Please confirm/ deny: Sidechain inputs are not delay compensated in PT10?

[WildHoney]

FWIW, I'm on HDX, PT 10.3.7, delay compensation on sidechains is checked in preferences and the sidechain signal is STILL late. This problem is actually worse on HDX than on HD because I'm using fewer DSP/TDM type plugins, more native, so the total session delay is much greater, so when the sidechain signal is late it's REALLY late. I just had a session where the kick drum was triggering the sidechain compressor on the bass about a full 16th note late. . . .

[Stig Eliassen]

Maybe post #4 can help you with a workaround?

[WildHoney]

Originally Posted by PT Lover

Maybe post #4 can help you with a workaround?

Hmmm.. Have not tried that, but I will when I get back to my HDX system on monday. Have you tried it? Did it work for you?

[Stig Eliassen]

Originally Posted by WildHoney

Hmmm.. Have not tried that, but I will when I get back to my HDX system on monday. Have you tried it? Did it work for you?

Unfortunately, I don't have HDX. But Mediahawk could use that trick as a workaround on his HDX system.

[WildHoney]

Did a quick test of this idea today but it had no effect on the timing issue. Simply, I had a pre fader send coming off a kick drum track routed to the side chain input of a compressor on another track AND to the input of another aux track which was muted. Changed the output assignment of that muted aux track to a few different destinations (direct to hardware outs, to mix bus, to drum sub bus). In all cases the side chain signal was out of sync with the actual kick drum audio.


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[mattpete]

One thing to be aware of with the sidechains: most plug-ins will not compensate the sidechain listen feature correctly, so if you are using listen it will sound out of time. That's because the listen feature picks off the sidechain signal prior to the plug-in processing and routes around the delay-causing processing. The audio path through the plug-in will be compensated correctly, though.

[mr xy]

Originally Posted by mattpete

One thing to be aware of with the sidechains: most plug-ins will not compensate the sidechain listen feature correctly, so if you are using listen it will sound out of time. That's because the listen feature picks off the sidechain signal prior to the plug-in processing and routes around the delay-causing processing. The audio path through the plug-in will be compensated correctly, though.

Just to resurrect this as it still bugs me...

This is not the case on any system i've tried. Side-chain listen is indeed out of sync, but so is the actual compression. The amount it's out varies depending on the latency of the processing - it's not simply an issue of attack times on the comp or similar user error.

And if you're saying that delay compensation works for side-chains globally then why is there an option to turn it on for HDX systems?

Does not make any sense to me...

From the PT11 manual:

Compensate Side Chains (Pro Tools|HDX Sys- tems Only) When Delay Compensation is enabled (Options > Delay Compensation), this option applies Delay Compensation to plug-in sidechain signals.

[OliverH]

Hey guys, I too would like to resurrect this thread if at all possible seeing as I've scoured the net for days and days on this issue, but I have a feeling with my rig being HD Native, the solution described in this thread does not apply for me. I've tried it. Tried it many different ways in fact. Once I have some plugs in my session, particularly on the side chain trigger track's inserts and system delay has gotten considerable (which is normal for me), I get huge flamming on my side chained plugs. I have tried the following:

- Sending the SC bus also to a dummy muted Aux input with outputs set to main mix outs (i.e. A 1-2) also used on my master fader, in order to get ADC to kick in correctly. Didn't work.

- The above but instead sending a new send from this dummy Aux to the side chain destination plug. Also didn't work.

- Thought about trying the Time Adjuster plugin on an Aux in between side chain trigger track's send and side chain destination track. Doesn't apply though because the signal arriving at side chain destination is always usually late already, so delaying it more is not going to do me any good.

I know that not having a full HDX system, I don't have the preference available to enable ADC specifically for side chains... but other than offsetting the dedicated side chain trigger track manually, I haven't been able to get my system to compensate side chain triggers in time at all. It's a real pain in the ass. I like to mix as I record/compose and sometimes setting up side chains before mix time is a part of my creative process so to having to constantly revise my trigger track based on what plugs I'm using in my session, etc... it's a huge vibe/productivity kill. Ideally the ADC would be 'liquid' like it is for all other plugs on tracks as you modify the use of plugs in your session.

Of course at the time I didn't know that I would need an HDX system to have this basic feature taken care of when I purchased HD Native... but man... for that kind of $$$.... to not have this working properly....? Total burn. HD software features with Native vs HDX are not identical after all.

Anyone had luck with a more elegant workaround for this with specifically HD Native running PT HD 11 software (on OSX)? ...besides just scooting a copy of a side chain trigger track by ear?? Ugh.

Anyone know if Avid is actually working on a fix for this for HD Native systems? I seem to have read that they're aware of it but lord only knows when they'll address this for HD Native users... if ever. I'm dying over here.