Latency with Carbon and Focusrite Clarett+ Octopre?

[dominicperry]

Originally Posted by LDS

That is only really true from a does-the-talent-hear-any-latency perspective. From an audio engineering perspective, 0.15ms is clearly audible and measurable. It is the equivalent of pushing a microphone 5cm out of position, which can ruin a nice phase coherent multi-microphone recording by introducing audible phasing at 6kHz and up.

RME AD/DA latency is some of the best in the business. Lynx is still exceptionally quick at 25 samples but it still equals 0.56ms at 44.1kHz, and when put side by side the RME you have quoted, it equates to a 15cm difference in microphone placement and potential phasing from around 2kHz and up.

Avid HD I/Os are around 50 samples AD/DA from memory. Metric Halo ULN8 MKIII is closer to 100 samples. Based on the RTL differences between AES and AD/DA loops, the MTRX II is around 70 samples. The Octapre and Carbon might have very similar AD/DA latency, or they could be 50+ samples off. 50 samples doesn't sound like a whole lot in terms of audible latency, but it is audible phasing from 800Hz and up.

Thanks for the education, that's useful to know.

This is clearly measurable too, then, using a clapper board or similar sharp transient to record on both Carbon and external pre-amp (Focusrite) in order to work out how much offset is needed. Each track recorded on the Focusrite can then be slipped forward or backward by the appropriate amount?


Dominic