Edit (by Beepster): I have marked this as [Solved/Setup Tip] because there was some wrangling needed setting it up via SPDIF with my Scarlett 18i6 and the ScarlettMix software. Hopefully that is not too presumptuous or arrogant.   Set up and initial review/ramblings in this post.
 
Hi, guys. Haven't been here in the X forum for a while because I haven't been at the DAW much lately (been studying other semi related stuff). Hope everyone is well.
 
So I'm just wondering how you guys are setting up the VRM Box within Sonar, Windows, your interfaces (if you are using SPDIF) and any other pertinent stuff. I managed to FINALLY scrounge up some dough for one and might set it up today. From the manual it mostly looks straight forward but as always I like to do my homework first.
 
I will mostly be using it via SPDIF through my Focusrite Scarlett 18i6 because I use higher sample rates than the 48k limit for USB operation (if I am misunderstanding that and I CAN actually use the box via USB at higher DAW sample rates it would be helpful to know as well).
 
My main query is about routing. I'm kind of wondering whether I can simply set up a bus at the very end of the signal chain pre mains* and just solo that when I want to check the mix or whether I have to use the Main outs and change the bus output whenever I want to listen through the VRM. I'm assuming both are possible but am interested in hearing opinions on this.
 
The other thing is I had assumed that the VRM software was like a plugin that you dropped in your master bus but I guess it's standalone (I think) so I'm trying to better understand the relationship there. I mean if I had completely switched to using it as USB instead of through the interface I'd probably just view it like the ASIO panel for the Scarlett (ScarlettMix) but obviously it is not the same thing. Just not sure what to make of that and where it fits in to it all.
 
Now the last thing is not really a question but something I think is kind of cool that I hadn't thought of. Considering this thing is basically a really simple ASIO interface and is meant to be used for mixing pro projects I'm thinking it would be awesome for screwing around with MIDI and looping on my laptop. Perhaps it's got enough power behind it (and I set the buffers high enough) to run Sonar on my rather under spec lappy. Now THAT would be cool.
 
So yeah, thoughts, opinions, advice, tales of woe or glory, whatever. Just looking to get a better idea of what I can and can't do with this thing.
 
Cheers and have an awesome day.
 

I use the USB connection. The asio driver shows up like any other interface. It has its own asio panel and it's pretty finicky about having the correct project bit depth and sample rate selected.  If you connect it without opening the VRM software it plays the speakers from the last time it was opened. I'm still amazed with this little box.
 
Rocky

The USB method really does seem the simplest but yeah... I like to use higher samplerates. Maybe I'll consider sticking to 48k for a while to see if it'll appease my wacky brain.
 
I gotta wonder though... my projects get pretty hefty with lots of MIDI and VSTs. Even my 18i6 can get pretty taxed. Does this thing really have enough meat behind it to replace the 18i6 during heavy mixing tasks?
 
Cheers.

Another thing I thought was a little weird is that when using SPDIF apparently it needs to be connected with USB as well. I kind of figured it would only need the SPDIF cable. Anyone know what that's all about? Just curious because I have made a lot of assumptions about how it does its job but apparently that was all wrong. I thought maybe in SPDIF mode the software was a plugin doing all the emulations from a bus and the box was just there to be a quality controlled headphone connection (and of course be used as mini interface when needed/desired). Now I'm seeing it needs to sync/lock with the interface like a DAT machine and that there may be more going on than a simple monitoring interface.
 
I should probably go trawl the FR answerbase for that type of info though on the off chance they actually explain those types of things.
 

power

Ah, yeah that makes sense. Cheers.

Yep the USB is for power. Personally I prefer to use it via S/PDIF because that way you don't need to tell Sonar about it - it's completely independent. Either way, the software is always where you'll switch monitor and room types.

Personally I wouldn't worry about routing it in any fancy ways. It's easy enough to switch your cans from your regular interface to the VRM and back and you're not going to be doing that so frequently that it's a pain. If you're mixing on headphones you'll want to do most of the mix through the VRM box with just the occasional checking through "regular" headphones. Remember it's meant to be a substitute for monitors so you'll want to get your mix sounding as good as possible through multiple VRM speaker types before checking how it sounds on normal headphones. I just leave the cans plugged into the box and occasionally move them to my interface to hear the "normal" output.

I think they're OK to use as regular interfaces although it's your CPU and memory that's taxed by multiple VST's, not the interface, so as long as your laptop is powerful to handle that sort of thing you should be good to go.

Thanks for popping in, sharke. Guess I'll figure out my flow as I go.
 
Curious... do you leave your cans plugged into it when tracking? I'll probably keep doing what I'm doing (which is using the HP out on the Scarlett) while tracking and only use the VRM for mixing sessions but I'm just wondering if it's one of those things where a bit of laziness might kick in and don't bother switching back.
 
Might give a (very brief) revisit to Beeps Creep with it as a test to see how well it helps me nail down all that stupid minutia that inevitably screws up a final mix just enough to drive one batty.
 
Cheers.

I don't track with the VRM box, no. Just use it as a reference while mixing. You're going to want to switch between your monitors and the box periodically just to check that there's nothing which stands out as seriously wrong. I think where a lot of people go wrong with the VRM box is in thinking that it's going to be a 100% accurate simulation of listening to real monitors - it's not. It's quite impressive though - I remember one time forgetting that it was on, hitting play and momentarily thinking that the music was blasting in the room. But when you have your wits about you, there's no way it's going to fool you. For me, it's just a handy means of reference to check your mix against different characters of speaker. I think the studio monitor simulations are really useful and each one reveals different things, for instance there's a Yamaha NS-10 simulation (called "Japanese White Classic") which will immediately reveal problems in the lower mids, then there's a "British Studio" setting which is apparently a simulation of the Quested S8's and will immediately expose any boominess in your lows, then there's the Rogers SL3 and Stirling SL3 models which are very open and revealing (and the most pleasant to listen to in my opinion). Then you can switch over to the bedroom and living room modes and try various things like computer speakers, hi-fi speakers, TV speakers etc, all of which will reveal various other deficiencies in your mix. 
 
I wouldn't use them for tracking or any kind of detailed forensic work because ultimately your bare headphone output is going to be the clearest and most detailed sound through cans. But if you can get your mix to sound good on all of the studio monitors in the VRM, and the intent and spirit of your music comes across well on the laptop and TV speaker simulations for instance, AND it sounds good on your regular monitors and your regular cans, then you're going to have a well balanced mix which translates. 
 
My only gripe is that it doesn't have a car simulation. That would be awesome. Maybe in a future update? 
 
PS it goes without saying that if you're doing a lot of mixing through cans then you should keep the volume reasonably low and take plenty of breaks. But I'm guessing you already know that 

Oh and another thing - it's probably a good idea to periodically listen to some of your favorite commercial mixes through the VRM box so that you have a good idea of what a polished mix sounds like through it.