828MK3 - Cuemix FX main volume way too high?!

[riotschool]

Dear forum,

so I just got my 828mk3 a few days ago and stumbled straight away into lots of problems. 1st the driver issues (as seen in another thread) and now the following:

Besides recording and mixing, I sometimes wish to listen to music from my Itunes library. I used the audio-MIDI setup application to send OSX´s output to the main out´s of the 828mk3 and I´ve got a pair of powered monitors attached to the XLR outs.

Using the tiny knobs on the front of the Motu (or the "monitor knob" in Cuemix FX) does work in general...BUT... as soon as I deactivate the "monitor switch" in the main out´s output section in cuemix fx (the one in the "talk listen monitor" section of the channel strip), the volume jumps UP to full 0db and I tend to kill my speakers with it and am not able to control any volume output anymore (main front knobs don´t work and the monitor knob in cuemix fx, either).

What am I doing wrong?? Which setting did I miss? I would understand if there isn´t any output at all as soon as I deactivate the monitor switch on the main section - but simply passing the output through at super-full volume seems completely wrong to me?

I am afraid to kill my monitors by accident...please help!

Thank you very much!

[Truss Rod]

There's no analog volume control on Motus stuff. So I bought a Tc electronic Level Pilot to deal with this problem. It's a design flaw in my opinion the way cue mix works, when you click on the monitor button. Horrible.

So: Buy a passive volume knob, and set the output in cuemix to it's loudest.

[1nput0utput]

When the Monitor button is enabled for an output pair, that output pair is part of the monitor group. The outputs that are part of the monitor group will be attenuated by the Master Volume control. The outputs that not part of the monitor group will not be attenuated.

That's not a design flaw in my opinion. Sometimes you want certain outputs to be controlled by the Master Volume knob; sometimes you don't. The way it is designed is flexible enough to allow any configuration you might need.

[Truss Rod]

Yep, either way... one probably will need an analog volume knob somewhere down the line.

[1nput0utput]

Yep, either way... one probably will need an analog volume knob somewhere down the line.

I don't see how that is necessarily true. If the 828mk3 is within arm's reach, you can grab the Master Volume knob on the front panel. If it's not, you can open CueMix FX and adjust the Master Volume control there.

[HCMarkus]

Although it is not absolutely necessary in many situations, I find my Presonus Monitor Station makes using my 828mkII much more enjoyable on several levels. Highly recommended.
1. Smooth volume control within comfortable arm's reach (I rackmount my 828)
2. Speaker and Source switching
3. Much better headphone amps x 4

[Truss Rod]

Yep, either way... one probably will need an analog volume knob somewhere down the line.

I don't see how that is necessarily true. If the 828mk3 is within arm's reach, you can grab the Master Volume knob on the front panel. If it's not, you can open CueMix FX and adjust the Master Volume control there.

Eeeh....Not having an analog volume control is like skydiving without parachute. In this case you risk losing your hearing and your speakers. You do realize that the sound is travelling full speed through the dac?

[1nput0utput]

Eeeh....Not having an analog volume control is like skydiving without parachute. In this case you risk losing your hearing and your speakers.

Your analogy is not quite sound: If you go skydiving without a parachute, you will certainly be injured or die. If you don't have an additional analog gain stage after the outputs of the audio interface, it is not certain that there will ever be negative consequences. If you understand what the Monitor button does, you'll understand what happens when you turn it off and why you would or would not want to do that.

You do realize that the sound is travelling full speed through the dac?

I think what you mean is that the D/A converters are getting a full-scale, un-attenuated signal when the output is not part of the monitor group. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Set the monitors' input trims or the power amp's input trim so that a full-scale output from the audio interface produces the maximum loudness that you would ever want. Then you don't have to worry about damaging the speakers or your hearing even if the Monitor button is disabled for the outputs you're monitoring.

[riotschool]

Thx for all the answers!

I would simply lower thr gain stage of my monitors, but the inputs are already clipping (as signalised by some Led's on the monitors) and so it doesnt make sense to lower the ain stage.

I think, if I got it right from your answers, my solution would be to buy an external gain control (or maybe a frequency crossover w. its own main level control - so that i can connect my sub, too)

But i can't get behind the idea that it is somehow wrong to deliver an uncontrolled full-level signal by simply un-clicking one single button.

[Truss Rod]

Eeeh....Not having an analog volume control is like skydiving without parachute. In this case you risk losing your hearing and your speakers.

Your analogy is not quite sound: If you go skydiving without a parachute, you will certainly be injured or die. If you don't have an additional analog gain stage after the outputs of the audio interface, it is not certain that there will ever be negative consequences. If you understand what the Monitor button does, you'll understand what happens when you turn it off and why you would or would not want to do that.

You do realize that the sound is travelling full speed through the dac?

I think what you mean is that the D/A converters are getting a full-scale, un-attenuated signal when the output is not part of the monitor group. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Set the monitors' input trims or the power amp's input trim so that a full-scale output from the audio interface produces the maximum loudness that you would ever want. Then you don't have to worry about damaging the speakers or your hearing even if the Monitor button is disabled for the outputs you're monitoring.

Let me ask you this one question: what are the benefits of NOT having an analogue volume control? Especially with powered monitors. Hmm?

[Klaus]

I made my *own* big knob...
A precision dual pot, 4700 ohms, inserted in a *not to long* unbalanced monitorfeed...

I have a *BIG* knob on this thing and it is in a shielded box beside the mac keyboaerd...

Take care

Klaus

[Mark Barnes]

The Mackie "Big Knob" is worth every penny.