Traveler - Can I "Mix" the Computer's output?

loff56 · Post by **loff56** » Fri May 05, 2006 5:07 pm

Hey everyone,
So this is a newbie question...

Just got the Traveler and man do I like it. It just replaced three pieces of hardware in my small project studio with it. Going mixerless...yikes, what a new venture...

Anyway, here's my dumb question.

I've got things set up so that the default output for all computer audio is routed through the Traveler and it's main outputs. (Which is what I want. I want iTunes for example going through my nice studio monitors.) But with CueMix (which is so cool by the way), there's no way to change the volume of the output (globally) from the computer. (At least I can't find it.) In fact the only way I can see to really change the volume of what's coming out of my computer is either individually in each program (iTunes for example), or by turning down the main volume on the traveler which turns down the volume of everything hooked up to it.

Basically what I'd like is the functionallity that the volume icon in the menu bar provides. Currently with it set up to rout all audio through the traveler the ability to change that volume slider in the menu bar (and system preferences for that matter) is greyed out.

Any ideas???

Thanks for all your help. Lovin' the Traveler. Should have got it a long time ago...

project · Post by **project** » Sat May 06, 2006 8:34 am

Use winamp instead of itunes and choose a set of outputs other than mainouts. or use an internal/different soundcard for computer audio and patch into a pair of free inputs on the MOTU.

loff56 · Post by **loff56** » Sun May 07, 2006 6:17 am

Hmmm...
Well thanks for the suggestions but both of those options are what I'm trying to avoid.
Using a seperate output would require hooking my mixer back up so that I can put everything through my monitors. And I'd prefer not to re-install one of the other smaller soundcards which I'm hoping to sell off.
Thanks though.

project · Post by **project** » Sun May 07, 2006 7:47 am

Why would you need a mixer? unless you have no more free inputs on the ultralite. my sound card on the mainboard goes in to analog inputs 7&8

I do not have a mixer anymore either i just use the ultralite.
if i could just get 44.1 and 48khz working it would be perfect.

Smokehouse · Post by **Smokehouse** » Sun May 07, 2006 9:07 am

I get what you're trying to do. But the computer output doesn't have a volume control in CueMix. All you have is the overall "Main Out" (or other mix out) gain control.

The best way to control the *relative* volume of the computer output is to control it at the source application -- for example the volume control on WinAmp or Windows Media Player. Some media players disable their output volume control when feeding the MOTU driver (I think MusicMatch does, for example).

The only other alternative is to grab a separate audio output from the computer, then feed that back in as an audio input. Now it's mixable. You can do this either from a separate sound card (as described above) or by routing your computer output to MOTU Audio Out 7-8 (for example) and then feeding the signal back into the MOTU (Audio In 7-8, for example).

Cheers.

loff56 · Post by **loff56** » Sun May 07, 2006 4:43 pm

Huh...
Thanks Smokehouse. I was afraid that what you said was the way it was. But you're idea about creating a signal between MOTU Audio Out 7-8 to MOTU Audio In 7-8 may be half the solution for me.

I didn't really want to lose a whole input pair for this, but I don't really have a need for the S/PDIF In or Out. So hoping that the whole thing doesn't literately blow up, I may try connecting the S/PDIF Out to the S/PDIF In and set the computer's Default Stereo Output (In the MOTU Audio Setup) to S/PDIF.

Theoretically, it should work...

Thanks

loff56 · Post by **loff56** » Sun May 07, 2006 4:55 pm

Wow!!!
Brilliant!! That worked like a charm. And now, not only do I have tactile access to the volume on the front of the Traveler, but I can just open CueMix on my computer and adjust the S/PDIF volume that way.
That's exactly what I wanted to do!!
Yea, thanks Smokehouse.

Now hopefully I won't need those S/PDIF any time soon. lol

Smokehouse · Post by **Smokehouse** » Sun May 07, 2006 5:10 pm

Brilliant indeed. And by using the S/PDIF channels, you're staying fully digital. Even better! Cheers

DJ BIS · Post by **DJ BIS** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 12:57 am

Smokehouse and fellow members of this post...

I am really trying to read into what you guys are saying since I just got an Ultralite that I am trying to use as my main Workstation audio device. I am just getting lost with some of the terminology. Please bare with me.

I figured that if I eliminate my Audigy I will free-up resources and have less chances of conflicts of any kind.

Just to give that idea a quick try I disabled the Audigy drivers from the Device manager.

Thats what got me to this post: I HAVE NO MIXER TO MIX MY COMPUTER AUDIO NOW! lol

I can turn down the volume of the main outs on the Ultralite, but the Cuemix Console does not have a channel for Windows Audio?

I rely on iTunes for my music organization and was very confortable with adjusting my volume with my keyboard, etc.

Right now I think I have two inputs to spare so, I would like to try this: "You can do this either from a separate sound card (as described above) or by routing your computer output to MOTU Audio Out 7-8 (for example) and then feeding the signal back into the MOTU (Audio In 7-8, for example). "

Can anybody elaborate on how to go about it?

bhill · Post by **bhill** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 8:54 pm

Hey, I was struggling with this issue as well "How do I controll the "computer" input using my CueMIX.

The other 2 guys Smoke and Loff figured it out for me (thanks)

Basically it was this for me.

1) I realized the internal sound card on my computer has an S/PDIF output (RCA)

2) Connect S/PDIF out from computer audio to in on MOTU with simple RCA cable

3) Dissconnect all other sound card audio outputs.

You should see this input now on our ultralite. Mix away. However I'm hearing less than nice audio so I might need to tweek somthing else

Here's a screen shot from my box...

http://www.spottke.com/motu/motu_SPIDF.jpg

If you learn anything new, let me know. I know perty much noda

-bhill

DJ BIS wrote:Smokehouse and fellow members of this post...

I am really trying to read into what you guys are saying since I just got an Ultralite that I am trying to use as my main Workstation audio device. I am just getting lost with some of the terminology. Please bare with me.

I figured that if I eliminate my Audigy I will free-up resources and have less chances of conflicts of any kind.

Just to give that idea a quick try I disabled the Audigy drivers from the Device manager.

Thats what got me to this post: I HAVE NO MIXER TO MIX MY COMPUTER AUDIO NOW! lol

I can turn down the volume of the main outs on the Ultralite, but the Cuemix Console does not have a channel for Windows Audio?

I rely on iTunes for my music organization and was very confortable with adjusting my volume with my keyboard, etc.

Right now I think I have two inputs to spare so, I would like to try this: "You can do this either from a separate sound card (as described above) or by routing your computer output to MOTU Audio Out 7-8 (for example) and then feeding the signal back into the MOTU (Audio In 7-8, for example). "

Can anybody elaborate on how to go about it?

DJ BIS · Post by **DJ BIS** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:25 pm

Gotcha... and no issues with running two sound devices at once?

I'll check mine and see what I can do...