Software Monitoring Problemthe

I'm having an issue monitoring when i have effects (specifically the guitar amp models) on an audio channel where there is constant popping and crackling. Only when I put the i/o buffer size to 1024 does this stop, however the latency is horrible. Up until a month ago i have not had a problem and nothing really has change on my computer. I checked the status monitor has far as memory/cpu/and hard-drive during this process and everything seems good on that end. The only thing i have done different is standard software updates and changed somethings in the bounce settings ( i have reinstalled as well but still have problems.)
Setup: Logic Express 7.2.3 / Presonus Firepod
Please help, recording has been a pain in the a$$

The only thing i have done different is standard software updates
Only???
BTW after an update is a good practice to repair permissions.
Try this too: turn on the Mac with the Shift key pressed and take it down until the system starts.
When the OS is completely started restart again normally: this operation will make a lot of system cleaning operations that usually the user should do periodically.
cheers
rob

Similar Messages

BUG: Software monitoring and playback levels

Have you ever thought your headphone monitoring level jumped up or down, for no apparent reason ? I think I may have found out why... try this:
1) Turn ON Software Monitoring. Independent Monitoring Level can be on or off, it doesn't matter. Take an audio track with active regions on it, arm that track for recording, and press play. Move the record fader up and down--it will adjust the level of the playback audio. All is good. Move this fader down around -20dB, so you can hear the track, but it's quiet.
2) Now, stop the transport, turn OFF Software Monitoring, and press play again. The track's playback level has not changed, which is fine. Move the record fader up and down--it doesn't do anything. Would be nice if that fader controlled the playback volume, but that's more of a feature request. Here comes the real bug...
3) Take the track out of record, then put it back in record. Press play: BOOM!, your playback level on that track has now jumped to 0dB. And there's no way to change it--regardless of the level set by the record and play faders, you're now monitoring at 0dB.
4) Turn ON Software Monitoring, and everything goes back to normal--the playback volume jumps back to the setting of the record fader. Now, turn OFF Software Monitoring, and your monitoring level will stay where you just put it UNTIL you take the track out of record. Next time you re-arm the track, it will jump back to 0dB.
Very weird, eh ?
As best I can tell, when Software Monitoring is OFF, the only way to change your playback monitoring level (for a track armed for recording--using auto-punch, etc.) is to turn Software Monitoring ON, then back OFF again. That will set your level to whatever the fader is showing. But once you take the track out of record, the level resets back to 0dB.
Assuming this isn't some bizarre corruption of my system, maybe we could get Apple's attention to fix this ?
And I think there may also be a related bug where the live input monitoring level jumps (regardless of visible fader position) while Software Monitoring is ON, but I can't reproduce it. Just thinking I've experienced that from time to time, too, and it's such a similar problem to this one...
-James

jnashguitar wrote:
And I think there may also be a related bug where the live input monitoring level jumps (regardless of visible fader position) while Software Monitoring is ON, but I can't reproduce it. Just thinking I've experienced that from time to time, too, and it's such a similar problem to this one...
This happens to me on a fairly regular basis. In my case, the input volume is always LOWER than the fader position.
I will be, say, recording an electric guitar part. Software monitoring on (I monitor thru Logic). The fader is at 0dB, and the guitar on input is a bit loud in the mix, but good for overdubbing a part. After a few passes, the level on input, or even while in record, will drop a good 3 or 4 dB. Hit stop, hit play, and the playback volume is loud again. Go into record, and it drops... the fader was never touched.
This is isn't every time I record, but common enough to not surprise me... It's definitely a bug

Can only get sound when "software monitoring" is checked

Working my way through David Nahmani's logic pro 8 and express book. On the second lesson trying to record acoustic guitar. It says to turn off software monitoring under preferences > Audio so the computer isn't picking it up twice, but when I do I get no sound at all in my monitors or headphones. The channel strip still reads and lights up, it will even record, but don't hear it when I'm actually recording it. The guitar tuner only works when software monitoring is checked too.
I'm using logic express 8 my interface is a Presonus Firebox.

Hi,
this advice applies to recording acoustic guitar with a mic and without headphones.
With an electric guitar, or while wearing headphones, software monitoring should be turned on.
Even better, since there's no latency, is hardware monitoring. Some audio interfaces have a knob to select between input and computer output.
Fox

Input objects and software monitoring

Okay, my set up:
Macbook intel 1 gig RAM
Edirol FA-66
Lacie external drive for audio
The issue:
The edirol has a peak meter which is just a light that comes on when the signal is too high, however, Logic is still perfectly happy with it, which means I have been having to make a guestimate of when the edirol might peak when setting the record level before recording. You know the situation, you say "play as loud as you're going to play" and set the level, then they play louder during the recording (particularly difficult if your playing and recording yourself!)
Anyhow, I worked out to put extra gain on the input objects for my interface in the environment so that, with software monitoring on, the level on logic mirrors almost exactly my interface when it peaks. Great.
However, I don't always want software monitoring. I've managed to get the buffer size down to 128 now I'm using an external drive, but it still feels wrong even though the audible delay is miniscule. In any case I'm not interested in software monitoring, I've never needed or used it in the past and don't feel like starting now.
Is it possible to use the input objects, with the extra gain, for recording without software monitoring? I did some tests and found that I couldn't monitor directly and record with the extra gain whilst seeing the level meters.
Maybe I'm answering my own question...
Here's another thing, my edirol has 4 outs. Could I use two of them to monitor my recording signal directly, whilst using the other two to monitor logic (with software monitoring on) through a mixer should I need it on to use the extra gain (and maybe mute the tracks whilst recording)?
Sounds like extra hassle to me, but would love to know if anyone's tried this before I spend half a day trying it all out.

Sorry for the lengthy post folks, but the good news is I solved it. It was obvious and I said it myself in my post - the mute button while recording and then no need for a mixer.
Anyway, it turned out it was useful to write it all down!

Headphone mix / software monitoring question

I am making the transition from Cubase to Logic Pro X. I have set up a headphone mix in the time-honoured manner, sending a (summing stack) instrument arrangement to an aux channel that goes to outputs 3-4 and drives a separate headphone amp, in this case for the vocal talent. So far so good. But now when I enable software monitoring on the vocal track I get no input signal to the headphone mix. Presumably software monitoring in Logic folds back to outputs 1 and 2 by default, hence no signal to 3-4. Cubase has something called Control Room, whereby you can send any monitored input to any pair of outputs. How does this scenario work in Logic? If I use outputs other than 1-2 for a headphone mix, is software monitoring therefore not available? I know I can send a monitored input directly via my interface, but that gives a dry signal to the vocal talent - not ideal and the whole point of software monitoring. I don't have any external reverb so software reverb inserts are the only option.
Sorry for the long ramble and hope this makes sense. Please let me know if I am missing something 101 in Logic. Thanks!
Terence

I am making the transition from Cubase to Logic Pro X. I have set up a headphone mix in the time-honoured manner, sending a (summing stack) instrument arrangement to an aux channel that goes to outputs 3-4 and drives a separate headphone amp, in this case for the vocal talent. So far so good. But now when I enable software monitoring on the vocal track I get no input signal to the headphone mix. Presumably software monitoring in Logic folds back to outputs 1 and 2 by default, hence no signal to 3-4. Cubase has something called Control Room, whereby you can send any monitored input to any pair of outputs. How does this scenario work in Logic? If I use outputs other than 1-2 for a headphone mix, is software monitoring therefore not available? I know I can send a monitored input directly via my interface, but that gives a dry signal to the vocal talent - not ideal and the whole point of software monitoring. I don't have any external reverb so software reverb inserts are the only option.
Sorry for the long ramble and hope this makes sense. Please let me know if I am missing something 101 in Logic. Thanks!
Terence

No software monitoring ouput

I have a problem where I'm getting signal from my microphone, but ZERO software monitor output. Also, now I'm not getting any audio from anything in my composition. I've never had this problem before. I attempt to close Logic to start it over, but I have to force quit, and an error saying COREmidi error. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
I'm running on an older version of Logic, but that shouldn't be a big deal to the point where I have no sound coming out of it.

Okay, I just had the same problem and what fixed it for me was to switch the Mercury Playback Engine (or MPE) from GPU Acceleration to Software Only. (Project\Project Settings\General...)
I also updated Premiere to 5.5.2.
I'm running Windows 7 with a Quadro 4000.

How would I monitor with FIREPOD and not software monitoring?

Sound confusing?
OK I'm using a Firepod. If I disable software monitoring (to reduce latency) how do I monitor through the Firepod? I lost the manual so that's why I'm asking here.

If you are trying to monitor the Firepod w/ no Latency, simply turn the input/playback knob either to the middle (to hear already recorded tracks + your input) or hard left for input only. Arm the track in Logic, then use the headphone jack or listen through your monitors.
This should give you latency free monitoring with no problems. I do this all the time after tracking w/ a board for seperate monitor mixes, since the firepod doesn't support that.

Software Monitoring

When my **** singers record their vocals they always prefer some effects to be heard while they sing, like reverb and delay. Well I have set my input 1 for the vocals in my Presonus FB as a mono track. I always put in a compressor in that track and in Bus 1 i assigned my fx. But when i start to record the singers there is a small delay in the singing while hearing it. How am i suppose to rectify this problem. Basically i want to record my vocals with reverb and delay heard and it should sync while recording and hearing it at the same time.

It takes time to route audio in and out of a computer, due to the nature of audio interfaces and buffers.
For critical timing, you don't generally want to be hearing yourself *through the computer* as this will introduce delay. You can reduce this delay by reducing the buffer sizes, and for some applications, this will be acceptable.
Otherwise you need to monitor your tracking through the audio interface directly, and avoid routing it into the computer/Logic and back out again before you hear it.
In the case of comfortverb, the delay shouldn't matter too much, so what I suggest you do is reduce your buffer sizes for tracking to a reasonable tradeoff between latency and performance. Leave software monitoring on but do not monitor the live dry signal, set it's output to "No output", and route the send to your reverb as before. Leave the dry signal to be directly monitored via your audio interface.
Now the singer will hear themselves without delay, and will also hear the reverb - this will have a little delay, but for reverb this is not a problem, it just effectively slightly increases the predelay of the reverb.
If you still can't get things they way you want, then get an inexpensive hardware FX unit for comfortverb and do not software monitor in Logic at all.

Software monitoring problem, increased latency?

I tested 8 in the studio yesterday, with a real band etc. There was a major problem though, try as I might I couldn't get a proper monitor signal for the singer using software monitoring(through Logic).
He complained about the horrible flanging/tremolo sound in his cans, whatever the hardware buffer size. I did all the usual tricks, checked that latency compensation was off, switched low latency mode on and off, etc. Nothing worked and I had to resort to hardware monitoring(meaning no reverb for the vocal while recording, not ideal but better than nothing).
I never had this problem with this singer with vs 7, I use a 128 sample buffer which gives acceptable results/no complaints.
I even switched the buffer to 64 with the i/o safety buffer on. Didn't fix the flanging problem, though I was pleasantly surprised audio worked without glitching/breaking up, as it normally does when using 64 with my FF800 and LP7.
BTW, it crashed the first time I used 'save a copy as' for project backup.
Best,
Zip
All this on my G5 2.7

WuWei wrote:
There shouldn't be any flanging - just a delayed signal.
Well, technically, yes, that's correct.
I think the term "flanging" or "chorusing" gets used a lot, because in the case of a vocalist, they can hear themselves "inside their head" as well as through the cue mix, and the latency, even a small amount, creates the illusion of a flanged or chorused signal.
All that said, I too, find the latency to be greater in version 8. Not a show stopper yet, but for those of us monitoring through the software, every little bit gets noticed.
It's discouraging to get a "new" and "improved" Logic, and have greater latency than before.
If I was the paranoid type, I'd believe Apple did that on purpose, to make us all want to go buy Apogee Symphony systems and new Intel Mac Pros...
Did I just say that out loud...?

Software Monitoring (EASY UNDERSTANDING IT)

Hi all
Just a question:
What is the SIMPLEST way to handle Software Monitoring in Logic Pro 7.2?
Do I have to turn on/out the button always when I record and than mix?
What is the SIMPLEST way to handle this feature?
Thanks for a CLEAR and SHORT answer!
Marcos
PS: What is the essential meaning of Software Monitoring anyway? Is it very important?
Mac OS X (10.4.9)

I only monitor through Logic. I use no external mixer.
(So in my case Software monitoring should always be ON, right?
You do have an external mixer - it's inside your audio hardware.
I have a MOTU 896HD but NEVER used the CueMix DSP™
on-board mixing feature (to complicated to me)
Then stick to software monitoring only.
Either you mix the guitar signal with the output of
Logic in your audio interface, and send the mix to
your speakers (direct monitoring),
Don't understand exactly what you mean!!!
Direct monitoring:
- Guitar is plugged into input 1 on your audio interface.
- That guitar input is sent directly to the outputs of your audio interface (and therefore to your speakers).
- The main output of Logic is also sent to the outputs of your audio interface (and therefore to your speakers) - so Logic's mix is mixed together with the guitar signal from the audio interface's input so you can hear them both
- The guitar input is also sent to Logic for recording purposes, but you don't hear it inside Logic - that way, you only hear the direct guitar signal, rather than two copies of it
Software monitoring:
- Guitar is plugged into input 1 on your audio interface.
- That guitar input is NOT sent directly to the outputs of your audio interface (and therefore to your speakers).
- The guitar input is sent to Logic for recording purposes, and Logic adds this into it's main mix, so Logic's output includes the guitar sound you are recording
- The main output of Logic is sent to the outputs of your audio interface (and therefore to your speakers)
This means, since I use no external mixer, I can only make
audio recordings and stay clean with the latency problem
if I don't use any plug ins (because using them would create latency).
No - any audio that goes into Logic and back out again will have latency, because it takes time for the audio to go through both buffers. If you add plugins, that is likely to increase the latency because they may need even more time to process the audio. But software monitoring will always have some latency - and it's for this reason that direct monitoring on audio interfaces was included.
In other words, I can't record and at the same time use plug ins?
Yes you can, as long as you are using software monitoring. If you are using direct monitoring, then you can't hear the plugins, because you are not hearing the guitar in Logic (and therefore also it's plugins), you are hearing the dry direct signal only.

Software Monitoring HELP

I use a 1.83 GHz G5 iMac to run Logic Express. My mixing board is firewire and supports software monitoring, it's a MultiMix16 Firewire. My problem is with software monitoring.
Randomly, a few days ago, I began working on something and realized I wasn't hearing any audio from the program. Most normally, I'd be plugged into my headphone out or even main mix out, and I'd hear what I've recorded via the program. (All the tracks, etc.) Now, for whatever reason, I can still record with the board but don't hear any audio out except the live noise. Confusing, but I need help. I know I've got software monitoring enabled.
Is my mixer broken? Is it simply a setting issue in Logic express? HELP!
1.83 GHz G5 iMac, 1 GHz G4 Powerbook Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Hello Bahamaboy,
Your problem is exactly my problem. I tried both Windows Xp and 7. I can see live video, but the utility only record for a few second and freeze. There is no tech support in my country - cambodia, so I'm in a more serious situation. I also need help. May be I should tried from a fresh windows installation, but what is it good for. It takes lot of time to reinstall everything. Your comments do suggest some software conflict. I think I will try it on my laptop rather than my desktop, which I do not have lot of software installed on my laptop.
(Mod note: Edited post for guideline compliance. Thanks!)
Message Edited by JOHNDOE_06 on 01-20-2010 08:35 AM

Software monitoring gives some sort of electrical disturbance sound

Hi. Im using a dual G5 with 2.5 Gb ram and a Mackie 400F. When activating software monitoring from within Logic I sometimes get some sort of sparkling sound. Its there all the time, even when not recording or playing back.
Sounds like some sort of sparkle/crack. Its constant. If I turn off software monitoring and listens straight off the 400F it goes away.
Any inputs appreciated.
Thanks.

I dont think its the firewire whine. Pretty sure it isnt. In fact I just installed Tiger and at first glance it seems like that solved it.
I have one more problem regarding a full left or right pan in logic, where I get a slip trough of disorted sound on the other side than the one I panned 100% to, but I will take that in a new thread.
And where do I DL the CHUD?
Thanks a lot.

Software monitoring and latency

I've heard people mention that they turn off software monitoring to minimize latency, but I don't see how to do that. I realize it has to do with the equipment and maybe my device does not allow for non-software monitoring.
I'm using items none of you have probably heard of: A HarmonyAudio Miglia firewire device. It has two analog inputs, firewire out, and a headphone jack. The inputs and headphone all have gain or volume controls. The two inputs come from a Behringer 8 channel mixing board's main outs. This mixer also has a headphone jack, control room outs and tape in/outs. It is a pretty nice board. I have a stereo amplifier and studio monitors for mixing. It seems like I could turn software monitoring off and listen via the Miglia headphone jack (or run it into the amplifier), but that does not work. When software monitoring is off, no sound comes from the Miglia.
In general, with this sort of set up, what is the best way to have minimum latency. It is driving me crazy--I'm about to go back to my little $150 Foxtex flash card recorder. It has zero latency, zero! Latency is a deal breaker for me. If I can't fix it I'll have to go back to flash card recording. As much as I like the bells and whistles of computer recording, in doing the fundamentals it is too, too primitive. Thanks for any tips!

I thought this sounded familiar - then I saw your earlier thread:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=9832448#9832448
I searched for the Miglia manual to see what they offered for hardware .v. software monitoring, and they don't appear to have any additional software for audio routing, which seems very odd to me. Most interfaces come with a control panel/mixer application which allows you to turn off software monitoring and instead listen to your source direct, thereby latency-free.
Unless I'm missing something, short of buying another interface, you're left with only software monitoring as an option - what's your I/O buffer size set to in Logic? The smaller the better - too small and you'll get pops and crackles, but 64 or 128 should have low enough latency to be workable for you.

Pitch Correction plugin and Software Monitoring

Okay guys...When ever I use the pitch correction plugin...I get a great deal of latency even when i change my buffer...this doesnt sound normal, because when I had the demo of Autotune...this never happens. When I am singing...I cant stack because of this. Also, when I click low latency mode (which i shouldnt have to) i don't hear the software monitoring(the effects of the PitchCorr)...help! i dont know what to do.... this is bad because i cant properly execute what I normally used to do with the autotune...might I add though, Pitch correction sounds alot more natural than autotune!!! sounds great! so excited to be able to use it properly!!! I was ready to purchase AT, but I dont want to anymore!!!

and beejay dont act like its uncommon for singers to use it while tracking.
In my experience, it's incredibly uncommon to use the software Autotune *while tracking*.
For exactly the reasons I described (and others).
Auto Tune doesnt have this problem...Logics autotune does...
Auto Tune absolutely has latency. It's how pitch detection works.
From the AutoTune manual:
"In order for Auto-Tune to automatically correct pitch, it must also detect the
pitch of the input sound. It's easy for you to calculate the pitch of a periodic
waveform: Simply measure the time between repetitions of the waveform.
Divide this time into one, and you have the frequency in Hertz.
Auto-Tune does the same thing: It looks for a periodically repeating waveform
and calculates the time interval between repetitions.
The pitch detection algorithm in Auto-Tune is virtually instantaneous. Like
your eye-ball, it can see the repetition in a periodic sound within a few
cycles. This usually occurs before the sound has suffcient amplitude to be
heard. Used in combination with a slight delay (about 1 to 10 milliseconds),
the output pitch can be detected and corrected without artifacts in a seamless
and continuous fashion."
So you are always going to get some milliseconds of latency. Whether AutoTune is faster than Logic's I don't know and don't really care. This only matters if you are using software monitoring while tracking, and if you are doing this then you are also adding additional delays on the signal because of the round-trip buffer sizes and so on anyway.
What you are actually saying is that for you, the latency you get tracking through AutoTune is acceptable, and it is not acceptable when using Logic's pitch correction.
In that case, either don't track through pitch detection, or buy AutoTune...

Effects with Software Monitoring off?

I looked for an answer to this on the forum, but couldn't find one.
I prefer to monitor with the "software monitoring" off to avoid the slight latency that occurs. Is there a way to hear some reverb on the input track when in this mode, or what do you do to avoid the latency if SM is enabled. I set the buffer lower but it is still audible.
thanks in advance from a rookie

Turn ON software monitoring and set the track to "no output" and use a send to go to the reverb. You monitor only the dry voice direct from your interface and only the reverb through Logic.

Software Monitoring Problemthe

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