Topic: Am I using TotalMix the right way...

Hello,

I joined the RME community as an Hifi enthousiast but I am no musician or music maker... I had been using an EMU card for 10 years and I bought an RME for better quality and best windows 10 support.

Here is how I am using pro cards :

I make stereo active speakers, 3 way, I use VST plugins to generate the active filters for the lows, the mids, the highs. These signals are sent to 3 differerent stereo Amps (Lab Gruppen) and then right to the speakers (2 boomers, 2 mids, 2 tweeters).

I use windows 10, Foobar and Qobuz.

Basicaly I sent defaut windows output to 7/8 headphones.

I use SPDIF output to collect sound coming from Ph 7/8 in the 2nd stack (Software Playback).
I click "Playback" in the SPDIF output so as I understand it is in fact recorded and not sent or both ?

I go to the VST progragm here small japanese program called "Console"

I set VST inputs and outputs, SPDIF is 9/10

I can send this stereo signal to different VST plugins to create my filters (Izotope Ozone, VST Convolver) and from these filters to the outputs.

https://i.ibb.co/0Bvhkbb/totalmix1.png
https://i.ibb.co/tzv68Sh/totalmix2.png
https://i.ibb.co/gvmW2zh/totalmix4.png

Am I missing something, will this work for what I intend to do ?

I have been using Console as a VST host for years, don't know if I should use something different.

If i don't use the stuff right I could break the speakers because they would get unapropriate signals (tweeters and mids getting lows, volume control...)

Regards, Greg

Re: Am I using TotalMix the right way...

https://i.ibb.co/qrJdP3T/totalmix3.png

https://i.ibb.co/xgx6ygN/totalmix4.jpg

Re: Am I using TotalMix the right way...

To check if you made an error, witch is not only easy to do in software but also with the cables and amps, you can connect everything one by one to the bass speaker and listen if the correct audio comes out. Mids or highs will not kill a bass speaker, the other way around it will.

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
Babyface pro fs, HDSP9652+ADI-8AE, HDSP9632

Re: Am I using TotalMix the right way...

I suggest you have a look at Acourate Convolver (Audiovero.de). I use it with the RME UFX+, and formerly with the older UFX. I use 2 mains + 2 subs with an active crossover between them. The routing with Acourate Convolver is  simple and works well with RME UFX.

I do not use VST plugins, but this is available with the Acourate product I think.

UFX+; MADIfaceUSB; Startech active USB3 cable; Sonnet Allegro Pro adapter; Win11x64

5 (edited by satriany.powa 2022-02-15 20:53:15)

Re: Am I using TotalMix the right way...

Thanks you guys for feedback !

Yeah right, one should switch on amps one by one carefully going from the lows to the highs...

I have been playing with Qobuz as a source for Hd Res sound files, Cantabile as a host and Izotope Ozone for filters...

When I set Qobuz (hd spotify like) with asio output it directly feeds the 1/2 analog outputs ! I have to set it to Wasapi to be able to route the signal through the Cantabile program. Then everything seems to work ASIO.

I have heard of Acourate, I shall try to use it ! But convolver VST seems to do the same for free...

Other question, If playing software (qobuz, foobar) is set to wasapi and then the sound routed to an asio program, how is it possible, are there any loss in terms of quality ?

Regards, Greg