Question about using a MobilePre interface with Logic Express

[Tanthalas39]

Hi there. New guy to the forum; please excuse me if there was a better or more specific forum for me to put this in (and please let me know).

I am relatively new to home recording, and recently bought a top-line iMac, an M-Audio MobilePre interface, and Logic Express software (among other pricey, fun things). I successfully recorded and mixed my first song, and it didn't turn out too badly. However, There's one annoying issue I can't seem to solve. When I'm recording, I wear my Bose headphones to monitor; that seems to work just fine. After I'm through recording my takes - both guitar and vocals - I want to hear the music coming out of the external speakers. I find that arranging the music this way is easier for me, and it just seems better to get a true feel for my recording. To do this, though, I have to physically disconnect the MobilePre from the computer (by just removing the USB cord). If I don't do this, I can't find any way to get the sound from my headphones to the external speakers.

Anyone have any ideas? Thanks for taking the time to read this.

[didgijimmy]

How are the "external speakers" connected? If it is by usb then I believe you can go to control panel> sounds and audio devices> audio, and change your default audio playback device to the "external speakers" You will have to do this each time. However if your speakers can be connected by Trs (1/4 inch cable) then you can plug them directly into the back of the mobilepreusb and listen to them that way. I hope this helps, and if it doesn't then please provide more information. I hope you stick with this forum.
James

[Tanthalas39]

Thanks for the reply. The speakers are relatively cheap JBL ones - externally powered - that connect through a 3.5mm stereo TRS connector into the "headphone out" port on the rear of the iMac (approved for use of external speakers, per the iMac manual).

[didgijimmy]

Originally Posted by Tanthalas39

Thanks for the reply. The speakers are relatively cheap JBL ones - externally powered - that connect through a 3.5mm stereo TRS connector into the "headphone out" port on the rear of the iMac (approved for use of external speakers, per the iMac manual).

I see, having them connected through the mobilepre is very useful and saves alot of trouble, so I would recommend picking up a pair of 1/4 in trs, balanced of course soon. --------------nevermind, I just checked the back of my mobilepre and you should have a green jack that says stereo line out, just plug your 3.5 mm into that and voila! This is probably the best solution for you at the moment until you upgrade to better monitors. Having quality monitors will greatly improve your mixes the more you can hear things.
Good luck
James

[frisco]

Originally Posted by didgijimmy

you should have a green jack that says stereo line out, just plug your 3.5 mm into that and voila!

yeah that's how mine is set up, i used the headphone jack for listening to the music while your recording. the stereo line out went to my monitors (before i got a mixer)

[KineticSound]

Correct. The MobilePre has both the Phones and Stereo Outs. You'll want to connect the speakers directly to the MobilePre instead of the phones jack on the iMac, although the software setup process will be a little different that digijimmy describes. His instructions are correct for PC, but on the iMac (I assume you're running Leopard if it's new), you'll do this through the System Preferences icon at the bottom of the screen.

Once you've done that, you can mute and unmute the Output 1-2 bus in Logic so that the speakers aren't outputting sound while you're recording. Once you set it up, I might recommend you repost your scenario in the Logic forum and we can walk you though how to setup your busses so that you can easily toggle the speakers on and off. Once you have the speakers connected to the MobilePre, you won't have to plug or unplug anything... it's all done in the software.