keys for more than 3 seconds. At this time, the LED indicator is on and flashing quickly, entering the state of recording erasing. The light goes out when the erasing is completed.
   9.2 Sound effect recording: Regardless of whether there are special effects in the custom keys or not, the action of erasing the original special effects must be performed first. Short press the corresponding erased custom key, and the light flashes slowly. At this time, it is in recording state.
   The light goes out when recording is completed; during recording, if you short press the corresponding custom key, you can stop recording.
   Note: The storage space of each custom special effect key is limited. When the memory of this custom key is full, it will automatically stop recording. At this time, the light will automatically go out.
   9.3 Play custom sound effects: Short press any of the previously recorded custom keys to start playing special effects. The LED indicator remains on until the playback is completed; during playback, short press to stop.

10. Power switch
    Turn on and off the device.
    Press and hold for 2 seconds to turn on.
    When the power is on, press and hold for 3 seconds to turn off.

11. DC⎓5V Interface
    This interface is only used to power the device.

12. USB-C Data Interface
    Data interface, can be used for audio data communications with computer and mobile devices.
    Note :
    (1) When using an external power supply to power the Maonocaster C2 Neo through the DC-5V interface, the USB-C Interface can pass-thru charge the smartphone connected via USB-C.
    (2) When using a computer USB port to connect the sound card DC-5V interface for charging, the sound card’s USB-C interface can charge USB-C mobile phones; while the USB-C port of the sound card charges the phone, it can also exchange digital audio signals with the phone;
    (3) When not connected to an external power supply, the phone will not be charged, but audio data exchange is still provided;

• The phone needs to support OTG function and it is need to be turned on.
  (4) iPhone with Lightning connector requires an Lightning to USB Camera Adapter from Apple to connect to the Maonocaster C2 Neo.

  13. STREAM OUT interface
      3.5mm streaming interface, output audio signal to mobile phone (US standard interface), controlled by “USB & Stream Out” knob.
      When connected to a streaming phone, the audio is transmitted through the connected 3.5mm TRRS or TRS cable.

  14. Headphone jack
      Supports mobile phone earphones (TRRS plug), studio headphones (TRS plug), * When you connect mobile phone earphones to the headphone jack, the microphone input is not supported.
      15. 3.5mm AUX interface
      Connect external audio sources or playback devices through an audio cable for easy playback of background music during live broadcasting and recording through an AUX audio cable.

  15. Microphone Interface
      Combo XLR/TRS microphone interface supports XLR or ¼”(6.35mm) plug microphone input and can provide 48V phantom power for condenser microphone through the 48V button switch on the front panel. It supports both dynamic and condenser microphones.

Setup Guide

Smartphone Connection

1. Connect the streaming phone, accompaniment device, headphones and microphone as shown in the figure.
2. Turn on the power and adjust the various required sound effects.
3. Use an App to start streaming or recording.

Tips : If your phone do not have a 3.5mm jack, it is necessary to use the original USB-C to headphone adapter from your phone brand.

• You can record to two phones if you utilize both USB-C output and Line Out.
  Maonocaster C2 Neo only supports one microphone input and is suitable for single-person recording live streaming.

PC Streaming

1. Connect the accompaniment source (mobile phone), headphones, and microphone to the sound card as shown in the figure.

2. Use the included USB-C data cable to connect the computer and the Maonocaster C2 Neo.
   The computer will automatically recognize the device and install the driver.

3. Enter the sound control panel of Windows, and set the “Maonocaster C2 Neo” as the system default playback and recording device in “playback” and “recording”.4. Open the streaming or recording software on your computer, and confirm “Maonocaster C2 Neo” is set as default audio recording and playback device.
   Tips: Connecting your Gaming PC’s audio output to AUX port with a 3.5mm cable then connecting your Streaming PC with USB-C will allow a Dual PC streaming setup.

Charging

1. You can use a USB-C cable to connect to a computer, power bank, or power adapter for charging.
2. The battery level display will turn red when charging, and flashes to show the charging progress.
3. The DC⎓5V port only supports device charging and does not have data transfer function.
   Notes :
   • Please charge the device before first use.
   • If not used for a long time, please charge the device every 3 months.
   • Charging is supported even when the device is turned off.
   • For safety, please stop charging after the battery is fully charged to avoid overcharging.

Bluetooth Connectivity

Maonocaster C2 Neo supports Bluetooth audio input for background music and accompaniment.
(You can also refer to Item No.4 in function guide)

Pairing and connection:

1. Turn on the device and the Bluetooth indicator starts flashing.

2. Search for the device in your smartphone’s Bluetooth menu and find the “Maonocaster C2 Neo”
   Bluetooth device and click the name to connect.

3. Bluetooth indicator remains solid after successful connection.

4. Play your desired music or audio on your smartphone.

5. Use a streaming or recording App on your phone to start content creation.
   Notes :
   • Bluetooth connection is limited by distance. Do not place the phone too far away.
   • The Bluetooth connectivity is only for audio input.

Troubleshooting

5.1 Unable to power on

① Please check if the device has enough battery level and charge it before powering on.
② Press and hold the Logo button for more than 3 seconds to turn on the device.
5.2 No sound from the external audio source
① Check if the external audio source is connected to the AUX input or Bluetooth.
② Check if the AUX volume control knob is turned on.
③ Check if the volume of the audio input device is turned up.
5.3 No sound from the headphones
① Check if the headphone cable is plugged into the “headphone” jack.
② Check the “headphone” fader and gradually increase the volume by sliding it upwards.
5.4 No sound from the microphone
① Check if the microphone is correctly connected to the microphone input, unplug and reconnect if necessary.
② Check the “USB&Stream Out” knob in the middle. Turn it clockwise to gradually increase the output volume.
③ Check the “microphone volume” fader and gradually increase the volume by sliding it upwards.
④ Confirm with the microphone dealer if your microphone is compatible with Maonocaster C2 Neo , or consult us for recommended microphone models.
5.5 No sound during live streaming
① Check the “USB&Stream Out” knob and turn it clockwise to gradually increase the output to a suitable level.
② Check if the “Maonocaster C2 Neo” is set as the default playback and recording device in the streaming software. If not, follow the instructions in the “PC Streaming Setup” section of this manual to set it up.

Safety Precautions

• To avoid personal injury or property damage caused by factors such as high temperature, noise, radiation, fire, and machinery, please use this product in a safe environment and carefully read and follow the following precautions.
• If the product overheats, emits smoke or strange odors during use, please turn off the power and unplug the power cord immediately, and send the product to the dealer for repair.
• Do not modify, disassemble or repair this equipment by yourself, so as not to invalidate the product warranty or cause personal injury. If necessary, please contact the dealer for assistance.
• This product should be used and stored in a dry, ventilated, and safe environment. Do not use this product in a damp or dusty environment.
• Avoid rainwater, dust entering the product and causing a short circuit; being close to a heat source, collision, or severe vibration may cause irreversible damage to the product.
• Do not use this product in situations where it is explicitly prohibited by law. Comply with relevant safety regulations and use this product safely to avoid accidents.
• This product is not a toy for children. Keep it out of the reach of children.

FCC Requirement

Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment. This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

1. this device may not cause harmful interference, and
2. this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Note: 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. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy, and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
  The device has been evaluated to meet general RF exposure requirement. The device can be used in portable exposure condition without restriction.

IC Caution:

This device complies with Industry Canada licence-exempt RSS standard(s).
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

1. This device may not cause interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

The device has been evaluated to meet general RF exposure requirement. The device can be used in portable exposure condition without restriction.

Model No.: AMC2 Neo

To get technical support, please scan the QR code

https://www.maono.com/pages/moanocaster-amc2-neo-audio-interface-manual- drive-download
Technical Support: support@maono.com
www.maono.com

Company：Qing UG（haftungsbeschränkt）
Address: Undinestr. 7,12203 Berlin Germany
Tell: 004917662179550
E-mail: pmdheinrich@gmail.com

Company: CET PRODUCT SERVICE LTD.
Address: Chase Business Centre, 39-41
Chase Side, London N14 5BP United Kingdom
Email: info.cetservice@gmail.com
TEL: +447419325266

Final clause： Information and data contained in this manual are subject to change without notice in advance.
We frequently update product firmware to improve user experiences and performance.
The status display and operations may be slightly different among different firmware versions.
For latest user manuals, please access on https://www.maono.com.

References

• Professional Audio Microphone | MAONO Online®Store
• Professional Audio Microphone | MAONO Online®Store

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