larryb wrote:I read advice on HW Forum that mix-down isn't necessary if one is not making recordings via HW. Is that a fair statement?
Apart from making mixed-down stereo audio recordings from multi-channel set-ups, some other common uses of aux mix-downs are:
1. Sending mixed-down output to a stereo reverb processor, which itself drives a pair of stereo speakers positioned a little further away (e.g. behind the listener) to give a three-dimensional spatial effect (especially if using dry, or fairly-dry, samples).
2. Sending mixed-down output directly to a pair of stereo speakers positioned a little further away, also to give a three-dimensional spatial effect (applicable for wet or dry samples).
3. Sending mixed-down output to a sub-woofer (or stereo pair of sub-woofers), thus avoiding the need to have as many sub-woofers as you have full-range speakers.
larryb wrote:And would it make a difference using this with the stereo setting, or mono?
Most people feel that stereo is more realistic, especially for wet sample sets, and also unless you have *lots* of speakers (20 or more, say, in which case the loss of spatial effect from using is mono would be offset more by that from the large number of speakers).
larryb wrote: I also am interested in utilizing the crossover feature of my M- Audio pair of subs on one of my 4 pairs of M-audio 1010 card. I would use the other 3 channels to run 6 Mackie HR824s. I am considering adding another pair of Mackie hr824s, one to the left-channel sub and one to the right. In that instance, with the cycled feature, would it be necessary to send the specific lower notes of each rank, say below 8', to the subs or let any upper notes sent to the subs by cycling bypass through to that sub's companion monitor?
Even pipes below 8' pitch will have mid/high frequencies, so it's important that any pipes routed to the subs also have full-range speakers to handle those frequencies.
I think you could either:
a) Attach your pair of sub-woofers to one pair of the 1010LT's stereo outputs. Attach your existing 6 Mackies as 3 stereo pairs to the other three 1010LT stereo outputs. Set up the 3 stereo Mackie 1010LT outputs as 3 stereo logical audio outputs in Hauptwerk, all within the default audio output group, and with no other groups. Set up a fourth logical stereo output in Hauptwerk as an aux mix-down, and use it to drive your pair of subs. Configure the other three logical outputs to use that mix-down, so that all pipes get routed to your subs (indirectly, via the mix-down) as well as (directly) to their (cyclic) full-range speakers. In this scenario there would be no need to buy a fourth pair of full-range speakers.
... or:
b) Attach your pair of sub-woofers to one pair of the 1010LT's stereo outputs. Buy another pair of full-range speakers and attach them to the full-range (pass-though) outputs on your subs. Attach your existing 6 Mackies as 3 stereo pairs to the other three 1010LT stereo outputs. Set up the 3 stereo Mackie 1010LT outputs as 3 stereo logical audio outputs in Hauptwerk, all within the default audio output group. Create a second audio output group named 'Bass pipes' (or similar). Set up a fourth logical stereo output in Hauptwerk named 'Bass pipes', use it to drive your pair of subs, and put it in the 'Bass pipes' group. You will then have two groups: 'Bass pipes' with just the stereo pair of subs (which indirectly also drive their their attached pair of full-range speakers) in it, and the other default group with the 3 remaining stereo pairs of full-range speakers. Then when loading the organ (via the 'Organ | Load organ, adjust rank audio/memory options/routing' screen), send the bass portions of relevant ranks (perhaps those below 8' C) to the 'Bass pipes' group, and everything else to the default group.