Digitech RPX-400 w/Audiophile M-Audio external sound card...
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Posted on Apr 21, 2006 04:53 pm
kayaboy
Member Since: Apr 21, 2006
Having problems w/the 'order' of the 2 external devices (Audiophile M-Audio sound card & Digitech RPX-400 guitar processor)...I'm running my guitar>Digitech RPX-400 processor>external sound card>cpu---but am getting no sound at all... I was unable to find anything regarding the setup from the manuals for both products. I've installed all drivers, and am able to hear the sample songs from the Pro Tracks Recording software (came w/processor), but am unable to hear anything from my guitar... (maybe this is a good thing?) ;)
I'm not quite sure how to set this up properly...any help would be greatly appreciated!!!
THX!
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pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Apr 21, 2006 05:35 pm If you have a built in sound card, then maybe protracks is listening to the input from the builtin inputs, maybe a mic, or a line in. Somewhere in protracks you should be able to tell it to select the maudio as it's input for track 1 and 2.
I'd say to disable the built in sound card, as it's just taking up irq cycles being awake, but not worth using (compared to the maudio).
I'd also verify that the digitech is outputing signal. Then you can eliminate the guitar, processor, and the cables in between, then just focus on the sound interface, and the computer.
There's a free audio multitracker - krystal audio engine - that may work better for you, if you're not happy with protracks. I've never seen protrakcs, but figured it was worth a shout.
oh yeah, i was assuming you have a PC, not a laptop, and are using a PCI card audiophile, not the pcmcia version.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Apr 21, 2006 05:35 pm Oh yeah, welcome to HRC, and good luck getting 'er going.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Apr 21, 2006 05:37 pm i just looked at it, firewire interface. Ok, most still applies.
Apr 21, 2006 06:43 pm Thanks for the warm welcome & quick response!
Yes, it is a desktop cpu, I will dis-able the onboard soundcard, it's a USB Audiophile & verified that the Digitech is putting out a signal...
a few questions: in which order should I plug everything in??? should my speakers be connected to the cpu or the soundcard?? the processor to the soundcard, or directly to cpu??
BTW, the recording software, Pro Tracks, came bundled w/the Digitech processor -- www.protracksrecording.com
thanx 4 your help.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 23, 2006 08:54 pm Just so you know, ProTracks is made by Cakewalk. It is a labeled version of Home Studio.
You will want to hook your guitar into the Digitech, audio out from the Digitech into the line inputs of the Audiophile, and if your speakers are powered speakers you can hook them from the line outs of the Audiophile as well.
You will need to make sure the drivers for the Audiophile are choosen in the options menu. Then set up a track for audio and choose the Audiophile drivers as the inputs for the selected track to record to.
Do you use a mixer, or are you going directly in and out of the sound card?
Apr 25, 2006 12:39 am thanx overkill...what if i do not have 'powered speakers' & the speakers arer connected directly to the cpu? I've tried running the setup you recommend (even had to purchase a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter to connect speakers to Audiophile), but the playback was VERY low, almost couldn't hear it at all...need to figure out which drivers to select.
I'm not using a mixer...thanks for your help!!
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Apr 25, 2006 01:03 pm yep, you'll need some sort of amplifier to power those speakers. I've used a home stereo in the past, and it works quite well, though there may be some coloration of the sound.
The audiophile will only output line level signal, which is why you barely heard anything. You can get small studio amps, I believe samson has some servo amps, plus there's alesis studio amps as well. They'll give you a good flat signal, so you can hear what's wrong, and right with your mix.
also, if your onboard sound card is disabled, then there won't be anything to plug your speakers into, on the PC itself. You'd have to plug them into the audiophile. Actually, you'd plug the amplifier into the audiophile, then plug the speakers into the amplifier.
Apr 25, 2006 02:17 pm how much do the amps cost? musician's friend or ebay or guitar center? A couple more questions:
1. is it necessary to disable onboard sound? my wife uses this cpu for the Media Player, to get her workout/dance on in the garage/"studio"...
2. is it at all possible to use the onboard sound w/speakers plugged to cpu w/o the Audiophile? is it advisable? (i just wanna hear the dang thing...)
3. why did i get this Audiophile anyway?
thanks again WOH!!!!
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Apr 25, 2006 03:30 pm samson servo @ zzounds - 149$US
www.zzounds.com/a--884907/item--SAMS120A
alesis ra150 @ zzounds - 199$us
www.zzounds.com/a--884907/item--ALERA150
There's two options.
You certainly don't need to disable onboard sound, it's a good idea if you're doing only recording stuff, but if it's dual-duty, then don't worry about it.
You can use the onboard card, as it'll probably put out about 5 or 7 watts. Enough to drive unpowered speakers, a little. This won't affect the audiophile unless you've got them plugged into the speakers at the same time.
If you meant to record on the AP and playback on the built-in SC, then you would have to scale your recordings back to the level the built-in SC is at. Certainly you'd be going backwards, and your audio would suffer.
You got the AP because it can record signal much better than the onboard sound.
Sounds like you're getting frustrated. Keep the faith. Little steps, done correctly add up to a very solid result.
Apr 25, 2006 06:56 pm so is it possible/advisable to connect cpu>Audiophile>my $50 - 32watt Logitech speakers for playback? and just plug my amp>digitech to hear what I'm playing?? thanx again.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Apr 25, 2006 07:05 pm Should be fine, get a converter cable, to plug between the logitech speakers 1/8", and the audiophile outputs, probably 1/4", and two of them, I'm thinking.
Mind, they won't be good for mixing, but they'll work for listening / goofing around.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 26, 2006 10:17 pm The speakers are powered if they were plugged directly inot the PC sound card. But remember computer speakers are not going to be really loud.
The adapter you will need will be the 1/8 female TRS to two male RCA connectors. The male RCA connectors will plug into the left and right line out of the Audiophile and the 1/8 female will allow the speakers to plug into it.
Apr 26, 2006 11:11 pm I've already purchased the adapter and have tried plugging it into the Audiophile, but am getting little to no sound...what am i doing wrong??
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 27, 2006 08:48 pm Are you sure it is an 1/8 inch TRS or stereo plug? If it is only a mono plug meaning it does not have 3 seperate contanct surfaces on the female connector you will have very low sound as it is shorting both left and right channels together, which isnt good for your speakers or the sound card.
As well have you checked to make sure in the Audiophiles control panel you have the line outs volume turned up? And also are you sure your not plugged into the s/pdif output?
Apr 28, 2006 04:18 pm that's a good question...i found the Radio Shack tag: it's a 1/4" Stereo Jack to Dual Phono Plug Y-Cable...(Radio Shack item #42-2548). Is this correct?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 28, 2006 09:15 pm How are you getting the 1/8" speaker jack into the 1/4" stereo jack? Is it with another adapter? Check to make sure if there is another adapter to the 1/4" stereo that it as well is a stereo type adapter.
But the one you have sounds correct on that part of the unit.
But I would definately check and make sure you arent pluggin into the digital section of the card. The analog RCA outputs are the ones on the card itself.
