828 mk II outputs offset by one pair. How to fix?

[kevinmathie]

Hi all,

Awhile back I bought a used 828 mk II for my live gigs. I've been using the original 828 in my studio for years and years, and love it. So, I thought I'd stick with a good thing.

Anyway, I have a problem with it, and I can't figure out how to fix it. I'm hoping you all can help.

I use Apple's MainStage for my live gigs, on a MacBook Pro (13", 4 GB RAM). I like to send signals out different outputs on my 828 -- main keys go out 1-2, bass goes out 3, special effects go out 4, a special monitor send out 5, etc., etc.

The problem is that in order for me to get the signal to go out the 828's Analog outputs 1-2, I have to tell MainStage to route it through 3-4. And to get the signal out 3-4 on the MOTU, I have to tell it to go out 5-6 in MainStage.

To eliminate the chance that it's a MainStage problem, I've hooked it up to my studio 828 (the original), and on my studio 828 the signal routing matches MainStage's routing -- i.e., when I tell the signal to go out 1-2 in MainStage, it goes out 1-2 on the 828; 3-4 in MainStage goes out 3-4 on the 828. It's only on the 828 mk II that it's offset.

Of course, I wouldn't mind just living with offsetting the outputs, except that I can never access Analog outputs 7-8, since there's no way to tell MainStage to route the signal out a non-existent 9-10. Which means, I'm stuck with only 6 outputs.

So, first of all, any ideas on WHY this is happening? And secondly, any ideas on how to fix it? I couldn't find the answer in the manual, but perhaps I'm just not looking in the right places.

Perhaps I need to reinitialize the 828 mk II? Maybe set it back to factory settings? I think I tried that, but it didn't fix the problem; although perhaps I didn't do it right.

Thanks for your help!

[NazRat]

In MOTU Audio Setup look at Channel Names to see if anything is not matching up.

[HCMarkus]

I think the Main Outs are 1&2. Are you sure there aren't 9&10 available?

[kevinmathie]

In MOTU Audio Setup look at Channel Names to see if anything is not matching up.

Thanks for that suggestion. I opened MOTU Audio Setup, and the Channel Names are identical in each column. So, I can rule that out, I suppose.

Any other ideas? This problem has me stumped.

[kevinmathie]

I think the Main Outs are 1&2. Are you sure there aren't 9&10 available?

My understanding is that Main Outs can monitor whatever you want. They're assignable. And in addition to Main Outs 1-2, there is also an Analog 1-2, so (and I double-checked after reading your post) there is no 9-10 in the software.

As you suggest, though, my Main Outs 1-2 do play whatever is supposed to be coming out Analog 1-2. But then my Analog 1-2 play whatever is supposed to be coming out 3-4, and 3-4 play whatever is supposed to be on 5-6.

I've contacted the previous owner, and if he changed a setting fort he 828 mk II to act this way, he didn't do it on purpose. or maybe I accidentally made the setting. I don't know.

Any other suggestions? I figure it must be something pretty simple if either the previous owner or I did this on accident.

[kevinmathie]

Hey... Here's a thought. I just check on my studio computer that has the 828 that's working correctly. I booted up MOTU Audio Setup, just to see if there's any setting that's obviously different.

I noticed that "Default Stereo Output" is set to "Analog 1-2". I'm pretty positive that my laptop's "Default Stereo Output" is set to "Main 1-2". Do you think this is the problem? Unfortunately, my live set-up is sitting at the theater right now, so I can't test this right now. But, I'll check it tonight, and see if that makes the difference.

Just thought I'd get your feedback in the meantime.

[rockitcity]

Your outputs are probably fine. What is confusing on the 828 are the inputs. I believe, (not in front of it, coming from memory here) that the front mic inputs are actually inputs 1 and 2. The back line inputs are 3-10 or however many there are. This has been a cause for confusion for me in the past. Could that be the case in your situation?

[MOTU_Tech]

Hello,

The problem is not that the channels themselves are offset, but rather that Mainstage is not showing you the specific channel names published by the driver. This can be confusing when using an interface with multiple output formats. Use this as a quick reference:

Main 1-2 = Output 1-2
Analog 1-2 = Output 3-4
Analog 3-4 = Output 5-6
Analog 5-6 = Output 7-8
Analog 7-8 = Output 9-10

In Logic, you can enable driver labels via Options > Audio > I/O labels. It is possible Mainstage has a similar preference.

Cheers,

[kevinmathie]

Hello,

The problem is not that the channels themselves are offset, but rather that Mainstage is not showing you the specific channel names published by the driver. This can be confusing when using an interface with multiple output formats. Use this as a quick reference:

Main 1-2 = Output 1-2
Analog 1-2 = Output 3-4
Analog 3-4 = Output 5-6
Analog 5-6 = Output 7-8
Analog 7-8 = Output 9-10

In Logic, you can enable driver labels via Options > Audio > I/O labels. It is possible Mainstage has a similar preference.

Cheers,

Thanks fantastic info!! Thank you so much! I was off Monday and Tuesday, but I'm back at the theater tonight for a show, so I'll definitely try that. That's awesome. And, even if MainStage doesn't read the I/O labels (which would be lame), at least I know that there's nothing wrong with my equipment. At least I know that it's a software quirk in MainStage.

I'll try to find that option tonight in MainStage, and report back.

Thanks!

[kevinmathie]

Hi,

Just reporting back... I can't find an option for MainStage to read the driver's I/O labels like there is in Logic Pro. If anyone can find one, let me know. Until then, I'll just do what I have been doing.

Thanks for your response MOTU_Tech!

[bayswater]

Hi,

Just reporting back... I can't find an option for MainStage to read the driver's I/O labels like there is in Logic Pro. If anyone can find one, let me know. Until then, I'll just do what I have been doing.

Thanks for your response MOTU_Tech!

What happens if you edit the channel labels in MOTU Audio Setup? IIRC, these also showed up correctly in Logic (using the 828 Mk3), so may show up in Main Stage.

[MOTU_Tech]

Hi,

Just reporting back... I can't find an option for MainStage to read the driver's I/O labels like there is in Logic Pro. If anyone can find one, let me know. Until then, I'll just do what I have been doing.

Thanks for your response MOTU_Tech!

What happens if you edit the channel labels in MOTU Audio Setup? IIRC, these also showed up correctly in Logic (using the 828 Mk3), so may show up in Main Stage.

When you edit the channel names in MOTU Audio Setup, you are editing the I/O labels published by the driver. If your software does not use the driver labels, you will not see the custom channel labels.

Cheers,