Automatic Latency Compensation & Plug Ins - Average? or Additive?

[gbross]

Ok, I think I have a handle on how ALC works and where and when to apply it.

Scenerio:
Guitar Track has 1000 samples of Latency
Vocal Track has 1000 samples of Latency
Drum Track has 750 samples of Latency
Bass Track has 500 samples of Latency

When setting ALC do I use the lowest setting because none of my tracks goes above 1000 samples?

Or do I add up all the numbers yielding 3250 samples and boost the ALC setting higher?

[Ant B]

set it anywhere above 1000 for that scenario

[gbross]

I'm still unclear.

There are 3 ALC settings in the Playback Window
Short 1023 samples
Long 4095 samples
Max 16383 samples

So, using my scenerio I would be completely safe and in sync using the Short (1023) setting, correct?

Using my scenerio, if I use Long(4095) or Max(16383) it wouldn't hurt anything, correct? Or is that just overkill?

[ejwells]

Nothing wrong with a bit of overkill.

[albee1952]

Short will do it with those latency numbers. Long will also work, and may be desirable so you don't need to change the setting if you suddenly decide to add a plugin with longer latency(Like AutoTune Evo). In any case, you only NEED to cover the single longest latency number.

[gbross]

Thank you! Totally clear now.

One more thing and I'm out of here - need clarification...

If all my tracks have NO latency but my Master Track has 3000 samples (Ozone 5 added for example). I do not need to use ADC - correct?

Sorry if I'm belaboring the point.

[Ant B]

correct

however - like someone said above - I wouldn't use the minimum setting just because your plugs don't go over that. This is an efficiency thing moreso than a technical thing. When you change ADC you have to restart the session - if you're using ADC at all it's much more efficient to set it high enough that you're covered for whichever direction your mix might take plugin/latency wise - not just high enough for your current plugin/latency needs.

[gbross]

And ALC should be turned off when recording tracks. Correct?

[Ant B]

correct.

[Shatzer]

I keep it on during tracking, never had a problem even on big sessions with lots of plugs. What's the reason for turning it off for tracking? I haven't noticed anything unusual.