AD monitoring

stellar · 16th February 2006

hi all,

not trying to beat a dead horse here, but I had a question...

right now I am using a mid-range 8 channel AD/DA to capture my mixdowns from my multitrack tape machine. This is a PCI-based unit that has SPDIF, optical, and word clock interfacing, so I was hoping to get a 2-channel outboard unit that I can plug into my current unit for mixdowns. I was looking at a used Rosetta AD.

I am currently monitoring through my converter, which passes the audio latency-free to the outputs. Everything sounds fine while mixing through the converter, but when I play back the digitally recorded track, it is obvious to everyone in the room that something was just "lost".

Now here is my question. If I get something like the Rosetta, I am guessing that there is no way to monitor latency-free....I will have to monitor off a separate output from my mixer. Is this correct? I don't have a problem with this per se, it just slightly goes against my notion of what monitoring is and is supposed to be.....

thanks.

nathanvacha · 16th February 2006

Right. Latency is simply your signal running through a/d into your software the back d/a to your analog outs. That math just takes a little time, so the only really possible way to avoid latency is monitor from hardware before it hits your converters.

stellar · 16th February 2006

Right....

only right now my converters do that *for* me. they simply pass the audio to the outputs at the same time it is sending the data to the software, so that I am monitoring throgh the unit without going through the software. then when I 'play back' the recorded track, the unit switches over to DA. so there are no level changes or anything. It's pretty sweet. I don't know if the Rosetta 200 can do this or not.....

I guess my question is is monitoring from a separate hardware output what most Gearslutz are doing??

stellar · 16th February 2006

also do you think the Rosetta AD is a step up from the Layla24?

Like I said I am not trying to beat a dead horse but....its nice to be able to ask anyway.

stellar · 17th February 2006

I really want to know if I should monitor through a separate output or get something with "thru" outputs....I Think I need the "thru"s....comments???

16th February 2006	#1
stellar Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,035 Thread Starter	AD monitoring hi all, not trying to beat a dead horse here, but I had a question... right now I am using a mid-range 8 channel AD/DA to capture my mixdowns from my multitrack tape machine. This is a PCI-based unit that has SPDIF, optical, and word clock interfacing, so I was hoping to get a 2-channel outboard unit that I can plug into my current unit for mixdowns. I was looking at a used Rosetta AD. I am currently monitoring through my converter, which passes the audio latency-free to the outputs. Everything sounds fine while mixing through the converter, but when I play back the digitally recorded track, it is obvious to everyone in the room that something was just "lost". Now here is my question. If I get something like the Rosetta, I am guessing that there is no way to monitor latency-free....I will have to monitor off a separate output from my mixer. Is this correct? I don't have a problem with this per se, it just slightly goes against my notion of what monitoring is and is supposed to be..... thanks.

17th February 2006	#5
stellar Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,035 Thread Starter	bump! I really want to know if I should monitor through a separate output or get something with "thru" outputs....I Think I need the "thru"s....comments???

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
The same old monitoring Q again.....sorry!	PhilE	High end	0	10th July 2006 10:12 PM
MONITORING ?	zradioman	Low End Theory	2	23rd March 2006 06:55 AM
PT monitoring	Junkie	Music computers	2	13th February 2006 02:41 PM
Monitoring with a sub	Empire 21 Music	Low End Theory	2	6th December 2005 05:39 PM
Avocet's monitoring and Manley Mixer's monitoring	The MPCist	High end	0	18th May 2005 08:58 AM

16th February 2006	#2
nathanvacha Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2005 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,231	Right. Latency is simply your signal running through a/d into your software the back d/a to your analog outs. That math just takes a little time, so the only really possible way to avoid latency is monitor from hardware before it hits your converters.