Monitor mixer is affecting outputs on my AP192

[Olivier]

Hi everyone,

I've got a question/problem with my AP192. I want to create an analog send/return effect loop to use with an external effect processor.

The problem is that to monitor the result I have to mute the input and the output of the loop in the monitor mixer but it also mute the output itself. Same thing with pan and sliders. The monitor mixer directly affects the output.

It is a normal behavior of the monitor mixer on the AP192 ? Or should I be able, as I understood, to make changes to the mixer without affecting the output levels at all.

As far as I know, I've always got the same results with different versions of the drivers and the new control panel also. Now, I really need to get this running and I tried every options that made sense to me with no success.

I must admit that I'm very confused with the results and I hope that there is a way to fix this or else I will probably have to buy another piece of hardware.

Any help and hints are welcome !

Thanks

[JA]

The monitor mixer controls the monitor outputs of the 192. The monitor mixer gets it's inputs from all hardware inputs and all software returns, and is always feeding the monitor outputs. The Main output is only coming from the software return 1/2. Normally you would connect your speakers to the monitor output so you can directly monitor your inputs with no latency or delay, as well as monitor playback from the computer.

If you use the main outputs to feed your effects processor, this signal (the dry signal) is also going to appear on the Monitor outputs via the 1/2 SW Rtn channel. You can then monitor the Input to the 192 (which is the output of the FX processor) along side the dry signal; just make sure software monitoring is off so you don't hear the effected signal doubled.

To do an analog send/return you really need a sound card with more I/O.

[Olivier]

I'm sad to hear that there's is no workaround to my problem. I thought that this board had enough I/O for my needs not knowing that the main outputs and the monitor outputs were sharing the same signal.

I saw this diagram on a review site (http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/...ophile192.html) and assumed it was right.

Now, I'm wondering if this is a hardware limitation or could a driver update possibly answers my needs making it virtually working this way ?

Thanks for your answer JA.

Olivier

[JA]

<comments removed due to incorrect information>

The only other way to do an external FX loop would be if you had an FX processor with digital I/O or an external digital converter.

[Olivier]

Hi JA,

The main reason why I'm telling that the diagram is not correct is that the branch from Wave Out 1/2 to Analog Out 1/2 should be placed after the mixer. As I read in the manual :

"WavOut 1/2 :
These faders control the level of the main audio stream output assigned from your DAW in the monitor mixer, and the overall output of the Analog Hardware Outs 1 and 2."

As you said, now I understand that the Analog Out 1/2 and the Monitor Out are hard wired on the same signal. This makes sense, since you'd call this board a "6 outs" instead of a "4 outs" if it wasn't the case. And that's exactly what I would need actually.

With that in mind, your solution would not work for the same reason. It is not possible to monitor on the Analog Out 1/2 if the Wav Out 1/2 is muted in the monitor mixer.

The only way would be to use the Digital Outputs. About the Wav Out S/PDIF controls, the documention clearly mention that "These faders have no effect on the S/PDIF output level". But this would require an external converter which would cost me about the same price as buying another sound card with more I/O.

Anyway... I'm still not sure which way I'll go, but thanks for your help

Olivier

[JA]

You're right, I didn't realize that the Wave Out actually affected the main outputs. I don't know if you're still within your dealers return/exchange period or not because something like the Delta 44 or 1010lt would have the additional analog inputs/outputs necessary for doing such an FX loop.