Three newbie questions re: 896mkIII

[chakatrain]

Hi all,

First post here and a new MOTU user!

Software: Audio Desk 3.2.1
Hardware: MacBook Pro (early 2009).

Three questions have me stumped:

1. Configure Audio Hardware window shows only the MOTU 896mkIII device. It does not show any built in options (mic, input or output). Is this to be expected? Is there a way to have the output come out of my macbook pro's headphone jack instead of the MOTU's main outs or phone outs? Looking at the DP 7 video tutorial, it seems maybe I should see some built in options here.

2. I can't open an Audio Desk file to edit (remix, etc.), if I'm not connected to the MOTU 896mkIII. A message appears stating it can not load a driver. Is this related to #1 above?

3. Did my first multitrack recording session with the band on Saturday. Had 7 inputs and speakers attached the main out jacks (via a 1/4 jack to RCA cables, which plugged into my friend's some system. We had tons of feedback when we tried to listen to the tracks, due, I guess, to the 7 mics still being live while hearing sound out of the main outs. I had to unplug each of the 7 inputs for us to listen to the track on playback without getting feedback. Is there a better way to hear the playback on speakers that are in the same room as the mics, w/o me having to unplug the mics each playback?

Thanks a ton!

[chakatrain]

Hi all,

A friend advised that I let you all know that I'm not a software pirate, that I really did buy the software and have read the manual, but couldn't answer these questions even AFTER reading the manual. Yep, a real n00b here.

I was told I might get a lot of RTFM answers, so I guess the answers I seek are there and I should just try to read it carefully and experiment. So that's what I'll do and I'll come back here if I really honest to goodness just can't figure out what to do.

All the best,
-c

[bayswater]

1. No, you won't see details about the various 828 elements here. You can customize names and some details in the MOTU Audio Setup app, and select various inputs and outputs within AudioDesk, e.g. in the Mixer.

2. Right. My experience is that AudioDesk doesn't start without a MOTU device connected to the Mac.

3. What are the mics routed through? Does that have some sort of level control? Can you use headphones?

[mikehalloran]

> Configure Audio Hardware window shows only the MOTU 896mkIII device. It does not show any built in options (mic, input or output). Is this to be expected? Is there a way to have the output come out of my macbook pro's headphone jack instead of the MOTU's main outs or phone outs? Looking at the DP 7 video tutorial, it seems maybe I should see some built in options here.<

That is with DP. AudioDesk routs all audio through your MOTU device.

I do not know what you are trying to accomplish since you haven't told us. GarageBand may allow you to do what you want - whatever that is.

There is an upgrade path through AudioDesk to Digital Performer. The DP tutorials will show much functionality that is not available in AudioDesk.

[chakatrain]

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies; I really appreciate them! My responses are below:

1. No, you won't see details about the various 828 elements here. You can customize names and some details in the MOTU Audio Setup app, and select various inputs and outputs within AudioDesk, e.g. in the Mixer.

2. Right. My experience is that AudioDesk doesn't start without a MOTU device connected to the Mac.

3. What are the mics routed through? Does that have some sort of level control? Can you use headphones?

Seems like a consensus emerging that AD requires a connected MOTU device.

Mic are routed directly into the 896 via the XLR inputs. No other device or level control. I can use headphones, but was hoping to have an immediate speaker output so my bandmates could hear the recording right away.

> Configure Audio Hardware window shows only the MOTU 896mkIII device. It does not show any built in options (mic, input or output). Is this to be expected? Is there a way to have the output come out of my macbook pro's headphone jack instead of the MOTU's main outs or phone outs? Looking at the DP 7 video tutorial, it seems maybe I should see some built in options here.<

That is with DP. AudioDesk routs all audio through your MOTU device.

I do not know what you are trying to accomplish since you haven't told us. GarageBand may allow you to do what you want - whatever that is.

There is an upgrade path through AudioDesk to Digital Performer. The DP tutorials will show much functionality that is not available in AudioDesk.

Thanks for this. I'm basically using this as I might use Garageband: simply recording 6 acoustic instruments on SM57s in real time (i.e. all 6 instruments playing and being recorded at the same time) on 6 distinct tracks. I was hoping to use the AD and/or CueFX superior effects and mixing abilities. Our goal is to make a demo of maybe 3-5 songs we can post to our website and use to help us get local gigs. Nothing fancy or too professional.

Thanks for the responses!

[bayswater]

Mic are routed directly into the 896 via the XLR inputs. No other device or level control. I can use headphones, but was hoping to have an immediate speaker output so my bandmates could hear the recording right away.

If you are using Cuemix, as you suggest in the answer to Mike, you can create a configuration to store the settings on the 896 you use for recording, and then another that has the mic inputs muted, and then simply switch between the two. I don't have an 896, but I'd guess you could also create and/or select the configurations from the front panel as well.

[HCMarkus]

Mic are routed directly into the 896 via the XLR inputs. No other device or level control. I can use headphones, but was hoping to have an immediate speaker output so my bandmates could hear the recording right away.

If you are using Cuemix, as you suggest in the answer to Mike, you can create a configuration to store the settings on the 896 you use for recording, and then another that has the mic inputs muted, and then simply switch between the two. I don't have an 896, but I'd guess you could also create and/or select the configurations from the front panel as well.

+1

You can also control each input (mute, level, etc) from your computer via the CueMix application. No need to unplug your mics!

Appears that the interface serves as a "Dongle" for Audio Desk. I've always used DP, so never experienced your issue.

[chakatrain]

Hi all,

Thanks for the CueMix FX suggestions! I'll explore those.

[Klaus]

Mic are routed directly into the 896 via the XLR inputs. No other device or level control. I can use headphones, but was hoping to have an immediate speaker output so my bandmates could hear the recording right away.

If you are using Cuemix, as you suggest in the answer to Mike, you can create a configuration to store the settings on the 896 you use for recording, and then another that has the mic inputs muted, and then simply switch between the two. I don't have an 896, but I'd guess you could also create and/or select the configurations from the front panel as well.

+1

You can also control each input (mute, level, etc) from your computer via the CueMix application. No need to unplug your mics!

Appears that the interface serves as a "Dongle" for Audio Desk. I've always used DP, so never experienced your issue.

It's 2012 and DP and Audiodesk *still* are not capable of i/o monitoring that works...
I wrote about

Hardware playthru level bug ?

http://www.motunation.com/forum/viewtop ... ru#p376436" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It affects also Audio Desk.

I don't want to use Cuemix, in the recording process,

>rec a take
>jump to the interface
>load a different setting each time for recording or playback
> jump back to the screen and playback

BTW

loading these presets may lead to full blast playthru during loading !

I'm not sure people who suggest this scenario actually tried it, the full blast can be catastrophic.
And all this with MotU interfaces...

Audio Desk and DP have these *input* monitor buttons, but then the Hardware playthru level bug takes over and you have to use different mixes for rec or playback...

What a shame


And yes
Everything reported to MotU long ago ( I think since DP 4.61 ), tech link unread, etc...

Sorry, I had to vent

Klaus

[mikehalloran]

> don't want to use Cuemix, in the recording process, <

If you want zero latency, that is the choice. There is no hardware playthrough that achieves it - although with low buffers you can get really close.

Something about the laws of physics....

[FutureLegends]

One important thing to have in mind:
CueMix is only for monitoring what is being recorded, when mixdown comes you have very little use for it. Except for muting the inputs. It takes a while to wrap your head around CueMix (at least it did for me). But the basic is that CueMix only controls what's going in to the interface not what is being played back.

I would really suggest taking advantage of the upgrade path from AudioDesk to Digital Performer. And if you do it now, you'll get the DP8 upgrade for free when it ships this spring.

[Klaus]

> don't want to use Cuemix, in the recording process, <

If you want zero latency, that is the choice. There is no hardware playthrough that achieves it - although with low buffers you can get really close.

Something about the laws of physics....

BS

Audio Desk and Digital Performer *CAN* control the Motu mk3 interfaces, via
hardware playthru setting, and pressing the blue input button
- just like Cuemix FX, but with the level bug I mentioned -

This bug is in Audio Desk *AND* in DP
Here's a link to the movie...
http://www.redmountain.ch/direct%20hard ... scaled.mp4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.motunation.com/forum/viewtop ... 15#p404847" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Klaus

[chakatrain]

One important thing to have in mind:
CueMix is only for monitoring what is being recorded, when mixdown comes you have very little use for it. Except for muting the inputs. It takes a while to wrap your head around CueMix (at least it did for me). But the basic is that CueMix only controls what's going in to the interface not what is being played back.

This makes a lot of sense to me. I would think that I want the input muting ability for CueMix. I tried this and it seems to do what I want.

I would really suggest taking advantage of the upgrade path from AudioDesk to Digital Performer. And if you do it now, you'll get the DP8 upgrade for free when it ships this spring.

I leaning towards doing that.

Thanks to all for the discussion so far!