Flat Waveform?

[LaLaland]

Hey everyone! I'm new:-)

I'm just beginning my own little studio at home. I have a Shure SM58, mbox mini, Macbook pro, Sennheiser HD 280's, and am about to invest in some KRK RP5's. I'm also taking classes at the community college and working on my certificate in recording. Anyways, I've got the mic plugged in through the XLR cable, but have been getting a flat waveform everytime we record. I'm not sure if the settings on the mbox are wrong, but the waveform is not looking good. Here's a screenshot:
Picture 1.jpgPicture 1.jpg


I'm wondering why its coming back flat. The mix on the mbox is in the middle and the Input is at about 3 o'clock. Let me know what I'm doing wrong! Thanks:-)

[TheJackAttack]

Do you have anything playing back when you listen? If not then you aren't actually getting signal into the track. Make sure that you have your audio source set up AS the MBox. Otherwise Pro Tools or whatever that is will incorrectly default to your laptop input. If the source is routed correctly in the software then you need to turn the gain up on the MBox.

[LaLaland]

No there's no playback, I thought it was because there's no speakers into the
Mbox...how do I make the Mbox the audio source??

[LaLaland]

Sorry if I sound a bit naive, but as is said this is my first time trying this by myself....:-/

[TheJackAttack]

Page 83 of the PT9 User Guide.

http://akmedia.digidesign.com/suppor..._v90_69548.pdf

[TheJackAttack]

It's OK. The user guide/manual is your friend. Page 83 of the current PT9 document that I linked to above.

[LaLaland]

Okay, fixed that...

Next problem...

So now I have my KRK's hooked to the mbox up and ready to go, but how do I get my music from my mac to come out of my speakers? They are currently coming out the macbook speakers.

*EDIT* NEVERMIND! Fixed that too...
I know this probably seems really stupid to most of you, but I'm proud of myself for figuring it out:-) hehe

[TheJackAttack]

Don't take this the wrong way-I've had a very long rehearsal for NYE with two huge sets chock a brock full of cheese and am tired-but most newbies issues could be solved with a simple acronym. RTFM.

In fact, most experienced engineers questions can be answered with the same acronym, LMAO. I don't know of many of my friends and colleagues on this board or elsewhere that don't spend large chunks of time periodically reviewing manuals even if they've read them before.

[LaLaland]

Don't take this the wrong way-I've had a very long rehearsal for NYE with two huge sets chock a brock full of cheese and am tired-but most newbies issues could be solved with a simple acronym. RTFM.

In fact, most experienced engineers questions can be answered with the same acronym, LMAO. I don't know of many of my friends and colleagues on this board or elsewhere that don't spend large chunks of time periodically reviewing manuals even if they've read them before.

I understand where you're coming from, and I definitely appreciate you taking the time and replying. You did help a great deal. Thanks again. And yes, I will refer to the manual from now on.:-)

[Big K]

Reading The Fantastic Manuals is all worth the time. If you have collected a gazillion of devices and softwares and you want and need to know more then the basics you spend hours a week reading. Also those manuals of interesting products you might not even want to buy. A further training that keeps you uptopdate. Knowing more about your gear then necessary for the daily work is what keeps you out of trouble or prevents to get into it, itfp. There are lots of functions waiting to make your workflow more efficient and work itself more fun, too. We onle have to RTFM......
:-)