10
2 Connecting to a Computer
2.5 FireWire Sends and Returns
StudioLive
™
Software Library
Reference Manual
Power User Tip: Note that either channel of the stereo pair can still be accessed
on a mono track in your host application; only the routing must be assigned as a
stereo pair. For instance, if you have a backing-vocal group routed to Subgroup 1
and a guitar group routed to Subgroup 2, you would create two mono tracks in
your recording application. The track whose input is assigned to Subgroup 1 will
record the backing-vocal group, and the track whose input is assigned to Subgroup
2 will record the guitar group. If, however, you have a stereo drum group assigned
to Subgroups 3-4, you can create a stereo track in your recording application
and assign its input to Subgroups 3 and 4. For more information on subgroup
mixing, please see Section 4.5 in the StudioLive 24.4.2/16.4.2 Owner’s Manual.
The obvious exception to this principle is the Talkback Mic input. In this instance, the
same signal will be printed on both sides of the send. In your recording software, you can
create a mono track and assign it to either side of the stereo FireWire send to which it is
routed. Both FireWire sends receive the same mono signal from the talkback mic preamp.
Please note that you have access to both the internal effects-send group and
the effects returns. If you record an internal effects send (Aux Sends A and
B), you will capture the unprocessed (“dry”) mix of the channels being sent
to that internal effects bus. To record the processed mix, choose the internal
effects returns (FX Return A or FX Return B). This is the direct output from
the internal effects, so it will be 100% wet. You may wish to record both the
dry and the wet mix so that you can blend them to taste in your session.
As discussed in Section 4.1.5 of the StudioLive 24.4.2/16.4.2 Owner’s
Manual, the Dig Out button is not operable for the subgroups, main
outputs, aux bus, internal FX returns, and aux inputs. The subgroups, main
outputs, and aux inputs are also sent post-fader to their FireWire sends.
Section 3.7.1 discusses how to select the sources for
these auxiliary stereo FireWire sends.
2.5.3 FireWire Returns
Each StudioLive input is hard-coded to receive its respective FireWire return. Outputs
1 through 24/16 in your recording application route these playback streams to their
respective channels on the StudioLive (that is, the software’s Output 1 always goes to
StudioLive Channel 1 FireWire Return and so on). Once you route a track in your
recording application to play through one of these outputs, it will always be
accessible on its channel by simply pressing the FireWire return button.
Power User Tip: It is important to think of your FireWire returns and your analog inputs
in the same way. When a FireWire return is engaged, it replaces the analog input in the
mix. You can process it in the Fat Channel, include in it Aux mixes, and send it to an FX mix.
StudioLive 16.0.2 Owners: As discussed in Section 4.5 of the StudioLive
16.0.2 Owner’s Manual, you must first engage FireWire Return mode before
you are able to use the MultiMode buttons to engage/disengage a FireWire
return on a channel. The FireWire returns to the stereo channels behave
just as the analog inputs do. So if you have Channel 11/12 unlinked, only
FireWire Return 11 will be heard on that channel. Once you engage Stereo
Link for Channel 11/12, FireWire Returns 11 and 12 will both be heard.
