Reverb through headphones routing problem

[Dayzeecutter]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post so please be gentle!

I'm trying to record some vocals so that the singer (my wife) can have reverb in the cans but the reverb isn't recorded. You know the drill.

I'm using Cubase Sx 3 so i arm an audio track for recording and insert a reverb plugin (not on input channel as the reverb will be recorded).

This is where the problem is. At this point i can hear my wifes vocals coming out of the main outputs before i even press the monitor button in the inspector. This should only happen when the button is turned on.

I've recorded her vocals before without trying the reverb in cans trick but have to unplug the monitors to do so so her voice isnt recorded twice (her live voice and the voice coming from the monitors.

I'm thinking its the way my mixer is set up. It's a Behringer (i know!) Xenyx 802, an M Audio 2496 soundcard and i've included a diagram showing how i have it connected.
I've read that the main outs from the mixer should go to the inputs on the soundcard but i have the cd/tape outs going there instead. Could this be the problem and if so why? It said in the mixer manual to connect the cd/tape outs to the recording device (computer) but am reading different everywhere else.

Please help!!!

Here's the diagram:



Thanks for Reading and sorry for being so heavy on my first post!

Dale

[PinnacleProdUK]

Right the first thing i would do is change how you are routing your signal both in and out of your mixer, I have included a diagram to help,

I would typically stay away from using the RCA/Phono connections as these are typically of poor quality unless you are using some ultra high quality cabling.

The Mic still goes into the XLR obviously but you want your monitors input coming from the Control room outputs, that will solve your problem of having to disconnect your monitors every time you want to record, what you simply do is turn down the control room rotary when you want to record, again i have done a separate image for you.

Another thing is I would have the input from the audiophile going into Line in 3/4 (stereo input) then you have an independent volume control for your return and again when you record all you will have to do is turn down the volume of the input 3/4 and you will only be recording Input 1, your vocal.

The main mix is what is going into your soundcard so you can control the gain there of the overall mix (in this case just input 1 which also has its own gain)

The cans still occupy the same output

Hope this helps as this will be the best solution and will make things alot easier.



As for reverb in the cans, With the mixer set up as above, it could be that you are using direct/hardware monitoring through the 2496, instead of software monitoring through cubase, is there an option in the M-audio 2496 control panel to turn direct monitoring off, If not then:

Go to Devices / Device setup / VST Audiobay / and de-select Direct monitoring

You should then only be able to hear your wifes vocal when the monitor button is switched on, (beware of latency issues when using software monitoring as high buffer settings such as 1024 or 2048 or sometimes even 512 can have an effect on latency and cause your wife's monitor mix to be slighty delayed which can be offputting to say the least)

Then insert a reverb plug onto the channel that your a recording your wife onto (the one you are monitoring) and then you should have reverb in your cans and if its only on the channel that you are recording onto and not the input channel then it will still record dry and you can remove the reverb when its recorded!

Have a go at these and let us know how you get on

Hope this helps!

[Dayzeecutter]

Thank you so much Pinnacleproduk. I really didn't expect to get such a detailed answer! It sounds like the perfect solution.

I can't see a setting foe direct monitoring in the audiophile control panel so i shall do as you say in Cubase.

I've just got to order some phono to 1/4" jack converters and i'll let you know how i get on.

Thanks again! Amazing!

Dale

[Dayzeecutter]

Hey all,

Pinnacleproduk:
I brought 4 phono to 1/4" jack converters so i could connect everything up the way you described and seems to be working ok. Just a few questions though:

1. I have to have my main mix pot turned up before being able to hear anything by turning the control room pot up. I'm guessing this is correct as the output from the audiophile is now going through one of the mixer channels and you have to turn the main mix pot up to get any levels for any of the channels. (If that makes sense!) Is this correct?

2. With this setup i now can't use the headphones without the sound coming through my monitors too. Any suggestions?

The switches that route the output to cd/tape to control or cd/tape to mix has to switched to cd/tape to mix or i can't hear anything.

Is this all what is expected or have i done something wrong?

Thanks again for reading!

Dale

[PinnacleProdUK]

First of all, My apologies. I failed to realize in my first post exactly how your mixer is configured.

Let me explain,

The way that I mentioned to set it up is correct except the part about your stereo return from your Audiophile, this is my mistake due to the fact, me not realizing that this mixer lacks the ability to route individual channels.

Therefore the way I described would result in you getting your stereo return from your audiophile mixed in with channel 1 (your vocal) to your main mix, you would then effectively be recording both channels instead of the vocal alone.

(this would work out worse than before, bit of a stupid thing for me to say really so my apologies for this)

keep the current configuration i.e

The output from the "Main Mix" to your Audiophile,

The input to channel 1 as normal

The output from "control room" to your monitors

What you need to change is the return from your audiophile to the tape/cd input as then you can use the Tape/CD to Control room button to hear the return without it being routed to the Main Mix. Keep the Tape/CD to Mix button turned off.

Again I did not realize that the control room output also controls the headphone output. The only way around this unfortunately is to turn off your monitors when you record.

This is a silly design on behalf on Behringer as if your monitors have rear mounted power switches or they are hard to access then it makes it far from ideal. I certainly wouldn't recommend disconnecting them every time you want to record so I can only suggest switching them off on their respective power switches.

My apologies for telling you to buy 4 adapters when you only needed 2, I simply did not realize how your mixer was designed.

I hope this has sorted out your problem.

[Dayzeecutter]

Hey no-worries. Your help taught me alot. I've re-routed the audiophiles return to the cd/tape inputs and all is well.
It is a bugger about the unplugging of the headphones scenario but i guess i should expect some shortcoming buying one of the cheapes mixers from one of the cheapest manufacturers!!

Thanks for all your help PinnacleProdUK. : )

Dale