14 replies to this topic

[Cheyne]

so im trying to hook some more gear into my MOTU ultralite ,  how ever Im always finding that unless I use the two preamps I can hardly hear the sound coming through.

Example,  im trying to hook my turn tables and mixer into the ultralite,  using one of the standard inputs,  with the mixer cranked up on full and almost clipping I get a sound that you have to press your ears against the speakers to hear ,  if I switch the input to one of the two pre-amps ,  it comes through blaring, as it should.    Iv looked all over the mixer and cuemix console,  even ramped up the trim to maximum , but im sure something isnt right here ... what am I missing ?

[Jester_Fu]

There's a 'pad' type function in there that you can change between -10dB and +4dB and probably other stuff on the newer interfaces with CueMix. Try that.

[dylab]

thats what I do , use cuemixFX and crank up the other inputs

[Cheyne]

Quote

There's a 'pad' type function in there that you can change between -10dB and +4dB and probably other stuff on the newer interfaces with CueMix. Try that.

Yea, tried that .. doesnt seem to do anything .. Besides the only PAD and phantom power switches i see are to do with MIC1 and MIC2 ports, which are the preamps that im trying to not use.

[Cheyne]

its really wierd , because the level meters in cuemix are well up there ..  in running the mixer into channel three, just as mono ,  and the level meter in cuemix is almost clipping  (trim is well up too)

but the sound coming out of my monitors, is about as loud as listening to the sound coming from some guys head phones at the other end of the train ... no bass , just a tinny quiet sound ..

[Jester_Fu]

Have you got the bus you're using in CueMix set to be Main Outs 1/2? I'd use you're headphones or speakers (very carefully!!) to test and see if there are any other outs - like headphone or one of the IO outs - that's got high level as you may have the routing wrong to your outputs.

If the meter level in CueMix is hitting the red then it's an output problem and not input. It sounds like you've got plenty going in, just not much going out. Some screen captures of your mixer setup and bus routing could also be helpful.

[Cheyne]

Hmm ... iv cut it back a bit to a realistic scenario (instead of turning the trim and levels on the mixer to max)  and im getting about half a bar on the cuemix levels ..

the levels on the (dj) mixer ,  are red lining and its certainly pumping out some sound ...  if I switch back to the preamped input ,  its loud ..


heres my cuemix mixer

[dylab]

turn the trim up to max and turn the sliders down to infinite
this is how mines set up

[Jester_Fu]

There's nothing obvious to me. I'd offer to swing by and have a gawk... but i'm stuck in China. Have you tried updating firmware and drivers (if Windows)? You can get that stuff from the Motu website if you register - which is free.

Have you tested the cables? Like, have you got another set of cables you can plug into the inputs with a different source. Also try setting the Motu up as the default audio device in either Windows or Mac and playing back an MP3 via the main outs. That'll also check the Motu output functionality and the cables to your speakers.

Other than that, might have to wait until E crawls out of his post NYE "I plated Shore Thing" induced comma...

[Cheyne]

thanks guys .. ill try your suggestion dylab .

The cables im using arent great,  but i remember this has happened before with other cables..  I just shrugged it off and used the MIC inputs , although its kind of stupid having so many inputs that I cant even use. 

[Eddie]

The output on your mixer doesn't have a +4db/-10 switch on it for when using balanced vs unbalanced connections does it?

Also are you using balanced or unbalanced leads from the mixer to the ultralight?

And which output are you using on the mixer? Main, booth or record?

[Cheyne]

nope it doesnt ...its a DJM600

Unbalanced .. just RCA's converted to TRS at the ultralite ..

Booth on the mixer ...  mainouts on the Ultralite ..

[Eddie]

I suspect that's the problem then. Using TRS plug the ultralight is expecting a hotter balanced signal.

Also doesn't the djm-600 have a record out?

oh and just to check, seeing as you are using the booth out connection, you have the booth volume knob turned up right?

[Cheyne]

thanks for the tips eddie ..    the cabling is pretty dodgy ,  its basically the only cable I had over 10 metres..

My previous setup with these tables was the mixer running into a HIFI amp , using this same 12 meter RCA cable ,  then out to regular hifi speakers ...

Now its running into the ultralite, over 12 metre RCA being converted to TRS as the ultralite , then main outs to Alesis M1 Active monitors ..

Hah .. actually, I just realized the booth out was down a little ...  it was not the cause of the problem , but it did just get a little louder, I must of switched that down by accident ...

Ill let you know how the new cabling goes when i get it ..

[Eddie]

Cool, only other thing I would try in the interim is to try the record out rather than the booth out (down the bottom next to the XLR outs)