Dp 5 Record Monitoring Help, RECORD MONITORING LEVEL INCONSISTENT Options

[thoughtadjuster]

Hello
I am hoping this is one of those easy fixes where I am overlooking something very simple .
I am running DP 5.13 with OS 10.5.8 using two Ultralites . I run my mics though pre's and compressors strait into the ultralite then out to analog desk.

I am having inconsistent recording monitor level , as the recording monitor level is very low while the playback is correct level . But there is more

Here is example of problem ...
I am recording two mics into stereo track in DP . I set my levels and everything is just fine .... I finish recording this particular track and move on.. Now I want to record lets say four more tracks , so I "add similar tracks" . Here is where it gets goofy ..

In the new tracks- no. 1- I just made in DP I will select the first one for a new lets say voc. When I listen you can hardly hear the voc yet on playback it is correct volume . {BTW I am going into Ultra 5-6 and out 5-6 into my desk 5-6 and my audio mode is "Auto"}
Now if I go immediately to the next created, track monitoring will be normal
again as well as playback . If I continue this and go to next created track it will have a very low monitoring and correct playback .. In other words all tracks play back normal at correct set up volumes but out of the four new tracks every other one has very low level monitoring .. And to add this can change to none have correct monitoring levels .. So I have to create new tracks and hope some of them will work or find existing tracks that work move the audio already recorded and go from there ..
I have checked bundles and they seem in working order ..
This will happen no matter the tracking input or outputs no matter the configure of monitoring ...
Levels in and out of ultralite are good ..
Volumes on ultralite good ..
I am running DP in direct to Hardwire mode .
Dp board volumes all good ..
Basic problem is seemingly on its own accord the monitoring volume changes and is hardly heard yet in the audio monitor window level is great and playback is great ....
Any help I would appreciate greatly as we are in the middle of tracking a deadlined second album ....
Thank you
D

This post has been edited by thoughtadjuster: Mon 16 Aug 2010, 08:41

[houstonmusic]

hi,
there are two ways to monitor incoming tracks in DP.
it's been a while, but i think DP5 was this way too.
you may monitor incoming tracks in record mode using the lit PLAY button on the track, in combination with the correct 'monitor' setting in the hardware menu.

additionally, and this may be the issue for you, one may monitor using MOTU's 'cuemix' software. it's a standalone app that works with the MOTU interfaces. each input channel has level pan settings. on the later hardware models, and more recent software updates, you've got effects too.

perhaps exploring using 'cuemix' in concert with DP would sort this for you. this is the way i handle my direct monitoring these days, and it did take a while for me to work out the optimum settings.
i hope your issue is as easy to manage as this. could be something else, i suppose.
good luck.

[thoughtadjuster]

Thank you Houstonmusic
I hear you .. The way I monitor is the way I have done since DP 2.6 .. I use the direct hardware play through and Audio Patch Through is set to auto ... I have never messed with Cue Mix or needed to ... If Cue mix is something that automatically boots when DP boots ?
Well I should take a look at this ... It just does not make sense to me that if I have one track working great and then I add another two tracks either by Add similar Tracks or New track That every other one will have very low live monitoring level yet the input to Ultralite
and out of Ultralite is same with good level... Hmmm And playback of the tracks are all the same and correct volume . Wave forms all good as well ..
I just was in hopes that someone would say "Oh I had that problem and turn this reset this or check that"...
This is the kind of thing that will drive me mad ..And believe me I do not just have problem and jump onto forums for answer . I am the kind of person that can not rest until normality is at least in check ...I also think from researching this problem I am one of very few if any that has encountered this ...
I will do more testing today
Thank you again for your response , you are the only one in several days and a couple of forums that tried ...
TA

[houstonmusic]

good luck with this weirdness...
cuemix is a separate app that you've got to start independently. it's part of the MOTU driver bundle that you can download, and i think is on the installer disk too.

it should give the same results as 'direct hardware playthrough' does, with more control of the level you're monitoring at vs the level you're recording at. your description of differing levels, monitor vs record, leads me to think cuemix, but for the life of me i can't imagine a scenario on my own system that would yield the results you're getting. (DP 7 and 828 mkII interface)

keep us updated. thanks.

[tonester]

good luck with this weirdness...
cuemix is a separate app that you've got to start independently. it's part of the MOTU driver bundle that you can download, and i think is on the installer disk too.

it should give the same results as 'direct hardware playthrough' does, with more control of the level you're monitoring at vs the level you're recording at. your description of differing levels, monitor vs record, leads me to think cuemix, but for the life of me i can't imagine a scenario on my own system that would yield the results you're getting. (DP 7 and 828 mkII interface)

keep us updated. thanks.

I would check that. I think CueMix is installed automatically when you install the drivers. I know CueMix FX is installed along with the drivers for the 828MK3, not sure about the Ultralites. In any event, I would open the app. That ,ay be where your issue lies....