Questions & Answers

Why can't I hear an XLR condenser mic through the control room outputs and headphone output when not using the mains?

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asked Jan 29, 2017 in AR Hybrid USB Mixers by jriess89 (150 points)
Computer info: MacMini (Late 2014), macOS Sierra 10.12.2, 2.8 GHz Intel Core i5, 16GB Ram
Mixer info: Presonus StudioLive AR12 Mixer, Serial Number SA2C16100737

There is nothing plugged into the main outputs, just the control room outputs and headphone output. I doubled checked that no Mute, PFL, & AFL buttons are depressed, yet I still can't hear my Audio Technica P10991 studio condenser microphone plugged into channel 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, & 11 through the control room outputs or the headphone output. The volume faders and signal gain knobs are all set correctly. No instrument and low cut filter buttons are depressed. However, I can hear the SuperChannel (inputs ST13/14) through the control outputs and headphone output when using my iphone (Stand alone mode, with computer off) or mac mini (hybrid mode, just running iTunes for testing setup).  Also, I can hear the mic when I route sound to the monitor outputs using the MON AUX knobs on the channel strip. So, the battery in the mic is not the issue nor the cables. I would like to use my AR12 Mixer as described on pg 17 of the owners manual: 3.8 Typical Home Studio Setup Diagram. Do I need to send my mixer in for work? If this is a feature and not a bug, why show the 3.8 Typical Home Studio Setup Diagram on pg. 17 of the owners manual?

1 Answer

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answered Jan 30, 2017 by Michael Martin (89,010 points)
 
Best answer
In Section 3.6.1 - Control Room Levels in the manaul states:

"StudioLive AR-series mixers feature a headphone output and controlroom outputs, allowing you to listen to the main mix and the Solo bus. Whenever a channel is soloed, it will automatically be routed to the control room and headphone outputs. When no channel is soloed, the main mix will be heard through these outputs."

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There has to be signal in the Main Mix Bus for the Control Room output to have a signal to monitor through the C/R Output. The C/R bus cannot monitor something that isn't there.
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