Kemper and Focusrite 6i6 Hookup - no sound

    All,


    Ok...I'm totally lost but have to start somewhere I suppose. I have never used an audio interface before until today. I was using a simple setup of studio monitors hooked up directly to kemper and playing fine. Decided to play around and add in audio interface and now I'm lost with no sound. Ha! Could someone help me with the very very basics here...? or possibly refer me to the page in the reference manual that might help? I have guitar plugged into kemper, kemper hooked up via SPDIF cables to focusrite (in to out, out to in) and monitors hooked up to audio interface (outputs 1 and 2 on the Focusrite) I currently have no sound and I'm assuming that it has something to do with the inputs or outputs I have selected in the Kemper, there quite a few different options and ouputs (Main, Monitor, Direct and SPDIF) I'm so confused? I am just attempting to get sound out of the kemper through the monitors at this point. This stuff is way more difficult than I had expected especially for someone with little to no background with any of it. Thanks in advance for any and all help as well your patience for my questions.



    Jason

    Hey Jason,. welcome to the forum.
    You say
    "kemper hooked up via SPDIF cables to focusrite (in to out, out to in)


    I'm not sure what you mean here, please don't mind me if I misunderstood but the simple connection should be,
    1- Kemper SPDDIF out connects to Focusrite SPDIF IN. That's it, the KEMPER SPDIF in shoudn't connect to anything in the scenario you're looking for.
    2-Make sure computer is on and SPDIF is connected using USB (you will not hear a sound if computer is off), then go into Focusrite options and make sure that SPDIF is set to 44.1KHZ sampling rate since the Kemper doesn't support higher rates.
    3-Using the computer If you can get to the Focusrite Mixer , open it and play anything on the Kemper , watch if the meters in Focusrite mixer move. IF you've done all that already, Please let us know


    To insure you're have the proper setup for your focusrite check this link and go to the part of the page where you see To receive audio from another external device with S/PDIF output


    https://support.focusrite.com/…-how-to-sync-the-devices-

    Edited 2 times, last by Dean_R ().

    Thanks Dean I will walk through your suggestions shortly but to clarify I am using two SPDIF cables right now but you are suggesting that I only need one? I have Kemper In to Focusrite Out and Kemper Out to Focusrite In connected currently. If I only need one connected, what is the purpose of the other cable? Is this only used for reamping purposes?

    Ok..so I have completed all the steps suggested, unplugged the other SPDIF cable (only Kemper Out to Focusrite in connected). I opened the mix control software and verified that sample rate was 44.1 and sync source is SPDIF. I have the Kemper Output SPDIF set to "Master Stereo". Computer is is on and Focusrite states USB is connected. I am running a iMac if that matters. One thing to note, is I now can now play music through my computer that is playing through the studio monitors connected to Focusrite, I see levels registering through mix control software as well. Still no guitar sound though from Kemper.


    I also have the monitor volume dial on the front of the Focusrite about halfway up thinking it could just be the volume turned down. I am unclear on how to set sample rate of Kemper to match 44.1, if that even needs to be done and also not sure on the internal clock that is reference in the link you provided. Still no guitar sound at this point?

    See the link in my sig for reamping -although that is not what you're trying to do, there are some explanations and pictures which might help you.


    Also: when you play - do you see the meters of the inputs in the Focusrite Mixcontrol software move?



    EDIT: OK, maybe the explanation is too long for this, but look at the second picture of the post - there you can see signal for the corresponding meters. In the lower half of the pic, to the rigt, you can see red text saying "44.1 kHz", "SPDIF" and "locked". Click the red kHz number to select 44.1. Click the ync souce to select SPDIF. Then verify that the text below says "locked". If you can get this setup like so, then there is at least signal coming through :)


    THen check the output / master section of the kemper - find "spdif volume" and adjust. There's also the "master volume" on the kemper which might be locked to the spdif volume. This is also done/undone in the master/output section of the kemper.

    Quote from Winterjp123

    Ok..so I have completed all the steps suggested,.... Still no guitar sound at this point?


    how about for now using a regular quarter inch guitar cable from Kemper analog out into Focusrite and testing if you get any sound. If you get a sound then the issue is purely SPDIF and others have also stepped in that we'll all help you sort it out.

    Still nothing...have taken and applied all suggestions above. Granted I'm definitely not a pro here but surprised it is proving to be this difficult and frustrating.


    Dean - not sure I understand your direct connection test, TRS cable from which Kemper output (Direct, Main, etc) into which Focusrite In? Do I need to change the settings again on Kemper and MixControl Software to register this change?


    Also, SPDIF volume in the Kemper output menu is set at - infinity symbol whatever that even means? Do I need any of the other ouputs in the Kemper Menu (Main, Monitor, Direct) set to anything or can they be turned off


    Also, does sync status matter (Locked vs Unlocked) in MixControl? I have seen both posted


    I am attempting to use GarageBand as DAW but do I even need to have this software enabled at this point in the equation? I'm not trying to record yet just start with getting sound out of my connections first?

    Also, this may sound like a totally stupid question but I should have the guitar plugged into the Kemper input on front and not the Focusrite input, correct? This would seem intuitive but I'm clearly missing something here

    SUCCESS!!


    Sound...what a wonderful thing!


    Thanks to everyone so far!


    Good grief, what a production


    I had tried the Spdif volume earlier but maybe it just wasn't in combination with the rest of the suggested changes.


    Ok, so now I have to figure out the recording piece of this but one thing at a time

    Another quick question of many I'm sure. It doesn't seem like the connection now is in stereo like it was before I hooked up through the Focusrite Spdif - in other words the delay used to repeat and pan in a stereo fashion but now seems more mono. I do have the SPDIF set to Master Stereo, is this because the SPDIF connection is a mono connection unlike my direct connection before?