01 · Get started
Create and apply a profile
- Connect and power the intended audio devices before opening SIGNAL Monitor.
- Allow microphone access when macOS requests it.
- Create or edit a Profile and explicitly choose the intended input, output, sample rate, buffer, and channel routes.
- Confirm the displayed route is correct before selecting Start.
- Start remains muted. Unmute only after verifying the route cannot feed an output back into an input.
A restored Profile never starts or unmutes audio automatically. Start and Unmute are separate deliberate actions.
02 · Controls
Monitor the route
Source processing
Trim, polarity, HPF, Hard Gate, EQ, compressor, fader, pan/balance, mute, solo, and independent sends.
Monitor bus
Control-room monitoring, speaker selection, audition, correction routing, and protected output calibration.
Cue buses
Independent mono or stereo performer mixes with pre/post sends and Talkback targets.
Stream bus
Independent streaming mix with metering and an optional true-peak limiter.
Routing and outputs
Explicit matrix, physical output strips, conflict prevention, and Global Master emergency mute.
Scenes and groups
Recall mixer state through click-safe transitions and control related channels without changing protected hardware calibration.
Edition feature summary
- Everything shared with Mono and Multi at the larger Pro capacity
- Mono and stereo input sources across up to 32 occupied hardware input channels when qualified hardware and system capacity permit
- Up to 32 physical outputs when qualified hardware and system capacity permit
- Independent Monitor, Cue, and Stream buses with per-send level, pan/balance, and pre/post selection
- Routing matrix with feedback prevention, physical output strips, and emergency Global Master
- Talkback, PFL/AFL audition, Mute Groups, Mute Safe, and DCA groups
- Native trim, polarity, high-pass filter, Hard Gate, four-band EQ, compression, and optional Stream limiter
- Profiles, full Templates, Scenes, Undo/Redo, recent-change history, and protected output calibration
03 · Hard gate
Reduce unwanted noise
The native Hard Gate is bypassed by default. Its enable button is separate from the editor so bypass remains visible without opening controls.
- Open threshold: Sets the level that opens the Gate.
- Close threshold / hysteresis: Closes below the open point to reduce chatter.
- Attack: Controls how quickly the Gate reaches its open state.
- Hold: Keeps the Gate open briefly after the signal falls.
- Release: Controls how quickly attenuation returns.
- Range: Limits how much the closed Gate reduces the signal.
Gate controls update the live route without Apply. Bypass the Gate first when diagnosing a missing or unexpectedly quiet source.
04 · Troubleshooting
Recover the exact route
- No input level
- Refresh Inputs, confirm microphone authorization, exact device/channel selection, cabling, interface gain, source mute, fader, and Gate state.
- No monitored output
- Refresh Outputs, confirm the exact destination, Monitor/global mute state, source and Monitor faders, interface routing, and speaker/headphone path.
- Device disconnected
- Reconnect the same device, refresh the appropriate device list, and use Retry Exact Route. SIGNAL does not silently substitute a different route.
- Sample-rate conflict
- Stop monitoring, reconcile the hardware and DAW sample rate, then restart explicitly.
- Feedback or rapidly rising level
- Mute all output immediately and remove the physical or software feedback path before retrying.
- Quit
- Press Command-Q from the mixer or any SIGNAL Monitor window or sheet.
05 · Diagnostics
Capture useful evidence
Open Settings, then Diagnostics. Record the edition, version/build, selected route, active sample rate and buffers, latency components, counters, and any route or processor warning.
Copied diagnostics are designed to omit audio, Profile/channel names, hardware serials, credentials, and private paths. Review any attachment before sharing it.
For SIGNAL Monitor support, email support@maskedamedia.com.