Two master fader tracks for separate output pairs

[flextone]

Hi all,

I'm constantly moving between headphones and monitors while I work, and I want to have different processing for the headphone output. So I thought about simply using a dedicated mix output just for the headphones, i.e a second master fader. DP allows you to add another master fader, but when I do no audio is running through it because all the tracks in the project are routed to out 1-2 and the second master fader is routed to 7-8. At least I think that's the reason?

How can I have the entire mix running through two separate outputs? I'm sure I'm missing something and it probably has something to do with Bundles. What I wouldn't want to do is set every single track to run through an aux channel, that just seems too awkward and I'll need to remember to set up every new track that way.

Short version of this question: How to run entire mix through two separate outputs simultaneously?

Thanks!
R

[Phil O]

Short version of answer - use aux tracks not master faders.

A master fader in DP is unique in that it has no input assignment. Whatever bus you assign as it's output is its input as well. It works like an insert, not a device with assignable in/out. If you assign all your tracks to a bus called mix you can have two aux tracks, one routing mix to 1-2 and the second routing mix to 7-8. If you want the functionality of a master fader on each you can still insert one each on 1-2 and 7-8 and set the aux tracks to 0dB (simply using the aux track like a patch cable). You can also have a separate mix master if you wish.

Phil

[flextone]

Thanks Phil,

I feared this was the case. Guess I'll just keep the good old 2bus instead as I won't have the discipline to remember routing each new track to the aux fader. Unless you have some workflow tip to make this process quick and painless?

Thanks anyway!
R

[Phil O]

It is quick and painless. Add two aux tracks and set the ins and outs. Done. Doesn't get much simpler. Set up a template and you'll only have to do it once. You can even save them as clippings if you like.

No discipline required. All you need is a mix bus in your bundles and assign all your track outputs to that bus. I call mine "mix." You can set outputs all at once using Studio>Track Assignments or do it as you go along with Project>Create Tracks. I'm pretty sure Create Tracks remembers your last setting, so do it once for the project and every subsequent track will have the output set for you. It's much easier than it sounds - trust me.

Phil

[terrybritton]

It is easier than it sounds. I do the two-output thing to headphones and ARC2-treated speakers using the same setup Phil describes and could never imagine going back.

Terry

[bayswater]

Probably a few do something similar but source the headphone bus from sends so levels and pans can also be different from the monitor mix. More complicated, but not so difficult if set up in a template, and then tracks added by duplicating and modifying them. And of course you can do both and even have multiple instances of each type of headphone bus.

[CharlzS]

I put in a suggestion in the MOTU box to allow assignment of the default output pair to a bus rather than top output bundle a while back. Maybe if more request it, we'll get it. As an alternative and not as convenient as using just a key combo, the Create Tracks dialog remembers the last used output.