MOTU 8M User Manual page 66

In either case (routing directly in the grid or
routing through the mixer), be sure to maintain the
input's connection to the computer as well, so the
input signal can be recorded in your host software.
In other words, you'll want to make sure there are
two tiles enabled in the input's column in the grid:
one tile for the connection to the computer and
another tile for your monitoring output (or a mixer
input, if you are using the mixer to apply effects). If
you need to route the input signal to other
destinations, too, you can certainly do so (you can
route the input to multiple destinations).
Monitoring through your host audio software
If you do need to process a live input with host
software plug-ins, or if you are playing virtual
instruments live through your MOTU audio
hardware, you can significantly reduce latency by
adjusting the audio buffer setting in your host
audio software, as explained in the next section.
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It is important to note that monitoring delay
has no effect on the recording, or playback, of
audio data from disk. The actual recording and
playback is extremely precise, it is only the
monitoring of your live input signal which may be
delayed.
Adjusting your host software audio buffer
Buffers are small bundles of audio data. Your
interface "speaks" to your computer in buffers,
rather than one sample at a time. The size of these
buffers determine how much delay you hear when
monitoring live inputs through your audio
software: larger buffers produce more delay;
smaller buffers produce less.
Under Mac OS X, audio I/O buffer size is handled
by the host audio application (not by your MOTU
interface's Core Audio driver). Most audio software
applications provide an adjustable audio buffer
setting that lets you control the amount of delay
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you'll hear when monitoring live inputs or
processing them with software plug-ins. Here are a
few examples.
Figure 7-3: In Digital Performer and AudioDesk, choose Setup menu>
Configure Audio System> Configure Hardware Driver to open the
dialog shown above and access the Buffer Size setting. Refer to your
Digital Performer or AudioDesk manual for information about the
Host Buffer Multiplier setting.
Figure 7-4: In Cubase or Nuendo, choose Devices menu > Device
Setup. Select your interface (1248, 8M or 16A), then click the Control
Panel button to access the window above and the Buffer Size setting.
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