User Manual-for Windows

MOTU AUDIO CONSOLE
42
synchronizer. In this case, the ADAT Optical clock
source setting lets you slave the 896mk3 to the
device itself via its digital input to the 896mk3.
This setting is also useful if you just need to make a
simple, click-free digital transfer between the
896mk3 and another device — where a time code
reference and shared transport control are not
needed — without having to set up an elaborate
synchronization scenario.
For further details about this setting, see “Syncing
optical devices” on page 30.
TOSLINK A / B
The TOSLINK clock source settings (TOSLINK A
and TOSLINK B) refer to the clock provided by the
896mk3’s two optical inputs, when either one is
connected to another optical device. These two
settings only appear in the Master Clock Source
menu when their corresponding optical bank input
is enabled and set to the TOSLINK format, as
explained in “Optical input/output” on page 44.
The TOSLINK clock source setting refers to the
clock provided by an optical S/PDIF device
connected to the 896mk3’s optical input. This
setting can be used to slave the 896mk3 directly to
the optical input connection. Most of the time, you
can set up a better operating scenario that uses one
of the other synchronization options. However,
there may be occasions when you have a
TOSLINK-compatible device that has no way of
synchronizing digitally to the 896mk3 or an
external synchronizer such as the Digital
Timepiece. In this case, the TOSLINK clock source
setting lets you slave the 896mk3 to the other
device via the 896mk3’s optical input.
This setting is also useful if you just need to make a
simple, click-free digital transfer between the
896mk3 and another device — where a time code
reference and shared transport control are not
needed — without having to set up an elaborate
synchronization scenario.
For further details, see “Syncing optical devices”
on page 30.
SMPTE
Choose this setting to resolve the 896mk3 directly
to SMPTE time code (LTC) being received via the
896mk3’s quarter-inch SMPTE input jack. For
details, see “Syncing to SMPTE time code” on
page 34 and chapter 10, “MOTU SMPTE Console”
(page 119).
Samples Per Buffer
The Samples Per Buffer setting lets you reduce the
delay you hear when patching live audio through
your audio software. For example, you might have
a live guitar input that you would like to run
through an amp simulation plug-in that you are
running in your host audio software. When doing
so, you may hear or feel some “sponginess” (delay)
between the source and the processed signal. If so,
don’t worry. This effect only affects what you hear:
it is not present in what is actually recorded.
Yo u c a n u s e Samples Per Buffer setting to reduce
this monitoring delay—and even make it
completely inaudible.
☛ If you don’t need to process an incoming live
signal with software plug-ins, you can monitor the
signal with no delay at all using CueMix FX, which
routes the signal directly to your speakers via
hardware. For details, see chapter 9, “CueMix FX”
(page 71).
Adjusting the Samples Per Buffer setting impacts
the following things:
■ The strain on your computer’s CPU
■ The delay you hear when routing a live signal
through your host audio software plug-ins
896mk3 Hybrid book Page 42 Friday, August 19, 2011 2:04 PM