MIX BITES EPISODE 3: A Hack for Controlling Monitors

MIX BITES EPISODE 3: a Hack for Controlling Monitors
#StudioMonitors #MonitorController

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Intro
00:25 - Episode Title
00:36 - Why we need this hack
00:59 - Multi-track mix
01:17 - Connecting studio monitors to the console
01:33 - Routing the mix to the studio monitors
02:14 - Routing the mix to secondary studio monitors
02:37 - Dealing with low signal output levels of the Soundcarft Signature series of consoles
03:11 - Shout out to Brian Buckalew who inspired me to have this setup and the tip he gave me
03:26 - Outro music mix - The Owl Song
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For this episode we’ll talk about how to use the master section of the Soundcraft Signature console as a monitor controller—that is, if you don’t have a proper monitor controller like the Mackie Big Knob or the JBL Nano Patch.

I’ve been seeing a lot of comments online lately, saying how can they regulate the master level out of the console going into the DAW without blowing their ears out.

Let me show you how to take advantage of the master section of the board so you can have an independent volume control of your monitors without touching the levels going into the DAW while recording the stereo mix.

I’m going to pull up a multi-track mix.

All tracks will be routed to the master by switching on the master button on each channel.
That takes care of the stereo mix going into the DAW.
Now this part is where we differ from the common practice of plugging into the master outputs to connect the studio monitors.
Instead, we will connect the monitor cables to the groups 1 and 2 outputs.

Next, go back to each channel strip and make sure you activate the routing button for groups 1 and 2, for each channel. Whatever you have sent to the master for the mix-down, you send to groups 1 and 2 as well. It’s an exact copy of the stereo master mix.

To make sure that this signal path going out to groups 1 and 2 will not be mixed with the master output to the DAW, do not engage the master switches above groups 1 and 2 so this signal path will go straight out to the group outputs. This way, whatever is sent to the master, you can monitor it through groups 1 and 2.

If you have a second pair of monitors, do the same thing and send a third stereo mix to groups 3 and 4. Again, do not engage the routing switches to the master.

Now one thing that we all encounter while mixing with the Signature series of consoles — It is the seemingly low signal level of the master output.

The way I deal with it is to route a copy of the master mix to groups 3 and 4 and this time engaging the master routing switches so it will be added as a parallel mix into the master signal output. Mix to taste or according to the level you are shooting for.

If you have a secondary set of monitors connected to groups 3 and 4, just turn them down while recording the stereo mix back into the DAW. Remember, you still have your main monitors on groups 1 and 2.

A big shout out to Brian Buckalew for showing me the idea about the parallel mix out of groups 3 and 4 to beef up the stereo master mix. Thank you, Brian! Cheers!

Till next time! Thank you for watching!
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Shout out to Brian Buckalew of ProVizion Studios!

Subscribe to his channel:
   / bbuck822