G3 FAQ

Part 1: Basic Connection & Recognition Issues

Q1: The indicator light of the audio interface does not turn on after connecting to a computer?

A：

1、Replace the data cable: Only use the original USB-C cable (ordinary USB-C cables may only support charging but not data transmission, or may be incompatible due to different protocols).

2、 Change the USB port: For desktop computers, connect to the rear USB ports (front USB ports have unstable power supply).

Q2: The indicator light of the audio interface does not turn on after connecting to a mobile phone, and the audio interface cannot be used with the phone?

A：

 G3 must be used with Arena software, which currently only supports Windows computers.

Q3: No sound when recording on a computer after connecting the audio interface to a condenser microphone?

A:

 Check if the 48V phantom power on the audio interface is turned on; turn it on if not.

Q4: The computer cannot recognize the "G3" device after connecting the audio interface?

A:

1、 Check the cable: The connected USB-C cable must support data transmission, not just charging. It is recommended to use the USB-C cable included in the package.

2、 Change the port: Try switching to another USB port on the computer.

3、Download the latest driver from the official website — restart the computer after installation.

4、For Windows computers, open Device Manager, go to Sound, video and game controllers, and check if G3 is disabled. Enable it if disabled.

Part 2: Button & Interface Functions

Q5: What is the purpose of the Main out interface?

A: Connect to powered monitor speakers.

Q6: How to enable the monitoring function of the audio interface?

A:

1、Select Speaker - G3 as the monitoring device in Arena to monitor the audio interface sound.

2、Note: Do not press the monitor button on G3 when selecting Speaker - G3 in Arena, otherwise you will hear double audio. The monitor button on G3 only works for microphones connected via XLR cables.

Part 3: Software Usage

Q7: How to connect and use Arena?

A:

1、Open Arena and connect the G3 device.

2、Select Speaker 2 - G3 as the monitoring device.

3、Different applications can be set to different channels.

4、Mix monitoring can switch modes, and you can selectively route sound from different channels to PC-2.

5、No real-time monitoring is available when the Arena monitoring device is switched to Digital Audio Device PC2; sound can only be recorded on PC2 or streamed to PC2 live rooms.

Part 4: Sound Issues (No Sound, Abnormal Sound, Echo, etc.)

Q8: No sound for recording/live streaming after connecting the audio interface to a computer?

A:

1、Check if Arena is connected to G3, if the microphone in Arena is deleted or muted, and if the gain knob on G3 is adjusted to the 2 o’clock position.

2、Check if 2 - G3 is selected as the computer’s audio input device, and verify the volume level.

3、Check if the audio input volume in third-party recording or live streaming software is too low or muted.

Q9: Static/electric noise when the audio interface is connected to a computer?

1、Do not hold the microphone by hand; mount it on a stand.

2、Ensure the USB cable and XLR cable are securely connected to the microphone and interface.

3、Do NOT use adapters! First, switch the USB port connected to the audio interface. For desktops, use rear USB ports.

4、Low noise from the audio interface itself or normal ambient sound: Use in a quieter environment.

5、Excessive microphone gain or noisy environment causes ambient sound to exceed the noise reduction threshold: Lower the microphone gain.

6、Aging computer ports, poor grounding, or aging power strips cause leakage and static: Test on another computer in a different environment, or try using with a mobile phone.

7、Strong electromagnetic interference from nearby devices (Wi-Fi, video lights): Move to a different location (e.g., from living room to bedroom).

8、Software incompatibility causes noise: Use the built-in Windows Voice Recorder, close third-party software to avoid conflicts or distortion from effects.

Q10: Microphone clipping (distorted/loud sound)?

A:

1、Check if the gain knob on the audio interface is set too high. The input lights of the 4 faders on the G3 panel will turn red if sound is overloaded. Adjust the input gain properly.

2、Check the computer’s sound settings and lower the audio input volume level if it is too high.

Part 5: Other FAQs

Q11: Arena and Microphone Settings

A:

Open Arena and connect the microphone to the computer via a USB-C cable. A prompt will appear in the bottom-right corner when the microphone is successfully connected, and the microphone channel will show on the home page. Click the microphone icon on the interface to adjust related parameters. Currently supported models: PD200X, PD400X, DM30, DM30 (RGB), PD100X, PM450, DM50.

Q12: Why can’t I use Arena with a connected USB microphone?

A:

Arena is a mixing software developed by Maono for its own microphones and audio interfaces, supporting quick adjustment of volume, gain, and other parameters. Third-party USB microphones are not directly supported; they must be connected via the G3 device to work with Arena.

Q13: How to use Live, Chat, and Headphone modes for live streaming: Set up separate audio for teammates and viewers?

A:

Example: Viewers only hear your voice and game sound effects; you and teammates chat privately (not heard by viewers); you listen to your own music (not heard by teammates or viewers).

Platform Settings:

1、Live streaming platform: Microphone = Stream Input (Maono Arena); Speaker = Chat Output (Maono Arena); select the corresponding channel in Arena’s "App Audio Settings".

2、 Gaming platform: Microphone = Chat Input (Maono Arena); Speaker = Browser Output (Maono Arena); select the corresponding channel in Arena’s "App Audio Settings".

3、(Note: Do not select Chat Output (Maono Arena) for the gaming platform speaker, and remember to select the matching channel in Arena.)

Arena Home Settings:

1、In Live mode, mute the chat channel (game voice channel) so teammates’ voices do not go to the live stream.

2、In Chat mode, mute all channels except the microphone and mute the sound panel so teammates only hear your voice.

3、Switch monitoring to Headphone mode to freely adjust any channel volume for private listening.

Q14: How to perform a firmware upgrade?

A:

1、Arena supports firmware upgrades for microphones and G3. A yellow dot on the top-right of the "Options" button on the Arena home page indicates an available update.

2、Firmware Upgrade Page: Open Arena → click Options → select Firmware Upgrade to open the upgrade window, which shows device information and current firmware version. For multiple devices, click upgrade for each device in sequence; the system will auto-complete upgrades in order.

3、If already up to date, the window will show: All devices are updated to the latest firmware.

Note: Firmware upgrade requires two USB cables to connect PC1 and PC2 to the computer simultaneously.

Q15: How to enable AI Noise Reduction on the G3?

Path: Arena → Options → G3 Settings → Noise Reduction → AI Noise Reduction

Q16: How to switch the light ring mode on the G3?

A:

Path: Arena → Options → G3 Settings → Light Ring Control.

Q17: How to adjust the light brightness of the G3?

A:

Path: Arena → Options → G3 Settings → Brightness 

Q18: How to adjust the light color for mixing modes on G3?

A:

Path: Arena → Options → G3 Settings →  Mode Light Color.

Q19: How to adjust the mute button light color on G3?

A:

Path: Arena → Options → G3 Settings → Mute  Light Color

Q20: How to turn on/off the lights for the noise cancellation and monitoring function keys on the G3?

A:

Path: Arena → Options → G3 Settings → Noise Cancellation & Monitoring Function Keys (Off State)

Q21: How to move virtual channels on the Arena homepage?

A:

Operation: On the Arena homepage, left-click and hold the channel, then drag it to the desired position to adjust the order.

Q22: How to delete a virtual channel on the Arena homepage?

A:

Operation: In Stream mode on the Arena homepage, click the delete icon in the upper-right corner of the virtual channel.

Q23: How to add a virtual channel on the Arena homepage?

A:

Operation: In Stream mode, click Add Device at the end of the virtual channel list, then select the desired virtual channel.

Q24: How to mute a virtual channel on the Arena homepage?

A:

Operation: In Stream mode on the Arena homepage, click the mute icon at the upper right of the virtual channel.

Q25: How to turn on/off the link function of virtual channels on the Arena homepage?

A:

Operation: In Chat and Headphone modes on the Arena homepage, there is a link switch below each virtual channel. Click it to turn the function on or off.

Q26: How to mute/unmute mix monitor output on the Arena homepage?

A:

Operation: In the mix monitor panel at the bottom-left of the Arena homepage, click the Stream, Chat, or Headphone mode icon to mute or unmute the corresponding mix monitor channel.

Q27: How to import sound effects?

A:

Operation: On the sound effect editing page, click the Delete icon in the upper-right corner to remove the corresponding sound effect.

Q30: How to open the audio source management window?

31. How to view the sound effect shortcuts?

A:

Operation method: On the Arena main page, click Options, then select Shortcut to enter the shortcut key settings page. Choose SoundPad to view the shortcut keys for sound effects.

32. How to view the mute toggle shortcuts?

A:

Operation method: On the Arena main page, click Options, select Shortcut to enter the shortcut key settings page, then choose Mute Toggle to view the corresponding shortcut keys.

33. How to view the volume control shortcuts?

A:

Operation method: On the Arena main page, click Options, select Shortcut to enter the shortcut key settings page, then choose Volume Control to view the corresponding shortcut keys.

The Stream and Chat mixing channels generate corresponding virtual channels (Stream Input and Chat Input) in third-party software. Their primary function is to route audio output to the live broadcast room. By contrast, the Headphone mixing channel has no matching virtual channel and is solely for personal monitoring.

 

 

 

35、The G3 microphone shows level fluctuations on Arena, yet no human voice can be heard through headphones.

• Turn up the corresponding fader of the G3 panel to maximum, and fully crank the headphone knob on the G3 unit.
• Max out the master output volume in the mixing monitoring section at the bottom left of Arena.
• Switch the monitoring device in the bottom right of Arena to Speakers (3-G3), and make sure this device is not muted.

 

 

 

36、When playing sound effects via the G3 sound effect panel, the sound effects are audible in headphones, but the sound effect volume meter on Arena shows no fluctuation.

This is not a malfunction of Arena. The current audio routing is set to the stream mixing channel, which has been muted. All audio on the stream mixing channel cannot be monitored as a result.

 If you switch the monitoring target in the mixing monitoring panel at the bottom left from Stream to Chat or Headphone, you will be able to hear the sound effects normally. Even so, the sound effect volume meter will still not display any level movement.

 

37、The accompaniment volume does not change at all when adjusting the faders on the G3 panel.

The Arena main page indicates the Headphone mixing channel is active, but the monitoring target in the mixing monitoring panel at the bottom left has been switched from Headphone to Stream.

Under this state, adjusting faders on the G3 panel cannot control the volume. You have to adjust the volume slider located under Stream in the mixing monitoring panel instead.

 

38、Why is there a discrepancy between the monitoring volume and the volume transmitted to PC2?

The Stream, Chat and Headphone mixing channels in Arena’s monitoring section can each have their volume adjusted independently. You may select and activate any single mixing channel to send audio to PC2. If you monitor audio via the Stream mixing channel while sending audio from the Chat mixing channel to PC2, the volumes of these two separate channels will not match.

 

 

39、Why do the three mixing channels deliver different monitored volumes even when all faders on the Arena panel are turned up to maximum?

This is because the volume of each of the three channels in the mixing monitoring panel at the bottom left of Arena can independently adjust the master output volume for its corresponding mode.

 

40、Why can I still hear backing tracks even after muting music, while my voice cannot be monitored though the microphone is unmuted?

On Arena’s main interface, the Stream mixing channel shows that Microphone G3 is unmuted and the Music channel is muted. However, the mixing monitoring panel at the bottom left has been switched to the Chat mixing channel, so the audio settings of the Chat mixing channel take effect instead. See Figure 2.