Audio Maestro and Flex

EA4GLI

We tried the Flex 6700 and the Maestro at the club station this weekend for 160m. The Maestro was easy to use for Flex newbies. However, we ran into an issue that I was unable to figure out. I had headphones and mic directly connected to the Flex. We couldn't get audio from the back of the Flex and headphones while using the Maestro. Regardless of paying different menu options on the Maestro, only one audio source. We ended up listening to dax inside the pc with a noticeable delay. We tried connecting headphones to maestro and same problem. Any one else?

Tim - W4TME

Selecting the mic input on the 6700 hardware is covered in Chapter 13.3 of the Maestro User's Guide.  Any of the input devices that start with "R-" are inputs on the radio.

For selecting the audio output source, that is covered (although not properly labeled) in chapter 26.6 by using the Remote Audio control.  When disabled, the audio is routed to the radio outputs (speaker and headphones).  We'll fix the ambiguity in the controls description in the Maestro User Guide.

You cannot play audio out of the Maestro and the radio at the same time.  That is not supported.

EA4GLI

Thanks Tim. I will try again but we just couldn't get audio in both headphones and speakers out of the Flex radio simultaneously with the audio routed to the radio outputs.

Tim - W4TME

That you cannot do.  It is either the Maestro or the radio hardware for audio input and output, not both at the same time.

EA4GLI

Even with the Maestro audio I couldn't have audio in both the headphones and the front speaker of the Maestro, even though the menu makes it look like you should be able to.

Mark

I must not understand correctly.... It sounds to me like the simple fix is to plug in a stereo splitter to the audio output jack that gives you two connections (a 1 into 2 if you will).  Then you could plug in speakers to one and headphones into the other of the two available jacks. Available for between $5 and $10 or so at most stores that sell audio equipment.  Maybe a solution?  Just a thought.  73, Mark N4EOC

EA4GLI

I tested again at home and I get audio from both headphones and speaker output behind the Flex and it also works out of the Maestro while using the maestro to control the 6700.

Thanks for the prompt response Tim.

Mark, I am adding an audio splitter to the portable kit! Thx.

EA4GLI

What I do not get is audio out of the Maestro Speaker when I have headphones in the Maestro and I have the Front Speaker Enabled in the Maestro menu. I would think that with that combo I should be able to get audio from both simultaneously.

k3Tim

using headphones should mute the Maestro internal speaker. When listening to SWL late at night this is a required feature. The menu selection for speaker or radio is best thought of as a selection of the audio stream to the radio of the maestro. Once the stream is directed at the Maestro, the headphone jack overrides the internal speaker.

I would expect the "line out" to be still active. Have you tried that?

Tim

EA4GLI

I can see how plugging in the headphones could/should default to muting the external speaker. That is not the case with the Flex radio though, so I guess that follows  a different design criteria.
I have not tried the Line Out, but that one, probably like the pwr speaker out requires carrying a set of powered speakers. The idea is to be able to listen to both the internal speaker as well as headphones if I select to ENABLE the internal speaker, regardless of using a headset.

The case scenario is in the clubhouse, the operator wants/needs the headset to concentrate on the contest and cancel external noises, but the onlookers of the operation do not mind listening to the activity.

Looking at the enabled and disabled for the front speaker of the maestro I though I could choose. Might not be the case.

k3Tim

I can understand your use case. The Flex Radio does have a separate volume controls for speaker and earphone. This would be best for both our use cases for Maestro, but not sure Maestro can support this.