So I've been working on a project for a customer with a deadline. Not much time for the project and deadline closing in. Got all the tracks in and started working on the vocal track. This was a live recording. When I checked the vocal track it sounded distorted as if it had been overloaded or heavy saturation vs the normally pristine clarity. Swapped mics, cables, even loaded a new project. It seemed to be getting worse.

Frustrated, I shut it off and took a break.

Coming back a while later it had the same distorted sound. I decided to export it to check the results. It didn't sound good. I'm thinking there's no way I'm going to make this deadline. The song is required to be radio ready and this wasn't happening.

Next thing I know, I lost my speakers but the sub kept working. They just stopped and nothing in the headphone out either.

At this point I'm thinking that my Scarlett died. The distortion and now outputs 1&2 gone. I figured I'd swap cables and outputs 3&4 did work. I was able to get the project finished.... Mixing and polishing without a sub.

I discovered that somehow, I don't know what happened or how, but in the Scarlett control panel, the mute on 1&2 was engaged. I clicked it off and the outputs went back to work.

Unexplained:


1. how it was muted on its own.

2. Where the distortion was coming from.

Well.... That project is done and submitted on time.... So the panic is not an issue.... But we'll see what happens when I turn it on the next time.

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.