1 Topic by SudoKudo (edited by SudoKudo 2017-10-08 19:30:00)

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Topic: Straight Playback - Full or DAW-Mode ? HowTo ?

Dear RME-Pros,

I'm using a HDSPe AIO on Win10-64bit with the 4.21 (latest to date) drivers.

I want to know how to set up TotalMix for straight playback.

The Playbacksoftware: Foobar, Fidelify (SpotifyASIO-Client), Spotify, TIDAL-Desktop-App.
In all cases I select ASIO  - and if there's a channel to select SPDIF.

I use active studio monitor speakers for the playback over optical SPDIF Out into the SPDIF In at the speakers and headphones plugged in the Aio.

I want to have an unmixed, unchanged straight software playback->hw output.
In the case of ASIO usage bitperfect output.
I want to control the volume at the monitor speakers.
And the volume for the headphones in TotalMix.

How can I properly configure DSP-Settings and Totalmix to have that result.
1) Should I use "Full Mode" or "DAW Mode" ?
2) Should the output volume sliders be in position 0.0 ?
3) Is the totalmix - DAW-mode setup correctly in the attached screenshots?
4) Is there anything to do in the Preferences of Totalmix? (Screenshot)
5) Is there anything to do in the SDP Settings? (Screenshot)
Settings/Global optimize Multi-Client Mixing etc. ?
6) Should I use the Control Room with Main Out: SPDIF and Phones 1: Phones?

Bonus:
Secondly I want two more setups with -5db on the left / -5b on the right channel for the SPDIF output.


Screenshots:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/0PojeI19gg2bWcxo2

  • ramses
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Re: Straight Playback - Full or DAW-Mode ? HowTo ?

Did you ever consult your handbook ? Seems not

1- chapter 29 of the handbook describes DAW mode.
2- usually yes for ADAT outputs ... but if your monitors do not have volume controls it might blow your ears.
3- if you configure the operational mode in TotalMix then you get a message what mode is in use and you will see the difference, in DAW mode you do not see the full TotalMix FX window

TotalMix Primer, see my blog article: http://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/inde … rnal-equi/

There are also good video tutorials available from RME: http://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/inde … al-Videos/

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

3 Reply by SudoKudo (edited by SudoKudo 2017-10-08 21:46:15)

  • Registered: 2017-10-08
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Re: Straight Playback - Full or DAW-Mode ? HowTo ?

1)
I didn't receive a handbook when I purchased the card second hand.
That's why I'm searching for help online.
In the help section inside TotalMix there's no explanation of the DAW-Mode.
In the online version of the handbook is no explanation either. (https://www.rme-audio.de/download/hdspeaio_e.pdf)

2)
My monitors have a volume control.

3) I'm currently using DAW-Mode. Which imply the screenshots I attached.

6) Should I use the Control Room with Main Out: SPDIF and Phones 1: Phones? Or is it preferable to simply route Software Playback to Hardware Output not setting it up as "Control Room"? Because it sounds different if I do so ? (Volume?)

Thanks in advance
sudokudo

4 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2017-10-08 22:54:53)

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Re: Straight Playback - Full or DAW-Mode ? HowTo ?

AFAIK the manuals describe TotalMix FX as it was when the interface has been brought to market.

So if new features are being invented, then they will be documented only in the handbooks of the newest devices.
At this moment you would need to look into the german or english version of UFX+ or UFX II.

Maybe it would be better if RME would release a separate TotalMix FX handbook, which is always up to date and documents whether special features are only available for special certain devices (i.e. in terms of the FX section, ..).

Online help is only available in english and I have no idea, whether RME will change this.

to 2- then trim it down that 0dB in the output section of TotalMix will not hurt your ears.

to 3- I know DAW mode, therefore I didnt look at the screenshot. As I said, then all routing has to be done via DAW.
You have many more useful features if you use the normal mode with full TM FX support.
Use my primer which gives you a step by step guidance, how to use TotalMix FX.
There might be other reasons for this, but at the moment I dont remind them.

to 6- in the primer a solid setup is explained. I suggest you work though it 1st as this will answer surely many question of yours. 0dB stays 0dB no matter whether you have a normal output channel or whether you assign them to control room.
Its simply practical to have Monitor A and Monitor B as well as several phone outputs in the control room section.

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

5 Reply by SudoKudo (edited by SudoKudo 2017-10-09 19:14:07)

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Re: Straight Playback - Full or DAW-Mode ? HowTo ?

Thanks for the explanation.

Why's could there be a difference between SPDIF Output and SPDIF as Main Out?
(Mostly noticable the volume)

sk

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Re: Straight Playback - Full or DAW-Mode ? HowTo ?

SudoKudo wrote:

Thanks for the explanation.

Why's could there be a difference between SPDIF Output and SPDIF as Main Out?
(Mostly noticable the volume)

sk

Sorry dont know your setup and routing so I can not tell.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
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Re: Straight Playback - Full or DAW-Mode ? HowTo ?

ramses wrote:
SudoKudo wrote:

Thanks for the explanation.
Why's could there be a difference between SPDIF Output and SPDIF as Main Out?
(Mostly noticable the volume)
sk

Sorry dont know your setup and routing so I can not tell.

No routing - DAW-Mode -
1) SPDIF in the Hardware Output Section (Vol. 0)
2) Assign-Main Output:SPDIF (Vol. 0)

Sounds different.

  • ramses
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Re: Straight Playback - Full or DAW-Mode ? HowTo ?

You need to find out what happens inside of your DAW.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
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Re: Straight Playback - Full or DAW-Mode ? HowTo ?

SudoKudo wrote:

Thanks for the explanation.

Why's could there be a difference between SPDIF Output and SPDIF as Main Out?
(Mostly noticable the volume)

sk

Is the volume setting (fader) different? Please provide screenshots of mixer and matrix.

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

10 Reply by SudoKudo (edited by SudoKudo 2017-10-12 14:54:20)

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Re: Straight Playback - Full or DAW-Mode ? HowTo ?

Thanks for bringing me into the matrix-mode.
This explained the difference. Which I couldn't alter in the DAW-Modus. That wasn't routed as it should be.

See the screenshots of the snapshots: 1 +4 here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/H3uKeu5NJbm1HtLY2

11 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2017-10-12 16:01:18)

  • ramses
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Re: Straight Playback - Full or DAW-Mode ? HowTo ?

You dont necessarily require the matrix mode, which most people do not feel comfortably with.
Use simply submix mode.
Click to an output for which you want to create a routing/submix (both terms can be used in this context).
And then simply check faders of HW inputs and SW playback channels and change them as required.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
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Re: Straight Playback - Full or DAW-Mode ? HowTo ?

Should I set the volume fader setting to "0" for the best results with volumecontrolable monitors ?

  • ramses
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Re: Straight Playback - Full or DAW-Mode ? HowTo ?

Which monitors do you have ? Do they have volume control ?

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
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Re: Straight Playback - Full or DAW-Mode ? HowTo ?

ramses wrote:

Which monitors do you have ? Do they have volume control ?

Yes, they have volume control.

Is there any decrease in the quality of the signal if I decrease the volume in TotalMix for example by -6db ?

15 Reply by MC

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Re: Straight Playback - Full or DAW-Mode ? HowTo ?

Not at all.

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Matthias Carstens
RME

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