Several Apogee (Macintosh) products have a Talkback feature. Here we will use a Symphony Studio 8x16 and look at how to use a USB Mic connected to the computer, or an XLR Mic connected directly to your device.
NOTE: There is no Talkback feature in the Windows version of Control 2
In the Mac OS version of Control 2, there is a Talkback feature that can route a talkback mic from any input on your Apogee interface, or any Core Audio input device, like a USB mic, or even the built in MacBook microphone, to any Control 2 output destination.
The workflows for using a Core Audio input device (USB mic / Macbook mic) versus using an XLR MIC input on your interface differs slightly, and we’ll cover both.
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USING A USB MIC FOR TALKBACK
Start by making sure that Control 2 has permission to use the microphone.
System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone
It's likely that this setting is already enabled, but it's always a good idea to verify if you're experiencing any issues.
In this scenario, an Apogee HypeMiC is being used. Make sure your USB mic is up and running. To do this plug it onto your Mac and make sure it is being recognized by checking the INPUT section of the Audio MIDI Setup app. You can find the Audio MIDI app in your utilities folder. ⌘ + ⇧ + U for the Utilities folder.
Audio MIDI app.
In Control 2, open the Talkback Settings window.
From the Talkback Source dropdown menu select the input device.
Make sure to actually enable the input channel for the device you’ve selected. DarkGrey = OFF, Light Grey = ON
Now select the destination.
Destinations are always in pairs and default to Playback 1 & 2.
Destinations are limited to the Playback Channels in Control 2. The number of available Playback channels is determined by the model of Apogee interface you are using. In this scenario a Symphony Studio 8x16 is being used.
By default, the output section (speaker or Line) of Control 2 will be set to begin at Playback 1 and will go up, in order, to as many physical outputs as your device has. With a Symphony Studio 8x16 there are 16 possible speaker outputs.
To prevent feedback and/or hearing yourself in your speakers you should select destinations that are out of range of any physical speaker outputs.
In this scenario a USB mic is used as the Talkback Source and is routed to Talkback Destination 23 & 24.
Here we see the talkback button engaged, and input from the USB mic on Playback 23 & 24 which are routed to the Headphone outputs via the Headphone source dropdown menu. Note that the Speaker Outputs are automatically Dimmed when the Talkback button is pressed.
(When the Talkback button is NOT pressed you will not SEE or hear any signal)
( * Speaker Out’s are hidden in this screenshot )
USING A MICROPHONE CONNECTED DIRECTLY TO ONE OF YOUR INTERFACE INPUTS FOR TALKBACK
First, make sure that Control 2 has permission to use the microphone.
System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone
This will probably already be set to allow, but it’s good to check if you are having trouble.
Open the talkback Setting Window
Select your device from the dropdown.
Select the input Channel you want to use.
And then select the destination (Playback) channels.
Make sure to actually enable the input channel for the device you’ve selected.
DarkGrey = OFF, Light Grey = ON
When you connect a microphone or line level device to any of your Interface inputs, it is automatically added to the “Mixers” - Mixer 1 & Mixer 2.
To achieve a typical talkback scenario, where the microphone is muted until the Talkback button is pressed, you’ll need to MUTE or pull the FADER down on the microphone INPUT channel on both Mixer 1 & Mixer 2.
(If you don’t do this, you will have an OPEN MIC that will just be on all the time)
Audio will still pass through when the Talkback button is pressed because it is sent PRE-FADER to Playback Channels 23 & 24 - meaning that the MUTE and Fader level have no effect on the Talkback mic signal.
The MIC passes through to the Talkback plumbing that was set up earlier.
Below we see the Talkback button engaged, MIC signal coming in Analog IN 1, signal passing through to Playback 23 & 24, and finally to the headphone outputs via the Mixers. Mixer 1 (shown) for Headphones 1 and Mixer 2 for headphones 2.
And that's it!
Pro Tip: On products that have "print FX" DSP Such as the Symphony Studio you can use some compression on the Talkback Mic to even out the sound of the voices coming from the control room.
