at wits end.. TC Electro, m300, sonar, firepod, how do i use?

[sengle1013]

Hi all, me again, well I've made some significant headway but the effects are still totally slusive to me and i've tried every combination of inputs outputs effects send, master that i can think of. i've learned to add effects like reverb and stuff using Sonar 4 home studios effects, just by chance and experimentation. But I simply cannot incorporate the m300 (Tc Electronic multi effect unit). I have gotten it to a point where the m300 does light up when i input a sound, piano/voice etc into but cannot hear it, and yes, I am clicking on input echo.

I have the firepod spdif in/outs going into the firepod in/outs. what next? i just got off the phone with Cakewalk and the guy was very short and abrupt and told me nothing. you need a bus to ouput and track with input and send to bus. man, means nothing to me. i really want to be able to utilize my gear but have no idea how to use this piece with the firepod, ie, i can't hear it or record with it. Thanks for any help. Seems like no one wants to give specifics as to this question. Got no response whatsoever on HC about it and CW guy was just as bad. Hell, maybe i am too green or something. to me i would setup audio channel selecting input as 'left presonus asio driver input 1L.' this is where i have my mc plugged in. then output would of same track would be presonus asio driver S/PDIF output 9L (since M300 is plugged into firepod there) when i do this and speak into microphone, the m300 lights up as something is being inputted into. i think i might be halfway there??? Thanks for any responses.

 

[ssscientist]

First of all, the Firepod is a firewire interface, not a SPDIF interface. Unplug the cables you have going to the SPDIF and leave the mic plugged in to the Firepod. Be sure you have a Firewire cable going from the Firewire output of the Firepod to a Firewire port on your computer.

As far as getting the TC Electronic processor involved, you don't really need it. But since you have bought it and everything, there are two ways to use that. The first one is as a thru processor, plugging a mic or another source straight into the unit --- the second is thru the effects/aux loop of a mixing board.

If you're planning to mix 'in the box' meaning with no access to any thing outside of the computer I would recommend you sell the M300 and have one less thing to worry about. If you planning to route your tracks back thru the Firepod for mixing, then I'd recommend one of these.

 

[sengle1013]

this is good stuff, let me re read. i see what you mean and i do appreciate the answer. do you mean to just stick with the sonar reverbs and stuff? i've got them working... just thought it was a shame to not utilize this m300 thing. may find i just use it when i am standalone mode for vox... for jamming and stuff..

but the firepod has spdif in/outs? am using the firewire connected to pc so that part is ok. but since the firepod and the M300 both have spdif ins/outs, thought that would be a way to go, learned also that you CANNOT patch spdif components together with regular old rca cables... thought they were the same thing but sounds like are not.

ed:

S/PDIF

S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) is a standard audio transfer file format. It is usually found on digital audio equipment such as a DAT (Digital Audio Tape) machine or audio processing device. It allows the transfer of audio from one file to another without the conversion to and from an analog format, which could degrade the signal quality.
The most common connector used with an S/PDIF interface is the RCA connector, the same one used for consumer audio products. An optical connector is also sometimes used.


so I can use regular old rca to connect spdif components?

 

[ssscientist]

so I can use regular old rca to connect spdif components?

Yes, but not the flimsy little white end/red end ones that you use to patch the CD player into the amplifier.

As far as using the Sonar reverbs, in my opinion those will fit your needs for the forseeable future. Getting acquainted with everything Sonar can do will be a better investment of your time than trying to learn the M300 and whatever other gear you have collected.




.

 

[sengle1013]

"Yes, but not the flimsy little white end/red end ones that you use to patch the CD player into the amplifier."

so not the ones from the dollar store?? (joking

I agree wholeheartedly on learning the system (Sonar) before I start messing around with the other gizmos I have accumulated.