Digitally insert waves MaxxBCL

[elharley]

Has anyone used the outboard Waves MaxxBCL unit?
How have you inserted it?

I would like to insert it on the L/R using AES to avoid the extra AD conversion.
Is an external clock required to insert it digitally?

Any info here is appreciated.

[BradLyons]

I have used the hardware, but not digitally. If Venue is the master clock, then there is nothing to worry about. Are you connecting anything else digitally?

[elharley]

The MaxxBCL would be the only digital piece of outboard.
Will I have to run word clock BNC from the FOH rack to the Maxx, or is that handled through AES?

[BradLyons]

Nah, it will clock it AES or however you're connecting it.

[elharley]

Thanks Brad.

[BradLyons]

But before you make the purchase....do you have the Aphex 250 Big Bottom plugin? If not, try it out----I use that myself, it's VERY good!!

[digidesigner]

Is MaxxBCL faster than having the same plugs as TDM on a master bus?

[Sheldon Radford]

Hi,

Is MaxxBCL faster than having the same plugs as TDM on a master bus?

Probably not. When a plug-in is inserted on the console the total latency is the processing delay of the plug-in itself, plus about 5 samples (100 microseconds) of delay routing to/from the internal plug-in rack.

For a digital insert involving an external device the total latency will be the processing delay of the algorithm, plus the latency involved in making the digital connection. AES inputs on digital devices often feature sample rate conversion (SRC), which allows two digital devices to be connected together without needing a common clock (and is even needed when connecting two devices at the same sample rate).

SRC adds some amount of delay or latency, usually a function of sample rate. For example, the sample rate converters used on the AES inputs of FOH Rack impart 84 samples of delay at 48 kHz, for a total of 1.75 milliseconds. The inserted device may also have a similar amount of latency due to its SRC. Adding all these latencies together the total latency connecting a digital outboard device will likely be much more than an internal plug-in.

[UPDATE]
Latency spec, in samples, from the Maxx BCL manual...
Digital to Digital: 133 @44.1, 48K sampling rates

[COMMENT]
133 samples at 48 kHz is 2.77 milliseconds, so the round trip latency will be at least (2.77 Maxx BCL + 1.75 FOH Rack AES input = 4.52 ms), plus a few more microseconds for routing to/from the insert point.

Sheldon

[BradLyons]

Like I said---let me recommend the Aphex Big Bottom plugin!

[digidesigner]

Originally Posted by Sheldon Radford

Hi,

Probably not. When a plug-in is inserted on the console the total latency is the processing delay of the plug-in itself, plus about 5 samples (100 microseconds) of delay routing to/from the internal plug-in rack.

For a digital insert involving an external device the total latency will be the processing delay of the algorithm, plus the latency involved in making the digital connection. AES inputs on digital devices often feature sample rate conversion (SRC), which allows two digital devices to be connected together without needing a common clock (and is even needed when connecting two devices at the same sample rate).

SRC adds some amount of delay or latency, usually a function of sample rate. For example, the sample rate converters used on the AES inputs of FOH Rack impart 84 samples of delay at 48 kHz, for a total of 1.75 milliseconds. The inserted device may also have a similar amount of latency due to its SRC. Adding all these latencies together the total latency connecting a digital outboard device will likely be much more than an internal plug-in.

[UPDATE]
Latency spec, in samples, from the Maxx BCL manual...
Digital to Digital: 133 @44.1, 48K sampling rates

[COMMENT]
133 samples at 48 kHz is 2.77 milliseconds, so the round trip latency will be at least (2.77 Maxx BCL + 1.75 FOH Rack AES input = 4.52 ms), plus a few more microseconds for routing to/from the insert point.

Sheldon

Then I personally don't see any point having a MaxxBLC with Venue system as there is no other benefit to gain except direct access to the knobs. For the same money it would be possible to get a very nice Waves collection instead of just 3 plugs in a hardware box.