7.4 and buffer sizes

[JrummerJ]

So, I am currently running MP 7.3.1 cs5 on a new macbook Pro with the firewire 410. I just came across a thread in the LE mac section that mentioned that 7.4 now has buffer settings that go down to 32 samples with firewire hardware. Is the same true for M-Audio hardware and M-Powered? The lowest setting I can go to right now in 7.3 is 128 samples, which is borderline ok for recording real time drum tracks with EZDrummer/DFHS/etc.

Thanks in advance!
J

[JrummerJ]

So, nobody in this section has PT 7.4 with a firewire M-audio interface? If one of you guys could just launch PT 7.4 and let me know what the lowest buffer setting available is, I would appreciate it. If it is lower than the 128 that I am getting with 7.3, this would be a huge incentive for me to buy it.

Thanks
J

[Tom Stoeckel]

I'm running 7.4 with a Firewire 1814 interface and my lowest available setting for the H/W buffer size is 128 samples.

[JrummerJ]

Thanks! I sure wish Digi would give us the option of lower buffers, it sure does make real time drumming a lot better! I know my firewire 410 will run at at least 64 samples in Toontracks Solo.

J

[Tom Stoeckel]

I'm with you there. I usually end up drumming to a minimal number of active tracks just to avoid such issues.

[Hardin]

I think that's more of an m-audio driver thing. I know M-Audio's interfaces allowed a higher buffer setting for MPowered up to 2048. The LE interfaces didn't go up that high, before 7.4 at least...

[fizzler]

I think that's more of an m-audio driver thing. I know M-Audio's interfaces allowed a higher buffer setting for MPowered up to 2048. The LE interfaces didn't go up that high, before 7.4 at least...

I guess it's just another Digidesign limitation to add a feature to their LE product line. The M-audio driver supports down to 32 samples latency setting in any other application.
Doesn't the FW410 support direct monitoring like the FW1814?

[JrummerJ]

Yes, it says it does, but I am unsure how to set that up. Anybody use this? Question: Will direct monitoring work if the samples are coming from a plugin within pro tools? The only thing being sent to the interface is midi, so nothing to directly monitor, right?

Thanks! J

[JrummerJ]

Just answered my own question by reading the manual online.

"The MIXER PAGE also provides software level control for direct monitoring of the FireWire 410’s analog and S/PDIF digital inputs. These pairs are labeled ANALOG IN and SPDIF IN."

So, it actually makes sense that midi can't be directly monitored, like I thought. The midi has to pass through the interface, into the software, and then you have to wait 128 samples to hear your sound back.

I have not yet encountered a plugin or host that would let me drop my sample buffer to 32, but that would be sweet! I know that Toontrack Solo and Cantabile (free VST host for PC only) let me run at 64, though, and there is a subtle but noticeable difference between 128 and 64. I think Digi should give us the option if the hardware will do it. I realize that once you start getting a few tracks built up the buffer will have to be increased, but if the first thing that you are doing is tracking drums, then I am sure that my Macbook Pro or my PC dual core desktop would both be up to the task, at least at 64 samples.

J

[fizzler]

I have not yet encountered a plugin or host that would let me drop my sample buffer to 32, but that would be sweet!

I tried 32s with Cubase 4 & Ableton Live on my MacBook 2.2+FW1814 - although I went for 128s to be safe.
So you could either do tracking in another host sequencer and import it into PTMP later, or get used to 128s. I personally don't find 128s impossible for tracking, but that may not apply to you.