Transport Responsiveness; Effects Processing And Automated Mixing; Cuemix Dsp Hardware Monitoring; Two Methods For Controlling Cuemix Dsp - MOTU 828mkII User Manual

increase the buffer size, you reduce the load on
your computer, freeing up bandwidth for effects,
mixing and other real-time operations.
Figure 12-7: 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 DSP HARDWARE MONITORING

The 828mkII has a more direct method of patching
audio through the system. This method is called
CueMix DSP. When enabled, CueMix activates
hardware patch-thru in the 828mkII itself. CueMix
DSP has two important benefits:
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
First, 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).
Secondly, CueMix DSP imposes no strain on the
■
computer.
The trade-off, however, is that CueMix DSP
bypasses your host audio software. Instead, live
audio inputs are patched directly through to
outputs in the 828mkII itself and are mixed with
disk tracks playing back from your audio software.
This means that you cannot apply 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 DSP 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 DSP. Instead,
reduce latency with the buffer setting (as explained
earlier in this chapter).
TWO METHODS FOR CONTROLLING
CUEMIX DSP
There are two ways to control CueMix DSP:
With CueMix Console
■
From within your host audio software (if it
■
supports direct hardware monitoring)
You can even use both methods simultaneously.

Using CueMix Console

If your host audio software does not support direct
hardware monitoring, you run CueMix Console
side-by-side with your audio software and manage
your monitor mix in CueMix Console.
CueMix Console allows you to create up to four
separate 828mkII monitor mixes, or any other
desired routing configurations. These routings are
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