VRM Box (Solved)

I looked up the manual for the VRM, and this is from the documentation:

The user manual maps out 2 configurations for using the VRM.

It looks like for one configuration it can be plugged into a USB port on the computer and selected as the output device from within Sonar, which would use the VRM ASIO drivers, rather than the Focusrite.

There is a more complicated setup, if you want to use the VRM in conjunction with an audio interface, such as your Focusrite.  This configuration requires an S/PDIF cable to connect the VRM and the audio interface, and there are some settings you will need to concern yourself with, as well.

I suggest you review the product doc.  Here is the link to the user manual for the VRM:

http://d3se566zfvnmhf.clo...8/vrmuserguideeng1.pdf

Bob Bone

sharke


Better route to take is the S/PDIF out from your interface, into the VRM box. Then, make sure the VRM box is NOT checked in Sonar's inputs/outputs preferences. 

Hey Sharke, I have the s/pdif cable from the output of my saffire to the input on the VRM. Sonar set itself in devices and driver settind sections to Focusrite USB ASIO driver input 1 and output 1. The master bus is set to Focusrite USB ASIO driver output 1.  If I uncheck Focusrite USB ASIO driver output 1 in devices how will it send the audio to the VRM? It's not sending it anyway as is so I'm confused.
 
Does the Mixcontrol have anything to do with this? I tried setting it for s/pdif but it won't lock.

Yeah I think I had the same problem when I first installed it. Was baffled by the lack of sound for a while. When you connect via S/PDIF, there is really no need for Sonar to know about the VRM box at all. It's just taking sound directly from your interface. I presume that the VRM app communicates with the box via the USB connection. 

The thing to remember about the VRM box is that it doesn't, and can never, recreate the experience of listening on monitors through your headphones (although for some reason the TV speaker setting seems to fool me ). Nor does it offer a particularly "pleasant" listening experience, in that you're not going to want to listen to your CD collection through it. What it does though is throw you enough "simulations" of different speakers to give you a rough idea of what's going on in your mix. The different settings are going to expose different problems - for example the "British Studio" monitors are instantly going to tell you if your bass is too boomy or muddy, and the Auratone and Japanese White Classic settings will give you a good idea of how things are going in the mid range. I also love the Computer Desktop setting, it gives you an instant indication of how audible your bass is going to be on small, tinny speakers, and if you can't hear it it's worth reading up on how to make bass more noticeable on laptop speakers (boosting certain frequencies, using a plug like Maxxbass etc). 


Some of the settings are very revealing (and disheartening). For example, my music nearly always sounds like crap through the bedroom & living room Hi-Fi Settings. But then I play some Steely Dan through them and it sounds great. Back to the drawing board! 

hmmmm... Interesting tht you can use the spdif option. I just go into my hardware preferences and select the VRM box as the output interface. I would need to change back to my regular interface if I want to record again, but I only use it during the mixing stage.

UPDATE :   Issue was sorted by updating the software --- see, knew it was easy - hope this helps someone else out later anyways :-)

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Hope as the OP got things working, its ok to add my own issue to this thread.  I've had the VRM box working fine, then I just changed to a new PC --- as far as I can tell I set everything up as before, yet I have no sound.  

I have Sonar Master bus pointing to my MOTU Ultralite, the Ultralite SPDIF out goes to VRM box IN, my headphones to the VRM box phones socket.   The VRM box light is lit green ... no sound though.   Got to be something dead simple I know ... any ideas?

Try unplugging the USB cable and plug it back in.  That worked for me.

ULTRABRA


UPDATE :   Issue was sorted by updating the software --- see, knew it was easy - hope this helps someone else out later anyways :-)

-------------------------------------

Hope as the OP got things working, its ok to add my own issue to this thread.  I've had the VRM box working fine, then I just changed to a new PC --- as far as I can tell I set everything up as before, yet I have no sound.  

I have Sonar Master bus pointing to my MOTU Ultralite, the Ultralite SPDIF out goes to VRM box IN, my headphones to the VRM box phones socket.   The VRM box light is lit green ... no sound though.   Got to be something dead simple I know ... any ideas?

This worked for me as well (USB re-plug).  Simple, but frustrating if you don't know about it.  I usually do it after booting, but before starting Sonar and it works fine.

Lynn


Try unplugging the USB cable and plug it back in.  That worked for me.

ULTRABRA


UPDATE :   Issue was sorted by updating the software --- see, knew it was easy - hope this helps someone else out later anyways :-)

-------------------------------------

Hope as the OP got things working, its ok to add my own issue to this thread.  I've had the VRM box working fine, then I just changed to a new PC --- as far as I can tell I set everything up as before, yet I have no sound.  

I have Sonar Master bus pointing to my MOTU Ultralite, the Ultralite SPDIF out goes to VRM box IN, my headphones to the VRM box phones socket.   The VRM box light is lit green ... no sound though.   Got to be something dead simple I know ... 

Windows by default in its power management settings will disconnect USB devices after some number of minutes of inactivity.

You can review and adjust these settings in Power Management in the Control Panel, so that it never selectively turns off any USB devices.

Bob Bone