latency & electronic music production

[r.staettler]

why is this post in HERE an not in "computer stuff" ?

because the problem with latency is only such a big problem when you start "mixing" before you actually finished composing & arrangement..
which - as i believe - is typical for writing/producing electronic music

i personally like to put compressor & eq-plug ins with character on synthetic "audio" which is why i bought 2 UADs w/ all plugs.. and i like them a lot..
BUT.. the latency, at least when im using them on busses or more than one for the same source, makes it impossible to play more elements..

what is your solution ?

1) i dont use any plug in at all.. i have all the outboard gear at hand (SLUT!!!)
2) i dont use any plug in or outboard - i like it electronically "clean"
3) i only use native plugs to prevent latency problems
4) i only start mixing when the song is finished
5) what latency?

[GuruInSpace]

MY solution is dont use any plug ins.

[horseface]

My solution is don't use the fancy plugins until the end. And turn the PDC on.

[azwun25]

get a DAW with delay compensation! yes..i get no latency on the busses either!

[Reptil]

my solution is to bounce to audio, if the timing is absolutely critical. I do that with outboard sequences anyway. Record, cut nicely, and use further on.
Finish some part of the song and work from there. Helps to make choices anyway.
Or work on one synth only and use PDC.

for plugins, dynamics ehm option #1

So it doesn't bother me much.

[pan]

Originally Posted by azwun25

get a DAW with delay compensation! yes..i get no latency on the busses either!

But there is still latency in the system. Every system has an inherent latency.
- lets forget MIDI for a moment.

Even with delay-compensation, live-input is compromised by latency induced by DA/AD converters.

Everything you play to a DAW-playback gets shifted by a measurable, sometimes from take to take varying amount.

Check the offset at different buffer-sizes/sample-rates.

Just play a click out from the DAW and record it back in.


Now start mixing away till you are maxed out and do the same again...

Please post the measurements of your own system, I'm curious


Niko

[Cojo]

Originally Posted by r.staettler

what is your solution ?

First, write the song. Don't get involved with to much effect and stuff before you are ready composing!

Second, record everything to your DAW.

Third, start mixing... add effects and use your UAD cards!

I can assure you, you will get much better results if you start doing like this!


/Cojo

[r.staettler]

Third, start mixing..

well, yeah, id like to do it that why if id be an engineer and if we would talk about acoustic rock maybe..
but i am a "songwriting producer" who loves to mix/add FX/totally distort while "composing"..

but well, maybe i should be more disciplined and really do it sequentially

Even with delay-compensation, live-input is compromised by latency induced by DA/AD converters.

the converters have a VERY small latency, its the DRIVER which has at least several ms latency
but with UADs inside the best setting going to work is about 512 samples..
an when using UAD-plugs this latency is tripled !

[Cojo]

Originally Posted by r.staettler

well, yeah, id like to do it that why if id be an engineer and if we would talk about acoustic rock maybe..
but i am a "songwriting producer" who loves to mix/add FX/totally distort while "composing.

Trust me, I've been there! Done the exact same thing, composing while mixing, and I can only say it is better to mix separatly! But as always: Do what's best for you!

/Cojo