After sequencing and playing the Machinedrum with everything Panned center, monitoring with a single speaker connected to the left output, i suddenly realised that the right stereo buss could be used for previewing. In particular, for gigs or when recording/improvising a live mix in the studio.
It’s a monophonic mix essentially, but that is what most clubs are wired for anyway. Not using stereo panning does help with simplifying the process of balancing volumes and equalisation adjustments of the musical elements. A film soundtrack would almost certainly require a stereo spectrum, but for clubs and venues, i think that for some people a mono mix could be more than adequate.
The most simple scenario of how the Monaural Previewing System works is:
-
Connect the left TRS to the dj mixer or to a connection provided by the front of house guy.
-
Function-twirl the Pan rotary on the Machinedrum’s Routing screen to the left, so all tracks are hard-panned left.
-
Press play.
-
Connect headphones to the right TRS socket of the Machinedrum (not to the Headphone socket).
-
Whatever sound and sequence is required, it is possible to preview the makings of that through the Headphones by panning the track being worked on 100 percent to the right. It will then only sound through the headphones and not through the live sound system.
//
Further Details
A Ctrl8P machine could be used for multiple track panning. Also the option to access the filter base and width of tracks for filter style mixing.
Shift-Mute for multiple muting/unmuting of tracks in Mute mode may be of help for smooth/tight transitions, changes, mixing.
Use a Ram Record machine similarly to stream incoming audio through the left TRS Master Output socket to the P.A. or pan it hard right to preview the incoming audio to the headphones.
To use both Audio Inputs of the Machinedrum effectively, use two Ram Record machines and set the Synthesis Screen Input Balance hard-panned left for the first audio input, and hard-panned right for the second audio input.
The Ram Record machines both will require a tap to make them active.
Remember to turn up the Cue1 to at least midday for both of them (whilst keeping the MLev set to zero thereby avoiding feedback)…
As with the other tracks, use the Routing screen’s Pan setting to preview the audio on the right TRS output or play it live through the left TRS output.
Something to note: if the Machinedrum’s Echo is being used, either set it to mono in the Master FX screen, or set the value to zero when previewing the track. Panning a track hard-right will send the signal to the headphones only, but if the Echo is stereo, then some signal is still going to the left TRS output.
Also to mention: at a loud gig the headphones most likely will require sound reinforcement via a spare track on the dj mixer or by simply using a headphone amp to boost the signal before it reaches the headphones.