Hi Guys,
I wonder if I could impose on you for some advice. Firstly my configuration
PC 3Ghz, WinXP Pro, Pulsar 2, Cubase SX 2.2, MOTU Midi Express (parallel port), Roland VM3100 Digital Mixer
a) Pulsar SP/DIF out -> VM3100 SP/DIF in - For Monitoring tracks in Cubase
b) Pulsar ADAT in <- VM3100 ADAT out - For recording Vocals, Guitar, bass, Virus Rack etc
c) I use XTC for effects and Synths
d) Pulsar latency 4ms, Sample rate 44100
e) Master Clock = Pulsar
Recently I was recording a track with just Guitar, Bass & Drums (VST DR008 - midi track triggered) and having on of those nights where no matter what I did the timing sounded sloppy and out of sync with the drums - I was not using any plugins. Now I know its probably my playing, but in my time honoured tradition of blaming the equipment it started doing some checking.
1/ Created a Midi Drum track with a snare triggering on each 1/4 note - BPM 100.
2/ This track triggered the LM7 Drum VST.
3/ Did a mixdown to an audio file (24 bit wave).
4/ Played them back - Sounds great, nothing out of phase, no flanging
Exactly what I expected. Now I know Cubase compensates for the sound card latency but what about external devices. So then I wondered if there was a delay in the D/A & A/D process of the VM3100.
So then I played the audio mixdown from above and recorded it to a new track through the VM3100 and low and behold I find there is approx 500 sample delay.
Now while the original problem is probably still down to my dodgy playing, but is this delay in outboard digital equipment usually an issue ? Do people compensate for typically when they are tracking ?
Any and all thoughts kindly welcome
Kind Regards
Chris
