This article explains how to use the Direct Monitoring feature of the KOMPLETE AUDIO interfaces.
This will allow you to send the audio signal from the input directly to the headphone output of the device at near zero latency. This is useful if you wish to hear yourself while recording without a delay between what you play or sing, and what you hear in your headphones.
Click on the section below to show the steps appropriate to the device you own.
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 MK1
Note: The Direct Monitoring feature only applies to inputs 1/2 and is not available for inputs 3/4 and 5/6.
You can activate Direct Monitoring via the ON switch in the Monitor section, located in the front panel of the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6. This routes the signal of inputs 1 and 2 directly to the selected outputs. The ON switch also doubles as an output Monitor selector switch. When held for one second, it cycles through three Monitor modes:
- Monitor signal to outputs 1/2
- Monitor signal to outputs 3/4
- Monitor signal to both output pairs 1/2 and 3/4
The LEDs on the device's top panel display which monitoring mode is currently active.
KOMPLETE AUDIO 1 / 2 / 6 MK2
Important note: When monitoring the inputs, the signal passes through directly to the headphone outputs. If you want to monitor the input signal on outputs 1/2 or 3/4, you would need to configure this in a DAW as explained in the last section of this article.
The INPUT / HOST knob
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 MK2
KOMPLETE AUDIO 2
KOMPLETE AUDIO 1
The INPUT / HOST knob allows you to adjust the balance between the inputs (direct monitoring) and the audio from the computer, out into the headphone output. Turn the knob to the left in order to listen to what you are playing through the inputs. Turning the knob to the right will allow you to blend in the audio from the computer.
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 MK2 1-2 / 3-4 Switch
For the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 MK2, the 1-2 / 3-4 switch needs to be set to the pair of inputs you want to listen to.
The two headphone outputs always receive the same signal as the line-out 1/2. There is no option to listen to the outputs 3/4 over the headphones. Listening to the outputs 3/4 with the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 MK2 is only possible via the use of a DAW by routing the outputs 3/4 to your master channel.
Monitoring the inputs via the output pairs
Using the Direct Monitoring functionality on the KOMPLETE AUDIO 1 / 2 / 6 MK2 only lets you monitor the inputs via the headphone outputs. However, it is possible to monitor the inputs via the output pairs on the back of the device when using a DAW.
This means that if you want to listen to your connected instrument or microphone through your speakers, you need to open a DAW (e.g. Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro, etc.) and create an audio track. In this audio track, make sure to select the audio interface's input your instrument is connected to. Now, when you record enable this track, you can hear your instrument's sound via your speakers.
If you want to use a different output pair of your interface, you can change the output settings of your audio track or switch your main channel's output.