Axe-Fx III as Interface - Controlling Volume - Used to My Interface - Suggestions?

Warrior said:
the entire mix is recorded on the track unless I solo the track I want reamped.
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If the fractal is set as the output device in your DAW, your DAW’s main outs i.e. 1+2 will be automatically routed to the fractal’s out1 jacks, which is why the whole mix is getting recorded through your mic pres. Simply solo the DI track when reamping through the fractal with this method.


The aggregate device technique works for some people but I don’t really like it.
 
Strabes is recording analog through his audio interface. Recording and reamping via USB is way easier and avoids extra ADA conversion.

There's no huge difference either way. It's mostly just personal preference. Audio recording quality with either method is more than adequate unless you have a garbage audio interface. Most anything relatively modern is more than capable these days.
 
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mr_fender said:
Strabes is recording analog through his audio interface. Recording and reamping via USB is way easier and avoids extra ADA conversion.

There's no huge difference either way. It's mostly just personal preference. Audio recording quality with either method is more than adequate unless you have a garbage audio interface. Most anything relatively modern is more than capable these days.
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But reamping via USB doesn't allow playback via my interface - unless I'm missing something.
 
The aggregate audio device setup would give you all the inputs and outputs from both devices. You'd be able to record from the Axe III's input and playback to your interface's outputs at the same time. It basically combines the two audio devices into one virtual audio device that you then select in your DAW as the input and output device.
 
mr_fender said:
The aggregate audio device setup would give you all the inputs and outputs from both devices. You'd be able to record from the Axe III's input and playback to your interface's outputs at the same time. It basically combines the two audio devices into one virtual audio device that you then select in your DAW as the input and output device.
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I've done this but have not been able to figure out how to send a recorded DI track to my Axe-FX, play it back and hear the DI track, via my interface, as it's being played back through the Axe.

Could you point me to the workflow setup for this?

I appreciate the support.
 
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For that you have a couple of options:

1. You can software monitor through the DAW while recording. This is probably the simplest solution, but you'll have round trip USB latency added while monitoring.

2. You can add another monitoring connection between the Axe III and your interface and live monitor that through your interface's mixer. SPDIF or AES would be the cleanest if your interface supports it, but analog connections between the devices would work fine as well.
 
mr_fender said:
For that you have a couple of options:

2. You can add another monitoring connection between the Axe III and your interface and live monitor that through your interface's mixer. SPDIF or AES would be the cleanest if your interface supports it, but analog connections between the devices would work fine as well.
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Such as a small mixer and plug my studio monitors and heaphones into that?
 
You could do that or run analog audio from the Axe III to your interface for live monitoring if you've got inputs available.

Does your interface have SPDIF or AES input?
 
mr_fender said:
You could do that or run analog audio from the Axe III to your interface for live monitoring if you've got inputs available.

Does your interface have SPDIF or AES input?
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That’s essentially Strabes method.

My interface does have SPDIF in but not out.
I’m considering getting another one if SPDIF in & out would improve my workflow with using my interface.
 
You can monitor via SPDIF into your interface. You might need a converter if it's optical (Toslink) instead of coaxial (RCA plug). USB gives you more flexibility for recording and reamping. SPDIF only carries 2 channels. USB carries 16 (8 in and 8 out) so you've got dedicated inputs and outputs for reamping.
 
mr_fender said:
You can monitor via SPDIF into your interface. You might need a converter if it's optical (Toslink) instead of coaxial (RCA plug). USB gives you more flexibility for recording and reamping. SPDIF only carries 2 channels. USB carries 16 (8 in and 8 out) so you've got dedicated inputs and outputs for reamping.
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But USB requires I use the Axe as my interface for my speakers & headphones, correct.
 
Not if you create an aggregate audio device in the OS. You'd have the inputs and outputs of both devices available in the DAW.
 
I don't think you mentioned anything that would actually require an aggregate device here, so maybe don't worry about that yet.

If you select the Axe-FX as the DAW audio device, your other interface basically becomes nothing more than a fancy DAC getting the Axe-FX SPDIF signal (exactly what would be going to analog Out 1 or the headphone jack on the Axe-FX) and outputting that to your speakers/headphones. (If the interface allows standalone operation you technically wouldn't even need it to be connected to the computer, but there's no reason to disconnect it for this.)
 
Yeah you can switch audio devices in the DAW as needed if you're recording just one instrument at a time. The aggregate device just keeps everything together in one spot so you can select any input or output you've got without needing to mess with the device settings in Logic.

IIRC Logic lets you select separate input and output devices, so that give a bit more flexibility too. Some DAWs can't do that so the aggregate is more necessary in those cases.
 
I've used aggregate device before for different things - including the Axe-FX.

I'm just not clear on how I can have my headphones and monitors/speakers connected to my Audient interface, have my DI track routed out to the Axe-FX, returning to a new track as wet (or even just monitoring it as I tweak the Axe) in the context of a full mix - all via USB and/or a single SPDIF in to my interface.
 
You would send the DI track back to the Axe III via its USB Inputs 5&6, record the processed result via USB Outputs 1&2, monitor the Axe III's output via live monitoring the SPDIF Input on your Audient and monitor the DAW playback via the main outs on your Audient.

If you didn't use SPDIF, you could also monitor the Axe III's output via analog connections from the Output 1 jacks to your Audient and live monitor those inputs.

To live record the Axe III, you'd plug your guitar into its Instrument input and record the DI from USB Output 5 or 6 and record the processed output via USB Outputs 1&2. Daw playback monitoring would still go to the main outs of the Audient.
 
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