If you cannot hear your instrument through your DAW and are concerned as to whether or not your computer is correctly receiving the signal from your M-Audio interface, you can do a quick and easy test using tools built into both Windows and Mac OS which remove any complications.


Windows 11
1. Right click on the speaker icon in the bottom-right corner of your display, then select Sound Settings. 

2. Scroll down to Advanced and click on More Sound Settings.

3. In the Sound window under the Playback tab, right click on the M-Audio interface and select Set as Default Device.

4. Go to the Recording tab, then right click on your M-Audio interface and select Properties. 

5. Click the Listen tab, check the box which is labelled Listen to this Device, then click Apply.

Windows 10
1. Right click on the speaker icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen and select Sounds. 


2. In the Sound window under the Playback tab, right click on the M-Audio interface and select Set as Default Device.


3. Click on the Recording tab, then right click on the M-Audio interface and select Properties. 

4. Click on the Listen tab, check the box which displays Listen to this Device, then click Apply.

Mac OS

1. Open System Settings and select Sound.


2. Under the Output and Input tabs, select the M-Audio interface.


3. Open Quicktime player and select File, then New Audio Recording. 

4. In the Audio Recording window, select the downward-facing arrow next to the record button and select your M-Audio interface. 

5. Ensure that the volume bar is turned up.

6. Press the Record Button.



If No Signal Is Audible


1. Ensure that your speakers or headphones are connected to the M-Audio interface, not the computer.


(If you want to use your computers inbuilt soundcard as the output device, please feel free to select it in the Playback tab for Windows or the Output tab for Mac OS)


2. When using a condensor microphone, ensure that the +48v Phantom Power Switch has been toggled to the On position and an XLR > XLR cable is used. 


(XLR > 1/4"/6.35mm cables cannot transmit phantom power)


3. Make sure that the Line/Instrument preamp switch on your interface is set to the correct position.


4. Replace the cable used between your instrument and interface.


5. Turn up the gain control on your interface and the volume control of your instrument.


6. Connect your audio interface directly to your computer with no unofficial USB adapters or hubs in the middle of the connection.


7. Ensure that all system updates for your computer have been performed.


8. Update your PC's chipset drivers.


9. Install the official M-Audio driver by clicking HERE.