Control Room/Talkback/Cue options Missing

[Voyetra99]

I was able to get a good amount of good suggestions on my last post, so I figured I'd run this question by the group. I'm a Long Time Cubase user, but did like the potential improvement in sound when mixing in Luna. A couple of things make me hesitant to make a switch. Thought maybe I can ask here for clarification.

1. When using a 3rd party interface, do you actually loose all the control room functionality? I cannot for the life of me find a way to toggle between my main monitors and headphones/secondary near field set. I've scoured the internet, but have not been able to find any concrete info on the control room missing and if this is a byproduct of not having an Apollo interface. I cannot imagine there is no way to toggle between Monitors and headphones, particularly since you can set up the outputs as Cue Mixes.

2. If no Control room, is there some way to trigger talk back?

3. Does Anyone have any experience with the Qcon Pro G2 and Luna? Or are there any other control surfaces that would be recommended.

I did see one production video where Stems were exported out from a main mixing session, (I think he used ProTools in this case), and then just imported those 3-5 stems into Luna to get some of the warmth from the API or Neve Summing. Does anyone use Luna complete from start to finish, recording to mixing, and what has the experience been compared to other DAWs?

 

[UniversalAudio]

I was able to get a good amount of good suggestions on my last post, so I figured I'd run this question by the group. I'm a Long Time Cubase user, but did like the potential improvement in sound when mixing in Luna. A couple of things make me hesitant to make a switch. Thought maybe I can ask here for clarification.

1. When using a 3rd party interface, do you actually loose all the control room functionality? I cannot for the life of me find a way to toggle between my main monitors and headphones/secondary near field set. I've scoured the internet, but have not been able to find any concrete info on the control room missing and if this is a byproduct of not having an Apollo interface. I cannot imagine there is no way to toggle between Monitors and headphones, particularly since you can set up the outputs as Cue Mixes.

2. If no Control room, is there some way to trigger talk back?

3. Does Anyone have any experience with the Qcon Pro G2 and Luna? Or are there any other control surfaces that would be recommended.

I did see one production video where Stems were exported out from a main mixing session, (I think he used ProTools in this case), and then just imported those 3-5 stems into Luna to get some of the warmth from the API or Neve Summing. Does anyone use Luna complete from start to finish, recording to mixing, and what has the experience been compared to other DAWs?

When using LUNA in core audio mode, you can use Console with it like you would with any app.

 

[Voyetra99]

When using LUNA in core audio mode, you can use Console with it like you would with any app.

I thought this might be the case, but not exactly sure what this means, or How it works. So in Core Audio Mode, I'd need to make configurations via the Console app? for like cue selection and talkback, not in Luna?

 

[UniversalAudio]

I thought this might be the case, but not exactly sure what this means, or How it works. So in Core Audio Mode, I'd need to make configurations via the Console app? for like cue selection and talkback, not in Luna?

Yes.

 

[Voyetra99]

Yes.

Please forgive my ignorance, but would you be able to elaborate? Or point me in the direction of where I can pull up particulars on how to do this. When I open console, I don't see the Cues I have set up in Luna. I see nothing that points to any of those outputs on my Motu device. Only Apollo interfaces. I'm certain I'm looking in the wrong place. Vids and documentation I've found seems to point to instructions prior to UA opening up 3rd party interface support.

 

[UniversalAudio]

Please forgive my ignorance, but would you be able to elaborate? Or point me in the direction of where I can pull up particulars on how to do this. When I open console, I don't see the Cues I have set up in Luna. I see nothing that points to any of those outputs on my Motu device. Only Apollo interfaces. I'm certain I'm looking in the wrong place. Vids and documentation I've found seems to point to instructions prior to UA opening up 3rd party interface support.

When using it in Core Audio mode, you don't get the low latency Cues like you do with an Apollo. I was only referring to Mon level and talkback.

 

[Voyetra99]

When using it in Core Audio mode, you don't get the low latency Cues like you do with an Apollo. I was only referring to Mon level and talkback.

Ok, so here is where I'm confused. In the Luna settings, in Core Audio Mode, you can choose your main outs, along with 4 or 5 cue outs...Yet, I see no way of switching between these other outs...The talkback is not a big deal as the Motu Software interface has an option to trigger that...But I would need to figure out how to switch between Main Monitors and Headphones. I can't imagine that this is not an option unless you're using an Apollo...There has to be a switching mechanism...I just for the life of me am not finding it.

 

[UniversalAudio]

Ok, so here is where I'm confused. In the Luna settings, in Core Audio Mode, you can choose your main outs, along with 4 or 5 cue outs...Yet, I see no way of switching between these other outs...The talkback is not a big deal as the Motu Software interface has an option to trigger that...But I would need to figure out how to switch between Main Monitors and Headphones. I can't imagine that this is not an option unless you're using an Apollo...There has to be a switching mechanism...I just for the life of me am not finding it.

You CAN use LUNA's native sends for headphones, but that's not the low latency Cues you get with Apollo.

 

[WJohnG]

Hmm, I also feel confused now.

I use LUNA in Core Audio mode so I can get inputs from more devices (Loopback, a PreSonus Studio 24c). I am able to use the Cues sends (no the regular channel sends) to target the HP and Line 3/4 outs on my Twin X.

So the routing is working, but you say this is not low-latency to the HP/Line 3/4 outs?

Here I have Cue2 to Line 3/4, which is patched to the inputs of a PreSonus HP-4 (I use the built-in HP on the Twin X as a separate HP pair with it's own correction etc)

 

[UniversalAudio]

Hmm, I also feel confused now.

I use LUNA in Core Audio mode so I can get inputs from more devices (Loopback, a PreSonus Studio 24c). I am able to use the Cues sends (no the regular channel sends) to target the HP and Line 3/4 outs on my Twin X.

So the routing is working, but you say this is not low-latency to the HP/Line 3/4 outs?

Here I have Cue2 to Line 3/4, which is patched to the inputs of a PreSonus HP-4 (I use the built-in HP on the Twin X as a separate HP pair with it's own correction etc)

View attachment 17012

Correct, you can use the cues/sends, but they're subject to the buffer and are not as low latency as using Cues with an Apollo.

 

[AlexR]

In short when you are in Apollo mode, Luna takes control of the Hardware and its ins and out using the on-board DSP, this allows you to monitor and send to CUEs with almost zero latency.

When you are in Native mode the audio is processed by your computer CPU (just like it is in Logic or Pro-tools native)
thus leaving you to deal with roundtrip latency

 

[Voyetra99]

So, I get all this, but my question is, Assuming in Core audio Mode, using the Motu 828 Mk3, where do I find the toggle between Main Outs and what I have designated as the headphone or Cue Out? I don't see a button or switch or anything that allows the switching. Can this not be done? I'm not sue exactly what I'm missing.

 

[Voyetra99]

So for example, in Cubase, you have a control room mixer, where you can designate which outputs are Main Monitors, Headphones, and Cue Mixes. (and Talk back) Once set, you can toggle between these outputs. What I'm looking for in Luna is the toggle button.

 

[UniversalAudio]

So, I get all this, but my question is, Assuming in Core audio Mode, using the Motu 828 Mk3, where do I find the toggle between Main Outs and what I have designated as the headphone or Cue Out? I don't see a button or switch or anything that allows the switching. Can this not be done? I'm not sue exactly what I'm missing.

You cannot switch this in the software.

 

[UniversalAudio]

So for example, in Cubase, you have a control room mixer, where you can designate which outputs are Main Monitors, Headphones, and Cue Mixes. (and Talk back) Once set, you can toggle between these outputs. What I'm looking for in Luna is the toggle button.

LUNA does not have a control room section without an Apollo attached.

 

[Voyetra99]

LUNA does not have a control room section without an Apollo attached.

Ok, That's what I was wondering. Can this switch happen via the Console app? Or is there some way to change the output of the main out, or is this just not going to work having a non-Apollo interface?

 

[UniversalAudio]

Ok, That's what I was wondering. Can this switch happen via the Console app? Or is there some way to change the output of the main out, or is this just not going to work having a non-Apollo interface?

No, Console controls Apollos.

What you're asking for is what Monitor Controllers do. So you'll need an outboard one.

 

[Voyetra99]

No, Console controls Apollos.

What you're asking for is what Monitor Controllers do. So you'll need an outboard one.

I guess I've been spoiled by Cubas having, within the software, ways to switch Monitors, headphones, and talkback toggle...I just assumed that would be the case in Luna, but I suppose only if you have an Apollo interface from what I'm gathering. Maybe a furture update will add tis. I will check for a toggle in my Motu's App, and My Focusrite App for a quick way to toggle listening environment.