How do you set-up a headphone mix?

This is probably laughable for some of you, but I have never had to use a headphone mix until now...I'm using a MOTU 2408 and have Cuemix DSP...should or can I use the routing within Cuemix or set up one within X2...if so how do I do so and which is the best method...Thanks in advance guys!
David

Cuemix is what I use for that purpose.  I'm making the assumption you're doing this for tracking?

On my setup, I have a headphone amp hooked up to a pair of outs on a 24/io.  In cuemix, I than go to the "Mix" for that pair of outs and adjust faders to taste.  Too bad there is no EQ in Cuemix for the PCI-424 devices, but the samson headphone amp I use does allow individual adjustment EQ and volume of each headphone output.

Best,
guitardood

Whether to use the hardware zero-latency mixer or SONAR's post latency mixer depends upon the latency.  I have a TC K48 and the mixer is a digital unit built-in.  You can do anything with it but it is designed w/ teutonic logic.  Rather than using the well-known and loved analog model it has different panels for input and output and is very confusing.  Since latency is usually not a problem, I just use SONAR for anything complex.  It is quicker.  I don't know about cuemix.

See the other thread you answered in for SONAR's mixer.

@

Yea, Bristol.  I forgot about that one.  Try overdubs w/ perfect space on a bus.  Guarenteed to drive your talent crazy - or  crazier.

@

I use a 2408 and a 24io, and have a headphone mix that is sent to a separate headphone amp (a Samson). What I have set up:

1) Enable a pair of outputs in cuemix to feed the headphone amp.
2) Enable all inputs, in cuemix that you want to send directly to the outputs that feed the head phone amp. Understand though, that you have to control the mix for the inputs inside cuemix. For me, I use it to send the input of the instrument I plan to record, and raise the fader of the input to around -6, to keep it in front.
3) Create a bus for the headphone output with a pre-fader send off the master bus. Bring up the level of this bus so that its loud enough to sit behind the direct signal routed inside cuemix.

Remember, do not enable input echo for the recording track. IIRC, you can control the total output (direct signal + sonar mix) from inside sonar's console view using the mains faders.

The limitation of this set up is that you have to control the direct signal in cuemix. However, you get the benefit of near-zero latency.

If you need more detail in setting up cuemix, let me know, and I'll try to help as best I can.

Frostysnake


Man thanks alot! I will have things rolling as soon as I get home..and excuse the ignorance, but what does IIRC stand for? LOL

If I Recall Correctly, I forgot that one.....

Frostysnake


Man thanks alot! I will have things rolling as soon as I get home..and excuse the ignorance, but what does IIRC stand for? LOL

IIRC= If I Remember Correctly

Frostysnake


Thanks guys! I do appreciate your input here as I was  bit lost last night...


@Guitardood...what do you mean by the "mix"...sorry, I am not at my DAW, but I woill try to follow what you as well as the others have suggested to see what works best for me...and I am tracking at the moment...thanks again!

First, just FYI, the latest drivers from MOTU have replace CuemixDSP with CuemixFX.  Perhaps you may wish to upgrade after you finish your current project.  With PCI-424, there is really not too much difference between the two.  On some of the newer motu devices, CuemixFX offers control of DSP based EQ, Compression & Reverb.  Unfortunately, the PCI-424, 2408mk3 24/io do not have any fx other than being able to pull up a FFT analysis of a stereo pair.


For the mixes:  To the right of the Master fader, there is a drop-down box which usually says Mix-1 when you start Cuemix.  The way this works is that each entry in the dropdown refers to each stereo pair of output (e.g. Mix 1=A1-A2,Mix 2=A3-A4, etc).  So let's say you wanted to hookup your headphone amp on the 4th pair of your first device, you would choose Mix 4(A7-A8), enable the master fader and then enable the the other faders that you will want to go to you headphones (microphone, guitar, synth, etc.  Unless your're using a bunch of outboard gear, as I am, you'll probably want to also insert a send in Sonar on the master bus with it's output set for the same output channels (A7-A8) and also you'll probably want to make sure that the send is pre-fader (I think this is Sonar's default).


Note: on my system, I have a few external fx that the master mix passes through and I'll usually enable the faders for the last piece of gear in the chain on the phones mix rather than the 'Send' inside of Sonar.


Once this is accomplished, you should be able to hear the mix in the phones as well as listen to the inputs you have actives (e.g. live guitar or vocals).


One caveat is that in Sonar, you can have a pre-fader send or post-fader send.  But pre-fader also means pre-fx on that track or bus.  If you choose post fader, you'll get the fx but the main fader setting for that track/bus will affect the output gain to the send as well as the main out for that track/bus.  Wish there was a Post/Sans-fader option on sends.


Hope I didn't confuse you or make this more complicated than necessary.   Please feel free to hit me back if you still have questions.


Best,
guitardood

tKx5050


| One caveat is that in Sonar, you can have a pre-fader send or post-fader send.  But pre-fader also means pre-fx on that track or bus.  If you choose post fader, you'll get the fx but the main fader setting for that track/bus will affect the output gain to the send as well as the main out for that track/bus.  Wish there was a Post/Sans-fader option on sends. |


Just want to clarify (I may be misunderstanding what you're saying) but pre-fader sends are post fx/pro-channel, at least in X2.


Steve

I didn't know that.  Thanks for the info.


Best,
guitardood