MOTU Traveler-mk3 User Manual page 74

Figure 10-6: When adjusting the buffer size to reduce monitoring
latency, watch the 'processor' meter in Digital Performer or
AudioDesk's Performance Monitor. If you hear distortion, or if the
Performance meter is peaking, try raising the buffer size.
If you are at a point in your recording project where
you are not currently working with live, patched-
thru material (e.g. you're not recording vocals), or
if you have a way of externally processing inputs,
choose a higher buffer size. Depending on your
computer's CPU speed, you might find that settings
in the middle work best (256 to 1024).
Transport responsiveness
Buffer size also impacts how quickly your audio
software will respond when you begin playback,
although not by amounts that are very noticeable.
Lowering the buffer size will make your software
respond faster; raising the buffer size will make it a
little bit slower, but barely enough to notice.
Effects processing and automated mixing
Reducing latency with the buffer size setting has
another benefit: it lets you route live inputs through
the real-time effects processing and mix
automation of your audio software.
CUEMIX FX HARDWARE MONITORING
The Traveler-mk3 has a more direct method of
patching audio through the system. This method
employs the Traveler-mk3's CueMix FX digital
mixer. When enabled, CueMix activates hardware
patch-thru in the Traveler-mk3 itself. CueMix FX
has two important benefits:
It completely eliminates the patch thru delay
■
(reducing it to a small number of samples — about
the same amount as one of today's digital mixers).
74
CueMix FX imposes no strain on the computer.
■
The trade-off, however, is that CueMix FX
bypasses your host audio software. Instead, live
audio inputs are patched directly through to
outputs in the Traveler-mk3 itself and are mixed
with disk tracks playing back from your audio
software. This means that you cannot apply host-
based plug-ins, mix automation, or other real-time
effects that your audio software provides. But for
inputs that don't need these types of features,
CueMix FX is the way to go.
On the other hand, if you really need to use the
mixing and processing provided by your audio
software, you should not use CueMix FX. Instead,
reduce latency with the buffer setting (as explained
earlier in this chapter).
TWO METHODS FOR CONTROLLING
CUEMIX FX
There are two ways to control CueMix FX:
With CueMix FX
■
From within your host audio software (if it
■
supports direct hardware monitoring)
You can even use both methods simultaneously.
Using CueMix FX
If your host audio software does not support direct
hardware monitoring, you run the CueMix FX
software side-by-side with your audio software and
manage your monitor mix in CueMix FX.
CueMix FX allows you to create up to eight
separate Traveler-mk3 stereo mixes, or any other
desired routing configurations. These routings are
independent of your host audio software. For
complete details, see chapter 11, "CueMix FX"
(page 77).
R E D U C I N G M O N I T O R I N G L A T E N C Y