Brxdsky
Member
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2020
- Location
- Massachusetts
Dear Recording.org Community,
I'd like to get the input of someone who has used Scarlett Mix Control on a 2nd Gen. Scarlett 18i20 to create monitor paths with the various analog outputs.
I am currently seeking help from experts about audio interfaces and monitors. I work at a music studio that specializes in Hip Hop music.
The studio's current signal flow for recording and monitoring: Mic > Scarlett 18i20 input > hard drive > system/pro tools output > monitor 1&2 of the Scarlett > Mackie 32x8 mixing desk Master I/O > specific channels labeled monitor L/R > amps > monitors.
Essentially the computer output goes through the Scarlett's outputs to the mixing desk's Master I/O then using the 8 busses going to two channels for each pair of passive speakers using the console's direct outputs. The mixing desk is only being used to tune the speakers using channel EQ and its channel direct outputs send signal to the amps post-fader. Additionally, the first channel is reserved for the input of an 1/8" auxiliary cable so that people are able to connect their phones or computers as needed. Everything is in MONO. The studio has operated using this system for years by a miracle, and issues with haven't arisen until recently. Every engineer before me has been self-taught and didn't really know how to deal with these issues. I on the other hand go to school for audio engineering and have been handed the mess.
I have found this system to be largely unreliable, and it's something I inherited as the new engineer. To sort this mess, I seek to pitch the owner of the studio to replace the Mackie 32x8 mixing desk (that's only being used to have fader control over the various speakers) with a Digidesign/Avid 003 Factory Console. The owner doesn't see a need to replace the console as it has historical value: it was used to record the Wu Tang Clan's debut album Enter The 36 Chambers. The console is about 30 years old, hasn't been maintained well, and has a metering bridge that doesn't work. I've tried to work with the console, attempting to use unused channels for their preamps and highpass filter EQ to produce better recordings. I also attempted to use some analog compressors that have been collecting dust since the 90s by using the console's aux sends to a compressor whose output goes to a preamp in the Scarlett. The first few times I was highly successful and impressed a few people. A recent recurring issue for this system was feedback coming out of the monitors, usually a pair at a time or even all of them. This has presented some challenges for the studio as they were feedbacking heavily while some prominent rappers were having a session. Thinking that the issue could be wires touching and/or too much power being drawn from a surge protector, I sorted out the mess of amp outputs and power cables that had been clumped on the floor for years. After reconnecting and organizing everything with colored tape and zipties (so none of the wires can get tangled), the system worked. Every monitor got a clean signal. Yet every time I come in to work at this studio, the same problems occur. I end up spending 20-30 minutes every time I come to record, turning trim knobs and moving faders on the console to get everything to work cleanly. Headaches man. I think it makes me look really amateur when an artist comes in to record when it takes me 20-30 minutes to get them to have their own headphone mix and get recording input. One thing that COMPLETELY PUZZLES me is that when connecting a mic to one of the console preamps and using the channel's direct out to the Scarlett preamps, the mic is ALWAYS ON despite the phantom power on the channel AND the Scarlett being inactive. Honestly it terrifies me to try and think where the phantom power is coming from. Always worried I might damage the mic. Recently I did a session, and a high pitched buzzing around 12kHz was printed into the vocal track. That was the last straw for me, there's either something wrong with the board itself, the power supply, or even just the preamps. This console has defeated me, and I've spent dozens of hours troubleshooting, fixing, and looking like a fool.
The speakers being used in the studio are a combination of passive and active. There is a pair of active Yamaha HS8s, which are the only speakers that are reliable for mixing. The rest are various pairs of passive speakers: tuned to high/mid/low using the console's channel EQ. These are abused by rappers to play their music as loud as possible. In total there are 7 pairs of speakers (including the Yamahas).
Here is the NEW system I am proposing:
Hang the Mackie up on the wall. Buy a 003 console. Connect the Yamahas to the main stereo monitor outputs of the console.
Here is where I am most curious: I have read and watched videos of configuring Scarlett 18i20's I/O using Scarlett Mix Control. I plan to use two 1/4" TRS cables for the Alternate Monitor path of the 003 to send the Pro Tools/Computer output into the first two inputs of the Scarlett. Essentially I would set the input of the first two pre amps to play out of the monitor and 8 outputs of the Scarlett, mapping them as STEREO outputs.
Avid 003 Alt CR > Scarlett Input 1&2 > Scarlett Monitor + Outputs 1-8. IS THIS POSSIBLE?
Additionally I would use a cable that connects 1/8" male splitting to two 1/4" males going into the 003's AUX Input so others are able to connect their phones or computers to use the various passive speakers going through the Scarlett. I could not see a method for using the Yamahas simultaneous to the rest of the speakers.
This way the system of passive speakers are preserved through the Alternate Monitor path of the 003 going to the Scarlett, I am able to use the Yamahas as main monitors by default, others are able to access the passive speakers through the AUX input of the 003 in conjunction with the Alternate Monitor path, and everything would be in STEREO. All of this relies on the Scarlett's ability to be used to send those two inputs to the output section into the passive speakers. Any feedback, insight, or advice is greatly appreciated. I don't want to convince the owner to buy a 003 and have it not work with the Scarlett and look like a bozo. Peace.
I'd like to get the input of someone who has used Scarlett Mix Control on a 2nd Gen. Scarlett 18i20 to create monitor paths with the various analog outputs.
I am currently seeking help from experts about audio interfaces and monitors. I work at a music studio that specializes in Hip Hop music.
The studio's current signal flow for recording and monitoring: Mic > Scarlett 18i20 input > hard drive > system/pro tools output > monitor 1&2 of the Scarlett > Mackie 32x8 mixing desk Master I/O > specific channels labeled monitor L/R > amps > monitors.
Essentially the computer output goes through the Scarlett's outputs to the mixing desk's Master I/O then using the 8 busses going to two channels for each pair of passive speakers using the console's direct outputs. The mixing desk is only being used to tune the speakers using channel EQ and its channel direct outputs send signal to the amps post-fader. Additionally, the first channel is reserved for the input of an 1/8" auxiliary cable so that people are able to connect their phones or computers as needed. Everything is in MONO. The studio has operated using this system for years by a miracle, and issues with haven't arisen until recently. Every engineer before me has been self-taught and didn't really know how to deal with these issues. I on the other hand go to school for audio engineering and have been handed the mess.
I have found this system to be largely unreliable, and it's something I inherited as the new engineer. To sort this mess, I seek to pitch the owner of the studio to replace the Mackie 32x8 mixing desk (that's only being used to have fader control over the various speakers) with a Digidesign/Avid 003 Factory Console. The owner doesn't see a need to replace the console as it has historical value: it was used to record the Wu Tang Clan's debut album Enter The 36 Chambers. The console is about 30 years old, hasn't been maintained well, and has a metering bridge that doesn't work. I've tried to work with the console, attempting to use unused channels for their preamps and highpass filter EQ to produce better recordings. I also attempted to use some analog compressors that have been collecting dust since the 90s by using the console's aux sends to a compressor whose output goes to a preamp in the Scarlett. The first few times I was highly successful and impressed a few people. A recent recurring issue for this system was feedback coming out of the monitors, usually a pair at a time or even all of them. This has presented some challenges for the studio as they were feedbacking heavily while some prominent rappers were having a session. Thinking that the issue could be wires touching and/or too much power being drawn from a surge protector, I sorted out the mess of amp outputs and power cables that had been clumped on the floor for years. After reconnecting and organizing everything with colored tape and zipties (so none of the wires can get tangled), the system worked. Every monitor got a clean signal. Yet every time I come in to work at this studio, the same problems occur. I end up spending 20-30 minutes every time I come to record, turning trim knobs and moving faders on the console to get everything to work cleanly. Headaches man. I think it makes me look really amateur when an artist comes in to record when it takes me 20-30 minutes to get them to have their own headphone mix and get recording input. One thing that COMPLETELY PUZZLES me is that when connecting a mic to one of the console preamps and using the channel's direct out to the Scarlett preamps, the mic is ALWAYS ON despite the phantom power on the channel AND the Scarlett being inactive. Honestly it terrifies me to try and think where the phantom power is coming from. Always worried I might damage the mic. Recently I did a session, and a high pitched buzzing around 12kHz was printed into the vocal track. That was the last straw for me, there's either something wrong with the board itself, the power supply, or even just the preamps. This console has defeated me, and I've spent dozens of hours troubleshooting, fixing, and looking like a fool.
The speakers being used in the studio are a combination of passive and active. There is a pair of active Yamaha HS8s, which are the only speakers that are reliable for mixing. The rest are various pairs of passive speakers: tuned to high/mid/low using the console's channel EQ. These are abused by rappers to play their music as loud as possible. In total there are 7 pairs of speakers (including the Yamahas).
Here is the NEW system I am proposing:
Hang the Mackie up on the wall. Buy a 003 console. Connect the Yamahas to the main stereo monitor outputs of the console.
Here is where I am most curious: I have read and watched videos of configuring Scarlett 18i20's I/O using Scarlett Mix Control. I plan to use two 1/4" TRS cables for the Alternate Monitor path of the 003 to send the Pro Tools/Computer output into the first two inputs of the Scarlett. Essentially I would set the input of the first two pre amps to play out of the monitor and 8 outputs of the Scarlett, mapping them as STEREO outputs.
Avid 003 Alt CR > Scarlett Input 1&2 > Scarlett Monitor + Outputs 1-8. IS THIS POSSIBLE?
Additionally I would use a cable that connects 1/8" male splitting to two 1/4" males going into the 003's AUX Input so others are able to connect their phones or computers to use the various passive speakers going through the Scarlett. I could not see a method for using the Yamahas simultaneous to the rest of the speakers.
This way the system of passive speakers are preserved through the Alternate Monitor path of the 003 going to the Scarlett, I am able to use the Yamahas as main monitors by default, others are able to access the passive speakers through the AUX input of the 003 in conjunction with the Alternate Monitor path, and everything would be in STEREO. All of this relies on the Scarlett's ability to be used to send those two inputs to the output section into the passive speakers. Any feedback, insight, or advice is greatly appreciated. I don't want to convince the owner to buy a 003 and have it not work with the Scarlett and look like a bozo. Peace.