Make MOTU M6 LINE OUT mirror MONITOR outputs?

[jferments]

I recently just got myself a MOTU M6 audio interface.

I have the following setup:

* Synthesizers (Behringer Neutron, Hydrasynth, and Dreadbox Typhon) and Microphone (via Zoom V6 vocal FX pedal) connected to a Mackie Mix-8 mixer.
* Output from this mixer goes to LINE IN on my MOTU M6 audio interface.
* Stereo monitor speakers are connected to MONITOR outputs of M6 interface.
* MPC One output is connected as input to the M6 interface
* MPC One inputs are connected to the LINE OUT outputs of the M6, so that I can sample from the synthesizers and microphone.

What I was hoping would happen is that the LINE OUT would be able to mirror the MONITOR outputs. I am hearing audio on my monitor speakers but I am getting no signal on the LINE OUT (so I can't sample anything with the MPC). If I use "A/B" mode on the M6, then I can get a signal on the MPC, but then I can't hear anything on the monitor speakers.

Is there any way to make it so that both the MONITOR and LINE OUT on the MOTU M6 audio interface are simultaneously transmitting audio? Or if not, is there some alternative way for me to both have audio on my monitor speakers AND sample the audio output from the interface on my MPC? Is there some sort of "signal splitter" that can share the output signal between my stereo monitors and my MPC inputs (sorry, I'm an audio mixing noob, so I don't know if this makes sense)?

Thanks!

 

[AnalogSteph]

Try plugging the MPC ONE input into the Mix-8's CR OUT or TAPE OUT instead and see how that works for you. (Consider swapping with MAIN OUT if that's any better.)

Routing the synths through the interface first before going to the sampler seems needlessly complicated to me when you don't actually need to sample anything coming out of the computer.

If you do need to split audio inside the computer, that's generally a task for the channel routing matrix in your DAW. The M6 drivers do not sport any such facilities. You're not the first to ask either:

M6 - same output signal on output 1/2 and 3/4 possible? - MOTUnation.com

 

[jferments]

Thanks!

The reason I didn't want to sample from CR OUT on the MIX-8 is that I want to be able to sample all of the devices going through the audio interface, not just the mixer. I was using the Mix-8 mixer to group several instruments together, but I am about to add two more synths on another mixer (Dreadbox Typhon + Artemis) and I also plan to sample from my electric guitar. This additional mixer will be connected to the audio interface, as well as the guitar. I want the MPC to be able to sample from all of these.

Also, ideally I WOULD eventually like to also be able to sample audio from the computer via the interface (e.g. taking audio clips from the Internet, my DAW, VSTs, etc)

So these are all the reasons I was hoping to connect the MPC to the interface rather than just this one synth/mic mixer ...

If this really isn't possible with the M6, I am bummed, because this is one of the primary reasons that I bought it -- i.e. I thought that the LINE OUT could actually put out audio at the same time as the MONITOR outputs. I don't understand what the point is of having the extra outputs if you can't actually use them simultaneously

Is there a device that I could use to split the MONITOR outputs on the M6 to go to two places without significant signal loss? Or, since the M6 was bought recently enough that I can still return it, is there a mixer in the same price range that has the ability to have multiple stereo outputs that I can actually use at the same time?

 

[AnalogSteph]

I don't understand what the point is of having the extra outputs if you can't actually use them simultaneously

Well, I mean, you can, the hardware and drivers just don't have a matrix mixer that would allow you to duplicate a channel pair. If your DAW can't do that, you would have to use external software such as VB-Audio Matrix (if that doesn't do it, I don't know what will).

Is there a device that I could use to split the MONITOR outputs on the M6 to go to two places without significant signal loss?

That's not actually what you want - the sampler output should obviously not be reflecting any changes you are making to monitor volume. (In classic hi-fi terms, you want a constant-level tape out for the sampler and a variable pre out for the monitors.)

Or, since the M6 was bought recently enough that I can still return it, is there a mixer in the same price range that has the ability to have multiple stereo outputs that I can actually use at the same time?

For all the quirks of the old Focusrite Forte that I'm using for measurements, I never had an issue routing a channel pair to whatever combination of output pairs I wanted. So I guess take a look at the Scarlett 18i16 4th gen. If you don't need to plug more than 1 mic and 1 guitar directly into the interface, the cheaper 16i16 may well do. Or if you want some better analog stages that can take higher levels, consider a Clarett+ 4Pre which isn't outrageously more expensive (though it looks like the phantom power supply may be quirky).

Using the Focusrite Control 2 Mixer tab