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Old 09-21-2017, 12:29 AM
Hurricane Ramon Hurricane Ramon is offline
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Question ¿ SPDIF FX Units ?


¿ Anyone using such and what type/brand/model . My interface has SPDIF in/out's .

I read a FX unit with SPDIF in/out's inputted to a interface's SPDIF allows for latency
issue/control and illuminates it by keeping the FX chain in the interface before the computer .

This allows you to actually hear on the fly real time listening as you record . This is what I
have researched

I kind of do this with my T.C.Helicon Voice Live 3 X guitar/vocal FX modeler by either the
XLR or 1/4" TRS or the Roland GR33 guitar synth module's 1/4" outs to the interfaces rear
line in's and not into a digital realm directly to the interface like the SPDIF does .

Results are zero latency as I monitor what I'm recording .

¿ Anyone here do this , I wonder if I would get better results with a SPDIF FX unit linked
into my interface . ?

EZ :


HR
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Old 09-21-2017, 06:02 AM
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KevWind KevWind is offline
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The only possible advantage I can see might be two less conversions, as to whether that would translate into a noticeable difference in delay I would doubt it .

I use AES digital I/O for my Bricasti M7 Stereo Reverb FX unit into Avid OMNI interface. I do this mainly to keep my 4 analog inputs available for 2 mics and my stereo analog compressor.

I am no expert but I would think that any advantage of using digital over analog input delay wise (if any) would depend on how automatic or manual delay compensation is handled in your specific DAW.

There is going to be some delay in digital FX processing no matter what type of input you are using. If that delay is noticeable depends on a number of other variables besides input format.
I am not sure where you are getting your reading info but I would suggest that as a blanket statement, that might only be true if your DAW does not have any kind manual delay compensation feature or method handling for hardware inserts.
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Old 09-21-2017, 08:05 AM
Brent Hahn Brent Hahn is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KevWind View Post
I am no expert but I would think that any advantage of using digital over analog input delay wise (if any) would depend on how automatic or manual delay compensation is handled in your specific DAW.
A DAW's delay compensation software can deal with plugin latency. But it can't compensate for latency outside the box, whether or not the i/o is digital. If the fx unit in question is time-based like a delay or reverb, there won't be a problem. But if it's something like a compressor used in parallel with ITB channels, you'll get phase issues that can only be resolved by printing the fx back into the DAW and then nudging the new track into sync. Not worth it, in my opinion.
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Old 09-21-2017, 09:19 AM
sdelsolray sdelsolray is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brent Hahn View Post
A DAW's delay compensation software can deal with plugin latency. But it can't compensate for latency outside the box, whether or not the i/o is digital. If the fx unit in question is time-based like a delay or reverb, there won't be a problem. But if it's something like a compressor used in parallel with ITB channels, you'll get phase issues that can only be resolved by printing the fx back into the DAW and then nudging the new track into sync. Not worth it, in my opinion.
ProTools has delay compensation for analog and digital OTB connections, although you have to tell ProTools what the latency is first.
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Old 09-21-2017, 09:35 AM
Brent Hahn Brent Hahn is offline
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ProTools has delay compensation for analog and digital OTB connections, although you have to tell ProTools what the latency is first.
Right. But to tell PT what the latency is, you have to know what the latency is. Not worth the bother for me. But that's just me. :-)
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Old 09-21-2017, 10:22 AM
sdelsolray sdelsolray is offline
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Originally Posted by Brent Hahn View Post
Right. But to tell PT what the latency is, you have to know what the latency is. Not worth the bother for me. But that's just me. :-)
Takes a few minutes: (i) find/determine the latency specs for the outboard unit, if any, and (ii) enter the value in PT. This only needs to be done once. On the other hand, how long does it take to nudge tracks, over and over again, from project to project?
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Old 09-21-2017, 10:55 AM
Brent Hahn Brent Hahn is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sdelsolray View Post
Takes a few minutes: (i) find/determine the latency specs for the outboard unit, if any, and (ii) enter the value in PT. This only needs to be done once. On the other hand, how long does it take to nudge tracks, over and over again, from project to project?
I'd never do any of those things. I have an awfully short attention span and a ton of things I want to get done. When they find me slumped over dead in the studio, I want to be in the middle of an overdub, not calculating latency.
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Old 09-21-2017, 04:02 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brent Hahn View Post
A DAW's delay compensation software can deal with plugin latency. But it can't compensate for latency outside the box, whether or not the i/o is digital. If the fx unit in question is time-based like a delay or reverb, there won't be a problem. But if it's something like a compressor used in parallel with ITB channels, you'll get phase issues that can only be resolved by printing the fx back into the DAW and then nudging the new track into sync. Not worth it, in my opinion.

I have heard this yet in my Pro Tools system using an Avid OMNI interface. When I have Automatic Delay Compensation on and the M7 as an insert there is in fact a specific delay reading in that track without me entering anything in the HW Insert Delay window ??? Which would seem to indicate that it is auto compensating .
Goes for both my M7 which is a digital reverb unit using AES I/O
And my 3U analog compressor via analog I/O
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System :
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Last edited by KevWind; 09-21-2017 at 04:07 PM.
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Old 09-21-2017, 05:09 PM
Rudy4 Rudy4 is offline
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Re: latency.

When I used to use Tracktion as my main DAW it has a cool latency calculation feature. You play back a bit of audio with a live mic on the input channel and it calculated precise latency and would automatically set the track offset if you wished.
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Old 09-22-2017, 02:54 AM
Hurricane Ramon Hurricane Ramon is offline
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Cool Latency

At present with my 24 bit FX unit in front


going into my interface



before the computer sees in the DAW I hear everything in real time ,
all FX for my vocal , electric/midi guitar . acoustic guitars etcetera .

It works too . With only 4 gigs of RAM in my computer it assures me
of a smooth glitch free recording in my computer .

Same applies to the RoLand GR33's FX which I really dig .
After doing this , I think of the SPDIF input for
FX on other stuff beside my guitar(s) , harps , vocal and ,
multi channel surround editing , before the computer .

Like this unit does into a interface :

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...Processor.html




EZ :


HR
__________________
It started for me with Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in 54 on a Blues Harp and progressed ,
then life .....some death ....Evolving as I went like a small rock in a stream rounding
out as I went with the flow as I go through the white waters and waterfalls of life .
Life has always been interesting to me


Last edited by Hurricane Ramon; 09-22-2017 at 03:03 AM.
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