Newbie - need some basic help with Cubase/Delta-66

[Shag]

I recently acquired some recording equipment, and am trying to figure it out for the first time. Quite daunting, to be sure... I'm using Cubase SX, an M-Audio Delta-66, an Audio Buddy pre-amp, and an AKG C3000 mic.

Anyway, having a very basic problem that I can't seem to figure out. I can get a mono track recorded off the AKG no problem, but playback is also mono, only out of the left ear (headphones plugged into output 1 on the breakout box). Panning the channel only alters the volume of the single channel - no sound ever comes out of the right. Output 2 is also hot, but also only plays in the left channel.

I just downloaded Reaper, just to see if the same thing happens, and it does. I also checked the headphones on my stereo, and they are fine. So, seems likely hardware-related. Is there some setting I need to toggle for the Delta-66?

What am I doing wrong?

[brandondrury]

I can get a mono track recorded off the AKG no problem, but playback is also mono, only out of the left ear

It sounds like you are recording a stereo track with a mono signal.

Try creating a new track. It will ask you if you want a mono or stereo track. Select mono. I bet this will fix it.

Let me know.

Brandon

[tonewheels]

The outputs are not stereo, I have never used the delta-66 but it seems to me that output 1 could be left output, and output 2 could be right output. You will need to run the outputs to a stereo mixer of some sort and then plug your headphones into the mixer. Don't be confused that both outputs come through the left headphone speaker, the headphone jack has a tip ring sleeve (TRS) type connector, the outputs have a tip sleeve connector, so the left headphone plays by itself throug both outputs.
Cheers
Ronnie

[Shag]

Thanks, fellas. These are definitely mono tracks, and playing around more, I can see both stereo channels active in the Delta-66 control panel.

I'm guessing tonewheels hit the nail on the head. Is there any possible way to go straight to headphones in stereo, out of the breakout box? A 1/4" Y-cable, maybe? Would be a bummer to have to add yet another piece just to get stereo playback...

[brandondrury]

headphones plugged into output 1 on the breakout box

I missed this the first time. Tonewheels is right. This is not the way that the breakout box was designed.

You can test this by panning the recording to left the side. Plugin the headphones into the right output. You'll hear nothing (or almost nothing). Now plug the headphones in the left output. You should hear the track being played back in the left side.

Switch the panning to the right side and the opposite should occur.

The outputs are not stereo

Just to avoid any possible confusion, I want to explain this. One single output is not going to be stereo. One single output (we'll say output #1) is output left (I think) and output #2 is output right. If you pan a signal dead center, you should hear it out of both outputs. If you pan hard you'll hear it out of one side and not the other.

So, combined the two signals are stereo, but seperately, they are mono.



Brandon

[Shag]

Thanks again for the clarification...

I am still curious if there is any way to plug headphones directly into the breakout box, and receive a stereo signal. Would a 1/4" stereo y-cable do the trick?

[sphinx_uk]

you could just get a mono to stereo converter. I have one of these.

it is basically a 1/4" male mono jack that you plug into your mono source with a female stereo that you plug your stereo headphones into.

What you will get is the mono signal from your left channel (assuming youve plugged into that) playing in both ears of your headphones.

It looks like those converters that allow you to plug your 1/8" headphone jack into a 1/4" socket.

found one here:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...c=so&U=strat15

Hope that makes sense.

[brandondrury]

Using an adapter is not the ideal method here. Stereo is preferred for tracking most of the time and mixing all of the time (if you are stuck mixing with headphones). I'm not sure how you plan on controlling the volume of your headphones with this method.

You can go a number of routes with your setup.

I'm not sure how you are going into your Delta 66, but you may consider getting a small mixer that can handle your preamp and headphone duties.

If you already have preamps, you may consider getting a headphone amp. They are not that expensive, generally.

Brandon