• Registered: 2014-03-22
  • Posts: 3

Topic: Mac OS X 'configure speaker' to different MADI channels problem

Hi there,

I'm using the madiface USB with my Digico SD11/SD9 for recording/virtual soundchecks, and music playback in between shows.

I'm running firmware v20, driver version V1.94.
I'm using the madiface both with 48Khz and 96Khz sample rates.

I'm running the software on a macbook pro retina with SSD and 16gb ram, OS X 10.9.2.

I'm using cubase 7.0 for music recording and virtual soundcheck, which works fine. The routing to different MADI channels works fine.
I'm using Smaart V7.4.3.2 for analysing audio stream running to my monitors and FOH to identify feedback frequenties. I route madi channels 21-24 from the digico desk to Smaart, works fine also.

But when i'm trying to play music in between shows with spotify or other programs, the audio is always being routed to madi output 1 and 2.
Whatever channel I choose in the audio/midi configuration in mac os x 'configure speakers', music is alway coming from channel 1 and 2.
At first it was only spotify that didn't follow the configured channels, quicktime player seemed to play via the correct madi outputs 27 and 28, but now all my music programs that follow the audio output configuration from mac OS X seems to want to go to channel 1 and 2.

I allready re-installed, reflashed the madiface USB with the latest software, but the behaviour stays the same.

I'd really hate to reroute all my other default cubase sessions to start with channel 3 because of the need of music playback in between shows.

What is causing this? I did a gig last week with the previous firmware/driver, which worked just fine with the routing, but since I updated the drivers yesterday I see this kind of behaviour. Also my macbook froze a couple of times.

With my Digico UB Madi I don't have these issues. Unfortunatly that device is only capable of 48Khz sample rate, and 96Khz gives me very low latency (1ms roundtrip).

Anyone any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Greetz!

2 Reply by stefaanv (edited by stefaanv 2014-03-23 19:11:54)

  • Registered: 2014-03-22
  • Posts: 3

Re: Mac OS X 'configure speaker' to different MADI channels problem

Update:

It seems that somehow Mac OS X remembers previous channel settings that I configured as the go to channel for default audio playback.

The behaviour of different programs is not the same. Some programs now play through channels 7 and 8 (previous test configurations) and other programs like spotify play through channels 1 and 2.

Strange things happening here ! smile

3 Reply by MC

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Re: Mac OS X 'configure speaker' to different MADI channels problem

What prevents you from playing the music via channels1/2? Core Audio is multiclient, so it doesn't interfere with the Cubase playback.

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website

  • Registered: 2014-03-22
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Re: Mac OS X 'configure speaker' to different MADI channels problem

Hi,

Thanks for your answer. To me it's not logic to play music through channels 1 and 2.

When I change the configure speaker channels on my Digico UB madi card, another USB to Madi interface, it doesn't have this behaviour. I can simply route the mac OS X default stereo out to any given channels.

The same was possible with the previous firmware/driver on my RME device.

But I suppose I could set a kick/snare channel with different EQ/gate/comp to listen to Madi input 1 & 2 coming from cubase, and configure an other stereo music channel on the mixing desk also listening to channels 1 & 2 coming from spotify or whatever source that follows the default stereo out from Mac OS X.

That would work, and could save me some channels to, as long as i'm not using both channels at the same time, nice tip!

But in my opinion it's a bug in the latest software/firmware.
If default stereo out would be routed fixed to channels 1 & 2 of the MADI out, it should not be possible to choose another channel there in the mac OS X 'configure speakers' program.
Also, some of the programs seems to respond well to the changes, and others don't. There is a different option there: 'stereo' or 'multichannels' which gives different results in different programs.

Non of this behaviour occurs with my other sound cards (USB pre 2, UA Apollo, UB Madi, ...)

Hoping to hear from support soon.

5 Reply by MC

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Re: Mac OS X 'configure speaker' to different MADI channels problem

The change on your system is the update from OS X 9.1 to 9.2. Nothing changed in our driver or firmware. Also you noticed that the MF USB is the only device you list that uses an 8 channel device (8 times) instead of numerous stereo devices, for simple performance reasons.

There is no way for us to fix the bugs in other programs handling standard, system conform configurations.

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website

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Re: Mac OS X 'configure speaker' to different MADI channels problem

To further give you a hint on where to complain: set system playback to MF USB channels 27/28, then listen to your favourite music via iTunes. It will use these channels. Then use a different app like Vox and see it completely ignoring your system settings and just using channels 1/2. Sorry, but really not our problem.

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Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website

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Re: Mac OS X 'configure speaker' to different MADI channels problem

Just an additional info in case someone stumbles over this thread: on my MacBook Air I was able to let Vox play on other channels than 1/2. It seems Vox uses what one defines for Multichannel/Surround, not as expected for Stereo. Set the channels (even if only 2/stereo again) under the Multichannel tab and it will work.

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website

  • From: Oslo
  • Registered: 2007-05-01
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Re: Mac OS X 'configure speaker' to different MADI channels problem

Sadly the same with many software in OSX. It either forcefully uses channel ½ or sometimes uses the multichannel config.
Both configs should be set to be sure.

Also a workaround for software that uses channel ½ all the time. Route it back into the card/totalmix with the excellent digital loop feature. Then you can use totalmix to send a submix to the correct channel pair.

Pål

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Re: Mac OS X 'configure speaker' to different MADI channels problem

That tip is from the manual wink

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website

  • From: Oslo
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Re: Mac OS X 'configure speaker' to different MADI channels problem

MC wrote:

That tip is from the manual wink

Maybe, but you got the tip from me tongue

psvennevig's Website

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Re: Mac OS X 'configure speaker' to different MADI channels problem

Pål, time flies. I had to enter my mail archives to remember  that we are communicating since 1998. You have been going with RME through all our products, from the OEM SEKD Prodif 32 up to the latest MADI systems. Please forgive me that I forgot that in 2005 you suggested this nice workaround and consequently I added it to all our manuals.

For people like you we really need another category like 'Senior Audio Master'. MADI Hero is not enough. Thanks my friend!

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website

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Re: Mac OS X 'configure speaker' to different MADI channels problem

MC wrote:

For people like you we really need another category like 'Senior Audio Master'. MADI Hero is not enough. Thanks my friend!

Done... :-)

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Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

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Re: Mac OS X 'configure speaker' to different MADI channels problem

Daniel to the rescue smile

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website

  • From: Oslo
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Re: Mac OS X 'configure speaker' to different MADI channels problem

ROFLMAO, so cool.

I even remember Daniel from the old SEK'D forum, way, way back. Those were the days.

With a 32KB RME driver (total size) in Windows NT4. The only soundcard at that time that actually worked reliably in a dual cpu computer, which I was running very early for the DAW world.

RME equipment will never leave my side.

RME equipment I have owned since the dawn of time are way to long to list here, but for fun the very first three:

Digi 32
Digi 96/8 https://web.archive.org/web/20010123041 … igi968.htm

Project Hammerfall (Digi 9652) https://web.archive.org/web/20000604052 … /index.htm

Best,
Pål

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