• Registered: 2024-11-07
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Topic: Additional monitor outs: Speaker C, D etc.

Having looked into as many threads I can find to implement for a third, fourth or additional monitor speaker (than speaker B) to be utilised within totalmix, all that seems to be suggested is using snapshots. As I love totalmix for cue mixes this seems like an impossible solution to me as selecting a different snapshot changes all previous fader levels within the mixer to previously stored levels (unless I’m missing something, would be grateful to be enlightened). Ie all the bands monitor mixes (routed to outputs outside of control room) would be reset as soon as the snapshot was selected - i use the totalmix remote app to give band members control of their own monitor mixes.

So for me there is a clear advantage in using the dedicated speaker outputs over what seems like a half baked snapshot solution. With such deep power available with the mixer, it seems contradictory to not allow for more than a mere 2 sets of speakers.

If anyone can help here I’d be very grateful, or if RME can prioritise this in an update it would make totalmix pretty much perfect. With RME’s development of the arc usb as a monitor controller (which is genius), such an update could make it far more competitive with other more advanced monitor controllers.

  • waedi
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Re: Additional monitor outs: Speaker C, D etc.

Did you look at simple hardware monitor selector boxes ?

https://www.thomann.de/de/palmer_monicon_xl.htm

https://www.thomann.de/de/spl_mtc_mk2.htm

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

3 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2024-11-07 11:02:05)

  • ramses
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Re: Additional monitor outs: Speaker C, D etc.

waedi wrote:

Did you look at simple hardware monitor selector boxes ?

https://www.thomann.de/de/palmer_monicon_xl.htm

https://www.thomann.de/de/spl_mtc_mk2.htm

He talked about 4 or more speakers and needs a scalable solution.
The above-mentioned monitor controllers provide only up to tree speaker pairs.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14

4 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2024-11-07 10:48:01)

  • ramses
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Re: Additional monitor outs: Speaker C, D etc.

Hi tobywburroughs.

Welcome to the RME user forum!

I’ve put some thought into this and have a proposal that could save you the cost of an additional monitor controller and even provide extra flexibility. Think of it as a potential "workaround" that offers some added features.

It may not be exactly what you're initially were looking for, but I think it's worth considering.

Proposed solution or "possible workaround"

a) Continue using "Main Out" and "Speaker B" for the two pairs of speakers you use most frequently.

b) Use mute/unmute in HW outputs to activate monitoring for any additional monitor pair (besides Main Out/Main Out B)

This functionality can be further enhanced by using any of the two features below in addition:

c) Mirror the submix of "Main Out" for any additional monitor pairs. This way, all other pairs will receive the same submix as "Main Out."

d) Use fader groups to synchronize the volume across all active monitors with "Main Out." With the ARC USB, you’ll be able to control the volume of "Main Out" and any other submixes with monitors.

Results:
- You can still switch between Speakers A and B.
- Mute/Unmute can activate additional monitors, with all speakers playing the same submix at the same volume level.

Further Advantages:
- This setup can scale to support more than four pairs of speakers if you need that in the future.

Benefits:
- Scalable to any number of monitor pairs
- No impact on musicians' submixes
- No additional costs for a monitor controller
- You can start implementing this setup right away
- Independent of RME’s future support for more than four speaker pairs (a feature that may or may not be added).

I hope this helps! Please let me know what you think.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
  • Registered: 2024-11-07
  • Posts: 5

Re: Additional monitor outs: Speaker C, D etc.

Hi Ramses,

Thanks for this, it definitely is a much better solution than snapshots, I was unaware of the mirror submix feature smile
If I could assign an AFL for that hardware output to the ARC usb then would be almost as good as full implementation. However I very much hope that update will happen, common sense says it should at some point! big_smile

Thanks very much for your help!

6 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2024-11-07 13:42:16)

  • ramses
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Re: Additional monitor outs: Speaker C, D etc.

Isn’t it AFL? You hear the level after the faders…

Create a fader group for all hardware outputs connected to your monitors, and include the Main Out in this group as well.

When you control the Main Out with the ARC USB, all other hardware outputs in the group will follow the volume adjustments, with changes applied relative to their initial levels when added to the group.

I recommend measuring and matching the volume level of each output before grouping them, so they start at the same level if desired. However, you’re free to set any level for each output before adding them to the group. Adjustments will be applied as a delta to each initial level—if you add +10 dB to Main Out via the ARC USB, all faders in the group will increase by +10 dB from their current values.

If you need a different volume on a particular output, you can temporarily remove it from the fader group, adjust as needed, and then add it back.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
  • Registered: 2024-11-07
  • Posts: 5

Re: Additional monitor outs: Speaker C, D etc.

Ah thanks, I just mean you can’t assign an afl solo to a button on the arc usb, (so it’s selected with one press of a button) would be muting and unmuting as you previously suggested, so 2 button presses - maybe could I use an unused headphone for the additional speaker out and assign “cue phones 4” to that button, and mirror submix to phones 4? I’ve tried assigning cue phones 1 to a button and doesn’t seem to work for some reason

  • Registered: 2024-11-07
  • Posts: 5

Re: Additional monitor outs: Speaker C, D etc.

After trying a few things, I’m stumped. It won’t even let me add control room outputs to a fader group, only other channels - so seems like that solution won’t work.

I was being a bit silly thinking solos could be useful, as a bit more thought makes me realise that couldn’t be a solution.

Maybe I’ll have to wait for an update or get an analog switcher, but I love the tidyness of 1 usb cable to the remote and don’t really want to go the analog way. I can’t think of any other way to achieve this with the current limitations, although maybe I’m doing something wrong.

  • ramses
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Re: Additional monitor outs: Speaker C, D etc.

tobywburroughs wrote:

After trying a few things, I’m stumped. It won’t even let me add control room outputs to a fader group, only other channels - so seems like that solution won’t work. .

Works here, UFX III, TM FX 1.97.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/s20g3drbfm3x5ry7mcvn7/2024-11-07-Control-Room-fader-group.jpg?rlkey=gcmlzyhrd8lhqqg4rbzj5zmu5&st=zo5mz7lu&dl=1

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
  • Registered: 2024-11-07
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Re: Additional monitor outs: Speaker C, D etc.

Ah thanks, weird it’s not working for me, I’ll try again next week, am on latest totalmix and UFX +.
Must be doing something wrong