Delta 66 hardware monitoring problem

[palimpsest_73]

Hello all,
I just purchased a Delta 66 soundcard for my Mac based DAW. Everything works great in monitor mix mode, and I am able to hear signals going into inputs 1-4 thru Delta outs 1-2. However, when I try to monitor directly through the hardware box as described in the manual, I do not get any sound on outputs 3 & 4. Everything seems responsive on the software end, as the Delta control panels show levels at the inputs and outputs, but alas, no sound. When I called up M-Audio tech support, they sort of implied that since my machine is under-spec'd (G4 PCI Graphics 350 mHZ, 384 RAM), the strange behaviour of the hardware could be attributable to that. I'm not sure I buy this, as the hardware performed flawlessly in every other respect (recordings were clear, and monitor mix worked fine). If anyone has any ideas or experience with this I would be happy to hear from you! For now monitoring through the 1 stereo pair is no problem, but I certainly would like to take advantage of an extra pair of outputs at some point if at all possible...

 

[palimpsest_73]

18 views and no takers?

with as many Delta owners here, surely someone must have a clue... an opinion?

yes? no? sometimes? maybe? none of the above???

 

[Ethan Winer]

Pal,

I have no direct answer, but I can suggest a better way to achieve what you're after. Assuming you have some sort of basic mixer, see "Using a Mixer With a DAW" from EQ Magazine. It's at the top of the list on my Articles page:

www.ethanwiner.com/articles.html

--Ethan

 

[palimpsest_73]

Ethan,
Good article. Very informative, but I do have some experience already with mixer/DAW setups. I am using a 1604vlz, my inputs all bused to subs 1/2 or 3/4. The sub outs from the Mackie go into Delta inputs 1-4 and (currently) I'm monitoring through 2 mixer inputs set to Main L/R which can be heard at Control Room outs. My issue, as I outlined above, is using direct hardware monitoring through the Delta (ie. hearing signals at inputs 1-2 out of Delta out 1-2, 3-4 inputs out of 3-4 outputs, etc.) Currently the only way I can hear anything is using Monitor Mix in the Delta Panel. I am simply trying to isolate this as either a hardware (M-Audio) issue, or something I am doing incorrectly in software, or perhaps a result of an underspec'd computer. Maybe someone that uses a Delta card together with a similarly spec'd Mac computer has some ideas?

Pal,

I have no direct answer, but I can suggest a better way to achieve what you're after. Assuming you have some sort of basic mixer, see "Using a Mixer With a DAW" from EQ Magazine. It's at the top of the list on my Articles page:

www.ethanwiner.com/articles.html

--Ethan

 

[Jim Y]

I don't think there is any direct hardware monitoring on the 66.

I don't know your mixer, but can both subs be sent back to the main mix while the sub outs continue to feed the 66 inputs?

 

[Ethan Winer]

Pal,

> Currently the only way I can hear anything is using Monitor Mix in the Delta Panel. <

Why not monitor through the Mackie mixer? The 1604 offers very flexible monitoring, and that makes all those other problems go away. Unless I'm still misunderstanding something.

--Ethan

 

[palimpsest_73]

I am monitoring thru the mackie, as I said above... The Delta panel is sending a monitor mix out of Delta outs 1-2 which are being monitored through two mixer inputs on the mackie. The problem occurs when I am trying to bypass monitor mix and use hardware mix. In other words, these are just options available on the Delta, and not a problem with my connections. I should be able to route a signal thru the delta and hear it on it's corresponding output.

Anyways, I should be getting a Return Authorization from M-Audio. Hopefully, it IS just a defective card, and not just a limitation of my Mac. We shall see...

Pal,

> Currently the only way I can hear anything is using Monitor Mix in the Delta Panel. <

Why not monitor through the Mackie mixer? The 1604 offers very flexible monitoring, and that makes all those other problems go away. Unless I'm still misunderstanding something.

--Ethan

 

[Ethan Winer]

Pal,

> The Delta panel is sending a monitor mix out of Delta outs 1-2 <

I guess I'm not explaining myself well. The usual way to monitor sources being recorded is through the mixer before they even get to the sound card. This is the method I described in my article linked above. A microphone or direct bass or whatever goes into a mixer input. Those channels' direct outs feed the sound card for recording, and the channel volumes control the level of those inputs as heard through the mixer's main output. The main output is therefore what you're monitoring.

--Ethan