Interfaces, latency, and computer recording...need advice

[BrianS.]

Okay, I've got:

-Reaper DAW -Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface -Peavey Revalver Mk III -Some free drum dealie

-Windows 7 PC with standard soundcard

I have recorded some stuff onto the computer, but I had much better luck with my stand-alone Boss Micro BR digital 4 track.

Playing through the Focusrite, I get some latency issues. I have read some about it, and have changed a setting on my computer that is supposed to help, but it's not enough.

So, if I want to get the most out of my simple computer set up, do I need to upgrade my soundcard? Or, is there something else holding me back? I don't really want to put a lot more money into this. I'm started to think I should just say f it and buy another digital 4 track recorder.

Please help :notworthy

 

[AmirH]

Re: Interfaces, latency, and computer recording...need advice

Okay, I've got:

-Reaper DAW -Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface -Peavey Revalver Mk III -Some free drum dealie

-Windows 7 PC with standard soundcard

I have recorded some stuff onto the computer, but I had much better luck with my stand-alone Boss Micro BR digital 4 track.

Playing through the Focusrite, I get some latency issues. I have read some about it, and have changed a setting on my computer that is supposed to help, but it's not enough.

So, if I want to get the most out of my simple computer set up, do I need to upgrade my soundcard? Or, is there something else holding me back? I don't really want to put a lot more money into this. I'm started to think I should just say f it and buy another digital 4 track recorder.

Please help :notworthy

The Scarlett should function as your sound-card, so there's no way that's the problem. I've never messed with reaper, but I imagine there are options to compensate for latency. Is there a direct monitoring option? How fast is your computer? My guess is that you're running revalver and other plugins and trying to listen to them live while you record which is too much for your machine to handle. If that's what you want to do, some latency is gonna show up no matter how powerful your computer or capable your interface (I use an older firewire Focusrite), so you will either have to be extremely judicious about how many plugins you use at once, compensating for the latency if there's an option in reaper (there is in logic), or simply direct monitoring so that you're listening to the input signal and not the signal after it's hit revalver. Hope that helps.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Interfaces, latency, and computer recording...need advice

The 2i2 has a Direct Monitor switch on the front.
You should be able to set your latency to 128 and be fine; if you need more latency than that, it's a CPU issue, not your interface.
Reaper should automatically see the 2i2 and default to 24/48kHz, I THINK, with Reaper; I forget what it automatically set to when I used it. It worked, but I set the 2i2 to operate at 24/44.1; you do not need a higher sampling rate than that. That will save you CPU.
Plugins will eat up CPU FAST. Use as few as possible when tracking unless you have at least a dual core/16GB RAM setup.

 

[Progbusters]

Re: Interfaces, latency, and computer recording...need advice

faster computer or turn off other apps to help with the computer memory. I do this with my slightly older Mac-mini. Plus a restart. I also need a faster computer.

 

[dominus]

Re: Interfaces, latency, and computer recording...need advice

Make sure you disable your onboard soundcard, just use the Focusrite for everything. 128 samples at 24/44.1 should be the lowest latency setting you'd ever need.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Interfaces, latency, and computer recording...need advice

Awesome, thanks. I do have a couple more questions that go along with the advice:

Make sure you disable your onboard soundcard, just use the Focusrite for everything.

Is there a trick to this, or is my soundcard disabled when I select the Focusrite as my I/O device?

As far as direct monitoring: This obviously monitors my unprocessed guitar signal. How do you guys "get in the mood" with this option? The processed sound is often part of the inspiration for what or how I play. Also, what about hearing the drum beat? Maybe I'm not understanding some fundamental part of the process?

Thanks a bunch for the help.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Interfaces, latency, and computer recording...need advice

The moment that you go USB you lose control of latency. You might come out OK, but if you are not then you are in for a hell of a time. That way that USB works with random crap hanging off random locations of the bus latency can sneak in very easily. Other devices on the same bus can slow everything on that bus down. And USB drivers can be very random in how much the developer thought of latency. Many developers don't care one bit. And in the USB world everything needs a driver. Even a USB hub needs a driver. Sure, you don't have to download a driver and install it in the OS, but the OS does have a driver for the USB hub and it is doing random things, and if you are using windows you have no way to diagnose what it does.

So, the first step is to get a map of what is connected to what in your computer, and make absolutely sure your USB audio interface has one separate USB controller on it's own, and no hub. One controller from the mainboard right to the USB interface with nothing else on the controller.

Oh and BTW, a "proper" USB extension cable is a hub, although you might be lucky that the cable you have violates the standard and is just passive. Then if it happens to work at all it isn't a source of mess.

 

[ginormous]

Re: Interfaces, latency, and computer recording...need advice

Plugins will eat up CPU FAST. Use as few as possible when tracking unless you have at least a dual core/16GB RAM setup.

Agreed. If I "need" a plugin for my sound, like I use IK Amplitube, Ignite NadIR (cab sim host for impulses) or Freeamp 3, I record it to the track rather than keeping it in the monitor.

Awesome, thanks. I do have a couple more questions that go along with the advice:

Make sure you disable your onboard soundcard, just use the Focusrite for everything.

Is there a trick to this, or is my soundcard disabled when I select the Focusrite as my I/O device?


As far as direct monitoring: This obviously monitors my unprocessed guitar signal. How do you guys "get in the mood" with this option? The processed sound is often part of the inspiration for what or how I play. Also, what about hearing the drum beat? Maybe I'm not understanding some fundamental part of the process?


Thanks a bunch for the help.

In my setup, I select my interface in Preferences/Audio/Devices. That pulls up the window for selecting the input device, and the driver software that's needed (Asio, etc).

I use a Tascam US-144 mkII, and that has a knob for blending direct input and the DAW output. I'm sure the Focusrite has a similar feature.

For printing VST's to the track, I select "input FX" on the input fader. That pulls up the window to select my choice of VST's.

I can monitor from the track using "auto" on the input fader, and hear my processed sound without a whole bunch of latency delay.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Interfaces, latency, and computer recording...need advice

Focusrite does not have a blend control, just the DM switch I noted above.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Interfaces, latency, and computer recording...need advice

I recorded a couple riffs using the direct monitor and that worked. Hard to "feel the groove", though. Now I'll have to try it with drums and layer some tracks to see how that works.