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This manual provides more details about the AudioCubes hardware and what you should know before using the hardware. This manual does not discuss audiocubes software in detail.

This manual is of particular importance since it includes safety instructions, and how to take care of your cubes and the built-in rechargeable batteries. It also contains information about the battery
autonomy and instructions for charging the batteries over USB. Please take the time to read this manual in-depth to make sure you do not void the warranty on the AudioCubes.

AudioCubes hardware can be used with different software applications to achieve different creative results (perform live, design sounds, ...). If you are looking to start using the AudioCubes for the
first time, refer to the page what can I do with audiocubes? (https://www.percussa.com/what-are-audiocubes#Applications)

We offer a suite of different applications for AudioCubes, all available through the audiocubes software downloads (https://www.percussa.com/downloads) section. One of the simplest applications
to start with is MIDIBridge (learn more by visiting the midibridge application page).

Using MIDIBridge, you can send note triggers and continous control changes, to trigger sounds and apply effects using AudioCubes. If you are using Ableton Live, there is a HOWTO that might be
of interest to you: using audiocubes with ableton live (https://www.percussa.com/manuals/using-audiocubes-with-live).

The AudioCubes hardware runs special software internally called "firmware". The AudioCubes applications that run on your computer work together with this firmware. This means you need to
keep your audiocubes hardware up to date with the latest firmware, to make sure they work perfectly with the latest audiocubes software. Refer to the audiocubes firmware upgrade tool manual
(https://www.percussa.com/manuals/upgrade-manual) for instructions on how to upgrade your audiocubes firmware.

If you would like to build your own software that works with AudioCubes hardware, you can use the software development kit (SDK) that we created for AudioCubes. We maintain a C/C++ SDK,
which allows you to use AudioCubes in almost any programming language you can imagine. Most programming languages have a way to use C/C++ libraries. If you need some help with this,
contact us (see the percussa audiocubes home page (https://www.percussa.com/) for contact info). Visit the audiocubes software downloads (https://www.percussa.com/downloads) to get the
C/C++ SDK.

If you are using musical programming languages such as Max/MSP, PD or SuperCollider, you might be interested in the OSC bridge, which is a command line application that works with
audiocubes hardware and which sends open sound control (OSC) messages, allowing you to use audiocubes very easily with these visual programming languages, without having to do any C/C++
programming. Visit the OSC bridge software manual (https://www.percussa.com/manuals/osc-bridge-manual) for more info on OSC bridge.

The AudioCubes are a collection of wireless battery-powered computers with built-in signal generating and processing capabilities, and full-colour light source.

They have a USB port for connecting to a computer, for charging their battery and exchanging data. Each side of the AudioCube except the bottom and top sides have a communication port
capable of transmitting and receiving signals using infrared light, to and from other cubes nearby. Notice that the orientation of the cube can be easily recognized by the location of the USB port.

Cubes can communicate with each other through this port and can exchange signals or data depending on the software running in the cube. The same infrared port can be used to sense distance
to other objects nearby or to your hands and fingers. A computer can be connected to the USB port, and can control the audiocubes hardware and change the colours of the cube.

To turn the cube on/off, press its pushbutton at the bottom side for a brief moment and release it. When the cube is turned on, it will enter a default mode and turn white.

If you press the pushbutton and hold it for a few seconds, the bootloader will start, and the light source will turn green, and then blue. This is used to download software upgrades into the cube.
You should only start the bootloader if you need to upgrade the cube software, for normal operation you just press and release the pushbutton.

When the cube has been switched on, you can connect it to your computer by plugging in the USB cable on both ends. You don't need any drivers, the cubes are standard USB HID devices.

The cube's battery normally lasts a few hours, but will drain faster or last longer depending on how much light the cube is emitting. Each cube has 4 communication ports which are essentially light
sources (and thus consume power), as well as a full colour light source (which consumes even more power).

If you want to recharge the cube's battery, it is recommended to connect it to a USB hub. The hub should have its own power adapter such that it can supply enough current for the battery char
inside the cube. If you need to recharge the cube's battery using your computer's USB ports, make sure the power adapter or cable is plugged into your computer, as the cubes might drain the
battery of your computer (in case of a laptop).

When the cubes are connected to a hub or computer which is not connected to mains power, the battery will charge about 5 times slower than normally, and the charging may draw power from
your computer's battery in the case of a laptop. We recommend you always charge the cubes from a USB port on a computer or hub which is connected to mains power. Fully charging the cubes
takes about 3 hours, and they keep working without requiring a recharge for 3 to 5 hours depending on how they are used.

If you need to store your AudioCubes for longer than a few weeks without using them, discharge them completely, charge them during approximately 30 minutes, disconnect them and switch them
off, prior to storing them. This prolongs the life of the batteries in the AudioCubes. Storing the AudioCubes completely discharged for more than three months may void your warranty on the
batteries.