In this article we will cover all the necessary steps and procedures to get the AFX2DAW bridge plug-in to work with your Antelope Audio interface and your DAW.
Getting Started
1. Make sure the interface you are using is compatible with AFX2DAW and you are using the correct type of connection (USB or Thunderbolt).
Devices compatible with AFX2DAW over USB:
- Zen Go SC USB
- Zen Q SC USB
Devices compatible with AFX2DAW over Thunderbolt:
- Zen Q Synergy Core TB
- Zen Tour
- Zen Tour Synergy Core
- Discrete 4
- Discrete 8
- Discrete 4 Synergy Core
- Discrete 8 Synergy Core
- Discrete 4 Pro Synergy Core
- Discrete 8 Pro Synergy Core
- Orion Studio
- Orion Studio rev.2017
- Orion Studio SC
- Orion 32+ Gen 3
2. Check if you have the AFX2DAW feature assigned to your account and device.
1. Open the Antelope Launcher and log into your Antelope account.
2. Click on "Manage Device" box:
3. Click on "Features and ownership".
4. Put a tick in the AFX2DAW's checkbox or to the bundle that is part of it.
* If you are not sure if AFX2DAW is included in your bundle - login in the Antelope website and navigate to "MY SOFTWARE". You will find a list of all the software you own.
*If you can not find the AFX2DAW or the bundle that has it in the Antelope Management section, you can purchase the AFX2DAW from here.
* If you already have it, but it does not show up - please contact Technical Support.
3. Make sure you have all the latest required software installed. All components should be updated to the latest available versions. You can check them from the Antelope Launcher:
- Device's Bundle Version (Devices section in the Antelope Launcher under Manage Devices button)
- AFX2DAW (Plugins section)
- Manager server (System section)
* the shown versions in the pictures above are an example - the numbers might be different.
4. Make sure you have your device driver installed and working properly.
For macOS:
Make sure you have installed the Unified Driver from the System section in the Antelope Launcher:
Note: You will need to allow the Kernel extension for the driver in the Security and Privacy when you install the Unified Driver. The name of the extension will be "Elektrosfera". You can go through this article for detailed information.
- USB - the Unified Driver needs to be installed and working properly. In order to verify that the Driver is functioning, you can open Audio MIDI settings and check that the name of your Antelope device includes "USB" at the end:
The Antelope interface will show up even if the driver is not working properly, but the name will include "Playback" at the end. This indicates that the Unified Driver is not working:
- Thunderbolt - if the Unified Driver is working properly, your Antelope device will show up in the Audio MIDI settings like this:
For Windows:
- Thunderbolt - make sure you can select the Antelope Thunderbolt driver in your DAW Playback settings. If you can record and playback audio inside your DAW - the driver is functioning properly.
(for example Ableton Live)
- USB - make sure that the Device playback option with the name of your Antelope interface is available in the Windows Sounds on the bottom right corner of your Desktop.
5. Make sure you have selected your Antelope interface as a playback device inside your DAW Audio settings.
DAW compatibility and troubleshooting
We have confirmed normal operation of AFX2DAW on Windows and macOS systems (Compatiblity list) with the latest versions of the following DAWs:
- Avid Pro Tools
- Ableton Live
- Cubase
- Image-Line FL Studio
- PreSonus Studio One
- BitWig Studio
- Cockos Reaper
- Logic Pro X
- When opening AFX2DAW, a new instance of your Antelope interface control panel will open. You can minimize it, but you must not close it.
- Sometimes, the first time when the AFX2DAW is scanned or validated by the DAW, a control panel instance will open.
Logic Pro X validation crash
We’ve detected inconsistent behavior when AFX2DAW gets validated by Logic Pro X’s “auvaltool”.
In some cases, the validation fails with the message “Crashed validation”.
If you encounter a validation issue when launching Logic Pro X, please follow the these steps:
Disconnect the interface from your computer. Open Logic Pro X and rescan the plugins. Restart the computer, then open Logic. Connect the device.
If the issue persists:
- Unplug your audio interface from the computer
- Delete the Cache files for the Logic plug-ins:
- Close Logic Pro X.
- Using macOS Finder go to “~/Library/Caches/AudioUnitCache/” (without the quotes).
- Manually delete the com. apple. audiounits. cache file (to force a complete scan of all plug-ins).
- Re-open Logic Pro X.
- Reboot the computer (mandatory).
- Open Logic Pro > Go to “Preferences” > "Plug-in Manager"
- From the list select the plug-in that failed to validate and click "Reset & Rescan Selection"
- Click “Use” on the checkbox next to the plug-in name.
This will restore the normal operation of the plug-in and will allow you to use it.
Related articles:
- Antelope Audio OS Compatibility Chart
- Antelope Audio Compatibility with Apple M1 Computers
- Device not recognized when using Thunderbolt under Mac OS X
If you experience difficulties and require assistance, please contact Technical Support.