Audio Monitoring - Mixing Bench

Palmer Monicon Passive Monitor Controller.

The Palmer Monicon monitor controller is used to select what audio source to listen to and to adjust the volume.

• The big black knob is used to set the volume
• Input Selection buttons:
  • 1 (Stereo) = Outputs 1 and 2 of the Apollo x8 audio interface
  • 2 (Aux) = Currently not used
• Mono: press down to monitor in mono.
• Mute: turns the volume all the way off.
• Dim: pressing the button lowers the volume by 20dB
• Output Selection: Leave set to 1, which is connected to the nearfield speakers. Output 2 is not connected to anything.

Speaker Levels

The Palmer Monicon is used to control the speaker levels

1. Start with the output level down
   • The large black knob is turned all the way to the left
2. Set the Input Selection button for 1 (Stereo) to select the Apollo 8x output.
3. Start playing sound in an application.
4. Slowly turn the black knob to the right to increase the volume.
5. If nothing is coming out of the speakers, double check that Output Selection is set to 1, and make sure the Mute button is not pressed.

Headphone Levels

There are two different ways to listen to headphones in the Mixing Benches: via the headphone amplifier on the Palmer Monicon, or via one of the headphone amplifiers on the front panel of the Apollo x8. Using the Monicon's headphone amp simply brings the main output of the computer directly to headphones. On the other hand, the headphone amplifiers on the x8 only output audio as a cue send to the Apollo's "Monitor L/R" output. This can only be done when using a DAW such as Pro Tools or Ableton; the computer's main output from, for example, a web browser, will not come out of these headphone amps.

When using the Palmer Monicon:

1. Turn the black output level knob down on the Palmer Monicon monitor controller.
   • The knob is turned all the way to the left (counter-clockwise)
2. Turn the headphone volume down
   • Locate the headphone jack on the front of the Palmer Monicon.
   • There is a dedicated headphone volume control to the right of the larger main volume control.
   • Start with the knob turned all the way to the left (counter-clockwise).
3. Connect headphones to the headphone jack on the Palmer Monicon.
4. Slowly turn the headphone volume knob to the right (clockwise) to increase the volume.

When using the Apollo x8:

1. Turn the black output level knob down on the Palmer Monicon monitor controller. 
2. Turn the headphone volume all the way down.
   • Locate the headphone jack on the front of the Apollo x8.
   • There are two headphones jacks labeled HP 1 and HP 2.
   • Turn the knob to the left (counter-clockwise) in order to bring the headphone volume down all the way.
3. Connect headphones to the headphone jack on the Apollo x8.
4. Slowly turn the headphone volume knob to the right (clockwise) to increase the volume.

The exact method of routing audio to the Apollo x8's headphone outputs depends on the recording software being used. For detailed instructions, visit one or more of the links below:

Recording with a Microphone to Ableton Live - Mixing Bench

Recording with a Microphone to Adobe Audition - Mixing Bench

Recording with a Microphone to Adobe Audition Waveform Editor - Mixing Bench

Recording with a microphone to Pro Tools - Mixing Bench