Switch for multiple monitoring/ plug in for A/B listening

[Iscariot13]

Hi guys,

 

I'm thinking of supplementing my monitors by purchasing an Avantone mixcube (or similar) to check my mixes in mono, as well as set up some kind of a.m. radio speaker, so I'll be able to hear my mixes either on nearfield monitors, a mono mixcube or a cheap a.m. radio speaker, whilst working.

 

Does anyone have recommendations on a switch? I've seen this:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LS3/

 

Also, I've just read about the Sample magic Magic AB reference plug in for A/ B comparison during mixing. Has anyone used this or can recommend something similar?

http://www.samplemagic.com/details/184/magic-ab

 

Cheers!

[fastfourier]

$120 is a lot of money for three switches and some sockets! What kind of audio interface do you have? If it has multiple stereo outputs you can rig up something in Logic's environment to mute/unmute outputs as necessary.

 

I have a template I use for A/Bing - which is mostly when doing covers of songs for TV. It lets me quickly flip between my arrangement and the reference track - basically it boils down to this:

 

• Reference track routed to a bus ("Track")
  
• Everything else routed to a bus ("Me")
  
• A couple of transformers in the environment to provide a pseudo- "constant power" crossfade curve between the two auxes
  
• Controlled with a kaoss pad, which works like a crossfader, but it could be a knob on a keyboard controller, DJ controller or anything really

 

The auxes at the end of the buses go straight to the stereo output. I put any 2-bus compression on the "Me" aux so I can A/B that with the sound of the original track as well..

 

I hope that made sense..

[David Nahmani]

I have uploaded my template for monitor switching there: Switch between different pairs of monitors from Logic

[Jordi Torres]

And if you have an RME Fireface, here's a preset toggle environment I did for the same purpose (monitor switching):

 

Fireface Mixer Preset Toggle

 

J.

[creationcollective]

I use the Samplemagic A/B plugin. Load up to 9 different songs and level match them. Works great for me.

[Iscariot13]

Thanks everyone for all the great replies

 

I have uploaded my template for monitor switching there: Switch between different pairs of monitors from Logic

 

I'm guessing that as I use a PreSonus Firestudio Mobile with just two TRS outputs, this option won't work for me?

[Iscariot13]

 

I hope that made sense..

 

Kind of; I'll have to at least try it

 

Thanks for the info.

[Iscariot13]

I use the Samplemagic A/B plugin. Load up to 9 different songs and level match them. Works great for me.

 

Yes, I'm leaning towards this option, as being able to reference 9 different tracks as well as loop the sections you need, seems pretty useful.

 

I also like the fact it's just a simple plug-in you can insert on the master fader.

[fastfourier]

I combined my referencing system with David's monitor switcher template, and here is the result....All the action happens on the "Reference + Monitor Sel" Environment layer.

 

The routing should be fairly self-explanatory. One bus for the reference, one bus for all other tracks. After going through the crossfader system, another bus feeds the three output auxes.

 

There are "prototype" tracks in the Arrange which already have the output set to the correct bus. Duplicate (cmd-D) these rather than using the "new track" dialogue box, that way you don't have to set the output every time.

 

You could always aggregate your built-in output and the Firestudio - use the Firestudio for your monitors, and the built-in for the "grot box".

 

If you want to switch between "grot boxes" then get this kind of thing ... much cheapness!

Monitor Switch + Reference.logic.zip

[Iscariot13]

Thanks fastfourier!

 

Just been playing with the template; how cool! To be honest, I get totally confused with cabling things together in Logic's environment, so thanks for the template (thanks to David, too).

 

Is it possible to import environment objects into existing projects (as in your template) into my existing Logic projects, so as not to have to do all the re-routing/ cabling etc again from scratch?

 

Also, the RCA switchbox; It's 4 Port Input 1 Output; would I need it the other way around - 1 Input (soundcard) 4 outputs (various speakers...?

 

But yes, I like your idea of using the internal iMac speakers as the "grotbox". Is there a quicker way to switch between the iMac's internal speakers and my Firestudio mobile without going into Logic's audio preferences and changing it there?

[fastfourier]

To import environment layers, open an Environment window and do Options -> Import Environment -> Layer ... and then select the .logic file you want to import from.

 

Generally there's nothing "clever" going on inside those RCA switchboxes - the switches just connect a set of common sockets to any of four other sets. So it's either a 1 in, 4 out or a 4 in, 1 out, depending on what you connect to it.

 

If you aggregate the Built-In Output with your Firestudio you will get a new device in Logic's audio preferences, which will have 4 outputs. Here's an article about doing that. Then just set the outputs on the monitor A/B aux channel strips and you're good to go.

 

There are a couple of easier ways to control the monitor switching/crossfading - of course if you have a controller with some knobs on it, you can get that to operate the crossfader instead of having to switch to that Environment window every time. Also you if you have some buttons you can get them to switch the monitors.

 

If you don't have buttons you can use FastScripts along with MidiPipe to assign keyboard shortcuts to different pairs of monitors.

[Iscariot13]

I managed to get it all working; now I can switch between reference track and mix (I'll have a go at assigning the crossfader to my keyboard's mod wheel later) and have created an aggregate device so can use the monitor buttons no problem.

 

Thank you so much for that!

 

The link you posted regarding adding an aggregate device works, but the Audio/ MIDI setup in Snow Leopard looks a little different; one thing I haven't managed to do is control the output of the built-in audio on the iMac. I've added a screen shot to show you what I did. I'm sure there is a simple thing I've overlooked.

 

Not really sure what Clock Source or Resampling refers to either...

 

Audio MIDI setup OSX 10.6.8 Snow Leopard

[fastfourier]

That looks right. Clock source should be the Firestudio (I think) and Resample ticked on all the "Built-In" devices.

 

Then select the "New Aggregate Device" as the Input and Output in Logic (maybe renaming it first) and you should be able to choose the output in the monitor selector Aux channel strips.

 

Oh - Here's the Snow Leopard version of that document.

[Iscariot13]

...one thing I haven't managed to do is control the output of the built-in audio on the iMac.

 

It would help if I'd selected Internal Speakers as the output in the Mac's system preferences....

 

But fastfourier, you are a champion.

 

Many thanks again. I owe you a beer.

[fisherking]

the sample magic plugin is great.. (just mentioning...)

[fastfourier]

Sweet! I'm glad it worked out!