Thread: To those doing their tuning on the PC

So I have a few questions about your configuration.

How does the Motu Ultralite number its outputs? I see you shifted the ASIO outputs in Winamp 12 which would correlate to sending signal out of winamp to outputs 13 & 14 on the Motu. Which outputs are those on the Motu? Also is there a way to tell which output Foobar is sending its signal to? I haven't used that program before so I'm not real familiar with it.

I'm not sure I see how you are getting your signal from Winamp into Audiomulch. It shows sound in as inputs 1 & 2. How is your signal from Winamp or Foobar getting to inputs 1 & 2? Are those the mic inputs?

How are you listening to the audio right now?

I always put an EQ plug-in in Console and tweaked its settings just to make sure it was working.

Sorry for all the questions but something isn't making sense to me with those settings but I'm afraid it may be me not knowing enough about the way the Motu routes its audio. Can you post a screen shot of the Motu's mixer control software? Thanks.

Eric

I have been using Winamp as my music player. I am not worried about DVD or video playback so much as music, since you shouldn't be watching in the car anyway. This is a DSP plug in for Winamp. It is called Electri-Q and can be found here: http://www.aixcoustic.com/index.php/...sihfopit/30/0/ They have a freeware version as well as a full paid version. Up to 64 bands of EQ, analog and digital types of eq, and many different types of filters.

I too am an audio engineer, and primarily use parametric eq for all of my system tuning for live audio pa systems, so this is like have a $3000 dollar digital XTA eq in the car.

I know this is only a partial solution, but it works for me for 99% of what I listen to in the car, and no hardware is required.

Jan,

Try this leave the Winamp ASIO outputs assigned to the SPDIF channels 13/14(so leave "shift output" set at 12).

In the MOTU audio console control panel set the return assign to SPDIF 1-2. This is a really cool feature I see on this interface that allows you to route things between software porgrams. My Saffire can't do this, thus why I had to use an external SPDIF cable. Basically the Motu is taking signal from one of its outputs back to an input so it can be used by another software program. Then assign Main out to Main out 1-2 and headphones to main out 1-2 so you can monitor the Main out signal. With your setting before you where monitoring the SPDIF outs(from Winamp) with your headphones which was why you were hearing the clean audio.

Then in Console or Audiomulch use inputs 13 &14 which corespond to the return ins that are tapping into the SPDIF outs from Winamp. This should get the signal from Winamp into Console/AM. Set the output to Main out 1-2. Put a simple eq in the signal chain to verify its all working correctly.

So your signal chain should be:

Winamp -> out SPDIF 13/14 -> MOTU Return in 13/14 -> Console/AM in 13/14 -> VST plugins -> Console/AM out 1/2 -> MOTU outs 1/2 which you monitor with your phones.

If you get pops and clicks with this method still, then start to set your buffers higher. 512 then 1024 or higher as necessary until the pops and buzzes go away. It won't really matter how high you go here because all you're doing is playback so latency won't matter and you'll get less of a processor load.

Don't worry, software signal routing can be tricky because everything is virtual and an input doesn't necessarily correspond to the same output like it does with hardware(IN 1 won't always go to OUT 1 like on an amplifier). You'll get the hang of it once you play with the stuff a bit. Have fun!

Eric

Originally Posted by RedGTiVR6

Sweet! It works! Other than some low end distortion (now using a set of Sony Pro headphones that we happen to have here at home since my other headphones are at work).

Only in AudioMulch though....

But that's ok. Once I've used AudioMulch a bit more, I'm actually liking it more than Console. There's more adjustability with it, and I can have the plug-ins open at the same time and make adjustments at the same time in another window.

So, now my next question comes in getting enough outputs via AudioMulch, which I'm guessing comes when I set the different Audio Outputs in AudioMulch. Once I set these to show more (for instance for each of the Aux ones showing in the screen shot above), then I should get more than just the two tabs for the items, right?

The reason I ask about this is that I'm running a 3 way front stage and a sub. So I need to be able to controll everything indipendently. It's easier to understand out of the box in Console in this regard, but I'm sure it's something simple for AudioMulch.

Glad to hear its working for you! I haven't actually played with AudioMulch yet but I'll try it out in the next couple of days to see what its all about.

I think you have the right idea about the Aux outs. You would probably do something like assign Aux 1/2 to analog outs 1/2, aux 3/4 to analog 3/4,etc. Then when you add a crossover plug-in patch its outputs to the aux outs corresponding to your highs, mids, lows, and subs.