Hardware insert big issues!! (delay compensation and gain)
 

Using Carbon with Hardware inserts I ran into 2 issues.

1) If I insert a Hardware on a track I get a 10,4 dB increase
(obviously true bypassing the hardware, or even just patching a cable on carbon line in/out )

2) Delay compensation is not working properly

To test it:

I just duplicated a snare track

-On one track I put a hardware insert
(with -10,4 dB trim to compensate for the gain discrepancy)

-On the duplicate track I just reversed the phase with a trim plugin


They should null but they don't (far from it)


Tweaking with time adjuster I found out that:

1)the track with the hardware I/O insert is 7 samples ahead if in DSP mode

2)The same track is 699 samples ahead if NOT in DSP mode





This was on a Macbook pro 2017 i7 Catalina

Mac mini m1 has identical results, bu the track with the hardware I/O active is 580 samples behind (NOT in DSP mode)



Long time protools 8HD user, I never had any issue with delay compensating parallel hardware inserts.
This is a little disappointing, since the Carbon is marketed as a pro machine, and costs like one.

Re: Hardware insert big issues!! (delay compensation and gain)
 

Hmmm, all I have to offer are my thoughts on this:
1), if the volume is radically different, adjust the output of the hardware. If you want to discuss hardware, discuss the exact hardware you have(in case others have experience with that same hardware).

2), Delay Compensation is not automatic with hardware inserts(there is a setup page in IO setup for entering the proper compensation time for your specific hardware)

3), re the null test, signals will never null in this scenario. Adding a piece of hardware in the chain will never null, and should not be expected to.

Don't get me wrong here, I love hardware as much as anybody! But I recognized the issues and limitations and simply made a decision(years ago) to use my hardware in the recording chain, and mix 100% in the box. This is even after dropping several hundred dollars on a new tt patchbay, another 192 and all the required cabling. Consider your "needs" over your "wants":o

Re: Hardware insert big issues!! (delay compensation and gain)
 

I'm sorry but you don't understand.

Not running into any hardware, just out of the Carbon and back into it.

Delay compensation IS an automatic process and works like a charm on my HD system.

Re: Hardware insert big issues!! (delay compensation and gain)
 

It's a bit hard to follow your description.

You did make it sound like you had hardware, but all your tests are just with cables? And you are inverting the phase on one by using a cross over cable?

I don't know what you mean by "track with I/O active".

Re: Hardware insert big issues!! (delay compensation and gain)
 

I'll try to make it clearer

To test if delay compensation is working properly you usually do this:

take a track, duplicate it

On one track do nothing
on the second put a trim plugin and invert the phase.

hit play

If delay compensation works fine you should hear nothing (and this works)

Now take a cable from line output 1 and patch it back to line input 1
On one of the 2 tracks insert H/W line 1
No hardware patched, just a cable in/out

If delay compensation works fine you should hear nothing

This last step works perfectly on my HD system,
it's supposed to be working on the carbon, but doesn't

I do parallel compression and eq so I need tracks with hardware inserts to align perfectly without or phase will kill me.

Re: Hardware insert big issues!! (delay compensation and gain)
 

Hi Alberto,

Sorry to hear about these delay compensation issues. There were a few bugs that slipped through the cracks in this area which should be resolved with the next Pro Tools release. I can't give an exact release date on that, but it will be soon. So, if you can hold out a bit longer these should be fixed for you.

Thanks,

Kyle

Re: Hardware insert big issues!! (delay compensation and gain)
 

Thanks Kyle, it's a brand new product so it's understandable.
I also filed a case to support, mentioning the behavior changes from DSP enabled to not DSP. Hope that helps.

PS: any clue on Big Sur / M1 support?

Re: Hardware insert big issues!! (delay compensation and gain)
 

Thanks for your patience, Alberto.

Unfortunately, I can't share any dates for Big Sur/M1 support yet. But, I can say work is in progress on it.

Re: Hardware insert big issues!! (delay compensation and gain)
 

Ooof, thank you for talking some sense into me.