Using MOTU 828 DSP via CueMix

The MOTU 828 mk3 is equipped with a powerful selection of real-time DSP effects that can be used for live sound or studio work. These DSP effects may be accessed directly from the MOTU hardware panel or via a proprietary software controller called CueMix FX. CueMix provides access not only to the MOTU's DSP effects, but to all MOTU parameters including pads, analog trims, phantom power, and overload protection.

This tutorial describes how to use CueMix to setup and control the MOTU's EQ, Compressiong, and Reverb DSP effects. For more information on CueMix's other features, please see the excellent CueMix FX Guide. (http://cdn-data.motu.com/manuals/firewire-usb-audio/MicroBook_II_CueMix_FX_Guide.pdf)

1. Getting Sound

First, turn on the MOTU by pressing the power button on its front panel. Then open CueMix.

CueMix remembers its settings from the last time it was used. In order to restore its default settings, select Load Hardware Preset… from the File menu, then select "Default." This preset will allow you to monitor MOTU inputs 1 and 2 (accessible from the MOTU's front panel) through MOTU outputs Analog 1-2. Analog-1-2 are patched into studio mixer channels 5-6.

All effects are disabled to start with, and all input channels other than 1 and 2 are muted in the Mixes pane.

2. Basic Signal Flow

Effects may be inserted at two different points in the signal chain: inputs and outputs. Effects applied at the input stage can be recorded into a DAW or sent to other software for real-time processing. Effects applied at the output stage are not captured by the digital interface and will appear only on the physical MOTU outputs, making them suitable for live sound applications such as adding reverb to software-generated sound.

There are three types of effect available, each with different capabilities and behaviors: EQ, compression, and Reverb. EQ and Compression may me applied at either the input or output stage. Reverb may only be applied at the output stage.

3. Configuring EQ and Compression

First, the effect must be turned on in the global effects pane. This is a global control for all instantiations of the effect; turning the EQ / Compression on or off using this button will disable or enable the effect on all channels regardless of individual channel settings.

Once the effect has ben turned on globally, it must be applied to a channel. Simply click on the effect's enable / disable button on the channel to which it should be applied.This may be done in either the inputs or outputs tab, depending on where you want to insert the effect.

The effect parameters may be edited in the FX pane. The focus button on each channel selects the effect instantiation modified by the FX pane.

4. Configuring Reverb

Reverb works differently than EQ and Compression. In addition to only being applicable to the output stage, it also can not be instantiated multiple times; i.e., reverb may not be applied per-channel, but only as a single global effect. Accordingly the focus button does not modify reverb since there is only one set of parameters for the effect.

Reverb may be applied to the entire output stage, or to a single channel at a time using the individual channel sends.

To apply reverb to the entire output:

• Go to the outputs tab

• Go to Analog 1-2 channel

• Turn up reverb SND

• Turn up reverb RTN

To apply reverb to a single channel at a time:

• Go to the outputs tab

• Go to Analog 1-2 channel

• Turn up reverb RTN

• Go to inputs tab

• Turn up reverb SND on the individual channel

Note: When applying reverb to a single channel, the effect is still being applied only at the output stage –notice there is no reverb return control on the inputs. This means that reverb cannot be recorded to a DAW, for instance, unless you use a physical external patchcord to loop one of the outputs back to the input stage.