Topic: MT users: how to monitor SPDIF in?

[BC]

Hey all-

for you users taking SPDIF in to your microtrack, how do you monitor your recordings real-time? I tried it this weekend and I could not hear any output from the headphone jack.

Peace,
Ben

[cmoorevt]

Unfortunately there isn't any way to do it.

When using the s/pdif input, you can neither monitor via the headphone jack nor pass signal via the rca analog outputs.  I sent M-Audio a bunch of emails on this and they basically said it would never be implemented.  Stupid.

I usually monitoring via the my preamp and hope nothing is screwed up between it and the MT (so far, so good).

[willndmb]

i thought they said they fixed this in one of the updates :/

i use my ua5 though if i am going to check something out, usually i just roll with it though

[cmoorevt]

I think there may have been some talk of it one or two firmware versions ago, but it never worked for me.  Here is the M-Audio knowledge base entry on it:

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=support.faq&ID=6872fde108887025ca1daa005ff01751

i use my ua5 though if i am going to check something out, usually i just roll with it though

Same here.  The only time I've really wanted it is when I patch out of another deck. 

[manleyf]

Related question, but maybe I should post in the preamp section-

Running V3 > SPDIF > MT , same challenge.  One solution, also run my V3 > TosLink > JB3 (16 bit truncated), and monitor on JB3, but not a great sollution for obvious reasons.

So, the V3 analog outs, if I XLR > headphones with the proper adapter, I assume I'll need some sort of headphone amp if I want any control over my headphone volume?

[jlykos]

Does the V3 have a headphone output?  If so, just use that.  I have a MiniMe and found that the headphone volume control turned all the way up correlates to the signal outputted to the MT.

It is never a good idea to turn up the headphone amp too loud when monitoring a show.  Get an efficient pair of IEMs and use those instead.

[tfrench]

When using a V3 in the middle can't you monitor your levels on the V3?

Todd

[willndmb]

When using a V3 in the middle can't you monitor your levels on the V3?

Todd

i think he means listening to it, not the level meters

[tfrench]

Running V3 > SPDIF > MT , same challenge.  One solution, also run my V3 > TosLink > JB3 (16 bit truncated), and monitor on JB3, but not a great sollution for obvious reasons.
-
Sorry, should have quoted....was reading this sentence....why monitor on the JB3 when you have a V3?

Todd

[manleyf]

Yes, I mean listening to it.  The meters are awesome, and one of the main reasons I bought the V3 and sold my MiniMe.  The built in Headphone monitoring on the MM seemed nice and a great feature for multi-tracking with it, but I only used it a few times.  Its nice sometimes to be able to hear what the mikes hear when deciding where and what config to fly.

No, the V3 does not have a headphone output, but it does have analog xlr outs that work simultaneously with all of the digi outs (an advantage over the MM, which has only analog 1/8" HP out, but does offer USB out at different sample rates than the digi outs...)

So, yes, I agree, and want to monitor straight from the V3, I just haven't had chance to see how hot the Analog XLR outs are with a XLR>1/8" or 1/4" adapter for my headphones.  I just figured someone here had already perfected this.  I probably do some more research and post a question in the Preamp section if needed.  Worst case the JB3 monitor option will work.

[svenkid]

I never listen to it during the show, sometimes at setbreak. but I run both the jb3 and MT simultaneously out of the V3, so I guess I could listen out of the JB3