Mac users help with Logic / Presonus FireStudio or Firepod

[thedewd]

Hi all,

I just got my Presonus FireStudio and it works OK, but when I use the headphones, I only get sound in the right speaker of my headphones. Also, I cannot hear the sound on playback from Logic. Once I disconnect the unit I can hear it playback through my computer in stereo. However, this is a tremendous pain in the rear to just hear what I recorded. And I need to be able to hear my vocals in both sides of the headphones when recording.

Any ideas on the settings to help me with this?

I think it may be a combination of system settings and Firestudio settings.


Thanks,

The Dewd

[brandondrury]

I'm no Mac guy, but I can lead you in the right direction at least.

First of all, you need to decide what you want to use for monitoring. The Presonus has a built in monitoring system, if memory serves me well and that should give you zero latency. This means your vocals will go to the Presonus to the Presonus' monitoring system (where it combines with the previously recorded tracks on your computer) and right back out to your headphones. The biggest advantage of this is zero latency. The downside is you can not add processing such as compression or reverb (I'm HUGE on monitoring with compression...some singers are big on reverb in their headphones).

The other route is to monitor through your recording software. This is the route I take. I like being able to monitor with compression and reverb even though I take it all off and start all over when I really mix. The downside is latency. The only way to get around this is to put a huge load on the computer. If you don't have ultra demanding tracks (with lots of effects, samples or synths) you should be okay. If you are pushing your computer hard, you probably won't be able to turn down the latency far enough.

Also, I cannot hear the sound on playback from Logic. Once I disconnect the unit I can hear it playback through my computer in stereo.

Again, I'm no Mac guy. If this happens in Windows, it's because the new sound card has not be setup as the default playback system in either Windows or in the recording software itself. It sounds to me like Logic is playing back through your stock sound card. This is probably an issue with your settings in Logic or your Mac operating system and not your Presonus.

I only get sound in the right speaker of my headphones.

I assume you are referring to hearing yourself through a vocal mic or whatever since you can't get recorded audio to play back through the Presonus.

This is probably fixed with a setting in the Presonus monitoring system. It sounds like the incoming signal is either being panned or is set to a stereo signal. Of course, you are only giving it a mono signal, so it's going to toss the sound onto just one side. Look into it. I've never used the Presonus monitoring system before, but I'm sure they've made concessions for this.

It's also possible that your headphones are faulty and that is why you are only hearing one side. However, I'll let you rule that one out or not.

All of this stuff should be covered in the manuals for Logic and Presonus. I can do my best to help, but you are in for a long road if you don't read the manuals...especially with Logic. While I still don't ask for directions when I'm lost (when I'm traveling), I've learned that it is a hell of a lot faster to just read the damn instructions with this stupid recording stuff!!!

Brandon

[mcuneo]

A few things that might be useful to check on the firestudio:

Make sure in the outputs/router screen (- playback tab) that DAW 1 & 2 line up with the assign for the L and R of Phones 1.
If you are using a mix source instead of directly routing the DAW's to outputs, then you need to make sure that in the Mixer DAW 1 is panned hard L and DAW 2 is panned hard R.
Also make sure all the settings in Hardware Settings fit what you're using. ie, sample rate matches up with what the setting is in Logic (SHOULD change automatically but sometimes doesn't if you're using other hardware as well or switching between programs with different sample rates) clock source is internal if just using the firestudio.
Also try the different operation modes. Normal mode should work (I don't have any problems with it). Upgrading the software from the presonus website also might help.

Hope some of this might help with your problem.