User manual MOTU 896 MK3

[. . . ] MOTU 896mk3 Hybrid User Guide for Windows TM 1280 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138 Business voice: (617) 576-2760 Business fax: (617) 576-3609 Web site: www. motu. com Tech support: www. motu. com/support SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS CAUTION!READ THIS SAFETY GUIDE BEFORE YOU BEGIN INSTALLATION OR OPERATION. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS COULD RESULT IN BODILY INJURY OR EQUIPMENT DAMAGE. HAZARDOUS VOLAGES: CONTACT MAY CAUSE ELECTRIC SHOCK OR BURN. [. . . ] For details, see "CueMix FX hardware monitoring" on page 68. If you do need to process a live input with host software plug-ins, or if you are playing virtual instruments live through your 896mk3 audio hardware, you can significantly reduce latency -- and even make it completely inaudible, regardless of what host audio application software you use. It is important to note that monitoring delay has no effect on when audio data is recorded to disk or played back from disk. Actual recording and playback is extremely precise. 65 MONITORING LIVE INPUT There are two ways to monitor live audio input with an 896mk3: 1) through the computer or 2) via the 896mk3 CueMix FX hardware mixer. Figure 8-1 shows method 1, which allows you to apply host-based effects processing via plug-ins in your audio software. See the next section, "Adjusting the audio I/O buffer" for details about how to reduce -- and possibly eliminate -- the audible monitoring delay that the computer introduces. Figure 8-2 shows how to use CueMix FX hardwarebased monitoring, which lets you hear what you are recording with no monitoring delay and no computer-based effects processing. Mic signal (with plug-in processing, if any) is routed to the main outs (or other outputs that you've specified in the software). is routed directly to an output, either with or without 896mk3-based effects processing (EQ, compression or reverb). See "CueMix FX hardware monitoring" later in this chapter for details on how to use CueMix FX with your audio software, or with the included CueMix FX software. If the material you are recording is suitable, there is a third way to monitor live input: use both methods (Figure 8-1 and Figure 8-2) at the same time. For example, you could route guitar to both the computer (for an amp model effect) and mix that processed signal on the main outs with dry guitar from CueMix FX -- or perhaps with a touch of 896mk3 Classic Reverb. 2. Mic signal goes immediately to the computer. Mic signal is `patched thru' back to the audio interface with reverb or other plug-in effects, if any. 1. Live input (from mic, guitar, etc. ) enters the MOTU interface. Figure 8-1: There are two ways to monitor live audio inputs with an 896mk3: 1) through the computer or 2) via CueMix FX hardware monitoring. This diagram shows method 1 (through the computer). When using this method, use your host software's buffer setting to reduce the slight delay you hear when monitoring the live input, but don't lower it too much, or your computer might get sluggish. 66 REDUCING MONITORING LATENCY ADJUSTING THE AUDIO I/O BUFFER A buffer is a small amount of computer memory used to hold data. For audio interfaces like the 896mk3, buffers are used for the process of transferring audio data in and out of the computer. The size of the buffers determines how much delay you hear when monitoring live inputs through your audio software: larger buffers produce more delay; smaller buffers produce less. Buffer size adjustment is made in MOTU Audio Console, as shown in Figure 8-3 via the Samples Per Buffer setting. Figure 8-3: Lowering the `Samples Per Buffer' setting in MOTU Audio Console reduces patch thru latency. But doing so increases the processing load on your computer, so keep an eye on the Performance Monitor in your host audio software. 3. Mic signal is mixed with the main outs, and you can control the volume (relative to the rest of the mix) with the mic's fader in CueMix FX. 2. CueMix FX immediately patches the live mic signal directly to the main outs (or other output), completely bypassing the computer. This signal could be dry, or with 896mk3 effects processing, such as EQ, compression or Classic Reverb. 1. [. . . ] As soon as the computer boots up, Windows will try and initialize the WDM Driver. To determine if the WDM Driver is the problem, boot up in Safe Mode or remove the MOTU Audio software with the Add/Remove Programs Control Panel then restart. If that fixes the problem, visit motu. com to download the very latest drivers and then install them. `New hardware detected' window If you connect your 896mk3 before running the MOTU Audio installer, Windows will prompt you that new hardware has been detected. [. . . ]