User guide

REDUCING MONITORING LATENCY
56
MONITORING LIVE INPUT
There are two ways to monitor live audio input
with an UltraLite-mk3: 1) through the computer or
2) via the Ultralite-mk3’s CueMix FX hardware
mixer. Figure 9-1 below shows method 1, which
allows you to add effects processing such as reverb
and guitar amp effects via plug-ins in your audio
software. See the next section, “Adjusting the audio
I/O buffer” for details about how to reduce — and
possibly eliminate — the audible monitoring delay
that the computer introduces.
Figure 9-2 shows how to use CueMix FX hardware-
based monitoring, which lets you hear what you are
recording with no monitoring delay and no
computer-based effects processing. Instead, input
is routed directly to an output, either with or
without UltraLite-mk3-based effects processing
(EQ, compression or reverb). See “CueMix FX
hardware monitoring” later in this chapter for
details on how to use CueMix FX with your audio
software, or with the included CueMix FX
software.
If the material you are recording is suitable, there is
a third way to monitor live input: use both methods
(Figure 9-1 and Figure 9-2) at the same time. For
example, you could route guitar to both the
computer (for an amp model effect) and mix that
processed signal on the main outs with dry guitar
from CueMix FX — or perhaps with a touch of
UltraLite-mk3 Classic Reverb.
1. Live input (from mic, guitar, etc.)
enters the MOTU interface.
PC
2. Mic signal goes immedi-
ately to the computer (dry,
with no effects processing).
3. Mic signal is
‘patched thru’ back to
the audio interface
with reverb or other
plug-in effects, if any.
Figure 9-1: There are two ways to monitor live audio inputs with an UltraLite-mk3: 1) through the computer or 2) via CueMix FX hardware
monitoring. This diagram shows method 1 (through the computer). When using this method, use your host software’s buffer setting to reduce
the slight delay you hear when monitoring the live input, but don’t lower it too much, or your computer might get sluggish.
4. Mic signal (with plug-in
processing, if any) is routed
to the main outs (or other
outputs that you’ve specified
in the software).