Mackie Spike User Manual page 61

Overdub (Software Monitoring)
When you are playing and recording a guitar for example, you may want to listen through Tracktion.
You may be thinking: "why? I have the MIX knob set to DIR and can hear myself just fi ne. Plus I've
heard about this latency thing and I'm scared of running into it." Well, let's say you found the new-
est, greatest Kongfl ingulator VST plug-in, and you want to use it on your recorded guitar track.
Wouldn't it be great to hear how the guitar will sound with the plug-in before you record it? You can,
and this is done by software monitoring. In Tracktion, software monitoring can be enabled by turn-
ing on "end-to-end" for each input individually. Click the Spike audio input icon you are recording
with, to show the properties area. Make sure the "enable end to end" button is checked, and also the
global "e-to-e" button in the transport area.
Lower half of Tracktion screen, showing the properties area
MIX
Turn the MIX knob to USB. Load the new plug-in using the New Filter button, and add
it to your track. (See Tracktion Help for details of how to do this.) Play your guitar, and
sound simply fabulous through your awesome new plug-in. If you sense some delay
DIR USB
between the time you pluck the guitar string, and the moment you hear it in your head-
phones, read about latency on the next page (you'll probably want to read it anyway).
Mixdown
MIX
When you are fi nished with your overdubs, you are ready to mix all of your recorded
tracks. Since you are no longer adding new performances, all you need to hear is the
USB output of your computer. Set the MIX knob to USB and go to work.
DIR USB
enable end to end e-to-e
User's
61
Guide