MOTU 828x 28x30 Audio Interface with ThunderTechnology - Manual (Page 67)

R E D U C I N G M O N I T O R I N G L A T E N C Y
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Effects processing and automated mixing
Reducing latency with the buffer size setting has
another benefit: it lets you route live inputs through
the real-time effects processing and mix
automation of your audio software.
CUEMIX FX HARDWARE MONITORING
The 828x has a more direct method of patching
audio through the system:
CueMix FX . CueMix FX
is a digital mixer in the 828x hardware itself.
CueMix FX has two important benefits:
■ First, it completely eliminates the patch thru
delay (reducing it to a small number of samples —
about the same amount as one of today’s digital
mixers).
■ Secondly, CueMix FX imposes no strain on the
computer.
The trade-off, however, is that CueMix FX
bypasses your host audio software. Instead, live
audio inputs are patched directly through to
outputs in the 828x itself and are mixed with audio
playback from your host audio software. This
means that you cannot apply host-based plug-ins,
mix automation, or other real-time effects that
your audio software provides. But for inputs that
don’t need these types of features, CueMix FX is
the way to go.
On the other hand, if you really need to use the
mixing and processing provided by your audio
software, you should not use CueMix FX. Instead,
reduce latency with the buffer setting (as explained
earlier in this chapter).
TWO METHODS FOR CONTROLLING
CUEMIX FX
There are two ways to control CueMix FX:
■ With the 828x’s CueMix FX software
■
From within your host audio software (if it
supports direct hardware monitoring)
You can even use both methods simultaneously.
Using the CueMix FX app
If your host audio software does not support direct
hardware monitoring, you can run the CueMix FX
software side-by-side with your audio software and
manage your monitor mix in CueMix FX.
CueMix FX allows you to create up to eight
separate 828x stereo mixes, or any other desired
routing configurations. These routings are
independent of your host audio software. For
complete details, see chapter 9, “CueMix FX”
(page 69).
Controlling CueMix FX from your audio
software
Some audio applications allow you to control
CueMix FX monitoring from within the
application (without the need to use CueMix FX).
In most cases, this support consists of patching an
828x input directly to an output when you record-
arm a track. Exactly how this is handled depends
on the application.
The following applications are among those that
support direct control over CueMix FX:
■
Digital Performer
■ AudioDesk
CueMix FX routings that are made via host
applications are made “under the hood”, which
means that you won’t see them in CueMix FX.
However, CueMix FX connections made inside
your host audio software dovetail with any other
mixes you’ve set up in CueMix FX. For example, if
your host application routes audio to an output
pair that is already being used in CueMix FX for an
entirely separate mix bus, both audio streams will
simply be merged to the output.