Using an audio interface to route tracks

Taylorburns

Hi all
I'm trying to use the multitrack function to route a click track to our drummer's headphones with the other tracks playing over the main output. I understand that to do this I need to connect an audio interface to my iPad (4th gen Pro iOS15), so that I can send the click track via Stage Traxx aux output (although I'm not totally sure if this is the best way of going about it).

When I connect my Scarlett 18i8 (2nd gen), Stage Traxx recognises it fine. However, the app becomes unusable - everything is very latent, and the multitrack doesn't play. If I unplug the interface, everything returns to normal.

So I guess I have two questions really - is an audio interface the best/only way to go about using a click track? And am I doing something wrong with the interface or is it a Stage Traxx issue?

Any help is greatly appreciated. I'm new to app and although it seems like exactly what I need, I am struggling with this aspect of it - I think a YouTube tutorial on the multitrack function would be really helpful.

peter

It could be related to the sample rate you have setup in the 18i8. Try to stick with 44 or 48kHz. Using 96kHz could stress an iPad too much.

I have tested with a Behringer XR18 and did not see any performance issues. Both with 44kHz and 48kHz.

Do you maybe have a simple 2 channel interface available? Or even the lightning earphone adapter? Does this work without performance issues?

Regarding the routing: You are correct in assuming that the AUX bus could/should be used for example for the click track. The idea is to have all tracks routed to AUX that need a seperate output. If you then have an interface connected you can route the AUX bus to a seperate output.

Mark2020

peter

I have upgraded to 8.3.1 and Stagetraxx is still not recognizing my Scarlet 18i8 interface. I'm Running Catalina. My older mac running Monterey works perfectly. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling, restarting the computer...what else can I do?

thanks, Mark

Taylorburns

I have the sample rate set to 44. I have an old Presonus Audiobox interface which I also tried - the app seemed to work OK with that connected. However, that interface doesn't have any output routing options so I don't think it will help for this purpose.

I'm happy to buy a simple interface if needs be. Was thinking something like the M Audio M Track would suit? Is there anything you've tested?

Incidentally, have you considered adding a click track function, so you don't have to insert a dedicated track? Given what Stage Traxx can do already, I would have thought a click track would be at the easier end of the spectrum...

Thanks very much for a great app and for being so helpful. This is the first time I've tried to get a band using backing tracks and it's great but just need to solve this one thing!

peter

Taylorburns I'm happy to buy a simple interface if needs be. Was thinking something like the M Audio M Track would suit? Is there anything you've tested?

I have tested following USB interface setups:

Lightning to Headphone adapter
M-Audio M-Track Hub
Behringer X18
Behringer X32
Yamaha MODX

All of these devices work without problems. I am sure other users can add more devices to this list.

What did not work so well was:

Soundcraft Notepad-8FX: needed a powered USB hub and did have occasional crackles (could be caused by the hub I used, I did not invest much time searching for the cause)

peter

Actually your Presonus interface might work quite well for your purpose. Just enable the Combine USB & Headphone Outputs option. Then you can route the main output to the Presonus and the Aux to the headphones. That would be the cheapest option for your. An even smaller footprint would be to use the lightning headphone adapter as one output and the iPad headphone socket as another.

I do get the click request now and then but the problem I see is that without a proper beatgrid it is not possible to fit a clicktrack to the playback. Most playbacks don't start right away with the downbeat. So just playing a click with a certain tempo will most certainly be off from the start. Even if you add a delay at the beginning, it would run out of sync quickly on slight speed variations.

But, I have looping functionality planned in 2022 and that also requires a good beatgrid implementation. So once that works, adding a click will be quite easy.

Taylorburns

I have spent a fair bit of time trying out your suggestions but haven't had any luck. With Combine USB & Headphones switched on, it only lets me route both the main and auxiliary output to the headphones output - the USB option does not appear in the 'Select Output' menu. When I switch Combine USB & Headphones off, the main and auxiliary switch over to USB, but there is no headphone option. With the Presonus interface using the Combine option, I do get the option to route to either the headphones or USB, but it doesn't work - tracks routed to Aux do not generate sound from the headphones.

peter

When the combine option is active, you will only see your interface output when it is connected. As long as no interface is connected you will only see the headphones output.

I have just tried this setup with version 3.4.5 with a M-Track Hub interface and it works as expected. Track 1 routed to Main and Track 2 to Aux. Main and Aux are sent to the selected devices (headphones and usb interface).

Can you attach a screenshot of the routing screen and a screenshot of the multitrack screen of your song?

SAM60

Hello Peter,
I would like to use multitrack with the combined USB & Headphone Outputs mode. My backing Track in Main Output headphone output to headphones and an Auxiliary 1 click to USB with a USB lighting cable. The problem is that the USB lighting cable does not appear. I only have one choice: headphones. Is there a special configuration or maybe it's just not possible. My cable is new and works very well. Thank you in advance and good day . Sam (France Paris)

Riff

If you are using Windows, what driver are you using for the Scarlett 18i8?

peter

See my answer in the other thread: https://support.stagetraxx.com/d/2001-multitrack-combine-usb-headphone-outputs/2

peter

Catalina uses some generated names for you audio interface. These names start with "CADefaultDeviceAggreaget....". But it is always the current interface selected in macOS. So sound should come out of your Scarlett interface.

johnhorning

Hi Peter, thanks for your replies in this forum. I'm using the following equipment:
-MacBook Pro with Sonoma 14.1
-Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 (2nd Gen)
-StageTraxx 3 Ver 3.8.3

The Scarlett is connected to the MacBook Pro via USB.

When I select Settings>Audio Routing only "MacBook Pro Speakers" is an option for stereo songs and multitracks. My Scarlett interface is not recognized as a possible output device.

Is it possible to route multitrack outputs through the Scarlett 2i4 to make use of its 4-output capability into my mixer?

Thank you.

Damir

johnhorning have you tried changing the audio out in the operating system first I assume ST3 would then see that as the main output being the default.

johnhorning

Damir Damir, Thank you! I think that was it. I failed to double-check the master OS system setting for Audio out. Thank you!

peter

Yeah, unfortunately universal apps like Stage Traxx are not able to switch to an audio interface on their own. They can only use the system audio output.