MOTUNATION (formerly UnicorNation) is an independent community for discussing Digital Performer and other MOTU audio software and hardware. It is not affiliated with MOTU.
Hi this is my first post. I just got an 896. I thought I'd try it out since Pro Tools sucks! I'm getting horrible latency from it with my buffer lowest and set to the fastest. Still horrible latencey. I had better latencey with a Soundblaster live. sound card.
Anyway, I've been monitoring the output of my hardware via a mixer with the other output. However, when I record vocals with a mic I cannot do the same thing. Is there a way to come off of one of the 8 outputs for monitoring? I didn't get a manual with the unit so I'm screwed unless I sell my sister for 15 bucks. geezzzzzzzz
hi, first of all, what software are you using? If you are using a software that drives the 896 through the wave driver, then you might experience some latency. But when using ASIO drivers latency is very low.
Anyway, there is a DSP build in mixer in the 896 tha you can use for monitoring the inputs through the outputs without passing through the computer. That gets you zero lantency monitoring.
There are two ways to control the DSP console. The first one is through the CueMix DSP software, that comes whith your MOTU hardware, or you can download it from the MOTU website. That will allow you to route any input to any output. The second way is enableing the "direct monitoring" feature in the host software. Then you can control the DSP monitoring through the software, thay is when it has this feature.
The only thing about DSP monitoring is that you cannot use real time effects. but latency is history.
Hope that helps.
I'm using Sonar 5. I have a PC actually. Windows xp professional. I'm not a mac user. The manual I have is for mac but I guess it's functionality is the same? Also, when I play other audio files on my pc, especially the sounds that the pc makes it's self there is a bunch of pops and jitters like a record skipping real fast. eg. when my pc boots and windows comes online the music it plays sounds horrible. I don't really understand what you are saying about the asio drivers or whatever. I thought I was using the drivers that I got on the motu disc that came with the unit. I don't know what it is. I'll look into using the dsp and the cuemix software. I remember when I set up the system that I went through the Cuemix somewhat to get started. In Sonar there is a button that enables monitoring. I use that and there is lots of latency. I don't know what else to do. I'll read that manual and see if I can understand what I may be able to try. If you have a simple walkthrough or step by step that would be great. Thanks for the help.
I'm totally new at this also but I'm using the same setup you are. This may or may not apply but what the hell, here's the limited amount I've figured out-
You can monitor 1 pair of inputs real time with no latency, but those tracks can't have any computer effects on them since they aren't going through the computer. You can select them using the MOTU FW console program (which won;t run if SONAR is open, cuemix app won;t open on my comp...maybe it doesn't work with 896nonHD?). Then (i'm using headphones to monitor) make sure the monitor level knob on the front panel is all the way to the right so you only get the 'real time' tracks coming back at you (along with the playback tracks)
Well, I don't realy know any big difference in the way the 896nonHD works compared to the 896HD.
As far as I now, Sonar does NOT have the "Direct Monitorig" feature, so whatever driver you are using, latency will take place, wether it is high or low. But I also tried to run Sonar and the CueMix console at the same time, and it worked. So you won't be needing to use the monitoring "button" as you call it no more, since monitoring will take place "outside" sonar. CueMix console is easy to use: just reach the input strip you want to hear, set the level and choose the output bus on the top of the master fader (main, phones, etc). That should let you hear with no latency.
About the drivers issiue in sonar: yes, you can and you "should" use ASIO drivers on sonar. To set this right, go to the audio setup on the Options menu, go tu Advanced and under Playbak and Recording, in Driver Mode select ASIO. After restarting the software go to audio setup again and selec the playback and record timeing masters and in drivers select all the input and outputs you want to use.
About the crappy sounding, I can not tell what the problem si, but I can tell you for sure that it would be a great idea to use another sound card (a cheap one) for windows sounds. This is just a recomendation.
hope this helps
any other thing just ask!!
Yes, it is highly recomended that you use ASIO drivers for profesional audio aplications. You see, WDM drivers are the one used for all windows aplications, and although they are quite stable, they feature a large amount of latency. ASIO drivers have very little latency and are much more reliable for multitrack aplications. In fact, all steinberg software only works with ASIO drivers. The WDM driver that comes with your MOTU divice is intendet to make the divice reliable for any other Audio aplication that doesn't use ASIO, eg. all audio apps.
