Cubase Sx1/ESI - Juli@; Audio/latency...

Cubase Sx1/ESI - Juli@; Audio/latency/drum recording advice

Posted on Jun 28, 2005 09:18 am
trashyrumors
Member Since: Jun 27, 2005

Hi

I am about to embark on the task of recording my new band at home. I have a Pentium 3 with Cubase SX1.01 and a ESI-Juli@ card.

Q1) Latency - I used to have terrible problems with audio latency on my old SBPCI64, where when I would overdub audio it would be behind. Because I will be using Direct Monitoring via my Juli@ card, does the 'Lower Latency' box in my Expert section in Cubase Sx1 really matter? I like to keep it unchecked so that when I have lots of VST-Synths there are no cracks in the sound when playing back. I tried to compare the synch of audio overdubs with my ear with the box ticked and unticked, but couldnt come up with a definite conclusion. Does 'Lower Latency' only matter when I am not using direct monitoring at recording time, or will keeping lower latency checked keep my overdubs more in sync? Because if I uncheck it, it doesn't matter to whoever is playing the overdub because they hear the direct monitoring anyway. Basically what am I asking, what is the best way to keep all overdubs in sync without having to use the delay shifter. Is there latency from the mixer into the soundcard into the track, and if so how do i compensate if it is unacceptable - with the lower latency box? I have my latency set at 1024 on the Juli@, and 4 X 128KB buffers for cubase<->disk.

Q2) I have a behinger 2 mic mixer, a shure sm58, and a cheapo dynamic mic from Dick Smith Electronics. I want to record drums, the style is kinda like the Kinks/Beatles/Bacharach/Faces/NewYorkDolls. What would be the best way to record the drums? The cheapo mic right on the kick drum, and the sm58 for everything else? Or should I place both mics on either side of the kit about 50cm away, to get a stereo effect? I guess I will experiement, but any suggestions could save me a lot of time as my drummer brings his drums to my place and he is a busy guy.

thanks,
Michael

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trashyrumors
Member
Since: Jun 27, 2005

Jun 28, 2005 09:59 am

i should have added, the cheapo mic is an optimus 33 3030 omnidirectional dynamic mic.

dbmasters
Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Jul 19, 2005 10:08 am

Sorry, this thread appears to have slipped thru the cracks...

1- Latency still matters whether you actually hear it or not while monitoring, however, most applications have that latency configuration to allow it to compensate for it better. SOme cheap cards like old SB's and integrated chips have too high of latency for the apps to compensate for, as the CPU power has limits. The Juli@ should have SUBSTANTIALLY less latency and be able to better compensate.

2- Micing drums with two mics, thatsa conundrum, I'd say experiament...try one in front of the kick and the other over the whole kit, reverse them, try stereo micing...I dunno, that's gonna be tough.