Simple newbie meter question

[PhilihP]

I have Home Studio XL. In the mixer console view, on the right side are two meters A and B. On the bottom of them it says "Creative SB." Meter "A" works with audio, but meter "B" doesn't do anything at all. Is there something wrong?

 

[James Argo]

That means you set Main Mix to 2 Virtual Mains.

How do I change that, Jaymz ?

Go Options --> Audio --> Number of Virtual Mains
set to 1. Close, and restart Cakewalk..

Jaymz

 

[Pedullist]

Or send a track to the Virtual Main...

(although James's solution is more appropriate for your experience level)

Hey James, how are you?

 

[James Argo]

That means you set Main Mix to 2 Virtual Mains.

err... I mean (in your case) you can route your tracks output to 2 virtual main output.

Is there something wrong with that, Jaymz ?

Nope. Not at all. This feature lets you route certain audio tracks to be "grouped" in the mix. Then you can take more control of the "grouped" tracks via each Virtual Mains. It's usefull in the mixing session. However, the actual audio will be output to only one Line Out of your sound card (unless you route each Virtual mains to different out port with multi output soundcard).

Example, Jaymz ?

Eg. assume you have 2 Virtual main (A & B) and 8 audio tracks ready to mix. In Track view, pick four audio track, and assign 'em to be routed to output A. Pick another four audio track, and assign 'em to be routed to output B. Now check in Console View (...easy Dachay it's for example purpose only ). You should see both A & B meter showing audio activity thru 'em. By moving the Master slider A down, you reduce the whole first 4 tracks volume assigned into it down. Goes the same with B. I think you get the idea. It's just to make you easy on the mix. Hope it helps...


Jaymz

 

[Pedullist]

But Jaymz, one of the virtual mains of the SBlive (and Audigy) is always mono right? The boombox channel?

 

[James Argo]

Ahh, Pedullist replied while I was typing...

Hey James, how are you?

F . I . N . E = Fine !!!
I'm good. Just too many gigs these weeks

Think positive = Paid well...

Hey Pedullist, my younger brother is about to go to Den Haag by around May. I'll tell him about you. Where do yo live actualy in Netherland ?

 

[James Argo]

But Jaymz, one of the virtual mains of the SBlive (and Audigy) is always mono right? The boombox channel?

Well, Not always. It deppends on your active driver in Options --> Audio --> Driver tab. I mean if you activate (highlight) more than one output line there, then they will appear as an option in your Virtual Main out. You can route as many Virtual Mix as you like to even single same output port. I dunno much about how it goes with Audigy (...you tell us ) but with SB Live! DE 5.1, I only have one (stereo) output available & selected.


Jaymz

 

[PhilihP]

Ok, so I set the Number of Virtual Mains to 1. When I turned it back on, meter "B" was gone. I wanted to see what would happen if I set the # of Vitual Mains to 4. I did it and the console view had four meters A, B, C & D. I played one of the tutorials and only the "A" meter worked. So, why do you need meters B, C & D? Thanks,
Phil

 

[dachay2tnr]

Look at the "out" setting on your tracks (the left side of the Console View). They are all set to A, which is why you are only getting playback in A.

If you left click on the the "out" at the bottom of the fader, you should get a popup menu with 4 choices (A, B, C and D - assuming you still have the Virtual Mains set to 4). If you choose something other than A and start playback, you will see you are now getting activity in that VMain.

But, Dachay, all the Mains go to the same place, my Creative SB, why would I want 4 of them??

Some soundcards have more that just one line out. This allows you to setup a Main for each physical stereo pair on your sound card. Also, even with just a single stereo pair, as on the SB, it also allows you to do submixes. e.g., you can route all your drums to Main B, with everything else routed to A, and therefore have a single fader which is controlling all the drums. (You need to be careful with this, as you can end up with clipping in your mix if you don't know what you are doing.)

(Aghhhhhhh, I've turned into James!!!! )

 

[James Argo]

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