Headphones for nonsoftware monitoring

[dogen]

I am just now setting up a Digi001 with a G4. It's my first studio setup, so I've got a pretty basic question or two. I'd like to monitor a few types of things. When recording a track in ProTools LE, the headphone jack is usable. Plus I can play what I've recorded through the monitor outputs to my stereo. But say I want to play MP3s through the stereo or headphones by way of the Digi. I can push in the monitor button and listen through the stereo speakers, but the headphones don't play at all. So my question is, will the headphone jack on the front of the Digi only take a signal from ProTools or another app with an ASIO driver? If that's so, I imagine if I hook up my guitar synth outputs to the monitor ins (where I'd put the speaker output of the Mac to listen through the stereo), I won't hear anything. So is it then common practice to use a mixer before the Digi? Remember, I'm new to this, but I'm picturing the guitar synth, Digi, and computer speaker out all going into a mixer, then the mixer out going to the stereo amp and speakers. Or is a mixer an unnecessary additional component?

Phew! My first post. Hope it's followable.

Jon

[bassmac]

Yup - you got it right. A mixer will give you much more flexibility as well as zero latency monitoring. The most popular are the Mackies, depending on your needs, either the 1202VLZ or 1402VLZ should do.

http://www.mackie.com/Products/VLZ_PRO_Series.asp

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bassmac

[dogen]

Even I've heard of Mackie stuff. The monitors and mixers are reputedly excellent. But assuming a mixer is what I need, can anyone recommend something under $100 (especially since I'd like to spend the extra money on RAM!)?

Incidentally, another question as long as I'm here and before I look through the manual further: Last night I plugged my guitar into the first mic/line input on the front of the Digi, set up a track, and monitored through the phones. But I wasn't able to hear any of the included RTAS plug-in effects included with LE. Can I only use them on tracks already recorded? My assumption was I'd be able to fool around with putting anything to disk and be able to use the plug-ins like stomp boxes. What am I doing wrong (or am I simply misinformed)?

Jon

[DigiTechSupt]

dogen,

-The plug-ins of any rec-enabled track will be bypassed when "Low Latency Montitoring Mode" is enabled (Operations menu).

-Please refer to the following thread regarding the functionality of the headphone output with Monitor Mode:
http://duc.digidesign.com/ubb/Forum24/HTML/004020.html

Brent

[maxcap]

Check out Behringer's mixers I think they start out at about 100 bucks, and they're supposed to be pretty decent(debatable).
I'd save some money and get a Mackie though, I've got one and it's incredibly quiet, plus
they've got an excellent reputation.

And don't be cheap with the cables either!