Ultimate Solution for Zero Latency Monitoring Without DSP (Works with any Interface & any Daw)

Summary

In this video, Fed from Harby Productions introduces a solution for zero-latency monitoring with effects like EQ, compression, and autotune for artists during studio recording. He demonstrates using the Waves Super Rack, which allows for real-time processing with any VST3 plugin, independent of the audio interface. Fed shows how to set up the Rack, route audio, apply plugins, and choose what to record and monitor, providing a flexible and efficient monitoring system for artists.

Takeaways

• 🎙️ The video discusses a solution for zero-latency monitoring with effects like EQ, compression, autotune, and reverb for artists during recording sessions.
• 🚀 It's possible to apply effects to an artist's in-ears without recording them, allowing for a more natural recording process.
• 🔄 Traditional hardware interfaces may have limitations on zero-latency monitoring and the types of plugins that can be used.
• 💡 The proposed workaround is independent of the recording interface and allows the use of any computer plugin for monitoring.
• 🌐 The Waves Super Rack is introduced as a tool that can process audio with virtually no latency, regardless of the interface used.
• 💻 The setup involves routing audio through the Waves Super Rack for processing and then back to the interface.
• 🎛️ Users can select which processed signals are sent to the artist's ears and which are recorded.
• 🔧 The video provides a detailed walkthrough on setting up the Waves Super Rack, including choosing the playback engine and buffer size.
• 📈 The presenter demonstrates how to add multiple plugins for processing within the Waves Super Rack and monitor their CPU impact.
• 🎵 The technique allows for extensive processing without introducing latency, even when using heavy plugins.
• 📚 The video concludes by emphasizing the flexibility this method provides for customizing an artist's monitoring experience.

Q & A

What is the main issue the video aims to solve?

The video aims to solve the problem of implementing zero latency monitoring with effects like EQ, compression, autotune, and reverb for artists in their in-ears during studio recording.

Why is zero latency monitoring important for artists?

Zero latency monitoring is important for artists because it allows them to hear effects like autotune, reverb, and compression in real-time as they record, which can significantly enhance their performance.

What is the solution presented in the video for zero latency monitoring?

The solution presented is using the Waves SuperRack plugin, which allows for zero latency monitoring and the use of any VST3 plugin for monitoring, independent of the hardware interface being used.

How does the Waves SuperRack plugin achieve zero latency monitoring?

The Waves SuperRack plugin achieves zero latency monitoring by processing the audio within the plugin itself and then sending the processed signal back to the interface without adding any additional latency.

What are the advantages of using Waves SuperRack for monitoring?

Using Waves SuperRack for monitoring has the advantage of allowing the use of any VST3 plugin for monitoring, being independent of the hardware interface, and providing the flexibility to choose which signal to monitor and which to record.

Can the Waves SuperRack plugin be used with any audio interface?

Yes, the Waves SuperRack plugin can be used with any audio interface, as it does not rely on specific hardware DSP or any Waves cards, making it compatible with a wide range of interfaces.

How does the video demonstrate the setup process for Waves SuperRack?

The video demonstrates the setup process by showing how to configure the playback engine, choose the correct sample rate and buffer size, route audio inputs and outputs, and add various plugins for processing within the Waves SuperRack.

What is the significance of buffer size in the context of zero latency monitoring?

Buffer size is significant in zero latency monitoring because a smaller buffer size results in lower latency, while a higher buffer size can introduce more latency. The video suggests that a buffer size of 64 works well without introducing pops or glitches.

How can the artist customize their monitoring experience with the Waves SuperRack plugin?

The artist can customize their monitoring experience by adding any VST3 plugins they prefer for effects like EQ, compression, autotune, or reverb, and adjusting the settings to their liking within the Waves SuperRack plugin.

What is the benefit of having both dry and processed signals available in the DAW?

Having both dry and processed signals available in the DAW allows the engineer to record both versions of the audio, giving them the flexibility to choose the best version for mixing and mastering later on.

How does the video suggest handling different monitoring needs for a full band session?

The video suggests using the Waves SuperRack plugin to create a template with the desired monitoring setup, which can then be customized for each band member's preferences, allowing for individualized monitoring during a full band session.

Outlines

00:00

🎙️ Introducing Zero Latency Monitoring Solution

Fed from Harby Productions introduces a solution for studio recording issues, specifically for monitoring artists through their in-ears with effects like EQ, compression, autotune, and reverb at zero latency. The goal is to allow artists to hear these effects in real-time without affecting the recording quality. Fed discusses the limitations of hardware interfaces and proposes a workaround using Waves Super Rack, which is independent of the recording interface and allows using any plugin on the computer.

05:02

🔧 Setting Up Waves Super Rack for Monitoring

The video script details the setup process for Waves Super Rack, starting with choosing the correct playback engine and adjusting buffer size for low latency. Fed explains how to scan for third-party plugins, set up input and output routing within the interface, and unmute the processed signal to compare it with the dry signal. He emphasizes the importance of testing different buffer sizes to find the optimal balance between latency and CPU usage.

10:02

🎛️ Adding Plugins and Processing

Fed demonstrates how to add various plugins, including EQ and compression, to the monitoring setup using Waves Super Rack. He shows how to apply these plugins to the input signal and route the processed signal back to the interface. The video highlights the ability to use any VST3 plugin for monitoring, not just Waves plugins, and how to check the latency introduced by the plugins. Fed also discusses the CPU usage and how it remains low even with multiple plugins.

15:03

🎧 Demonstrating Zero Latency with Plugins

The script describes Fed's experiment with adding multiple plugins to test the system's capability to handle processing without introducing latency. He adds SSL, 76, and Fat Filter EQ plugins to the setup and checks the latency, which remains at zero even with heavy processing. Fed also shows how to save the entire signal chain as a preset for future use and how to switch between dry and processed signals for monitoring and recording.

20:05

🎚️ Customizing Monitoring for Artists

Fed explains how to customize the monitoring experience for artists using the Waves Super Rack. He discusses creating a template, assigning user keys for quick adjustments, and setting the tempo for effects like delay. The video emphasizes the flexibility of the system, allowing artists to hear specific effects in their ears while the engineer can monitor the dry signal for recording. Fed shares his experience using this setup for full band sessions and how it解决了DSP限制和插件选择的问题。

📢 Conclusion and Contact Information

In conclusion, Fed summarizes the video by explaining how the Waves Super Rack allows for complete control over the artist's in-ear mix with zero latency. He invites viewers to ask questions in the comments or email him for further clarification. Fed also encourages viewers to subscribe and share the video, promising to see them in the next video.

Keywords

💡Monitoring

Monitoring in the context of the video refers to the process of listening to audio signals during recording or performance, typically through headphones or studio monitors. It's crucial for artists to hear how their performance sounds in real-time, often with added effects. The video discusses a solution for zero-latency monitoring with effects like EQ, compression, and autotune for artists in their in-ears.

💡Zero Latency

Zero latency, as mentioned in the video, is the ideal state where audio signals are heard in real-time without any delay. This is particularly important in studio settings when artists want to hear effects applied to their performance live. The video presents a method to achieve zero-latency monitoring with various audio effects.

💡DSP (Digital Signal Processing)

DSP in the video refers to the processing of audio signals digitally to achieve effects like EQ, compression, and autotune. Some hardware interfaces have built-in DSP plugins for zero-latency monitoring. However, the video discusses a solution that bypasses the need for hardware-specific DSP, allowing for more flexibility.

💡EQ (Equalization)

EQ is a fundamental audio effect that adjusts the balance of frequencies in an audio signal. In the video, EQ is one of the effects that artists might want to hear in their in-ears during recording. The script mentions implementing EQ through the Waves SuperRack plugin system for monitoring purposes.

💡Compression

Compression in audio is used to reduce the dynamic range of an audio signal, making quiet sounds louder and loud sounds quieter. The video discusses applying compression to the audio signal for monitoring, allowing artists to hear a more consistent and polished sound in their headphones.

💡Autotune

Autotune is a pitch correction software that adjusts vocal performances to be in tune. The video script mentions artists wanting to hear autotuned vocals as they track, which can be achieved through the proposed monitoring solution.

💡Reverb

Reverb is an audio effect that creates a sense of space by adding echoes and reflections to the sound. The script discusses adding reverb to the monitoring mix to simulate the sound of a performance in a larger space, enhancing the artist's experience while recording.

💡VST3

VST3 is a plugin format used in digital audio workstations (DAWs) for audio processing. The video mentions using VST3 plugins within the Waves SuperRack system to apply various audio effects for monitoring, independent of the hardware interface.

💡Waves SuperRack

Waves SuperRack is a plugin system by Waves Audio that allows for audio processing using VST3 plugins. The video describes using SuperRack as a central component of the solution, enabling the use of any desired plugin for monitoring with zero latency.

💡Buffer Size

Buffer size in audio software determines the number of audio samples processed at one time. A smaller buffer size results in lower latency but higher CPU usage. The video script explains testing different buffer sizes to find the optimal balance for zero-latency monitoring with minimal CPU load.

💡Plugin

A plugin in the context of the video is a software module that adds functionality to a digital audio workstation, such as effects processing. The script discusses using various plugins for monitoring, including third-party plugins, within the Waves SuperRack system.

Highlights

Introduction to a solution for zero latency monitoring with effects in artists' in-ears.

Explanation of the common problem of wanting effects like EQ, compression, autotune, and reverb during tracking but not on the recording.

Mention of hardware interfaces that allow zero latency monitoring, like UA's console with DSP plugins.

Proposal of a workaround that is independent of the interface and allows use of any plugin.

Emphasis on the game-changing nature of the solution for monitoring in artists' ears.

Description of the setup process using an Orion interface as an example.

Use of the Waves Super Rack for native processing without requiring Waves cards or grid racks.

Advantage of using Waves Super Rack for monitoring over hardware limitations.

Setting up the Waves Rack with the correct playback engine and buffer size for low latency.

How to route audio through the Waves Rack for processing and back to the interface.

Demonstration of adding plugins like SSL Channel strip for EQ and compression.

Testing the CPU efficiency and latency with multiple plugins.

Ability to add any VST3 plugin for monitoring, not just Waves plugins.

Creating a full signal chain for monitoring within the Waves Super Rack.

Saving and recalling presets within the Waves Super Rack for different monitoring setups.

Flexibility to choose what signal to monitor and what to record in the DAW.

Practical application in a full band session with each musician wanting different monitoring preferences.

Conclusion and invitation for feedback, questions, or subscription.

Transcripts

hey guys this is fed from harby

Productions and welcome to another video

and today I want to present a solution

for all of you out there who are

recording in your studio and you are

having a problem with monitoring for an

artist in their in ears specifically I'm

talking about those who want to be able

to implement some EQ compression

autotune Reverb all kinds of effects at

zero latency monitoring into your artist

ears cuz you know a lot of times you

would have an artist and your tracking

vocals and they would say hey I want to

like hear an autotune on my vocals as

I'm tracking or some verb or some

compression or EQ or something like that

but you don't necessarily want to record

with that because you have whether

you're using Hardware gear or using

software um you want to just do that for

their ears um you just want to do that

for their ears to be able to hear it

that way but you record however vocal

chain or that could apply to anything

doesn't have to be just vocals the way

that you want it to and I know that some

Hardware interfaces allow for zero

latency monitoring like the UA for

example with the console um you can use

some of their DSP plugins and allow that

some of the analou uh interfaces have

that feature not all of them do but

today's solution is basically a way

around all of this that is going to be a

game Cher in my opinion I've been

testing it for a couple weeks now to

make sure that it works well it would

allow you to do any form of monitor

it would allow you to do it regardless

of what kind of interface are you're

using completely independent from your

doll as well as being able to use any

plug-in that you have on your computer

and you are not tied Now by only so if

I'm using the UA console I can only use

the UA DSP plugins and if I'm using the

analou console I have to only use the

AFX plugins and if I'm using and then

every company has like their own version

of it but today solution will eliminate

all of this you will build your

monitoring setup and then that will stay

with you regardless of what interface

you use and you can use any plug-in that

you would like to use on it I believe

this would be a the new way moving

forward of monitoring in our ears for

artists and stuff like that and I

believe this is going to be very simple

I'm going to try to explain it in a very

simple way and I believe it will be

helpful for a lot of us who have uh a

recording setup they do mixing and

master and all that stuff but they also

want to be able to do monitoring and not

having to use like an HDX or something

like this so anyways enough talking

let's go in here and I'm going to uh

start to demonstrate all on my units

over there okay now that we're here

let's dig in I'm implementing this setup

with my Orion interface that could

happen with any interface that you guys

have um and it could work with any of

them I'm just going to walk through the

setup with my Orion but the principle

will stay and remain the same so right

now um I'm going to use use my sens

Sizer one of my analog sens sizers here

as my uh input audio so think of it as

like a microphone or anything that

you're recording and you want to Monitor

and uh right now if I'm playing

here you guys can see the audio is

coming through channel three and four

let's unmute them in our

[Music]

mixers you can hear them

now so right now I'm monitoring through

my interface which all interfaces offers

zero latency monitoring but that's was

no processing there's no EQ no

compression nothing and this is just the

dry signal coming from my

profit analog synth okay now for us to

do what we just talked about we're going

to be using the waves super W and that's

the newer one that was released by waves

recently that works basically natively

and it does not require any waves card

or DX cards or any it does not require

any DSP waves cards or the waves grid

racks either um at the time I'm making

this video I believe it's about a 100

bucks for it is absolutely worth it um

and I don't know if they run sales or

anything like that on it we should

definitely check it and uh let's kind of

build that setup so all the routing and

the monitoring we're going to actually

do in waves in terms of processing and

then send that back to the interface uh

fully processed and we get to choose if

that goes to somebody's ears or that is

being only for monitoring reasons or

that is also being recorded and I like

the processing and I want to recorded

being printed with that processing on

it so let's start

by pulling the waves rack so it's going

to talk really simple setup here through

the waves rack um first thing you want

to do you want to go to your setup and

you want to choose your playback engine

and you want to make sure that you're

using the interface that's the interface

that you have that you record according

through sample rate make sure you're

obviously choosing the correct sample

rate and then after that the buffer size

is where it comes for monitoring

obviously smaller buffer size you got no

latency or lower latency higher buffer

size you got a lot more latency so I

I've tested with 32 and the CPU could

handle it but I've noticed some pops and

glitches so with 64 for me it's been

working great not a single problem at

all um I would say just mess with this a

little bit uh to find which one works

for you well without any latency if if

64 works then that's great and you guys

can see at 64 without any processing

right now CPU is hitting 5% which is

really not that much at all all right so

let's this is the first thing you want

to do now the second thing you want to

do and it's a little bit I don't know

why waves did it this way you're going

to want to go here to that preset at the

top and then you want to go to the vstd

and then you want to scan plugins vstd 3

and scan plugins and and that's what it

does it it will scan all the third-party

plugins on your computer that are not

waves related this button here that says

update plugins list that it would scan I

believe it scans only the internal

because when I did that and scanned it I

could not still find my third party

plugins I could only find it if I go to

presets this one and then scan plugins

then you can sort the plugins by vendor

or

category you can even tell tell it where

it's plug pulling the plugins from I'm

just doing the default system folder so

any now this is going to open the door

for us to implement processing with any

vst3 plug-in that we have in our

computer and anyone that you own all

right so that's first thing second thing

is I chose 16 racks that's give me 16

channels you can do all the way up to 64

but I'm not really needing to monitor 64

process channels I'm just using 16s

right now all right so the first channel

from the 16th I went ahead and relabeled

it synth because that's where I'm giving

my synth and then I'm going to go to the

inputs in here and I'm going to choose

this is basically my interface inputs

and I know that the synth is plugged in

and I patched it into my interface into

input three and four so here's the input

three and four and if I

[Music]

play oops sorry I unplugged it there you

go you guys can see the input it's you

can see input right here okay now you go

down to the bottom and then you see the

output and I'm choosing here's the Orion

and then I'm going to choose a a

specific output from my interface that I

want to send it to right now I'm sending

it to Output five and six so this part

would be depending on your interface

like with my Apollo interface for

example I would send it to my virtual

outputs virtual channel one and two uh

and then for my

um mou interfaces I would send it to any

of the computer playback outputs uh it

could be anything basically you could

send it to any output as long as you

know which output you're sending to so

you can see that output in your console

for your interface so in this scenario

I'm sending it to five and six I'm going

to unmute that you guys can see you can

already start hearing the

phase because now we're hearing both

signals the the direct monitored signal

from the interface completely dry and

then the second signal which is the one

going through the waves super rack so

let's kind of make sure that that's the

case so I'm going to

open the

interface here's the mixer on my

interface and here's both channels left

and right left and right the mix C left

and right that's the uh output five and

six that I'm bringing back from the

waves and then the 470 those are my

inputs that are dry inputs uh so I'm

going to mute the dry inputs right

now so now the signal that we're hearing

now that signal is the signal coming

from the

waves um which is this signal if I muted

we're not hearing anything so I'm

monitoring that signal right now okay

great I am going to go here to the plus

and I'm going to actually start putting

plugins and uh one thing I've noticed um

when you use you can use any vst3 plugin

that you have it's um when I used the

SSL I'm sorry when I used the waves

plugins it was able to calculate latency

more accurately and give me exactly how

much latency of being I'm having but

sometimes it struggles with third part

in third party plugins to calculate

latency so we'll try both but let's

start first with the waist plugins so

I'm just going to put here an EQ let's

put an SSL Channel

strip which is a fairly good plug it's a

great plugin and it has a lot of

processing in it

here's I'm going to boost it here so

that way we can just hear the

difference so we know that this is

working I'm going to add a second plugin

uh let's

add

[Music]

76 I'm I'm doing like drastic measures

for processing right now so that way we

can hear it immediately and a the dry

signal versus the process

signal

okay that's good then let's put

um you

know let's put a 2A so second

compressor okay and then let's put one

plugin that is not waves related so so

let's just so you guys can see them here

and I'm going to

do my fat filter EQ so I just love that

the

Q3 you guys can see it

[Music]

here I'm putting

some EQ a little bit of dynamic EQ on

this frequency right

here

and then I want to make that synth a lot

darker and again I'm only doing this for

the sake of just drastic

processing there you go so this is all

and then you can turn it off without

with without with it could be anything

it could be any plugin that you have in

here in your setup all right so let's go

now now that we have four it could be

also a Reverb uh it could be an autotune

and terce a auto tune or any other

autotune that you're using that the

artists want to hear in their ears and

this is for monitoring reasons

monitoring

purposes um okay now if I go here so

this is my

channel which is that

synth and then I click anywhere in those

plus you guys can see here the rack

latency and it shows you how much

latency is being implemented by applying

those four plugins and it's literally

one sample it's 0 millisecond which is

fascinating cuz we're working at 64

buffer size but I have now four plugins

being powered off my CPU if you guys

remember the CPU was starting at 5% now

let's look at our CPU

consumption me close

this audio setup CPU didn't even budge

all right let's push this system really

hard and let's see how hard can we push

it like I want to see how much you can

do processing and let's push it first

was only Waves plugins so I'm going to

press option in here so I can apply a

plugin on the whole

thing and then I'm going to put an

SSL and then I put 16 ssls on all 16

channels I'm going to do the

same put the same

here I'm going to

put I need to remove it

first and then I'm going to put

16 76 let's remove

that 16 of

that I'm going to put 16 of the fat

filter which is on the top one for

Q3 let's keep pushing it a little bit

more let's put um 6

API 2500 from

waves and then plug-in list let's do

um 16 CLA base which or let's use

something that is not so let's go to uh

again here you go I'm using now actual

SSL plugins cuz I love their

um SSL chance whiches this are like

fairly heavy I'm going to put 16 off

that you guys can see it's a little

heavier that one takes a little bit time

more time to

load that's like a lot of processing I

don't think you need all of that but

that's insane amount of processing or

plugins that you're using only for

monitoring Reasons I'm really going on

an extreme level here to push the system

see how much it work my CPU is at 14%

with all of that you still got way more

to go

amazing that's going to check now the

sample

latency we're still at no latency it's

still it did not add any latency let's

now uh try my

synth let's go to these

plugins

I'm playing and I'm checking what I'm

playing and I'm still not hearing any

latency at all it's completely uh has

zero latency now you could also

add um like a Reverb for

example so let's just add ABY roads

plates I love those and those are

actually pretty heavy as

[Music]

well

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

here's a little bit of verb turn up and

down a little

bit just CLI it okay we got our verb and

you can just do like some of the uh

valhala verbs or whatever you want it

would work now now I have a full signal

chain for my synth and I can save this

uh you can have user presets and then

here's like my entire I'm saving this as

a test session so save s session as a

test and you can recall that whole thing

now let's go back to my console in my

interface and

then here's the wet

[Music]

signal going to mute that here's the dry

signal and then I get to monitor in my

headphone outputs whichever signal I

want I can I the artist just want to

hear the wet signal so just give them

the wet signal and mute the dry signal

now the they want to hear the dry signal

then give them the dry signal and then

in your uh doll right now in my doll I

have channel three and four five and six

so three and four are the dry signal and

five and six are my wet signal I can

choose to record either one so I use Pro

Tools For example so I'm going to choose

Protools playback engine I'll choose the

Orion Gen 4 and I'll choose which one I

want to record or even record both let's

say you're tracking drums you did some

processing you really like how it sounds

you don't have any problem with it and

then be like yeah I like really what I

dialed in that snare uh so let's just

have both and then you have both and you

get to choose whatever you want to do

later uh now if I haven't dug into all

the options on the performer rack The

Wave Super rack but there's a lot of

cool features to it you have user Keys

you have assignable stuff so the waves

have a lot of features and in it and I

haven't fully dug into all the features

you can assign media controllers to it

you can do at the top here you can see

the tempo so if you're adding a delay

and that's one of the things you want to

monitor you can go in here and set the

the tempo for uh your song that you're

doing um you can have hot plugins like

quick plugins that you use all the time

save them in here or user keys and

assign them to you basically could do a

lot then what I've been working on is I

built a template In Waves super rack and

this is my

monitoring in super wck and I send that

to artists and then if they want to

tweak something I I want more E I want

my voice to be a little brighter more

and then I monitor that to them and then

for me I'm monitoring to myself in the

control room is the dry signal that is

being processed through my analog

equipments and how I want to engineer

because a lot of times an artist would

ask for something like obnoxious like

hey I want to have this crazy auditude

on my voice while I'm tracking or tons

of Reverb obviously don't want to record

it that way so I just give them that

through this and then I just get to

Monitor and I get to track the dry

signal the way that I would engineer it

according to uh what I see fit um I

think this is pretty much everything I

mean it's really simple the idea is if I

would summarize it you have your

interface that is running at in your dah

at 1,24 sample rate um you obviously can

monitor from your do with that sample

rate because it will be completely

delayed and you don't have like an HDX

or anything like that so what you did

and your interface has zero monitoring

but it doesn't have plugins or it has

some plugins that you don't like what

they are and you want to use your own

then you open the Wave Super rack

separate you choose the interface to be

the playback engine in this and you

route audio inside of it from the inputs

that you have into your interface and

you rout audio back into the interface

and you do your vsst processing in here

which plugins you want to use what

processing you want to do and then now

on your interface console you're going

to have two signals you're going to have

the dry signal and you're going to have

the one coming from the waves um super

rack and then you get to choose which

one you want to monitor to the artist

and which one you want to record in your

doll and that kind of solves the problem

and I've been testing this I've been

using for a little bit right now and so

far I haven't had any issues with it um

I love this a lot because it allows me

to build complete mixing chain for the

artist in their ears especially when I

have big sessions uh like the other day

I had a full band session in the live

room with drums Keys uh guitars vocals

bass they all wanted different things

you know and um I ran out of DSP on my

universal audio also I was limited was

how much processing on the universal

audio because it depending on which DSP

plugins I have now doing it this way it

allowed me to use whatever plugins that

I want have

unlimited uh ways to do mixing in their

ears however they want to basically it's

almost like mixing a in a doll right now

I got full accessibility to mix with any

plugins that I want I'm still getting

pretty much no latency and I'm choosing

which signal I want to record and which

signal I want to just monitor I hope

this video is helpful for you if you

have any questions make sure you put

them in the comments or just email me at

f at harbe productions. org make sure to

subscribe share this video and I'll see

you guys at the next one