Stereo input from GuitarJack 2

How to use MultiTrack DAW
Tburgueso
Posts: 2
Joined: June 28th, 9:54 am

Stereo input from GuitarJack 2

Post by Tburgueso »

Hello – when using the 1/8" input on the Sonoma Wireworks GuitarJack 2, one uses their "control panels" (which set parameters in the H/W which are then "sticky" until changed) to indicate whether that input will be used as a mono, stereo (levels tied together), or dual (independent levels), the last requiring the use of an insert "Y" cable to supply the physical gazzintas. Their S/W can make appropriate use of any of the 3 input models, though in the last two cases, the two input sources are assigned to separate mono channel strips; their recording apps don't have the abstraction of a stereo channel strip. (Their S/W actually seems to support a 4th usage model, which is two independent mono sources, one from the 1/4" jack, and the second from the 1/8" jack, used in its mono mode.)

I'd like to use the GuitarJack to capture stereo input from a 2-capsule stereo condenser microphone, and print that to a MultiTrack DAW stereo track. However, so far, I can't get this to work; the GuitarJack is seen as a mono input source, regardless of how the NVRAM switches in the device have been set by the Sonoma S/W. I am missing something? (I've just gotten both the Sonoma device, and the MultiTrack app, so this is certainly possible.) Are they using a "members only" private API to determine the state of the device, so that MultiTrack can't tell anything about it, beyond knowing that there's a generic USB audio device present?

If this is a question which has already come up, please point me to the thread. I looked for something relevant, but didn't see anything. Otherwise, if anyone knows that what I'm attempting can be done, or can not be done, I'll thank you in advance for that knowledge.

Paul
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pwnified
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Joined: August 17th, 9:41 pm

Re: Stereo input from GuitarJack 2

Post by pwnified »

On the GuitarJack model 2, I don't think it can be seen as anything but stereo. In other words, when switching the impedance switches and gain in the Sonoma control panel, it doesn't change the USB topology. So it's always seen by apps as a stereo USB device. In MultiTrack, the IN input meter should show 2 columns, and you should be able to select Mono 1, 2, or Stereo with the selector on the large ARM button.

It might be necessary to plug the unit in while a song is open in MultiTrack.
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Tburgueso
Posts: 2
Joined: June 28th, 9:54 am

Re: Stereo input from GuitarJack 2

Post by Tburgueso »

It works fine. In fact, I can't figure out what to do to see the unwanted behavior I started this thread with. (I'd like to know what I did wrong, so I can avoid getting into the same state in the future.) I haven't explored all the input models which the H/W device supports, but — for the one I currently care about — I'm in business. Thanks for the help.

Paul
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pwnified
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Joined: August 17th, 9:41 pm

Re: Stereo input from GuitarJack 2

Post by pwnified »

If the "Speaker Out" in the Menu (on iPhone) is ON, it might override the GuitarJack (or any other audio interface) by switching back to internal. So it might have been that.
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DonGateley
Posts: 6
Joined: September 1st, 8:50 pm

Re: Stereo input from GuitarJack 2

Post by DonGateley »

There are couple tricks I've found to getting GJ2 work well with MultiTrack DAW so I thought I'd give folks a heads up.

It is required that you simultaneously use another app with MTD which contains controls for the GJ2 and switch between that app and MTD with the IOS task switcher. I'm doing it on a iPod Touch G4 with IOS 5.1.1.

The auxiliary app I use is the free Taylor EQ from Sonoma, the maker of GJ2. Within it I turn the actual app off on the main "Basic" menu and then use the GuitarJack page for input configuration and gain control and the "More->Mixer" page for some other important controls. More->Mixer shows the "Monitor Level" which sets the level of the input that will be fed to the output by hardware. I don't want any for what I'm doing. There is an input compressor control that I haven't checked out because I want it raw.

There is an "Enable iPod Playthrough" switch. If you want to control the input level while MTD is playing a partial mix there is a problem with the default Taylor EQ state in that output from MTD is suppressed when you switch to Taylor EQ for control. Setting the playthrough switch "on" corrects that obnoxious behavior and lets MTD continue playing while you get levels right.

Last and most important is that if you switch back to MTD from any Taylor EQ page but the "Basic" page your GJ2 settings are reset to default. This is a bug. Retention of settings requires return from the "Basic" page.

With the above in mind you can completely control the GJ2 while using it with MTD. The hardware of the GJ2 is absolutely incredible. Remarkably flat, quiet and linear according to measurements I've done and those are about all the things that are important. The hardware is 24 bit but the apps need updating to utilize it. This can be useful especially for low sensitivity mics like an SM58.
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pwnified
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Re: Stereo input from GuitarJack 2

Post by pwnified »

Thanks Don for pointing out the Input Fader bug. But more importantly, thanks for finding a workaround! The GuitarJack 2 is a very high quality device, they did a great job with the digital controlling analog components.

BTW, MultiTrack is already 24 bit and won't need updating, once Sonoma releases the GuitarJack 2 firmware upgrade for 24 bit (which will hopefully fix the input fader bug as well). Their other bug (Settings not retained) sounds like it just needs an app update to Taylor EQ, or FourTrack).
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DonGateley
Posts: 6
Joined: September 1st, 8:50 pm

Re: Stereo input from GuitarJack 2

Post by DonGateley »

pwnified wrote:Thanks Don for pointing out the Input Fader bug.
That may be a Sonoma bug; it's not clear. They indicate that they might be releasing another app that does nothing but control the GJ2 so it will be more natural to use with apps like yours than using an app designed for another purpose. Using the IOS switcher to go back and forth between MTD and their app for control could be made really painless and might be the best long term solution for them to support arbitrary recording apps.

Hint: If you are jailbroken and have Cydia you can get the "Activator" tweak that lets you map functions to buttons and gestures. I have it set so that a long hold on the button opens switcher below the active screen which makes it really convenient to jump back and forth between apps or to kill running apps that are interfering.

One more time; I just love this app. Been using it all day recording with tiny eardrum mics the responses of my large collection of 'phones to a sinusoidal sweep and it is by far the most convenient and accurate method I have found for doing this tedious task.