[HELP] I am a complete beginner and could use some advice.

[ArbitraryAlex]

Hi there!

I recently purchased a Motu Ultralite mk3 (and a AT2020 mic, a Behringer Deepmind 12 and a pair of AT ATH-M50x's) and am completely new to audio stuff and had some questions:

1. How does one set up the headphones (M50X's) so that they can output all desktop audio through the interface? Or should I stick with using my volume mixer on my computer? I want to replace my gaming headset for all audio and give my old pair to my brother.

2. How can I hook up my synth so I can hear it as I play it (in Reaper and something like Discord and in general)? I have it so it plays the synth in Reaper (probably not the best way) but I can't hear it until after I am done recording as playback from my gaming headset. I would also like to output the sound to something like discord if need be so I can play it for friends but also output the synth audio to reaper and I can hear it as I record it.

3. How does one hook up the mic and use that? I have a gaming headset but I want to be able to use the mic (AT2020's) and the headset I bought (ATH-M50x's) instead of the gaming headset for all communication.

4. I doubt this is doable but is there a way I can get people on discord to respond to VoIP audio? I want to be able to have people (preferably with the flick of a switch) talk to people on the VoIP program and vice versa.

Thank you! I think that's it (at least for now).

Edit: Apparently Reaper (The DAW) is censored?

[mikehalloran]

Forget Reaper. Asking us for a comparison to a 3rd party DAW assumes we know about it—and is a distraction anyway. Forget trying to “output headphones”, whatever that means.

List your desired signal path. What are you actually trying to accomplish? List everything.

You will be doing everything in the box. Expect to set up Cue Mix so that there will be no detectable latency.

[ArbitraryAlex]

Forget R•••••. Asking us for a comparison to a 3rd party DAW assumes we know about it—and is a distraction anyway. Forget trying to “output headphones”, whatever that means.

List your desired signal path. What are you actually trying to accomplish? List everything.

You will be doing everything in the box. Expect to set up Cue Mix so that there will be no detectable legacy.

Oh sorry. And alright.

How do I do that? I am aiming to do the 3 things above. If you want to I can clarify into more detail.

I have CueMix FX installed but I don't think I have it set up fully.

[HCMarkus]

From your description, it sounds like you need to get a handle on how CueMix works. With all respect, reading the interface manual is probably a good place to start Alex.

[ArbitraryAlex]

From your description, it sounds like you need to get a handle on how CueMix works. With all respect, reading the interface manual is probably a good place to start Alex.

Probably. I just don't know if I can do this with the hardware I have.

[mikehalloran]

If you want to I can clarify into more detail.

That’s exactly what I suggested.

Listing your signal path and what you need to accomplish will help you figure out the setup. Plus we can offer pointers that are a little more specific than — which does need to happen BTW.

If you need to call MOTU support and have someone walk you through a setup, having this written down in advance will save everyone a lot of time.

[HCMarkus]

I'd be amazed if one cannot do whatever you want with this interface. The key is gaining understanding... you just need to spend a little time reviewing the unit's capabilities.

I'm a Mac guy but, as Mike suggests, you can call MOTU; their support has been good over the years and you may be able to have someone help you thru the process of setting things up.

Good luck and have fun making music!

[stubbsonic]

[EDIT: Whoopsy. I just noticed you are a Windows user, and I gave advice that applies to Mac. Still, I wonder if my advice might still apply in some ways.]

INTERFACE:
Motu Ultralite mk3

SOURCES:
AT2020 mic
Behringer Deepmind 12

MONITOR:
Headphones- AT ATH-M50x's

1. In System Preferences/Sound click on the Output tab and select your Ultralite as your "device" for output. Now all desktop audio will send to the interface, and you should be hearing it through your headphones.

2. To hear your synth through the computer, connect the audio outputs of the DM12 to a pair of inputs on the Ultralite.

Depending on the software you are using, they have different ways of dealing with "monitoring". It works like this. You have a track. The application doesn't know whether you want to hear the already-recorded material, or the synth that you have connected to the input. So there might be a control to switch between "playback" (what's already recorded) or "input" (your synth).

I'd also suggest that you connect the MIDI output of your Behringer DM12 to the MIDI input of your Ultralite. This way, you can play any synths in your computer via MIDI.

3. Connect your mic to the front or rear panel mic input. Turn on the phantom power (press & hold). Now your AT2020 will be on. Adjust the level. (Check the manual about metering. I don't know anything about it).

Again, you can go to System Preferences/Sound/Input and select the Ultralite-- but I don't know if level will show there.

4. There probably is a way to do this. [EDIT: the following only applies to Mac.] You might look at what AudioMIDI Setup does. But also, you can look at software like Loopback (from Rogue Amoeba) that lets you route audio pretty freely.

There must be a reason why some software gets censored.

[mikehalloran]

It’s the whole VoIP audio thing from the OP that made me ask: What’s the signal path and while we’re on the subject — of everything?

There are at least three sources — audio, MIDI and ???? With the MIDI, what happens to generate audio? Does the Behringer have its own audio — are VIs being triggered (and how) — or ???

The question is not if this can be tied together or if one needs a different unit.

I have two VoIP lines but they’re both telephone — neither have audio going to my system and I don’t ever want them to.

[ArbitraryAlex]

If you want to I can clarify into more detail.

That’s exactly what I suggested.

Listing your signal path and what you need to accomplish will help you figure out the setup. Plus we can offer pointers that are a little more specific than — which does need to happen BTW.

If you need to call MOTU support and have someone walk you through a setup, having this written down in advance will save everyone a lot of time.

Right now I think I want to sort out replacing my gaming headset with the ATH's and use the mic i bought. That is step 1.

[ArbitraryAlex]

I'd be amazed if one cannot do whatever you want with this interface. The key is gaining understanding... you just need to spend a little time reviewing the unit's capabilities.

I'm a Mac guy but, as Mike suggests, you can call MOTU; their support has been good over the years and you may be able to have someone help you thru the process of setting things up.

Good luck and have fun making music!

Can they help for specific cases? That seems like they could easily just say they don't know how right?

[ArbitraryAlex]

[EDIT: Whoopsy. I just noticed you are a Windows user, and I gave advice that applies to Mac. Still, I wonder if my advice might still apply in some ways.]

INTERFACE:
Motu Ultralite mk3

SOURCES:
AT2020 mic
Behringer Deepmind 12

MONITOR:
Headphones- AT ATH-M50x's

1. In System Preferences/Sound click on the Output tab and select your Ultralite as your "device" for output. Now all desktop audio will send to the interface, and you should be hearing it through your headphones.

2. To hear your synth through the computer, connect the audio outputs of the DM12 to a pair of inputs on the Ultralite.

Depending on the software you are using, they have different ways of dealing with "monitoring". It works like this. You have a track. The application doesn't know whether you want to hear the already-recorded material, or the synth that you have connected to the input. So there might be a control to switch between "playback" (what's already recorded) or "input" (your synth).

I'd also suggest that you connect the MIDI output of your Behringer DM12 to the MIDI input of your Ultralite. This way, you can play any synths in your computer via MIDI.

3. Connect your mic to the front or rear panel mic input. Turn on the phantom power (press & hold). Now your AT2020 will be on. Adjust the level. (Check the manual about metering. I don't know anything about it).

Again, you can go to System Preferences/Sound/Input and select the Ultralite-- but I don't know if level will show there.

4. There probably is a way to do this. [EDIT: the following only applies to Mac.] You might look at what AudioMIDI Setup does. But also, you can look at software like Loopback (from Rogue Amoeba) that lets you route audio pretty freely.

There must be a reason why some software gets censored.

I'll try this. Thanks. I am just at a complete loss.

[ArbitraryAlex]

It’s the whole VoIP audio thing from the OP that made me ask: What’s the signal path and while we’re on the subject — of everything?

There are at least three sources — audio, MIDI and ???? With the MIDI, what happens to generate audio? Does the Behringer have its own audio — are VIs being triggered (and how) — or ???

The question is not if this can be tied together or if one needs a different unit.

I have two VoIP lines but they’re both telephone — neither have audio going to my system and I don’t ever want them to.

I don't know sadly. The reason I want VoIP is because I want to call people and have them hear people on say.. Discord and the people on Discord can respond back.