How to use Talk Box with software MIDI instruments ?

**hicsuntdrac0nis** · 05-24-2012, 07:54 PM

I was thinking about getting a Talk Box, but how would I use software MIDI instruments through the device ? I use Logic, if I had the outputs going to the Talk Box then wouldn't all the other tracks be projected through the device as well ? Is there a way to split it into different channels ?

I'm using Logic Pro 9 and M-Box Mini 2
www-audiofanzine-com_digidesign-mbox-2-mini.jpg

**dvdhawk** · 05-25-2012, 12:50 PM

Can you pan the MIDI instruments to one output all the other tracks to the other? (we're half way home)

If yes, then there are still a number of other hurdles to clear.

Do you have a re-amping box to put between the M-Box output and the relatively high impedance guitar amp/Talkbox?
The Talkbox will have to be mic'ed back into the recording, so you'll have to monitor all this panned hard L/R through headphones.

On a side-note: I don't know what kind of talkboxes you've been looking at, but the Rocktron Banshee is a self-contained, self-powered talkbox that does not need a separate guitar amp to drive it, so it might be the most versatile for your situation.

A) the Banshee might be more forgiving on hot/cold incoming signal levels, (specs on the Banshee say Max. Input +9.5dBu and Input Impedance 1MΩ) and I read somewhere the output of the M-Box mini is only +6dBu max. You probably weren't going for a clean tone anyway, so you might find a tolerable setting.

B) the abrupt make/break switch used with other original design talk-boxes is notoriously hard on guitar amps.

*Bonus info: If you buy the Banshee go to the hardware store and buy your own tubing, we will not live long enough to allow the tube they provide to off-gas the foul chemical smell it emits - I don't know what they were thinking. I kept mine around for siphoning gas should there ever be an emergency, in which case the taste of a mouthful of gasoline would be preferable.

**hicsuntdrac0nis** · 05-25-2012, 05:41 PM

so i have been trying it out and i found a way to route the MIDI channels to L or R outputs but I don't have the same output options for audio tracks .

Here is what i'm talking about : Screen Shot 2012-05-25 at 6.31.58 PM.jpg Screen Shot 2012-05-25 at 6.37.49 PM.jpg

green are midi and blue are audio

why don't i have the same output options for both ?

**dvdhawk** · 05-25-2012, 06:27 PM

I've never used Logic Pro, so I don't know how you do it, but I'm sure it can be done. It looks to me (as a non-Logic user), that you'd set it to the "Stereo" option and click that circular virtual knob and pan the sound to the left or right output.

**Kapt.Krunch** · 05-26-2012, 02:36 AM

Originally Posted by hicsuntdrac0nis

I use Logic, if I had the outputs going to the Talk Box then wouldn't all the other tracks be projected through the device as well ?

It's not exactly clear what you want, but if you just want to run a track, already recorded, through the talk box, you'd just "Solo" that track (or "Mute" all the others) in Logic, run the output into the talkbox, and back into a new track set to record. I guess how you do that depends on the talkbox, and as dvdhawk mentioned, you may have to do some level-matching of some sort. Of course, doing that won't allow you to monitor the other tracks.

One thing you COULD try if you have an onboard soundcard is to route some basic tracks to it (just to let you know where you are to follow along...it'll sound crappy, but you only need to monitor your backing) and then mute everything else but the track you want to affect, and run that out and record back in?

...i found a way to route the MIDI channels to L or R outputs but I don't have the same output options for audio tracks

I SUSPECT that is because it was recorded in as a stereo track, and Logic's logic is that you want it kept that way, so it doesn't offer a Mono option? In which case, yeah, you'd PROBABLY just pan it to get it all on one side. This won't change the recorded track, so it's safe, though it may sound odd if you had some prominent stereo effect on that track. When you're finished, you just pan it back.

We're assuming that only one mono track is going to the talkbox? In that case, then, yeah...pan everything but the track you want to "talkboxize" to one side, and that track to the other. Run the talkbox track out and record back in. Reset the panning positions, and you should be good. It'll just sound weird monitoring all the music in one ear, while monitoring the talkbox track in the other, but you'll at least know where in the tune you are.

Situations like this is where having at least a quad-interface comes in handy, because you could have monitored all the tracks in stereo, while just running that one track out of, say, output 3, and back in.

Anyway, there are a few things you can try. None of them ideal, but you can likely make something work.

Good luck,

Kapt.Krunch