no MX02 in Sound Preferences?
by peter tooke
on
Nov 4, 2009 at 10:07:22 pm
For some reason the MX02 does not show up in my system SOUND PREFERENCES...It does show up as its own icon in the system preferences, where I was able to set my system up and successfully capture video & audio input via HDMI, so that seems to function properly.
But now I am trying to set my computer up for 5.1 surround monitoring and while I can specify the MX02 in Soundtrack Pro & Audio MIDI device setup, just not in system preferences for sound. Advice appreciated-
MX02
Macbook Pro 2.53ghz
Mac OSX 10.6.1 / FCStudio 3
Re: no MX02 in Sound Preferences? by Andy Mees on Nov 5, 2009 at 12:56:46 am
>am trying to set my computer up for 5.1 surround monitoring
Sorry Peter
The MXO2 is not a general purpose computer audio device and doesn't identify itself as such to the system. It's drivers support the V-OUT quicktime component and when you're working app's or system tools that use that component then you should have no problems.
Re: no MX02 in Sound Preferences? by peter tooke on Nov 5, 2009 at 8:30:20 pm
hi andy,
hmm… i think this is more than just a value added feature. somehow i missed this pertinent [& critical at least to me] fact in the promo material for this product. it certainly seems implied.
I even asked, or thought i was asking..., about it on this forum back in the summer when first considering the purchase. The ability to have direct 5.1 surround outs is important ( if not, then LE a better deal...) so I enquired whether it would work in Soundtrack Pro & show up there as an audio i/o device and I received what still seems a yes. Now I am still trying to figure it all out, but appears the answer to that question is both yes and no.
Because even in Soundtrack Pro, an approved V-Out QT app, there are some big gotchas: the 5.1 surround does play out from the MX02 RCA direct outs when there is a video attached, but say you want to work on one of the clips( which is the whole point of being in STP in the first place, right?) & you remove / isolate / edit a track that is no longer/not yet connected to a video sequence, then there is no sound out of the speakers! Instead the audio out defaults to the computer's built-in speakers, which is pretty useless. That is if I indeed have gotten it right, so if I haven't I'm all ears and glad to learn how to make it work in Soundtrack Pro.
I wonder how difficult it would be to add this functionality via a software update to existing units? Anyway, I will take your advice about the suggestions box...
thanks,
peter
Re: no MX02 in Sound Preferences? by Andy Mees on Nov 5, 2009 at 11:55:17 pm
Hey Peter
Sorry, I'm not a STP boffin nor a 5.1 guy , I don't have a lot of experience to offer in this regard, but not discounting your request for general purpose audio support, it does seems like this particular issue is with STP itself, rather than the MXO2. Case in point: if I add/open audio only clips in FCP then they play out through my MXO2 without issue because the v-out support is pervasive ... if STP is not doing this whilst advertising that it does (and switching active outputs dependent on the clip) then that seems a bit inconsistent and buggy. You've probably been down this road already. looking for a workable solution to the immediate problem within STP itself, perhaps you can create and thereafter add a dummy video track (slug) to your project? Might be worth digging for suggestions on the STP fora too, see if anyone else has figured something out already (if you haven' yet done so). I'd also strongly suggest dropping your feedback regarding inconsistent v-out support to the STP dev team over on the Apple feedback site: http://www.apple.com/feedback/soundtrack.html
In the meantime, I'll also add my comments to Matrox regarding general purpose audio support.
Re: no MX02 in Sound Preferences? by peter tooke on Nov 6, 2009 at 12:43:59 am
hey andy-
well, its all getting more technical than i care to pursue, just want to get back to work.
My old blackmagic card showed up in my Sound Preferences and I assume most other video i/os do as well. I keep thinking there must be some cost-related reason Matrox didn't include this functionality in the MX02, but then again there are scores of very inexpensive FW interfaces that do show up there and don't bug out SoundtrackPro... for the record, this particular issue doesn't happen with a $200 Saffire FW interface.
Anyway, posted a request to the STP feedback site.
you are a gentleman, your earnest help admired and appreciated-
best,
p
