Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Something like the Firebox is not necessary if you are just transferring pre-recorded data (other than better sound quality). It becomes necessary when you need to combat latency, which is when you are recording tracks directly to your computer and monitoring in real time in your headphones...but the playback is off by about a second, thereby confusing you and screwing up the track.

I think.

Hmmm... a second of latency would be a *****, thats for sure. But (like Kevin) I already own a good mixer so I might as well try that before investing in a Firebox.

This is what I'll be trying first:

Yamaha EMX5014C
Gee, do you think I'll have enough inputs?

You can never have too many inputs. Better than having too few!

To defeat the latency, would altering the monitor source help?
For example: using the input signal from the mixer as the monitoring source for the new track, rather than the converted signal.

Or is the latency from the already recorded tracks?

Umm...I, er...well, see, the thing is...

(quietly slips away)

So Kevin, do you experience latency? (in your computer recording method that is)

I would think that even 1/4 of a second latency would make the whole system unusable. It would be like constantly coming in 1/4 beat late while playing with a band. Just wouldn't work.

Here is an explanation of latency that I found online, and it gives advice, should you experience it, on what can be done with what you already have (i.e. your soundcard):

Latency

Latency is the amount of time it takes a signal to into your home recording computer and then come back so that you can monitor it. Latency settings make an enormous difference in the performance of your computer. It’s quite common for users to set their latency to be inaudible. Unfortunately, on slower systems this is the cause of clicks, pops, and random audio glitches.

If your home recording soundcard offers a direct monitoring feature which allows you to hear your instrument or voice without the signal needing to go through the computer, you can increase your latency settings for a dramatic boost in computer power.

However, if you rely on monitoring through your recording software, you must keep the latency down to where there is no noticeable delay. Yesterday, I was tracking background vocals with an SM7. I had forgotten to turn the latency settings down to the minimum setting on my system (64 Samples) and the singer, who was singing in the control room said "I can hear your monitors louder than I can hear myself in the mix". Of course, I responded with "My monitors are not on". Immediately, I knew that he had a 20ms or so delay (or latency) where when he sang it took 20 ms to get back into his headphones.

So, you can see that there is a balance that needs to be struck.

If you find that you are getting glitches, clicks, and pops when recording your latency settings are too low, your computer doesn’t have enough power, or you are using up way to much computer power.

thanks for that. I'll check on the latency settings.

But 20ms is a whole lot less than the 1 sec that was mentioned. A full second latency might be seen with a Commodore 64, but I cant imagine it with a decent modern computer.

Strange as it sounds, the Commodore 64 is the best-selling single personal computer model of all time.

I've used Cubase just for editing so far & Audacity for rough recording.
There's no latency problem with Audacity, but Cubase does have this.
The simpler program must use a simpler monitoring path for the sound.

As Mark said, there may be a way around this.
I'll have to do some digging.

I have the same two programs...and I'm truly a newbie at the digital side of all this. I've used Audacity to digitize some things and it works great. Better than a lot of people think it does, from what I gather from various accounts on the net. And I have Cubase, but haven't yet recorded something from start to finish with it yet...too much to learn still, and no teacher but the program itself. So far I've been recording new tracks on an 8 track Tascam cassette recorder and transferring it to digital via Audacity. But I look forward to getting a few toys like a USB keyboard controller (to run the drum, orchestra and synth sounds in the Reason program) and most likely the Firebox for a somewhat serious interface, and then seeing just how crazy I can get with several dozen tracks to play with.

Same here!
I haven't even fully learned how to program my (analog) drum machine yet!
Too much procrastinating & too many hobbies/too little time.

I've ordered a copy of M-Audio Session. I looked at lots of reviews and (for PCs) this one seems the easiest to use.

I may never sound great but with this software I bet I'll make myself sound much better than I did with the old analog multi-track deck.

I'm selling my Logic Pro 7....check out "The Others" for a super deal.

I received my copy of "Session" in the mail. I haven't loaded it yet (still unpacking etc) but I do have some info.

For an audio interface, Session comes with the M-Audio Micro:

As you can see, the inputs are pretty limited and a larger interface like the Fast Track Pro would clearly be better:


Also, the manual has this to say:

"... it is possible to configure Session to use the existing audio inputs and outputs on your computer without plugging anything into the M-Audio Micro. We do not recommend this because the only way to get the superior sound quality and accelerated audio performance of the M-Audio Micro is to connect your equipment to the Micro itself."

So... its saying that SOME sort of interface is needed, but I guess only testing will tell me whether a regular mixer can do this job as well as an M-Audio device.

I finally got 'Session' up and running. It's a lot more basic than I thought. Thier idea of "creating music" is for some mouse jocky to plop pre-recorded loops here and there to make a song. Oh.... and for those of you who want to actually play a REAL instrument, they'll let you do that too if you really want. Hmmmmmmm..... Oh well, it didn't cost a fortune, and was worth a try, and I may wind up using it for something. Now I think I may take Alisha's advice and try "SONAR, SONAR SONAR".

Sonar Home Studio 6 XL looks good and can be had for $140 or so:

http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM07 ... dio-6.html
http://www.cakewalk.com/products/HomeStudio/XL.asp
http://www.amazon.com/Cakewalk-SONAR-Ho ... B000MZ7C36