User Manual-Mac

AUDIODESK
87
MIDI MACHINE CONTROL (MMC)
If you have ADATs and a MMC-compatible ADAT
synchronizer like the MIDI Timepiece AV and
Digital Timepiece, you can control everything
from your computer screen with AudioDesk’s
transport controls and cueing features (like
Markers, the playback wiper, etc.)
Similarly, if you have Tascam recorders and a
MOTU Digital Timepiece (or other
MMC-compatible Tascam synchronizer), can
control all of your Tascam decks (in ABS time) in a
similar fashion from AudioDesk.
See the MIDI Machine Control chapter in your
MIDI Timepiece AV or Digital Timepiece manual
for details on how to set this up.
REDUCING DELAY WHEN PROCESSING LIVE
INPUTS WITH PLUG-INS
If you patch a live input (such as MIDI synthesizer)
through a plug-in effect in AudioDesk, you might
hear a slight delay. There are several ways to reduce
this delay. For details, see “Samples Per Buffer” on
page 84.
EXCHANGING PROJECTS WITH DIGITAL
PERFORMER
AudioDesk 1.0 can exchange files with Digital
Performer (Version 2.6 or later). For example, you
can transfer a file from Digital Performer to
AudioDesk, and back again. Just use Save As in
Digital Performer’s File menu and choose the
AudioDesk file format. To open AudioDesk files in
Digital Performer, just use the Open command.
(No conversion is required beforehand in
AudioDesk.)
If you have an earlier version of Digital Performer
(2.5 or earlier), you can open your Digital
Performer files in AudioDesk (with the Open
command in the File menu), but Digital Performer
2.5 or earlier cannot open AudioDesk files.
MONITORING SYSTEM PERFORMANCE
Because it has so many inputs and outputs, a
PCI-424 system pushes the limits of your
computer’s processing power. Keep the Audio
Performance window open (from the Audio menu)
to keep tabs on the load on your CPU and disk
buffers. If the meters get too high, you can reduce
the load by reducing the number of inputs and
outputs you are working with. Use the MOTU PCI
Audio Console to uncheck input check boxes and
set output source menus to None.
Figure 8-3: Keep the Audio Performance window open to keep tabs
on your computer’s processing power and hard disk performance.
AUDIODESK AND MIDI SEQUENCING
AudioDesk can play audio as a background
application, allowing you to run a sequencer at the
same time in the foreground. However, there is no
way to continuously synchronize — or resolve — a
sequencer with AudioDesk, so the two programs
will eventually drift out of sync, even if you manage
to start them at the same time. If you’d like to do
integrated MIDI sequencing, your best bet is
Digital Performer, which offers all of the same
features as AudioDesk (and a whole lot more),
along with powerful, state-of-the-art MIDI
sequencing. Talk to your authorized MOTU dealer
for details about upgrading from AudioDesk to
Digital Performer.