How to hookup my speakers?

The_Dude

The_Dude

New Member
I'll get straight to the point, I have two of these bad boys:

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/StudiophileBX8aDeluxe.html

I bought these powered speakers solely for music production, but now I just want to chill to music on iTunes without having to use these crappy little speakers I'm using now.

The problem is that I don't have the correct chords? Maybe they aren't even compatible in the first place? Perhaps I need some sort of adapter?

I have a digital interface (Mbox2) that I use for recording/mixing/etc, which allows me to use them with Pro Tools.

But I need to know if I can hook them up to my computer for general purpose use. Thanks in advance!
 
IBEPCWIZ said:
Whats your cords look like?...
Click to expand...

wmjl3s.jpg


TRS & XLR? Hell, I don't know the first thing about chords.
 
The XLR port is what is used for the standard microphone cables. As for the TRS, I can't tell exactly what type of interface that is, hopefully someone can help you out with that one... Let me see what I can find to convert the connections to a standard mini or RCA port.
 
The_Dude said:
TRS & XLR? Hell, I don't know the first thing about chords.
Click to expand...


No problem. This can be done easily and you have two options. But first, some definitions.

TRS stands for Tip Ring Sleeve. It is a balanced 1/4" jack. You might also consider it a "stereo" connector if you are using it for an unbalanced stereo connection. The connector looks like this:

TRS.jpg

XLR is also a balanced connector typically used in professional audio gear. As DCIScouts pointed out earlier, it is commonly used in microphone connections. It can also be used to connect many other kinds of audio equipment.


So, your options for using your monitors for computer output are:

1) Hook your speakers up to your MBox's main outputs. Connect your MBox to your computer, and then select the Digidesign ASIO audio out. This directs your computer's audio out through the MBox and thus through your new monitors.

2) As DCIScouts was suggesting, you can get and adapter to take the audio out from your computer's sound card and plug your speakers in direct. Warning, you will have a lot more control over your audio levels if you go through the MBox. Also, you won't have to swap cables around, you will just have to change your audio output settings on your computer. You can choose whichever is the more convenient.

Now, if you do want to do option two, I suggest getting a stereo 1/8" inch to 1/4" cable or adapter. Then you can use a 1/4" y-cable to connect your computer's audio output to each speaker. Here are some examples of what I am talking about:

Mini to 1/4" stereo adapter: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GMP112/

Stereo 1/4" to dual 1/4" y-cable: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/IPBQ2Q5/


Or you could always make your own cables too. :)
 
It is just a cabling issue. The TRS jack is a 1/4" phono. The mini jacks on the sound card are stereo so you need cable with a mini stereo male to a pair of 1/4" male. I would think a place like monoprice.com should have what you need.
 
Zatharus said:
No problem. This can be done easily and you have two options. But first, some definitions.

TRS stands for Tip Ring Sleeve. It is a balanced 1/4" jack. You might also consider it a "stereo" connector if you are using it for an unbalanced stereo connection. The connector looks like this:

View attachment 3072

XLR is also a balanced connector typically used in professional audio gear. As DCIScouts pointed out earlier, it is commonly used in microphone connections. It can also be used to connect many other kinds of audio equipment.


So, your options for using your monitors for computer output are:

1) Hook your speakers up to your MBox's main outputs. Connect your MBox to your computer, and then select the Digidesign ASIO audio out. This directs your computer's audio out through the MBox and thus through your new monitors.

2) As DCIScouts was suggesting, you can get and adapter to take the audio out from your computer's sound card and plug your speakers in direct. Warning, you will have a lot more control over your audio levels if you go through the MBox. Also, you won't have to swap cables around, you will just have to change your audio output settings on your computer. You can choose whichever is the more convenient.

Now, if you do want to do option two, I suggest getting a stereo 1/8" inch to 1/4" cable or adapter. Then you can use a 1/4" y-cable to connect your computer's audio output to each speaker. Here are some examples of what I am talking about:

Mini to 1/4" stereo adapter: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GMP112/

Stereo 1/4" to dual 1/4" y-cable: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/IPBQ2Q5/


Or you could always make your own cables too. :)
Click to expand...

Sorry it took so long to reply, as I've been quite busy lately, but thank you everyone for the help. Since I'm broke, this is the route I'm gonna' go:

"1) Hook your speakers up to your MBox's main outputs. Connect your MBox to your computer, and then select the Digidesign ASIO audio out. This directs your computer's audio out through the MBox and thus through your new monitors."

But where is this Digidesign ASIO audio out option? Here is what I did (I'm on XP home, btw):

My computer > Control panel > Sounds and audio devices > Audio > Default device for sound playback: Mbox2 Chan 1 & 2

Yet it fails to playback anything... What am I doing wrong, here? Thanks again, y'all.
 
That should be working. Are you speakers on and the volume turned up on the MBox?

It sounds like you already have ProTools and the drivers installed fine.
 
Zatharus said:
That should be working. Are you speakers on and the volume turned up on the MBox?

It sounds like you already have ProTools and the drivers installed fine.
Click to expand...

Everything's perfect. I've been using PT for years on my Macbook, and never thought twice about using these speakers for anything other than recording since I used my headphones 99% of the time for general purpose use...

just can't seem to get any playback on this damn PC.

The green lights on my Mbox are on. The blue lights on my monitors are on. But more importantly, the computer is recognizing the fact that it's connected... how obnoxious. :rolleyes:
 
You don't have PT open do you? You can only use the MBox when PT is not using it.

Also, where are you Monitor and Mix dials set? Keep in mind that if you have Mix set all the way over to input, you will not hear any playback from the computer.
 
OK, I just re-installed everything and they are actually working now... somewhat.

Atrocious quality would be an immense understatement... Are they honestly too powerful for my computer??? Do I need to upgrade my audio card??? I really have no idea what to do, and I cannot afford to waste money on something that won't fix this problem. :(

Seriously, the music I'm listening to at the moment is just unbearable, and I'm turning it off now until I get this figured out.

Also, why do they only work with iTunes? I just tried watching a video on youtube, and no sound came through whatsoever. I'm using the latest Firefox, so is there something in the preferences that I should alter & am simply overlooking? This is so obnoxious. :(

Should I just buy that adapter? Would that make the quality worth listening to?
 
Last edited:
Zatharus said:
Atrocious quality?? What are you experiencing?
Click to expand...

The sound is just horrendous, really. It was unbearable, so I plugged my crappy speakers back in. :(

Plus, they wouldn't play music & videos from the internet... only my default music player.
 
That's strange... Was it distorted or stuttering?

You could still plug your speakers direct into your computer as suggested before.
 
You can just use the mbox as the soundcard - there's a driver download on digi's site. After installing it you just select it in control panel.
 
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