hairyjamie
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Tracking hardware technique - switch monitors off/down?
Hi all, Recently I've been thinking about a simple solution to a problem that I'm sure everyone has faced in their home studio - I'm tracking vocals/guitars etc. and I want to mute my monitor output so that it doesn't bleed into the mics - what's the simplest solution? I generally just turn my monitors down using the hardware volume knob (I use an M-Audio Projectmix) - record the part using headphones - then turn the monitors back up. I find that this leads to a fair amount of knob twiddling however given the nature of the hardware I have (several turns completely to mute). I don't want to physically switch off the monitors every time as I don't want excess wear and tear. I'm sure that I could devise an internal Sonar routing solution to mute an output or set up headphone mixes but I'd be interested to hear how everyone else achieves this? Am I just being too lazy and should I twiddle away?  Cheers, Jamie.
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dlogan
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Re:Tracking hardware technique - switch monitors off/down?
2010/02/10 10:54:33
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Personally I just turn off my monitors.
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Slugbaby
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Re:Tracking hardware technique - switch monitors off/down?
2010/02/10 11:49:25
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Since my soundcard routes to my mixer, which does not have separate Volume Controls for headphones and monitors, I have to turn off my monitors.
I doubt it's anything that can be routed in Cakewalk. Maybe in your soundcard or mixer...
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ohhey
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Re:Tracking hardware technique - switch monitors off/down?
2010/02/10 12:19:36
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hairyjamie
Hi all,
Recently I've been thinking about a simple solution to a problem that I'm sure everyone has faced in their home studio -
I'm tracking vocals/guitars etc. and I want to mute my monitor output so that it doesn't bleed into the mics - what's the simplest solution?
I generally just turn my monitors down using the hardware volume knob (I use an M-Audio Projectmix) - record the part using headphones - then turn the monitors back up. I find that this leads to a fair amount of knob twiddling however given the nature of the hardware I have (several turns completely to mute).
I don't want to physically switch off the monitors every time as I don't want excess wear and tear.
I'm sure that I could devise an internal Sonar routing solution to mute an output or set up headphone mixes but I'd be interested to hear how everyone else achieves this?
Am I just being too lazy and should I twiddle away?
Cheers,
Jamie.
A line level A/B switch would work. You could either have the other side with nothing attached or a nice headphone amp. What is your connection to the speakers, is it balanced or unbalanced ?
post edited by ohhey - 2010/02/10 12:31:10
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YoungNikk
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Re:Tracking hardware technique - switch monitors off/down?
2010/02/10 23:59:22
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The best way that I know of (actually two ways) is to invert the phase switch on one of your monitors. Then set the pan pots on all channels to 12 o'clock to get complete cancellation. Also, be sure you are using a cardiod or a hyper-cardiod mic with the monitors placed at the mic's null point to reduce off-axis reflections from being picked up by the mic. If your monitors don't have phase switches, you can use your DAW:
- After doing the first take, have the singer (or player) position himself in the exact same spot for another take on a different channel. Only this time he will do nothing, just stand there. In your DAW, reverse the phase on the "ghost" channel and the two channels will cancel, therefore preventing bleed. After recording your current channel, you can readjust your phasing and all should be well.
I record vocals in my control room and it works wonders for me!
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brundlefly
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Re:Tracking hardware technique - switch monitors off/down?
2010/02/11 01:49:42
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I'm probably misunderstanding, but can't you just put a prefader send on the Master bus to a headphone bus/output, and mute the Master?
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Bristol_Jonesey
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Re:Tracking hardware technique - switch monitors off/down?
2010/02/11 04:59:58
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Good answer Dave.
Another way, and one I use extensively, though it does involve using my desk.
I run 2 stereo pairs out of my interface, into 4 mono channels on the desk.
2 of them feed the monitors, via a group, the other 2 feed the headphone system, again via another group.
For tracking, I just mute the monitor feed and unmute the headphone channels.
No knob twiddling is involved, just press a couple of buttons.
CbB, Platinum, 64 bit throughoutCustom built i7 3930, 32Gb RAM, 2 x 1Tb Internal HDD, 1 x 1TB system SSD (Win 7), 1 x 500Gb system SSD (Win 10), 2 x 1Tb External HDD's, Dual boot Win 7 & Win 10 64 Bit, Saffire Pro 26, ISA One, Adam P11A,
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Guitarhacker
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Re:Tracking hardware technique - switch monitors off/down?
2010/02/11 06:54:23
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I use the power switch on the back.
My website & music: www.herbhartley.com MC4/5/6/X1e.c, on a Custom DAW Focusrite Firewire Saffire Interface BMI/NSAI "Just as the blade chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer "
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hairyjamie
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Re:Tracking hardware technique - switch monitors off/down?
2010/02/11 07:29:44
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ohhey
A line level A/B switch would work. You could either have the other side with nothing attached or a nice headphone amp.
What is your connection to the speakers, is it balanced or unbalanced ?
Hey ohhey, I have an unbalanced connection to my monitors - I was thinking about an A/B switch but I believe I can achieve what I want by signal routing. Thanks for the tip though!
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hairyjamie
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Re:Tracking hardware technique - switch monitors off/down?
2010/02/11 07:31:25
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brundlefly
I'm probably misunderstanding, but can't you just put a prefader send on the Master bus to a headphone bus/output, and mute the Master?
We have a winner! A prefader send on the Master bus, Doh! Why didn't I think of that? Thanks Brundlefly
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hairyjamie
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Re:Tracking hardware technique - switch monitors off/down?
2010/02/11 07:33:18
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Bristol_Jonesey
Good answer Dave.
Another way, and one I use extensively, though it does involve using my desk.
I run 2 stereo pairs out of my interface, into 4 mono channels on the desk.
2 of them feed the monitors, via a group, the other 2 feed the headphone system, again via another group.
For tracking, I just mute the monitor feed and unmute the headphone channels.
No knob twiddling is involved, just press a couple of buttons.
Hi Jonesy, I think I can get what I want using the internal routing of my ProjectMix almost as you suggest in combination with Brundlefly's prefader suggestion above. Cheers!
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hairyjamie
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Re:Tracking hardware technique - switch monitors off/down?
2010/02/11 07:34:21
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Guitarhacker
I use the power switch on the back.
I wasn't too keen on doing that Herb, I'm not sure if switching the monitors on and off several times a session would do the speakers any harm?
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CJaysMusic
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Re:Tracking hardware technique - switch monitors off/down?
2010/02/11 11:47:19
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I'm tracking vocals/guitars etc. and I want to mute my monitor output so that it doesn't bleed into the mics - what's the simplest solution? My monitors come with a Remote Control. I dont think it gets any easier than pressing mute or standbye. Both of those work. Cj
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bitflipper
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Re:Tracking hardware technique - switch monitors off/down?
2010/02/11 14:26:54
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I have outputs 1 and 2 from my MOTU 828MkII going to the main speakers and outputs 3 and 4 going to a headphone amplifier. It's a simple matter of selecting one or the other destination from the main bus' Output dropdown list. That works because I never need both at the same time. An even more convenient solution would be a speaker controller such as a Mackie Big Knob. That's how the big boys do it.
 All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
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brundlefly
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Re:Tracking hardware technique - switch monitors off/down?
2010/02/11 14:58:00
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Thanks Brundlefly You're welcome. Glad to help.
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ohhey
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Re:Tracking hardware technique - switch monitors off/down?
2010/02/11 17:25:53
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hairyjamie
ohhey
A line level A/B switch would work. You could either have the other side with nothing attached or a nice headphone amp.
What is your connection to the speakers, is it balanced or unbalanced ?
Hey ohhey,
I have an unbalanced connection to my monitors - I was thinking about an A/B switch but I believe I can achieve what I want by signal routing.
Thanks for the tip though!
Here is one that is cheap and looks well built. http://www.mcmelectronics...-BY-MCM-INP-3-/50-6170
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hairyjamie
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Re:Tracking hardware technique - switch monitors off/down?
2010/02/12 06:07:44
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ohhey
hairyjamie
ohhey
A line level A/B switch would work. You could either have the other side with nothing attached or a nice headphone amp.
What is your connection to the speakers, is it balanced or unbalanced ?
Hey ohhey,
I have an unbalanced connection to my monitors - I was thinking about an A/B switch but I believe I can achieve what I want by signal routing.
Thanks for the tip though!
Here is one that is cheap and looks well built.
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/DISTRIBUTED-BY-MCM-INP-3-/50-6170
Thanks, I've actually just discovered that my ProjectMix has built in A/B functionality! One press of the button and the headphone outputs switch from one set of main outs to another - so I can have a send on the master going to the secondary outputs that feed the phones. Some people decry M-Audio but I'm loving my ProjectMix
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hairyjamie
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Re:Tracking hardware technique - switch monitors off/down?
2010/02/12 06:08:57
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bitflipper
[snip]
An even more convenient solution would be a speaker controller such as a Mackie Big Knob. That's how the big boys do it.
Ah, I can but dream ...
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hilltop
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Re:Tracking hardware technique - switch monitors off/down?
2010/02/12 07:35:30
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If your monitors are powered just plug both into a switchable extension cord
Dave www.Hilltoprecording.com Intel Xeon X3360 CPU on DP35DP motherboard 4GB DDR2 PC6400 800Mhz memory 250GB Seagate 7200RPM SATA drive (OS) 2 x 500GB Seagate 7200RPM SATA drive Sonar X1 Expanded, RME UFX JBL 6332, Mackie 824mk2 Roland DS 90's Alesis Point 7 monitors, Furman hr6 headphone system Soundforge 9 Mackie Big knob
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