#1003139 - 08/21/05 10:57 AM
5.1 Input/Output Conundrum
|
Eric Day
Senior Member
Registered: 08/23/04
Posts: 65
Loc: Austin, TX
|
Offline
|
|
OK. I've finally fininshed purchasing gear and found time to get my project studio up and running. I've discovered there's some issues between manufacurers of surround gear and how they label 5.1 inputs and outputs. If anyone can help out, see where I'm turning wrong, I'd really be grateful. I've been thru this with Pro Tools 888/TDM systems, but now I have Cubase SX 3.0, and the outborad gear is mixed, from RME, SPL, and StudioComm. I just need help with the output path.
Output connection path:
G5 firewire to a RME Multiface (8 in/8 out)
First issue - Cubase labels their 5.1 outputs in this order: L,R,C,LFE,LS,RS.
I go out the RME Multiface (8 x 1/4" TRS out) to the SPL SMC 2489 (D-sub in). SPL lists their output in this order on the back: L,R,LS,RS,C,LFE.
Out the SPL SMC 2489 (8 x 1/4" TRS out) to the StudioComm M65 bass manager (D-Sub in). StudioComm lists outputs in this order: L,C,R,LS,RS,Sub1(LFE).
I've been pulling my hair out all day routing and re-routing all the outputs that I can. I have a mono file playing in Cubase to test the 5.1 output inside the surround panner as I move it around. It's all criss-crossed on both ends. The SPL SMC 2489 has solo buttons for all the discrete surround channels, but nothing will work together harmoniously. I'm thinking I may need to break open the StudioComm bass manager and change the order of outputs at the end, but I've switched outputs to the monitors to troubleshoot the last path, and it never goes to the correct channels anyway. I don't know.
If I could change the order of Cubase's 5.1 outputs, maybe it would leave the RME correctly. I've tried every possible scenario I can think of. I know this should be a simple task, but Im just confused about now. I don't belong to the Cubase Forum yet, but I thought I'd ask here if anyone has gone thru this first. I've drawn out all the input/output paths, and I'm still stuck.
Here's my current outputs by number:
RME: 1-8 in order to the RME D-Sub in.
SPL 2489 ouputs 1/4": L=1, R=2, LS=5. RS=6, C=3, LFE=4 (this reflects Cubase's output order).
Model 65 bass manager has a D-Sub in. I connected each channel XLR output to the appropriate labeled output on the back, and to the monitors.
I'm off to my day job now, but if there's any takers to helping with my conundrum in the project studio, thank you very much ahead of time.
Eric Day
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1003140 - 08/21/05 11:31 AM
Re: 5.1 Input/Output Conundrum
|
blas
Gold Member
Registered: 03/06/01
Posts: 517
Loc: St. Louis, MO. USA
|
|
Offline
|
|
Eric, WE ARE NOT ALONE! As they say in those invader movies. I'm posting a similar situation over on the nuendo forum as the last DVD-A I burned a mixdown to had things coming out the wrong channels!
Check out Nuendo's Newcomer forum and my post about 5.1 outputs in the book. Maybe we'll both get an answer together.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1003141 - 08/21/05 12:12 PM
Re: 5.1 Input/Output Conundrum
|
Eric Day
Senior Member
Registered: 08/23/04
Posts: 65
Loc: Austin, TX
|
|
Offline
|
|
I just started searching thru the Cubase.net forum. I use Cubase SX 3.0 for now. I'll look for and follow your post on the Nuendo Forum. I may learn something there. I'm going to call SPL Monday and see if they have any insight. I can assign any number to any surround output, but I'm still not getting evrything to work 100% as it should. I don't know what each piece of gear does with the inputs, mainly the SPL 2489 and the Model 65 bass Manager. Aaaargh. Good to know I'm not alone.
Eric Day
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1003142 - 08/22/05 03:28 PM
Re: 5.1 Input/Output Conundrum
|
Eric Day
Senior Member
Registered: 08/23/04
Posts: 65
Loc: Austin, TX
|
|
Offline
|
|
Update - I joined the Cubase.net forum, waiting for a reply. In the mean time I think I got it working. I got the mono file I was panning in Cubase to match up in the 5.1 panner and 5.1 array. There is still a couple issues I'm having - When I press the LFE button on the front of the SPL, that should remove the sub altogether from the mix, right? It does not. L,C,R,LS,RS all work. If I press and release the buttons they turn off so I can check my mix here and there. It's like a reverse solo button. Not sure why it's that way. I have to press four buttons just to solo the main channels. FYI - whoever is reading this - the StudioComm Model 69A surround monitor controller has normal solo buttons. Anyway, I still have the LFE issue. On top of this, if, just for test purposes, I turn up the LFE level in the Cubase Panner on a bass track, I get no increase in level out the subwoofer. Why would this be? For now I just press the bypass button on the StudioComm Bass Manager to cut out the sub. By doing this I hear my mix full range, or as far as my small near fields will play, so I suppose it's doing what I need it to, remove the sub and send the entire signal to the 5 channels (L,C,R,LS,RS).
Any advice?
Thank You,
Eric Day
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
Moderator: BobbyO, Neil Wilkes
|
|
|
