M Audio RCA Out Plugs

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IronAxis
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2012/01/04 02:49:56 (permalink)

M Audio RCA Out Plugs

Hey fellas..   I've been posting so much in the Sonar X1 forum that I should have started this thread here in Hardware..


I'm a total noob when it comes to recording software and gear and just the whole set up.  I'm having to put everything together on a shoe string budget so I have to make what I have work.  After about 3 days of tweaking I think I finally have a working studio for creating some backing tracks and for recording guitar.

My question is really a simple one.  I have the M Audio Fast Track Guitar Recording Interface.  I have my computer speakers hooked up to the headphone jack.  This is working out so far.  On the back of this unit there are two RCA out plugs.  Where are these line out's designed to go?  

I thought I could hook them directly to my computer speakers but on the first attempt I heard no sound.  Right now I have the line going back into a 1/8" input of my sound card.   

Any suggestions??

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    leapinlizard
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    Re:M Audio RCA Out Plugs 2012/01/04 11:43:31 (permalink)
    I don't have that particular unit, but the RCA's are likely line-level outputs, which means they are suitable for routing to:  (a) a mixer channel line in, (b) the input to a power amp driving a set of speakers, or (c) the input to a set of powered monitor speakers.  They will not drive a passive speaker load, which is likely what your computer speakers are.  There are other options as well, but these are the most common.  If you can swing it, hook the RCA's up to a stereo or something, and use your headphone output for phones while you are tracking.  Just make sure the RCA's are line outs, and not line ins.

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    fireberd
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    Re:M Audio RCA Out Plugs 2012/01/04 12:35:39 (permalink)
    Not to be a wise guy, but the manual should detail what those jacks are for.

    You didn't mention the exact model you have but this is the lowest priced model. 

    http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrack.html

     The listing for this model states:

    "stereo RCA outputs > easily connects to your stereo system or powered monitors"

    If this has an M-Audio control panel,  you may have to set those as the "line out".

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    Guitarhacker
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    Re:M Audio RCA Out Plugs 2012/01/04 13:41:16 (permalink)
    Normally they are where you will connect your studio monitors. 

    If there is no sound from them, you may have to enable them (set them up) in the software control that usually accompanies many of the interfaces. 


    Monitoring from the headphone jack is OK if you're on a budget and have to use computer speakers.... or headphones..... but you really should get the outputs working and connect there to monitor....and when you get the money, get a decent set of studio monitors. 

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    AT
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    Re:M Audio RCA Out Plugs 2012/01/04 13:54:33 (permalink)
    Welcome to the wonderful world of compatibility, Iron.

    The type of connectors is somewhat generally associated with types of signals.

    Are your computer speakers self-powered?  Most are.  But most have minijack connectors, which carry the audio signal.  If your speakers need to be plugged in to a wall electric output (self-powered) the RCA outputs should work.  You'd need a connector adaptor, tho, RCA to minijack.

    If you've done the above and don't hear any sound, it is most likely because you don't have a signal from the m-audio routed to that output.  Audio interfaces usually have a soft-mixer for routing, they aren't prepatched so you just plug and go.  You'll need to bring up the mixer for the m-audio and send a signal (I bet you want the output from SONAR) to the RCA outputs.  I can't read the manual for you (well, I could, but I won't 'cause I don't have the time).  it should explain how to set up the m-audio mixer for each input and each output.

    As far as SONAR - in the console view (the software mixer for SONAR) you have tracks to the left, buses in the middle, and your interface's physical outs to the far left.  You may have to open each of these sections up by dragging the console to the right hand side.  The interace's in/outs are set in the options>audio page like I have previously explained to you.  Think of it as an electronic patchbay where various ins and outs are configured.  The two software mixers (SONAR's and the m-audio) are connected through the drivers on the options>audio page but are separate beasties.

    It is a lot of work when you first come to musical engineering to learn everything from terminology to routing, and it used to be easier when we dealt w/ physical, analog equipment.  Now you have to be a computer specialist, too.  All I can say is keep plugging away and reading.  The forum is a great place to ask specific questions, but it is hard for us to answer general questions like "why can't I hear anything." The more specific a question is, the better answer you will get.

    good luck,

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    IronAxis
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    Re:M Audio RCA Out Plugs 2012/01/04 20:20:36 (permalink)
    Yea I'm not a total dunce when it comes to input's and outputs..  I understand that.  My computer speakers are powerd or they are plugged in to the wall..  :)

    I figured they were line out's to either speakers or another device like leapinlizard said.  Maybe there was a setting on the interface itself that kept me from hearing anything out of the computer speakers.  Either way it is functioning with the computer speakers plugged into the headphone jack.


    I hope my question was specific enough..  and the model name is what I typed in my original post.  M Audio Fast Track guitar/mic recording interface.  That's what the box says..   

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    AT
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    Re:M Audio RCA Out Plugs 2012/01/05 00:42:58 (permalink)
    IronAxis,

    it is hard to tell what the problem is with the phrasing of the questions then - I didn't mean to demean your expertise.  See your above statement:

    "My computer speakers are powered or they are plugged in to the wall.." Prehaps you meant "and" instead of "or", but it is confusing.

    As several members have suggested, it is most likely a setting in the interface software.  I don't have the hardware or m-audio software so I can't tell you how to set it up - and neither can anyone else that doesn't have your hardware.  And it is time consuming to figure out a piece of hard/software from the web, esp. one we have no intent on purchasing.  We can offer general suggestions from working with other systems, however.

    Sorry I went full **** and offended you - but I really couldn't tell how much experience you had w/ setting up and troubleshooting, so I started at the basics.  Since you have those already, best of luck.

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    IronAxis
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    Re:M Audio RCA Out Plugs 2012/01/05 01:04:01 (permalink)
    Sorry for the confusion.  and you didn't sound demeaning at all..  What I mean by powered..  It's simply a bass speaker that is plugged into a power source.  The line in used to come from the computer.  Now it is coming from the interface headphone jack..  

    Right now it's set up..  Everything is working.  I just don't have the RCA outputs connected to anything.  I was just curious as to where those went to because when I plugged those into my computer speakers I didn't hear anything.

    AT you didn't offend me bud..  Sorry that I implied that.
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    Kev999
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    Re:M Audio RCA Out Plugs 2012/01/05 21:21:58 (permalink)
    If you don't have the manual, you can download it here:
    http://www.m-audio.com/in...upport&tab=manuals


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