Behringer Xenyx 302USB, Mac, and Guitar Rig 5

I got this little Behringer Xenyx 302USB mixer and wanted to run my guitar through some effects in Native Instruments Guitar Rig 5 (Guitar Rig 5 Player free download) and listen through headphones connected to the mixer.

When it comes to drivers and multimedia software, Macs are generally pretty easy to set up, but I had a bit of a hard time getting this to work. I didn’t find any single site with a complete solution, so maybe this post will help someone.

The problem: the device driver seemed to be working (USB Audio CODEC was showing in System Preferences and the meter in the input tab was lighting up when there was audio input), but there was no sound and Guitar Rig was not showing any signal at all.

My mixer is set up as shown here:

• guitar connected to the mixer’s mic in (XLR/1/4″ combo jack)
• under line/USB, FROM is in the DOWN position (USB Play)
• under line/USB, TO is in the DOWN position (Phones)
• mixer’s USB port connected to Macbook USB

I came across this article that suggested there could be a compatibility problem between the mixer and the Mac, but that it could be resolved by using Audio MIDI Setup to create an aggregate driver.

I followed those instructions. The result looks something like this (the USEME USB Audio CODEC):

(In the screenshot, note Drift Correction is only enabled on the input driver, but it should be enabled on the output driver as well.)

Next, I had to go in System Preferences and select the aggregate device for both input and output.

Finally, I also had to select the new aggregate device in Guitar Rig (File -> Audio and MIDI Settings).

After this, I just played around with enabling and disabling the left and right input channels in Guitar Rig and voilà. The IN and OUT meters showed a signal and, after tweaking knobs a bit, had sound too.

One final note: if you usually just close the cover of your MacBook, things may no longer work when you open it again. You may need to restart Guitar Rig and/or physically reconnect the mixer to get it working again. Good luck!

Dishrag

Prepare to know fear.

He’s a dishrag of a man.

Music Break: Clams Casino – I’m God

It’s not a new song, but it’s new to me. It uses Imogen Heap and has been used by Lil B, but it has a life all its own. One of those heavenly tunes you can listen to over an over. Enjoy.

Musical Interlude: Noise Rock

I’ve fallen behind in work (and I was out drinking tonight) so I don’t have time to write tonight. Instead I’ll share some music I used to enjoy and have been revisiting via the magic of YouTube.

Back when music was more important to me (or rather, when I had time to dedicate, now I just wait for the next tune to play on Jango), my music collection was dominated by noise rock artists, my favorite being The Jesus Lizard.

Since then, very few bands in the genre have engendered the same level of primal excitement in me. Two bands that held promise and were in some ways the spiritual successors of the Jesus Lizard, Daughters and Liars, produced some good material (especially the latter), but don’t (or in the case of Daughters, didn’t) have the je ne sais quoi of the JL. You can judge for yourselves.

(I will say that Daughters are the only band with double bass pedal that I can tolerate.)

More recently (couple years ago), I was introduced to Melt-Banana, also quite exciting, but I think they’ve been in the business for a good number of years. Like me, they’re sorta veterans now.

Guess the question is, who bears the banner of noise rock today? Who are the up and coming bands making noise in 2012?

Sun Airway: Put the Days Away

I actually wrote almost the same song around the same time they did. Mine was simply called “The Day.” My lyrics, a bit more subtle, with a slight nod to Pink Floyd’s Breathe. The music, very similar to this in feel, but also, Dragonette/Solveig’s Hello (but *mournful*, really, really melancholy in a nostalgic sorta way!) Please forgive the video choice for “Hello”. No political intent. I was just trying to find a YouTube video that didn’t have Martin Solveig in it, since they all seemed to have a long, boring pre-amble before music actually started.

Anyway, it’s not my song, but Sun Airway did a pretty good job with theirs, and mine, well, I’ll share theirs with you.