Automation Delay With Delay Compensation On?

[hbadger30]

Hi there,

I'm running a hybrid-type setup with ProTools HDX and a HD i/o 16a x 16a which splits out into a 16 input analogue summing box. I then take the output of the summing box back in to two ProTools inputs on my HD i/o. Once back inside ProTools I have a few plugins on the mix bus aux and one of these is usually a limiter (iZotope / Mc DSP / Slate etc.).

My question is that with delay compensation turned on, once I've gone out and then back in the box with all the plugins on, I have a fairly heafty system delay but if I then want to automate the snare (or any other track for that matter) the automation is not in time with what I'm hearing. I understand why that is but is there anything I can do to make the automation more snappy and reflect what I'm hearing? I wondered what everyone else is doing to compensate for this? Or have I missed something really obvious?!

Any help would be much appreciated!

Kind regards.

[albee1952]

AFAIK, PT does not compensate for plugins on a master track, and also you are doing what could be considered a "hardware insert"(not really, but follow me) that is also not compensated for because you are recording the analog-summed audio back onto new tracks(so hardware insert compensation is not possible). My personal preference would be to work the mix with no master plugins and get it as good as possible. Then do your mastering as a separate process. I understand the desire to A-do everything in one shot to save time, and B-to do your own mastering to save money, but its my feeling that the final product suffers in the end(in addition to giving you this kind of hassle). As always YMMV