MOTUnation.com

I'm very into the idea of using CUEMIX as a stand alone mixer with Ipad or Mackie control.

On a standard digital mixer the way I'd do my live performance would be to route all the tracks I'm playing from my host in the computer to separate channels. So kick to channel 1, bass to channel 2, etc.... live hardware synths on channel 9, live synth 2 on channel 10 & 11, etc... you get the idea.

It seems like the only way to achieve this is to actually route physical outputs back into the inputs with a 1/4" patch cable. Is there any other way to do this or is this the way?

I guess I'm just full of ideas/questions about getting this rig going.

The 828 MKIII has 16 channels of ADAT I/O. If I were to add one of those to my setup would I be able to route the ADAT outputs back into the inputs then out to a single output in order to mix those 16 channels with CUEMIX?

You have 8 stereo mix buses in CueMix FX - you can route any input to any output by panning hard left/right and setting the output of the mix bus to whatever pair you want. From the computer, you just assign the channel to whatever physical output. Don't know if that's what you're looking to do?

It sounds like you want to mix prerecorded tracks from a DAW program with live tracks through a MOTU interface. Correct?

What DAW software are you using?

Do you want to dynamically change the mix coming from the DAW on stage, or is it already automated and you just want to adjust the mix of the live tracks? If so, it's easy: just assign the output of the DAW to the Main Outs, and use CueMix to mix all the live inputs using the iPad. It is important to remember that CueMix is designed to be the "shortcut" between inputs and outputs of the interface itself, and doesn't affect the level appearing at the outputs coming from the DAW. But there are other apps that let you control the mix of the DAW from an iPad or iPhone...notably DP Control if you're using Digital Performer.

Having said that, yeah, if you want to handle it all in CueMix, the easiest way would be to assign your DAW tracks to 8 ADAT Optical outputs, then run a single optical cable to an ADAT Optical input. You have to make absolutely sure that the DAW doesn't have any inputs from the ADAT Optical, and or you'll get feedback if a track gets armed or goes to input mode.

When I'm recording and using CueMix for PA/monitors, I assign the DAW to outputs I know aren't being used, just in case.

How many mic inputs do you want to use? The Traveler has 4, the 896 has 8. For live work, the 2 inputs of the 828 are kind of skimpy IMHO.

One other tip: it will sound better if the MAIN LEVEL (front panel) and bus outputs of the MOTU interface are up close to full, and you set the PA level by turning down the amp (instead of having the amps up full, and setting the MAIN master output at -20 or -30)

Yes ^^^ this is what I'm trying to do. I'm actually part of a electronic music live duo so we really don't need many mic's if any.


The main reason for wanting to route outputs of the DAW through the cue mix is to to have all of the live control (be it hardware synths playing live or pre-recorded drum parts coming from the DAW) of the mix controllable from one control surface. The DSP for EQ and Compression is another part as well as being able to save state's of mix settings and being able to restore them for performing live (since we use a lot of hardware live)

I'm using an AKAI MPC Renaissance, NI-Maschine, and Ableton for a while if the MPC REN proves unstable in its infantile state (as well as many hardware synthesizers)

Thanks for the info, I just wanted the option to route ADAT in a loop if I decided to use CUEMIX as my main digital mixing interface.

Since Digital Performer can simulate Cuemix FX via hardware monitoring, you could use
Digital Performer to mix recorded material and send it out the interface - then create input audio tracks - engage input button - and mix these sources out the same output...
Just take this bug into account :
Hardware playthru level bug
http://www.motunation.com/forum/viewtop ... =1&t=44574

Best

Klaus

You're right that the only way to use CueMix mixing for software based instruments is to patch physical outputs to physical inputs. Ideally you would have a system that only requires one mixing environment so, if it were me, I would try mixing everything in your DAW instead of mixing with CueMix. If your system can handle low enough latency for live use I would bring all hardware inputs into your DAW and mix and process everything there. This would keep your physical outputs free for individual monitor mixes using your DAW's Aux buses. Working this way you just turn all of the CueMix faders to zero and you don't really have to run CueMix at all once you are set up.