Aggregate device frustrations

I finally managed to get an aggregate device (using an Audio Kontrol 1) to work, but in order for it to work I have to open Logic, connect the audio interface, wait for it to ask if I want to use it and give an answer, then go into audio and if I had told it not to use the interface then select something other than aggregate device so that I then can reselect aggregate device and apply changes, or if I said to use the interface then simply switch to aggregate device and apply changes. Then it works. Closing Logic and coming back to it (without disconnecting or changing anything) gets me right back to no input and no sound until I unplug the audio interface and then start over as above. Any ideas on how to fix this, or was Logic purposely made like this to frustrate me into quitting and instead spending my time studying for boards? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi,
What exactly is your aggregate device ?
I have a Hollywood Dazzle DV Converter that connects over Firewire that is seen perfectly well in Panther, Tiger and Leopard and the relevant iChat versions.
8:31 PM Thursday; March 13, 2008

Similar Messages

Setting up m-audio firewire 410 as an aggregate device

Having an issue setting up my m-audio firewire 410 as an aggregate device. When I set it up it gives of this God awful distortion sound. I had it set up to my G4 with no problems. But then I upgrade to a MacBookPro, got the latest driver for this version and model, and still...nothing. Any ideas? I need to record and this is really bugging me.

It doesn't sound good with anything else. I just updated the newest driver and I am still unable to get rid of that radio static distortion sound. It is becoming very frustrating. I know it has something to do with the fact that I'm on a new Mac, because I got it to work with my PBG4 and it still does. It would be kind of stupid to record with the PBG4 but not my MacBookPro. Unless I just get another interface altogether. I shouldn't have to. It's still a great inerface. There's got to be a way to fix this issue. I'm just running out of patience. Thanks anyway.

Logic Mics, Aggregate Devices and The Input Issue

There is a lot of discussion about Logic's inability to accept simple microphone inputs, and I ran into this for two frustrating DAYS of trying all the things in the Logic Express 8 Docs to fix it—to no avail.
But now it is solved, so I'm trying to create a DEFINITIVE list of steps and principles here so others may quickly blast past this issue.
The equipment I have seems to be emblematic to the problem. The Blue Snowball is one of those USB mics that simply doesn't automatically show up in Logic's Preferences > Devices > Core Audio >Device list. The fix for this is never mentioned in the Logic manual or Getting Started docs that I can find. There is a passing reference on page 100 that is virtually zero help, and does not bother to mention how this Prime Gotcha can bring you to your knees.
Principle #1: Logic uses the Preferences > Devices > Core Audio >Device (list) process to identify which microphone you can record with. The list has to have in it an entry that makes sense for both the incoming audio and the playback path that Logic uses to feed earphones or an external monitor.
Normal items on that list look like this:
Built-in Output/Line Input
Built-in Output/Digital Input
Built-in Line Output/Input
Built-in Line Output/Digital Input
Built-in Digital Output/Line Input
Built-in Digital Output/Input
The Built-in Output is the computer’s inner speaker or headphones. The Built-in Line Output is the computers stereo jack for feeding to an amplifier. The Built-in Digital Output is the fiber optic feed that can also feed an amp with up to six parallel audio channels (okay, 5.1 channels).
Nothing on that list will show a fully functional USB microphone that is being viewed on the computer’s System Prefs > Sound > Input page, even though the metering dots there show that the computer sees a live, active microphone.
Selecting the Mic in the Sound prefs page does nothing to pass it on to the Logic > Preferences > Devices > Core Audio >Device list of selectable items. This is frustrating, since GarageBand sees the live mic without any problem, but GB is a simpler program that has fewer options while Logic has many other potentials, so a one-size-fits-all solution may not be its best default setting.
To get the mic into Logic, you have to go into the Audio MIDI Setup utility program where a peculiar option appears that is called “Aggregate Device”.
This keyword is not found in the Mac docs, and understanding it seems to be a big secret. Even the Audio MIDI Setup help page will show you how to find it, but not how it works or how to use it for Logic. Ahem.
You open Audio MIDI Setup and under its header bar Audio is only one item, sure enough, Open Aggregate Device Editor. That opens a window that has two sections, an upper window with Aggregate Devices / In / Out across its top, and a lower window that shows all the options that the computer is aware of. The lower window is called “Structure:” and columns show Clock / Use / Audio Device / In / Out / Resample.
A default item “Aggregate Device” shows in the top panel, and you can add others and double click on one to change its name. You can make many variations here.
By default these will be present:
Built-in Line Input
Built-in Digital Input
Built-in Output
Built-in Line Output
Built in Digital Output
At the bottom of this list any other audio input devices that are plugged into the computer should show up. If they can be seen in the System Prefs > Sound > Input page, they’ll be here, too.
When I plug my Blue Snowball USB mic into the computer, it shows up here as Blue Snowball.
You create an Aggregate Device by clicking on your sound source, in my case, the Blue Snowball, then adding one or more other options.
When you click the Use check box for any entry, it pops to the top of the list.
Principle #2: An Aggregate Device is used by Logic to “see” both an audio input and an audio output path at the same time. The Device you’re creating at this point must include an input Audio Device AND at least one Output item to be fully functional for Logic. A Help page in Audio MIDI Devices called “Combining multiple audio devices” explains this in bare bones, but you can’t see that help page unless the Audio MIDI Devices utility is open.
In my case, I’ve checked the Blue Snowball and Built-In Line Output, so I can use that combo in Logic to define where the mic is coming from and where the Logic audio output should go to my line-input amp and speakers.
In the Audio MIDI Setup utility, simply selecting the Blue Snowball as the “Default Input:” device and/or the “Properties For:” options shows that the Audio Output area of the page has this cryptic message: “Output is not supported.”
At this point, you’re almost ready to go, and you can close the Audio MIDI Setup utility. But there is at least one more “gotcha” to conquer.
Principle #3: Logic ONLY looks for its list of usable Core Audio Devices when it starts up. If you have it open right now, all the choices made for Aggregate Device will not show up as selectable. Save any work in Logic, shut it down, then boot it up again.
Now you can use Logic's Preferences > Devices > Core Audio >Device list to see your Aggregate Device. I’ve named mine “Snowy Line Out” to trigger my recognition of what it contains. Another one is called “Snowball + Line + Digital” and it has both line and digital outputs aggregated to the Snowball mic input.
You can make one in the Aggregate Device Editor that combines a microphone plus earphones (Built-in Output) plus Line and/or Digital Outs, too. You'll have to switch among them in Logic as you work, but each will carry the live mic direct to recording.
I hope this gets you through the frustration of not knowing what to do when confronted with the lack of clear docs and complete steps to get a USB mic or other seemingly opaque input issue. Feel free to add to this so others in my former state of bewilderment can gain understandings.
If Steve Jobs were to encounter the level of opacity, ambiguousness and frustration that setting up a simple USB microphone can create in Logic, you can bet that the several programs and their intimate interdependency would be either automated or fully explained in the documentations that followed his fiery analysis of the issue.

I don't know of another way to get the Blue Snowball USB mic to show up in Logic. If you can do it without having to go through the Aggregate Device route, feel free to post here how to get that to happen.
I didn't have a different mic available when I started trying to do what seemed to be the simplest of things -- record and play back an audio track -- and nothing else seemed to work.
There are a lot of Aggregate Device threads around here, many associated with Blue Snowball, Blue Snowflake and other things, but none of them laid out the principles of how Aggregate Device Setup needs to work or what to do to force it into compliance.
As I said, the clues in the Logic docs and in-mac docs are minimalist, at best, none of them bringing instant head slaps of success readily.

I am trying to use 2 MOTU 896's as an aggregate device in Logic Pro 8

I am using Logic Pro 8 on a Macbook Pro OS 10.6.8. I am trying to use 2 MOTU 896's as an aggregate device to have total of 16 inputs. I am daisy chaining the 896's via firewire. I can select channels 1-16 as inputs in Logic. I am getting signal input in channels 1-8 in Logic. However, I am getting no signal input in channels 9-16. I've also tried using ADAT light pipe as output from the 2nd device to the 1st one and that didn't work either. I have created the aggregate device under audio-midi setups and I've set the 1st 896's clock source to internal and the 2nd 896's clock source as the 1st 896. I've also tried both 896's clock source as internal. Has anyone had any success in using 2 896's as an aggregate device in Logic Pro 8? I need to use this setup to record a large band. I would greatly appreciate any tips that anyone has. Thanks.

David,
Learning is not a bad thing, I'm just saying what you thought MIDI did is in error, you're not the first.
Here's an article explaining what MIDI is and how it works, it probably seems less than you thought it capable of but the fact is, since it's standardization in 1983 it completely revolutionized electronic music. By the Way, the designers of the Prophet 8 (Dave Smith & Sequential Circuits) had a lot of input into the MIDI protocol, in fact, if you had to say one company/person came up with the basics of MIDI it was Sequential Circuits. They also came up with the first polyphonic, fully programmable analog synth. I had a very basic MIDI studio at the end of 1984.
http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/midi1.htm

I cannot get MainStage 3 to find the Aggregate Device I am trying to use for input. I have two USB interfaces and need to use both for input.

The MainStage 3 Audio preferences window will not find the Aggregate Device input. I have both an Apogee Jam and a MOTU Mike Ultralight in USB ports. The Audio aggregator finds them and treats them as one device. The Aggregate Device does not show up in either Logic or MainStage. However, unlike Logic, MainStage does not show "System Settings" an input device.

The iphone 3G can only support 4.2.1
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I have three Blue Yeti USB Microphones, and when I try to create an aggregate device in Audio MIDI on my MBP it lets me select two microphones but not the third. I need all three for a podcast, any solutions?

I have three Blue Yeti USB Microphones, and when I try to create an aggregate device in Audio MIDI on my MBP it lets me select two microphones but not the third. At first I thought maybe the third microphone was just defected or something but I tested the mic individually and it works fine. It'll let me use two Blue Yeti's and another microphone but not three Yeti's at once.

David Boroditsky wrote:
The problem is that the mac chokes on having 2 identical mics attached at the same time.
Ive had 2 identical USB AT2020 mics connected at the same time on both macbook pro and macbook Air.
The "Yeti" mics, are, lets say undesirable, and low to mid computer consumer mics.

How to use an Aggregate device for Garageband (iLife '11)

Here is what I have,
Komplete Audio 6 interface (USB)
M-Audio Mobile Pre interface (USB)
2010 Macbook (white) running OS X 10.6.8
Garageband from iLife '11
I found out (supposedly) how to use both of the interfaces together by creating an Aggregate device.
I have gone through all the setup steps to create an aggregate device and put both interfaces on the Aggregate list to be used.
HERE IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT!
When I open Garageband and designate the Aggregate device as my sources of hearing and recording (Input and Output), the M-Audio doesn't even register sound. When I hook up the M-audio interface by itself, it works. Same with the Komplete interface. They work perfectly individually. But together, Garageband only recognizes channels 1 & 2 coming from the the Komplete interface.
1) How do I make it so both show up as recording to Garageband?
2) How can I hear them in my headphones (monitors)?
Thank you!

Maybe an alternative would be to put this logic into the select.
select u.object_name,
       u.object_type,
       count(case when u.object_type = 'TABLE' then 1 end) over () count_tables,
       count(case when u.object_type = 'VIEW' then 1 end) over () count_views
from user_objects u;This would count the number of tables and views in the data dictionary. And it is returned as a column value.

Audio MIDI setup not allowing aggregate device

I recently upgraded to a mac pro, and transferred everything from my old mac via firewire..
On my previous computer, using my aggregate device (Roland Fantom + Built-in output + built-in input) was no problem. I would simply choose in Logic my aggregate device under the core Audio preferences, and I could play logic software instruments with the roland keys, record audio through the roland, and play it back through the built-in line output no problem..
Now, on my mac pro, I can't do this because the aggregate device I created on my previous computer is not showing up under the devices pull-down menu in the core audio preferences in logic, and I cannot create a new aggregate device on this computer, as a matter of fact I cannot even seem to delete the old one... when i click the plus or minus (+/-), the blue shade highlighting the selected audio device just goes straight to the device at the top of the list (which happens to be built-in mic). it does not even allow me to deselect or select any checkboxes within the existing "9/25 aggregate".. when I try it just makes the devices listed in that window wiggle...
I have attached a screen shot of the Audio Midi setup screen (where one should be able to create aggregate devices)
Please let me know if you know what could be causing this..

Ojan36 wrote:
Could uninstalling and reinstalling Logic completely possibly fix it? I guess that would be unlikely because the audio MIDI Setup window is OS X, unrelated to Logic..
Correct.
when i click the plus or minus (+/-), the blue shade highlighting the selected audio device just goes straight to the device at the top of the list
This is one of the reasons why I am still suspecting some kind of permissions problem, even though you said this user has Admin privileges. I suspect a permissions problem because the symptom you described ("the blue shade highlighting the selected audio device just goes straight to the device at the top of the list") is exactly what happens if you do not have Admin privileges and you press the + button.
I think this issue has to do with the fact that there was not a clean install of snow leopard
I agree. My theory is that something about the way you moved items to this machine led to a permissions problem, and this permissions problem is causing AMS (Audi MIDI Setup) to behave the way you see.
I recently upgraded to a mac pro, and transferred everything from my old mac via firewire..
I know you connected via FireWire, but how did you control what was being transferred? Did you use Migration Assistant, or some other method?
In my comment here, I advised 55plus to check something. What happens when you check the thing I advised him to check?
You have not mentioned Disk Utility. I would use it to Repair Permissions. Then launch AMS. Does the + button work now?
Next I would try this: create a new OS X user account, with administrator privileges, and log in as that user. Then launch AMS. Does the + button work now?
55plus, I intend to respond to you too, but this is all I have time for right now.

Using a Tascam US-122L in an Aggregate Device

I posted this question in the Logic Pro forum, but I suppose this one is also relevant. Any help would be appreciated. http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=755072

works fine here on 10.4.8 and a 15" 1.5Ghz G4 powerbook and an old us-122
Just for the record: When i first open the aggregate device editor no devices show up.
They do when i hit the "+" next to "add and remove aggregate.."

Aggregate device: BIG PROBLEM with mbox(digidesign)

i must admit, meanwhile i am truly desperate...
MAYBE ONE OF YOU HAS THE SAME EXPERIENCE AND HENCE A SOLUTION TO IT... problem is as follows:
i have a mbox1 connected via usb to my ibook g4 1.33ghz (ppc) and want to make an aggegate device in the osx 10.4.9 system preferences (audio-midi-setup) together with the built-in audio in order to be able to use 4 audio outs simultaneously within NI traktor dj studio 3 so that i'd have 2 channels for master out and the other ones for monitor.
but: when trying to make the aggregate device, mac os only shows up the built-in audio. the digidesign mbox seems to be vanished, although i can use and choose it seperately as my main out. but not in the latter mentioned dialogue. so what the heck is wrong? btw, i have coreaudio 7.3 installed properly (the one that fits for ppc-macs)...
- is it maybe because of clocking issues?
- built-in is on 16bit only, the mbox is on 32bit... what about this?
- is the mbox1 (folks, i just purchased it 5 years ago) not working with newer systems anymore in full effect?
- is it the coreaudio-driver itself (although it is visible/selectable in audio preferences)?
PLEASE HELP! I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW ANYMORE...
sincerely yours
00piano

any suggestions out there?
plz help!

Latency and Aggregate Devices

Hello. I'm using an aggregate device for the first time. I have a Line6 Toneport GX and a Presonus Firebox; I combined them into an aggregate device in Audio MIDI Setup and can access each interface in Express. Pretty cool.
However, latency seems to be an issue. For example, there is noticible latency when playing through the Toneport - to the point where I get thrown off while trying to play live. I disassembled a number of components and tried just the Toneport by itself and found the latency to be a non-issue.
Do aggregate devices introduce the latency of each interface? Does the fact that they're on different busses (one USB 1.1, the other FW400) contribute to my problem?
Is latency something that using a faster connection (say, the USB 2.0 on my laptop from work) would help correct? Finally, would the faster processor from my work machine solve this issue as well?
Thanks, all.
James DiStefano

USB 1.1 is slow. Many devices just wont work on it.
If you use just one device or the other do you get latency then?
It maybe that there is a bottleneck of data from the firewire port waiting for data from the USB going into the aggregate device. To be honest I don't know how the aggregate device works, but you definitely have 2 very different data transfer speeds into one device.
If the USB device, whichever it is, is USB 2 compatible, you can get a USB 2 pci card for about £15 UK, perhaps 20-30$ US with 4 or 5 USB 2 connections.
You are using basically the same setup as my previous machine (G4 1.25GHz dual). Installing the USB 2 card opened up a whole new world for that machine.

Aggregate Devices - any tips appreciated

Can anyone give me some pointers to info on handling aggregate audio devices with L8 + 10.5.1? Keyword and topic searches across the forums don't return anything useful.
This is the setup:
2x MOTU Traveler 22-in/22-out interfaces (counting ADAT, SPDIF + AES/EBU), each running identically w.r. to data rate (48kHz), clocking (normally internal), and FW connects (each to its own PCIe card+bus) into the MacPro.
AudioMIDI Setup is OK w.r. to making the pair into an Aggregate Device, which "sticks around" between sessions/peeks.
However Logic8 (and every other host) does not recognize the aggregate dev and sees only two separate units. This isn't the end of the world, and there are workarounds in the studio (e.g. going to analog audio + sub-mixes). But it puzzles me as to why I can't stay digital + aggregated, and instead have to be limited by the CoreAudio "rule" of "one device for input and/or output".
Previously, under 10.4.x (and for a while under 10.5.0) the setup worked without problems, even when clocked externally.
Any ideas on where to look / how to find out what's going on?
Any advice much appreciated.

Found the answer ... make the aggregate device with root privileges before using.

Can't create aggregate device?

Can anyone help me here, I know exactly how to create an aggregate device but when I go to hit the check boxes for various ins/outs it flashes like it worked for a second then appears back where it was on the list, unchecked. I have no idea what the problem is, but it won't let checks appear, it just appears checked and goes tot he top of the list for about a nanosecond and then appears again at the bottom unchecked, hence i cannot create aggregate audio devices.
EDIT: also, i've tried restarting, etc numerous times to no avail.
Message was edited by: samonguitar

As a longtime user of Aggregate Devices, I can assure you that this issue is in fact real, and VERY new. What has happened since two weeks ago since I last used my setup?!?
Basically everything looks normal until you try to check the box to add the device to the list. You can click the plus sign, but when you try to check the boxes the check mark flashes in the box, and the "selected" item moves to the top for an instantbut then returns, unchecked to its original location in the list.
The forums and the genius bar have been no help (because I know more about this software than the staff) and I have tried varying the USB/firewire ports, only using certain devices, trying different devices... essentially everything I can think of save a system restore to earlier last month, which I do not have time to deal with right now.
This is a nightmare as I have a recording session tomorrow and have spent all day trying to figure out what is wrong... with no end in sight. Does anyone have a solution?
Apple, please address this issue ASAP!

What is a (Logic Express) aggregate device?

Im not a complete newbie to the world of music tech, I'm just getting back into it after a few years away. There's one term which keeps cropping up on here which is completely alien to me:
Aggregate Device
What is an aggregate device? It seems to refer generally to sound cards or audio interfaces within a setup, but is there something special or different about the way the audio interface is set up in a studio which means it is referred to as an aggregate device? Is it just a different term for "audio interface"? ....or am I missing the point completely?
Many thanks

What is an aggregate device?
It's a virtual device which is created in Audio/MIDI set up. Its purpose is to combine two or more actual devices into one so that Logic can recognize it and use it for inputs and outputs. A 'device' also includes your Mac's built in audio inputs and/or outputs.
Unlike GarageBand, Logic can't use separate devices for input and output (this is ridiculous, but nevertheless true) so creating an aggregate device is a workaround.
Is it just a different term for "audio interface"?
Sort of - it's a virtual audio interface.
Here are some links:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1215
http://www.apple.com/pro/techniques/aggregateaudio/

Help setting up my Aggregate Device

I'd like my aggregate device to include my interface and also my midi devices. Right now the built in line driver i can hear midi tracks but cant record audio. When my driver is set on the interface i can record audio but i cant hear the midi notes as i play them and they also dont play along with the song when its completed (playback).
This has been a problem of mine for awhile. i had it solved at one point, but to make a long story short, the problem is back.
Help ?

Try setting up the device in a new user account. or visit register.apple.com and verify your device is registered

Aggregate device frustrations

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