Switching from Monitors to Phones - 896MK3/CueMixFX/DP6

[brentinjapan]

Hi!

Someone posted a similar question, but as of yet no response...
I'm using a Motu 896MK3 with CueMixFX and Digital Performer 6.02 on Mac OS X 10.5.7
Every time I want to switch from monitors to phones (like to listen to the monitors, record a vocal, then listen again) I have to reach up and turn on & off my monitors.
How can I switch without turning off my monitors?

Thanks in advance for your time,
Brent

[HCMarkus]

Could you assign the phones to a different output bus and control from CueMix?

I use the Presonus Monitor Station, which has multiple headphone outs each with independent volume controls.
Under $300, and sounds great.

[brentinjapan]

HCMarkus,

Thanks for your help! Yep! I can do that. I have a 4-channel monitor amp.
I just thought that with ALL the amazing things the 896MK3 can do, that I could switch between headphones and mains without turning my speakers on and off.

The 896 has two headphones out on the front, and two volumes.
And basically everyone records the same way--at some point we all want to switch between the two so someone at Motu must have made a way to do it.
No?

If anyone knows if it's possible right within the 896, my thanks in advance.
Brent

[Dwetmaster]

form what I can read on MOTU's site, one HP jack is hardwired to the main out. The other is on its own...

[brentinjapan]

form what I can read on MOTU's site, one HP jack is hardwired to the main out. The other is on its own...

Exactly! That's why I'm perplexed. I'm waiting for someone to tell me the very simple answer that will make me sorry for having wasted people's time here!

[Dwetmaster]

But then, why don't you just use the other jack and assign it to the main out. You can then turn the volume down on the main out without having to shut your monitors?

Doesn't it work that way? I'm about to sell one of my trusty 896HD to get a mk3 and I would really like to know the answer to this...

Thanks

[brentinjapan]

You can then turn the volume down on the main out without having to shut your monitors?

Doesn't it work that way?

No, it doesn't work this way. There are 2 volume controls on the unit: the MASTER VOL and the phones volume. They are not independent. The master volume controls the overall volume, and the phones volume only adjusts the phones volume. If you turn the MASTER VOL down or if you mute it, the phones are also muted.

[brentinjapan]

OK! I think I've narrowed down the answer! The problem is not the 896MK3--it's on the Digital Performer side.

I send my other Mac apps like iTunes, QuickTime, Garage Band, etc... to the 896 digitally through TOSLink A 1-2.
(Therefore it's controlled in CueMix).

When I do this, everything in CueMix acts as expected:
*Choosing Main Out 1-2 from the Bus output menu in the CueMix mixes tab (Fig 11-2 in the 896 manual) makes the sound come out of the main outputs (my studio monitors) only. (There is no sound from the headphones even though they are plugged in).
*Choosing Phones 1-2 from the Bus output menu makes the sound come out of the headphones only. (There is no sound from the studio monitors even though they are still on).
Perfect!

But when using Digital Performer, for some odd and probably simple reason, CueMix doesn't behave like this.
I trust it's something I don't know.
Teach me, wise DP users! (I wish there were a kneeling-down-bowing Smilie like we have in Japan!) Here--> m(_._)m