Headphone Mixes

Creating a Headphone Mix for Performers

When working in a studio, you may need to send a headphone mix to the performer, often referred to as the “cue mix” or “monitor mix.” This mix allows performers to hear the relevant audio tracks, along with the talkback microphone which enables direct communication with them. This page outlines the steps to set headphone mixes up.

Preparing a Headphone Mix in the Control Room

Sharing a Control Room Mix/Main Mix (ST1)

Choose ST1 as the Cue Source: On the PreSonus Monitor Station, press the button labeled ST1 to select it as the cue source. Make sure the other two cue sources are deselected, so only ST1 is sent to the headphones. This allows performers to hear whatever you hear.

Continue to "Connecting Headphones in the Tracking Room"

Sharing a Custom Headphone Mix (ST2)

1. Setting Up the Headphone Mix in Your DAW

Configure your DAW’s preferences: Navigate to the audio preferences of your DAW. Ensure the MOTU audio interface is recognized, and that multiple output options are available.
Create a Send to an Output Bus: In your DAW, select the tracks you want to include in your cue mix and create a send to an auxiliary track. Set the output of this aux track to Analog Outputs 7 and 8.
- Typically, this auxiliary track will be created automatically when you first create the send. However, depending on your DAW, you may need to manually create a new send track, route your selected tracks to this send, and then direct the send to the auxiliary track with Analog Outputs 7 and 8 configured.
Set Sends to Pre Fader: For each track, set the send to Pre-Fader. This lets you control how much of the track is in the cue mix without affecting what you’re hearing in the control room.

2. Routing the Headphone Mix to the Performer

Select Cue Source: In your DAW, analog outputs 7 and 8 are already connected to the Presonus Monitor Station input ST2. On the PreSonus Monitor Station select the "ST2" button and deselect any other sources. Now, your headphone mix will flow automatically flow to tie lines 1 and 2 in the tracking room.

Continue to "Connecting Headphones in the Tracking Room"

Creating Additional Headphone Mixes Using the Patch Bay

If you need to create additional headphone mixes, here’s how you can use the patch bay in the control room (see patch bay page for more patch bay details).

Patch Bay Overview: The patch bay has 10 hardware outputs from the MOTU interface. Outputs 1 and 2 are for the control room monitors. Outputs 3-10 can be used for headphone mixes.

1. Setting up your DAW

Create a send bus in your DAW and route it to one of the external outputs (3-10).

2. Routing in the Patchbay

Use a patch cable to connect the MOTU output channel you chose to one of the studio tie lines via the patch bay, sending the mix to the corresponding tie line in the tracking room for the performer to hear. Patch cables can be found on the back right wall, next to the rack.

Example: If you're routing your headphone mix to outputs 3 and 4 and you'd like to patch it to tie lines 5 and 6, you would take two patch cables and plug one end each into MOTU Outputs 3 and 4, and the other end to Studio Tie Lines 5 and 6 respectively.

For more detailed information on the Patch Bay, see the Patch Bay help page.

Continue to "Connecting Headphones in the Tracking Room"

Connecting Headphones in the Tracking Room

1. Find the Headphone Amps: In the tracking room, look for the headphone amps stored under the rack labeled “TIE LINES 5-8 from control room”.
2. Plug Amps into Tie Lines: If you are using ST1/ST2, plug the amp into tie lines 1 and 2. If you are using the patch bay, plug the amp into whichever tie lines you've routed your MOTU outputs to.
3. Power the Headphone Amp: Make sure the headphone amp is plugged into a power source and powered on. You’ll be able to connect headphones to the ¼” outputs on the amp to hear the mix.
  - You can use the headphones from the bin on the bottom of the rolling rack. If you need adapters or extensions, they are stored in the bottom drawer of the Yamaha mixer desk (next to the Control Room window).
4. Adjust Headphone Levels: Use the knobs on the headphone amps to separately control headphone mix levels.

Tie Lines 1-4

Tie Lines 5-8

(Headphone amps are stored here)

Tie Lines 9-12

Working in the Control Room: The PreSonus Monitor Station

Communicating to Performers via Talkback

The talkback feature allows you to communicate directly with the performer through their headphones. Follow these steps to use the talkback function on the PreSonus Monitor Station:

Press the TALK Button: The "TALK" button is at the bottom right of the PreSonus Monitor Station. Pressing it sends your voice to the cue mix, which is normalled to tie lines 1 and 2, allowing direct communication with the performer.
Adjust Talkback Volume: Use the knob above the TALK button to adjust the talkback microphone's volume. Turn it up or down to ensure your voice is clear without overpowering the performer's mix.
Control Room Volume Attenuation: The knob labeled "ATTENUATION," to the left of the TALK button, reduces the volume of the control room mix while you’re speaking. Adjust it to hear yourself better while communicating, with no attenuation when fully turned to the right.

Talkback Alternatives: If you need talkback routed to other tie lines, use the patchbay to adjust the routing. If the talkback on the monitor station isn't working, you can use a microphone in the control room. Plug it into your DAW and send that track to the headphone mix like any other audio track. With direct monitoring enabled for the track, your voice will be heard in the performer’s headphones.

Recording in the Control Room: Main and Cue Switches

When recording in the control room, the PreSonus Monitor Station’s headphone jacks allow you to individually select whether each jack hears the main mix or the cue mix.

Main Switch: The main switch lets you listen to the main mix (i.e. ST1).
Cue Switch: The cue switch allows the engineer to set the performer's headphones to hear the specific cue mix (e.g. ST2).

For example, if you were recording vocals in the control room, the engineer can listen to the main mix through their headphones while simultaneously sending the cue mix to the singer.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

No Sound in Headphones:

- Check Connections: Ensure that the headphone amp is correctly connected to the designated tie lines (e.g., tie lines 1 and 2) and powered on.
- Verify Patch Bay Connections: Double-check the patch bay connections from your DAW's output bus to the appropriate tie lines.
- Inspect Headphone Amp Volumes: Verify that the headphone amp volumes are turned up.

Inconsistent Audio Levels or Balance:

- Check DAW Sends: Ensure that each track's send level to the cue mix (auxiliary track) is appropriately set across all tracks included in the mix.
- Monitor Station Settings: Adjust cue mix level settings on the PreSonus Monitor Station.
- Test Headphone and Adapter Compatibility: Ensure that headphones and any necessary adapters are functioning correctly and are compatible with the headphone amp outputs.

Audio Quality Issues (e.g., Distortion, Noise):

- Inspect Cables and Connections: Check for any damaged cables or loose connections that could affect audio quality. Replace or reseat them if necessary.
- Reduce Signal Interference: Minimize potential signal interference by keeping power cables away from audio cables and avoiding running them parallel for extended lengths.
- Troubleshoot Equipment: Test with different headphones or adapters to identify if the issue lies with specific equipment.

Issues with Talkback Microphone or Communication:

- Check Talkback Setup: Ensure that the talkback microphone is properly connected and activated on the console or interface. Test its functionality by communicating with the performer.
- Adjust Talkback Volume: Verify the talkback volume level is sufficient for clear communication without overpowering the performer's cue mix.

DAW Configuration Problems:

- Verify DAW Settings: Double-check audio preferences in your DAW to confirm that the MOTU interface is recognized and configured correctly with multiple output options available.
- Restart DAW and Interface: Sometimes restarting both the DAW software and the audio interface can resolve configuration issues.

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