Audio interface monitoring with 3.5mm cable and computer speakers

[Stickerbrush]

Hi, so I'm a recording newb looking for some advice. I have an M-Audio Fast Track Pro that I'm using for guitar recording, and I'm not sure how I should be hooking it up to speakers or monitors for monitoring or if there's a right way to do it with what I currently have or not.

I currently do not have studio monitors, just these Bose Companion 3 speakers/sub plugged into the back of my motherboard:



There is a control pod that comes with these speakers that has a secondary 3.5mm input jack. I figured I could use this for the output on the audio interface for monitoring, through either the audio interface's headphone monitoring output or one of the TRS outputs on the back. Both of these outputs take a 1/4" TRS plug though. But I have a 3.5mm audio cable and a 3.5mm to 1/4" TRS adapter. So I can connect the audio interface to the computer speakers like this, with the adapter on the audio interface end:




Is there anything wrong with doing it like that? Or any possibility of damaging something? It seems like it "works", but it does seem like I have to crank the volume up on the control pod pretty high to be able to hear myself playing guitar, and at that point I'm hearing some kind of high pitched humming / squeaking sound. Should I get some studio monitors to plug into the TRS outputs with actual TRS cables? Would that eliminate the humming and allow me to hear myself without cranking the volume? Does anyone use studio monitors and computer speakers at the same time while they're recording? Or would I completely replace my computer speakers with studio monitors and use the studio monitors for regular listening as well?

Any advice here would be really appreciated! Thanks!

 

[MrWrenchey]

Use the headphone output. That output is stereo, the TRS outputs on the back are mono.

 

[ecc83]

Do you get the hums and squeals if you listen to the Pro on headphones?
If so, do you get the noise when "direct monitoring" i.e. when listening to the AI output, not the computer feed, mix pot full c'clock? If so it is almost certainly being picked up by the guitar, provable if it changes as you swing the git' about.

If the noise comes from the computer are you using ASIO drivers? If not it might be that your recording software (?) does not allow that. Download Reaper and give that a do. Then if you are running Win 7 check the levels in the Sounds and Devices menus.

Have you turned off the internal computer soundcard in Control Panel? If not do.

You will of course be far better off if you get some proper monitors that connect to the Pro's line out jacks. Even the cheapest of such speakers will be an improvement on the half-assed setup you have now. I have to say however tho "cheap" will be better, do try to pay in the region of £300 if you can if you intend to continue this hobby.

Note too that the Fast track pro is a very reliable interface and more than good enough as a starter device and it has some features rarely found in later AIs. Its major weak point is the gain shy mic amps but a decent capacitor (aka condenser) mic sorts that one.

Dave.

 

[PDP]

Use the headphone output. That output is stereo, the TRS outputs on the back are mono.

Right and make sure the cable is stereo. You need a 1/4 stereo plug (like on the end of headphones) going to 3.5mm stereo end cable. Or even better get a stereo 3.5mm that splits into two 1/4" mono ends, then you would run the two 1/4" ends out of the back of your interface and the 3.5mm stereo end into your speakers.

 

[jigfresh]

I'm new too and I have used both an Avid MBox 3 and a Native Instr. Komplete Audio 6, and on both I have experienced the same thing you are talking about. I plug in my home receiver into the headphone jack in the front of either Audio Interface and I need to totally crank both the 'headphone' volume and to a point, the receiver in order for a somewhat loud signal to be put out the home speakers. Both worked with the headphone volume around 9 o'clock and pretty loud volume out the headphones.

With the receiver I put the phones volume on max, and turn the receiver from 15 (normal volume setting) to 30. Even then it's not loud... it's just a good volume for listening.

 

[ecc83]

I'm new too and I have used both an Avid MBox 3 and a Native Instr. Komplete Audio 6, and on both I have experienced the same thing you are talking about. I plug in my home receiver into the headphone jack in the front of either Audio Interface and I need to totally crank both the 'headphone' volume and to a point, the receiver in order for a somewhat loud signal to be put out the home speakers. Both worked with the headphone volume around 9 o'clock and pretty loud volume out the headphones.

With the receiver I put the phones volume on max, and turn the receiver from 15 (normal volume setting) to 30. Even then it's not loud... it's just a good volume for listening.

Two things we don't know here J.
What is the receiver's input sensitivity and what is the level on the DAW software meters? The KA6 will put out just about neg 10dBV for an average level of -18dBFS.
Can I guess the receiver inputs are RCA? If so an RCA to RCA lead is cheap plus a pair of RCA to jack plugs. Tha's a proper job!

Dave.

 

[jigfresh]

Input Sensitivity and Impedance: 200 mV/ 47 k-ohms (Line)

And if by DAW software meters you mean the ones for each channel in the mixer view, the guitar and bass guitar are both hanging around -10. About -8 to -12 most of the time.

I'll pick up some 1/4" to RCA adapters while I'm out.