Latency, Help clear the confusion Options

[DEVIOUS]

Hi everyone!

I know this topic has been allegedly done a thousand times, yet I have been scanning the pages and am still unclear on an important issue. As far I understand it, latency occurs when you are recording a new track and listening post processing through the computer. Many people have commented on how this can pose a problem, especially to USB audio interfaces. I have been told about direct monitoring- ie listening to the new track before it is processed but this has left me with some confusion.

If I buy a USB interface and record a track, then record another and use direct monitoring, I should be able to play in time yes? Does latency become more of a problem when you start laying down 20 or 30 audio tracks? I don't intend to record more than 2 simultaneously but do want to layer complex songs. Basically, I am intending to tip toe into the shallow end of computer production with a Tascam Us122 and Tracktion. However, I am starting to consider (if this will inhibit me recording more than a couple of tracks without the computer screwing around) investing in a s/h motu 428 and start with Tracktion, maybe moving to logic. I also will want to have a go with some soft synths and I know these are a potential problem for recording.

Please help us out!

D.

[rickenbacker]

There is nothing wrong with USB per se, but it does have strict limits. Quite simply, there is only a certain amount of data you can stuff down its pipe. FireWire allows for a considerably greater amount of simultaneous audio data to be passed back and forth.

In other words, USB is cool if you only record a small number of audio tracks. If you want to have, say, more than 16 audio tracks and Midi happening at the same time in the song, USB will have trouble dealing with all that data and you'll get dropouts and clicks as the audio data gets truncated. You shouldn't get this problem with a FireWire interface.

Sadly, some are better designed and developed than others, which is why you hear a lot of complaints about the M-Audio FW410 and none about the MOTU 828. The 828 is a fantastically solid and reliable perfomer - I've had mine switched on continuously for a year and have never had any problems. I can't say the same for the USB interface I had before that.

There is nothing more distracting and frustrating than the equipment spoiling your recording sessions. With my 828, it might as well not be there it's so invisible - it just does its thing. I bought it second-hand, too, so it wasn't even that expensive. My best studio investment, no question.

Starting out gradually and upgrading in the future is a sensible course of action, though. And I agree that Tascam are a decent brand. I tried a US-122 for a couple of weeks and I like it. If I could afford it, I'd buy one just to have on hand as a spare mobile interface.

Enjoy making your music.