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P2 FAQ

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Part 1: Basic Connection & Power (The First Step for Beginners)

 

Q1: Why doesn't the interface light up after plugging it into the computer?

  • Check the Switch: Please confirm that the POWER switch on the back is toggled to the "ON" position.

  • Check the Cable: Be sure to use the original USB-C data cable. Some third-party cables are for charging only (without data transfer capabilities) and cannot be recognized by the computer.

  • Insufficient Power: If you are connecting to a desktop computer, it is recommended to plug into a USB port on the back of the tower. Front panel ports sometimes have unstable power supply.

Q2: I only use it with my phone. Why won't it work, or why does my phone drain battery quickly?

Mobile phones (especially iPhones) do not output enough current to drive a professional audio interface.

  • Auxiliary Power Required: When connecting to the phone via the OTG port, you must simultaneously plug a power source (power bank or phone charger) into the DC 5V port on the back of the interface.

  • Connection Order: It is recommended to plug in the power supply first, and then connect the phone data cable.

Q3: Can this interface charge my phone?

No. The DC 5V port on the back is strictly for powering the interface itself; it will not reverse-charge your phone. Please ensure your phone is fully charged before streaming.

Q4: What should I do if the computer doesn't detect the "Maono P2"?

  • Windows: Try changing to a different USB port, or visit the official website to re-download and install the driver. Restart your computer after installation.

  • Check the Cable: Try swapping to another Type-C cable that you are certain supports data transfer.

  • Device Conflict: Unplug other unused USB audio devices (such as USB microphones or webcam mics).

 

Part 2: Mic Input & Sound (Why is it quiet/noisy?)

 

Q5: Why is my microphone volume very low, and there is only static noise when I turn it up?

This is usually caused by using the wrong cable.

  • Wrong Way: Using an "XLR to 6.35mm" cable (one end has 3 pins, the other looks like a guitar plug). This prevents the interface from engaging the microphone preamp, resulting in an extremely weak signal.

  • Right Way: Microphones must be connected using an XLR to XLR (Male to Female) cable.

Q6: Do I need to turn on 48V for a dynamic microphone (e.g., PD300X)? Absolutely not!

Dynamic microphones are plug-and-play. Although most modern devices have protection circuits, turning on 48V can potentially damage the microphone diaphragm during the moment of plugging/unplugging and will add unnecessary background noise.

Q7: Why is there a buzzing/static sound when I speak?

  • Interference Sources: Do not place mobile phones directly next to the interface or microphone, as wireless signals cause interference. If you are using a dynamic microphone, its physical working structure is susceptible to magnetic fields from electronic devices. For example, RGB keyboards, routers, and studio lights can all cause interference.

  • Cables: Check if the XLR cable is damaged or has poor contact.

  • Gain Too High: Do not turn the Gain knob all the way to the maximum. Usually, pointing it to the 2 o'clock or 3 o'clock direction is sufficient.

  • Laptop Power: Some laptops create ground loop interference when charging. Try unplugging the laptop charger and running on battery power to test.

Q8: What is "Clipping"? Why does my sound distort sometimes?

When the light ring around the gain knob turns red, that is clipping. This means the sound signal exceeds the maximum limit the device can handle, and the waveform is being "cut off."

  • Solution: Turn the Gain knob counter-clockwise when speaking loudly until the indicator light flashes yellow at the loudest peaks.

Q9: Can I connect a cheap PC headset (headphones with a mic) to talk?

No. The headphone jacks on the front of the P2 are for monitoring (listening) only and do not support input. Microphones must be plugged into the Combo inputs on the back.

 

Part 3: Monitoring & Headphones (What am I hearing?)

 

Q10: Why do I only hear sound on the left side of my headphones?

This is likely because you only connected one microphone (IN1) and selected the wrong monitoring mode.

  • Situation: Mic is in IN1, and Direct Monitor is in Stereo mode.

  • Solution: Press the Direct Monitor button to switch to Mono mode. The sound will automatically be centered, and you will hear it on both sides.

Q11: Why do I hear an echo (latency) of my own voice when I speak?

This is an overlap of "Software Monitoring" and "Hardware Monitoring."

  • Hardware Monitoring (Zero Latency): The P2's Direct Monitor function is zero-latency.

  • Software Monitoring (Has Latency): If you also turn on the monitor button (speaker icon) in your recording software (like Cubase, Audition), you will hear two voices: one real-time, and one slightly delayed.

  • Solution: Turn off the monitoring function in your recording software and listen only via the interface's Direct Monitor.

Q12: Can the two front headphone jacks control volume independently?

No. The 6.35mm and 3.5mm headphone jacks share a single Headphones knob. If two people are monitoring simultaneously, it is recommended to use headphones with similar impedance; otherwise, one might sound very loud while the other sounds very quiet.

Q13: I don't want to hear my own voice in the headphones, only the computer audio. What do I do?

Press the Direct Monitor button until the light goes out (turns white). This turns off the direct monitoring function.

 

Part 4: Stream Mode & Recording (Must-read for Streamers)

 

Q14: Viewers say my voice is shifting left and right, or there is sound on only one side?

  • Reason: You may have turned off the Stream button on the interface. In this state, IN1 defaults to the left channel and IN2 to the right channel.

  • Solution: Press the Stream button (turn mode ON). The interface will automatically mix your microphone sound to the center so viewers can hear it normally.

Q15: I want to edit two vocals separately in post-production. How should I set it up?

  • Setting: Turn OFF the Stream button (switch to Stereo mode).

  • Software Operation: In your DAW (Host Software), create two mono audio tracks.

    • Track 1 Input: Select Input 1 (Left)

    • Track 2 Input: Select Input 2 (Right) This way, the two vocals are completely independent.

Q16: Can I connect an electric guitar for recording? Yes.

  1. Plug the guitar into the center hole of the combo jack (using a TS cable).

  2. Make sure to press the corresponding Inst button (High Impedance mode). If you don't press it, the guitar sound will be muffled and dull.

 

Part 5: Output & Other Interfaces (Speakers & Expansion)

 

Q17: What is the Main Out port on the back for?

This is for connecting monitor speakers. Note that it is a Balanced output. It is recommended to use 6.35mm TRS to TRS cables to connect the speakers for the best interference resistance.

Q18: What is the use of the Camera port?

This is for users who shoot video.

  • Usage: Use a 3.5mm AUX cable (TRS to TRS) to connect the interface's Camera port to the camera's microphone input. This way, the audio in your video is high-quality audio processed by the interface, saving you the trouble of syncing audio in post-production.

Q19: Both the Live port and OTG port can connect to phones. What's the difference?

  • OTG (USB-C): Digital transmission. Best sound quality, lossless. Preferred recommendation.

  • Live (3.5mm): Analog transmission. Suitable for older phones or when the OTG port is occupied. Note that you must use a 4-pole (TRRS) audio cable.

 

Part 6: Advanced Knowledge & Troubleshooting (Become a Pro)

 

Q20: What is "Phantom Power"? Will it explode if I accidentally turn it on for a dynamic mic?

Phantom power is used to power the internal circuits of condenser microphones.

  • Modern Interfaces: Turning on 48V for a dynamic mic will usually not burn out the microphone, provided you are using a standard XLR cable (because the voltage is applied to the signal pins with no current loop).

  • However: If you use a non-standard cable, or hot-plug the microphone while 48V is on, it is very likely to burn out the microphone. Develop a good habit: Turn off 48V before unplugging the microphone.

Q21: Why is the recorded sound very low, looking like a flat line in the software waveform?

  • Check Gain: Many beginners are afraid to turn up the gain. Dynamic microphones usually need the knob turned to the 70%-80% position.

  • Windows Settings: Check the System Sound Control Panel -> Recording Devices -> Properties -> Levels, and ensure the volume is set to 100.

Q22: Does this interface have a "Loopback" function?

Although "Loopback" isn't labeled on the panel, the Stream mode acts similarly for inputs.

  • Mechanism: It primarily mixes the physical signals of IN1/IN2.

  • Note: If you want to record game audio playing on the PC and stream it to a phone, the P2's OTG interface typically supports bi-directional transmission (PC audio -> Interface -> Phone), but this depends on driver settings and routing.

Q23: Can I use VST plugins (like effects racks) with this interface?

Yes, but the P2 itself does not have built-in DSP effects (like reverb or voice changers). You need to load plugins through a host software (DAW) on your computer (like Studio One, Pro Tools) and output via monitoring. Note that this requires computer performance; otherwise, there will be latency.

Q24: Can I use one dynamic mic and one condenser mic at the same time? Yes, but be careful:

The P2's 48V switch might be a global switch (controls all channels).

  • If 48V controls both ports: When plugging in a dynamic mic (like an SM58) and a condenser mic, turning on 48V is generally harmless to standard dynamic mics, but caution is still advised.

  • Note: Please confirm if P2's 48V is individually controlled or unified. If unified, never turn on 48V if a Ribbon Microphone is connected.

Q25: How do I choose Sample Rate and Bit Depth? (24bit/48kHz vs 192kHz)

  • Streaming/Video: Recommend 48kHz / 24bit. This is the video industry standard.

  • Pure Music Production: You can choose 44.1kHz or higher.

  • Misconception: Blindly choosing 192kHz will consume huge hard drive space and increase computer load, with no obvious sound quality improvement for general streaming.

Last modified: 2025-11-19