I’m going to start teaching a student that is getting an Alesis Nitro Max electric kit. He owns a Mac. I know he’ll need an audio interface but I was hoping to get a list of additional items and a diagram of what/where to connect so he can:
I appreciate as detailed a reply as possible. Thanks!!!
Welcome again @roger.schnur ! Kudos for taking on using JackTrip with a new student.
First things first: be friends with free online manuals for the specific items and info you need (allowing for changing of active minds.) Then you can make your own diagrams based on the gear you get.
nuts and bolts:
Is the ethernet cable long enough between the router and the computer?
Are there enough electrical outlets in the space?
In addition to studying the manual and making notes and diagrams, I suggest sitting at the kit with headphones on and place the items that will be needed within arm’s reach and then plug everything in - computer, interface, even a line sight to the router if possible.
A quick look on Page 3 of the Nitro manual shows that the Nitro has USB to the computer, but it only sends MIDI, not audio. As the Nitro’s BFD player only plays MIDI, it also does not send audio to the Nitro’s headphone output - page 22.
JackTrip is audio only – no MIDI. That means the Nitro’s audio outputs will need to be connected to an audio interface’s inputs. Then the audio interface is plugged into the computer via USB. And in the JackTrip settings, the audio interface is selected as the audio input/output source.
In this case, the Nitro’s USB does not get plugged into the computer at all – the Nitro’s audio outputs are sent to the audio interface inputs.
On JackTrip.com Virtual Studio there are just two channels to the studio server: left and right or a mono mix going to both sides.
Regarding the in-line mic attached to the headphones – I am assuming they are also USB and need to be plugged into the computer. In the Mac’s “audio-midi setup” you will need to create an “aggregate device”. The Aggregate Device (you can give it a name) can combine multiple USB devices into one output and can include the audio interface and the mic/headphones.
Honestly, headphones with in-line mics are probably ok for lessons and offer the best communication with an instructor. However, in preparing a student for successfully playing outside of lessons and considering that drummers move around a lot when they play, the in-line mic could pick up unwanted noises. And if the drummer wants to sing and play, in-line mics on headphones have notoriously awful and glitchy audio quality.
The manual will have other good info about gotchas like the fact that the Nitro Max automatically shuts down after 30 minutes of non-operation UNLESS you turn that default feature OFF. Sometimes it takes longer than that during a session to figure things out or other reasons for the system not being active and you don’t want it to go to sleep. The computer hard drive and display also should be set to not go to sleep.
As for audio interface recommendations, I have heard that Sweetwater might be able to suggest the best solution because they know about JackTrip too. I have seen some Nitro drummers on YouTube that use different ones. There are so many to choose from!
Lots to do by jumping on the documentation for specific items, experiment with setting up in the space, and spend time choosing the gear that best suits. We’ll be here waiting for any of your questions and progress reports too!
Best Thoughts.
Also pinging an excellent drummer on Jacktrip I had a blast jamming with is @wolfgangwolf.
@wolfgangwolf : how about posting a rundown of your setup here for an incoming teacher and student for comparison purposes.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks for all the advice. I get taking the outputs R-L from module and going into the Scarlett audio interface. I’m just uncertain about the monitoring and talkback feature. I know he can plug the headphones into the Scarlett but if I’m understanding this his headphones and mic will need to plug into the Mac for 2 way monitoring and talk.
Agreed the scarlett only has usb out to host devices.
The headset mic needs USB to power and the scarlett headphone output does not carry power. You could use a regular pair of headphones with the scarlet and a better usb mic on a boom that is plugged into the computer. Still just two usb ports on the computer one for the audio interface and one for a nice usb mic on a boom stand or hanging from the ceiling.
Creating The aggregate device in the mac’s audiomidi setup and selecting the headset or another usb mic and the audio interface should allow the computer’s usb ports to service both. And regular headphones out of the scarlett.
To address your question about the monitoring and talkback with your student’s headset mic, all of the controls for it will be on the aggregate devices page with the device your student will create.
The aggregate device will have checkboxes to include the headset mic and the external interface where only the nitro is plugged in and the controls for it will be on the interface. Make sense?
On your side if you are only talking and listening not playing you can go with your built in mic and some headphones. IDK what you have going on there but feel free to post questions.
Would love to hear about your experience and also your first timer’s feedback.
If you need more than 2 input channels, I would recommend buying an audio interface that properly supports it, such as the 4th Gen Scarlett 4i4. All the latest generation interfaces with > 2 channels include built-in support for “loopback” or “virtual channels” where you can easily create a stereo mix for apps like your DAW or JackTrip. I find these are much easier to use than messing with aggregate devices, or using audio routing software like Loopback. Another excellent device I’ve tested is Arturia’s Minifuse 4.
Thx Mike. Basically need audio interface to input his electric drum kit L-R via USB, and plug his headphones with inline mic directly into laptop headphone/mic jack, or 2nd USB port?
I recommend not trying to use more than a single audio interface; there are many inherent problems with that, such as trying to sync different clocks. A 4 channel audio interface like the 4i4 has 4 analog audio XLR-1/4" combo jacks on one side, and a USB jack on the other side. You connect the USB jack to your computer via a USB cable. You can connect analog out L/R cables to the front of the interface from a drum kit, keyboard, etc. and still have two extra jacks available for microphones. The software provided with these audio interfaces lets you create a 2-channel mix from all the analog ports (which are visible as extra “virtual” channels, i.e. 5 & 6), and that is what you want to feed into JackTrip.
Hi Mike, thx for your advice. Right now we’re going with the Scarlett 2i2. Mono out from Alesis drum kit to Scarlett left input, headphone mic to Scarlett right input, and headphone ears to the Scarlett headphone input jack. Scarlett output to Mac USB input. I’ll be going to student’s apt in NYC with my laptop to test connectivity via Jacktrip. I’m not as concerned about latency since we wont be playing together. This will be for drum lessons more of a call and response scenario. Thank you all for helping me better understand the tech setup. Now I just need more students! lol.
@roger.schnur thank you for your participation here. Maybe you already
figured everything out but I was wondering if the headset has just one
plug or two?
Headset mics usually have one 1/8" plug that was designed to be plugged into
a computer sound system that can combine inputs and outputs and take the
mic input as well as sending audio to the headphones.
The Scarlett has 2 inputs and 2 outputs but they do not combine inputs
and outputs like a computer does.
If you can find a cable adapter for the headset plug that separates the
mic and headphone into two separate cables - one for the mic INPUT and
one for the headphone OUTPUT, it might work ok, but not great.
Either way, the Scarlett has 1/4" inputs and outputs and will need an
adapter to 1/4" for other sized plugs.
Once the mic and headphones are figured out, please do consider the
distance between the headset and the Scarlett headphone output to ensure
that the cable is long enough for drummer comfort.
Please let us know how it goes!
Good question. The headset he bought is for gaming and has two mini plugs. The headphone is stereo and the mic mono. I purchased both stereo and mono adapters mini female to male 1/4" adapter so I think we’re set.
Honestly @roger.schnur you are going to need a different adapter:
1/8" female to XLR male.
The Scarlett’s 1/4" inputs are only for line level instruments and do
not have the right voltage for mics. The mic inputs are designed for XLR
inputs.
In fact, I just remembered a support session last spring where someone
was getting a terrible high-pitched noise using a Scarlett and we
discovered it was caused by a mic plugged into the 1/4" port!
Sorry I didn’t remember sooner about this. It is especially pronounced
on the 4th Gen Scarlett 2i2, if you have that one.
Below is a link on Amazon for the adapter that should work for the mic
plugged into the Scarlett. $10 not bad but feel free to look around.
Again, please be mindful to have enough cable length for distance
between the Scarlett and the headset.
Wow, thx for the tip. Looks like that is the female xlr. I’ll need the male, but appreciate the catch!
I really want this to go smoothly for you and your student and help you build your business. Please let us know any questions at all, even while you’re together - you have a VIP line to my support and I’ll be watching for your posts.
by the way - the male version is the third option on that same page - it
defaults to the first option which is female. ok, ok, you’ll be fine.
while I was researching this today I found a pretty good article on why
headset audio might sound unusual - written by Focusrite - the makers of
the Scarlett!