Latency

[geocare]

Anyone care to weigh in on a latency question?

I'm running the program with a 3 year old iMac G5 that has a 1.8Ghz processor and 2G of ram. The latency is pretty noticeable, especially running any guitar sound that has effects. I have the buffer set to 1024 most of the time, but that's a lot of delay and I still hear artifacts depending on the sound set up.

Does using a Line 6 TonePort help with this issue at all?

I'm also considering splitting the guitar signal and monitoring in the room off a little guitar amp with effects but sending the other split into the 'puter and adding effects later, if desired. Has anybody done this with success? I've read most of the posts on this latency issue and it appears that having a powerful computer is about the best solution.

[davenz]

Anyone care to weigh in on a latency question?

I'm running the program with a 3 year old iMac G5 that has a 1.8Ghz processor and 2G of ram. The latency is pretty noticeable, especially running any guitar sound that has effects. I have the buffer set to 1024 most of the time, but that's a lot of delay and I still hear artifacts depending on the sound set up.

Does using a Line 6 TonePort help with this issue at all?

I'm also considering splitting the guitar signal and monitoring in the room off a little guitar amp with effects but sending the other split into the 'puter and adding effects later, if desired. Has anybody done this with success? I've read most of the posts on this latency issue and it appears that having a powerful computer is about the best solution.

I would have thought your machine was grunty enough for running this stuff. What interface do you use at the moment? Having a buffer of 1024 probably would result in noticeable delay, though if you are getting cracks and pops at that setting then something must be awry with your setup somewhere.


Dave.

[geocare]

Thanks for your reply...and from New Zealand, no less! I'm using an M-Audio Ozonic through the Firewire port on the Mac.

[GuitarSlinger]

Can't you buy from Australia and have the warranty honored by shipping back to Australia if necessary?

[ThrobbyRobby]

Using any Line 6 interface will eliminate latency completely. They use tone direct technology and the guitar tones and effects are processed by the Line 6 unit. This reduces the load on the computer processor. I use a POD XT live and sometimes (for vocals) my trusty old guitarport.

[gatorjj]

Geocare, yeah a 1024 buffer is huge for latency. See how low you can get it before things go popping on you. It's a tradeoff between CPU and latency basically. I have a Focusrite Saffire and use Amplitube 2...the latency is low enough I don't notice it at all, on a DuoCore 2 PC.

The Line6 stuff will provide "direct monitoring" of the tones and eliminate the latency no matter the buffer size, so if CPU is an issue that's probably the way to go. I'd try to reduce the buffer on your Ozonic first to see if you can solve it without new hardware, unless you're like the rest of us who like an excuse to buy new gear!

Cheers,

J.J.

[geocare]

So, even the little TonePort GX for a mere $69.99 would solve the latency problem? But then, I'm bypassing the Amplitube sounds or are you suggesting bypassing the Gearbox sounds? From what I gathered at the Line 6 site, this is possible.

So, you have used or benefitted from "ToneDirect" monitoring using the TonePort and the Amplitube built into RiffWorks? Do I have this right?

[GuitarSlinger]

Tone Direct only works with the Line 6 models. Thats because they wrote the processing into the driver so it sends it back before it ever hits the operating system. The actual latency is average, but you are monitoring a different signal. If you use amplitube you will be at the mercy of your system to process the signal and send it back again.

[geocare]

That makes sense. Thanks for all the very good input. I'm still curious about just splitting the signal and monitoring in the room with one side and then processing the input side later. Might work for certain things, seems to me. Or, similarly, I guess one could use the Gearbox sound for monitoring but then reprocess the recorded signal later to taste...if the Gearbox sound didn't taste quite right.

[gatorjj]

You'll be dependent on the RiffWorks effects if you record it dry. There's no way to reamp in RiffWorks once it's in, but you'll be able to use the internal effects.

[ShredRex]

I hate to say it....but GP or TP is the way to go......ZERO latency. I love Amplitube but the latency issue ruins it for me.

[gatorjj]

ShredRex have you tried Amplitube with the new screamin' machine? I bet you can get that buffer way down now!

[davenz]

Can't you buy from Australia and have the warranty honored by shipping back to Australia if necessary?

I not sure who this is directed to but I'm guessing it is me. Australian prices seem to be the same if not more expensive than New Zealand's once currency conversion and shipping is taken into account.

Good idea though...

Dave.

[dug]

Hi,

You should be able to run RiffWorks with buffer settings of 256 with that machine no problem. That will get your latency down to the realm of sanity.

Line 6 devices don't have 0 latency as some are suggesting, but their drivers are well written and allow you to get pretty low. It still depends on your machine though. ToneDirect is a fancy term for how they do their amp model processing in the driver to get the latency a tad lower than if it is done in a plugin. But it still has to go into the computer and back. I think the minimum you get is still 7 milliseconds. For me anything around 25ms or lower is totally usable. 512 sample buffers are 12ms, and there's one going in and one coming out of the computer, so that adds up to your 25ms. 1024 buffers is a total of around 50ms, too much. You can see the total latency in milliseconds in the AudioSetup window in RiffWorks.

cheers,
dug

[GuitarSlinger]

Can't you buy from Australia and have the warranty honored by shipping back to Australia if necessary?

I not sure who this is directed to but I'm guessing it is me. Australian prices seem to be the same if not more expensive than New Zealand's once currency conversion and shipping is taken into account.

Good idea though...

Dave.

Somehow I got some different threads mixed up. I thought there was an issue with not having authorized line 6 repair for pods and power adapters but I believe Australia has service centers. Sorry about those high prices there, how much is gas?