[Ardour-Users] punch-in with hardware monitoring - latency problem

[plutek-infinity]

>Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:04:38 -0500
>From: plutek-infinity <plutek at infinity.net>

>i'm using ardour v2.7 with an RME Multiface and hardware monitoring for the headphone mix in a multi-tracking situation. 
>
>so, previously-recorded tracks get read off disk and played back from ardour through the multiface to headphones, while new tracks being recorded are added to the headphone mix *directly* within the multiface, routed appropriately using hdspmixer. this gives zero-latency monitoring of live playing, and ardour *usually* correctly compensates for latency, when writing the tracks.
>
>i say *usually*, because it only seems to work when the transport is record-engaged from the *beginning* of any given transport "roll". if i arm some tracks to record, but start transport in play mode, then punch-in by hitting shift-R while transport is rolling, the recorded portion of the armed tracks is not latency-compensated -- i.e. it ends up sitting too late with respect to the other tracks.

replying to myself.... i see in http://osdir.com/ml/audio.ardour.user/2005-04/msg00143.html paul's comment:

"you cannot do zero latency input monitoring *and* playback on
the same channel. the hardware just doesn't allow it."

perhaps that's my answer... the multiface can't switch between playback and live monitoring that way?

hmmmm.... i guess the only way, then, would be something like reserving a *different* channel on the multiface for the incoming and monitor signal, separate from those used for playback of existing tracks. so, always punching in on a separate track/channel, and combining the playlists as required later. or something. it's a bit clumsy.

any other ideas?

-- 
.pltk.