Apogee Symphony and DP 6 - Again

[italodisco]

Hi all,

I have a Mac Pro 8Core, DP 6.01 and Sympohny PCIe and Rosetta 800.

Even at lowest buffer settings, the latency when I arm a track to record (patching audio through) is pretty bad. Like a slapback echo. It stinks - my old G4 system with the Rosetta 800 lightpiped and clocked thru an ancient 2408 Mk 1 was much tighter.

Does anyone have any tips for fixing this? If I use Maestro and set up a low-latency monitoring channel, it's OK, but I really don't like doing that - I'd like to monitor right through DP. Pretty maddening - any help appreciated!

Thanks!!!

PS: On another, less important but related note note - does anyone else R800 sampling rate click into "external" every time they boot up, forcing you to manually switch to 44.1 or whatever sampling rate you work at for each startup? Another maddening problem I only had to deal with post-Symphony card. A couple Apogee tech support guys had no idea what was up until I got one that said it was a known bug. I feel like an idiot for giving Apogee more of my money.

[burn em]

I'm a firm believer in using motu interfaces as Audio interface interfaces as you used to.

Motu drivers a pretty damn solid. Apogee conversion is rather special too. Perfect combo IMHO!

[David Helpling]

Sorry to hear that! I'm running an Apogee Symphony PCIe (with an AD16x and a DA16X) on a Mac Pro 8-Core and it works amazingly well. I keep my buffer setting at 128 and I have near-zero latency when monitoring and running VI's / auxes in DP6.01. I run Maestro for critical monitoring of soloists (especially percussion and other fast instruments) but the difference between that and the 128 passing through DP6.01 is VERY small. There must be some other issue going on?

[beautypill]

I have a symphony-based DA16x/AD16x system and I also have no problems of this sort. You have my sympathies, that sounds like a nightmare.

I simply cannot believe the sound quality of this system. Combined with Dangerous Music hardware, you can have the most amazing compact studio. I still love mixing with consoles (I'm planning to do a lot of session work in NYC at my favorite studio in February] but... it's no longer a night-and-day different experience, sonically. W/ the Dangerous/Apogee Symphony combination, I'm in heaven. The sounds I'm able to achieve... unreal.

You should talk to your Apogee salesperson about the problems you're experiencing. It sounds like there's something wrong that might be fixed by some troubleshooting.

- c

[rumorcontrol]

Im using the 64 card as well as a Rosetta 800 with DP and I have no issues at all. Do you have the latest firmware for your X-symphony card? if not you can download it from Apogee. Also try bypassing the Maestro software. In the maestro mixer window choose "none" in the right hand corner where it says TO HARDWARE. ( You may be doing this already ) it allows you to play through the card and interface but leaves all the control in DP....BTW...what Dangerous Music unit are you using?...Ive heard great things about that stuff....RC

[italodisco]

I figured I should at least post a very late reply. I couldn't get this to work right, and the best I could do was use the low-latency "analog mirror inputs" on the Rosetta. In other words, just bypassing DP completely for low-latency monitoring.

The solution: "blend" option in "input monitoring mode" with the audible button (in the transport menu - the little speaker) turned OFF. Seems to fix it, so far. NOT intuitive, but works. Can even monitor through effects (if that's your thing) pretty well.

PITA!

[waxman]

I have the Ensemble. Low priority setting and I monitor through Maestro. I also have the 896 HD. The Apogee sounds better to me then the 896 HD. I like Maestro better then cuemix.

[daveyboy]

I've been fantasizing about this kind of a setup now that I'm using Logic half the time, as I don't think there are issues with Logic. But, keeping DP going is still a priority. I can lightpipe the apogee into a 2408 if need be but it would neat to see if I can just go direct. The pci card is so expensive though it almost doesn't seem worth the expense if it just doesn't work well with DP. Is the consensus that one is better off ightpiping or that the whole apoggee symphony setup is really the way to go (especially if you use logic)? Ooorrrr, do I just need to get it and see for myself (usually the case).

[daveyboy]

As of today I'm not running a Apogee Rosetta 800 light piped into a 2408. Compared to the hd192 it is clearer and the low end is tighter. The HD isn't bad though but I'm sure the cumulative affect of the Apogee will improve things. I'm still debating about getting the symphony card but this has more to do with running it in Logic then DP. In DP I don't think I'll ever be able to sustain low enough buffer settings to track direct through the software so it's kind of moot (unless some big improvements are made with DP). I'll hold off for now but am window shopping for the symphony stuff.