I posted this in the "Producer" forum as well, but thought I'd put it here as well.  This forum seems to generate better answers.

I do not do a lot of live recording, I mostly use VSTs and external instruments. I recently upgraded my system and bought a Steinberg MR 816x audio interface. When I plug in a mic and record into Sonar I now have to turn on "Input Echo" ON to hear FX inserts. Is this correct? The only reason I ask is that when I turn the effect (let's say reverb in this case) mix to dry, or when I do not have any effect inserted but still have the "Input Echo" ON, I hear a tiny bit of latency, almost like a mild flanging effect. Obviously when the effect is on you cannot hear this latency, but the fact that it is there as a result of switching on the "Input Echo" makes me wonder if it is having a deleterious effect on the added effect! I hope this makes sense.

Playback sounds great by the way, so that's not a problem. I am just wondering if it is 1. normal to hear this mild latency when you switch "Input Echo" ON, and 2. is this really the right way to hear the effect while you are recording and want to have the effect (not record the effect though).

THanks,

Mike

Michael C.


I posted this in the "Producer" forum as well, but thought I'd put it here as well.  This forum seems to generate better answers.

I do not do a lot of live recording, I mostly use VSTs and external instruments. I recently upgraded my system and bought a Steinberg MR 816x audio interface. When I plug in a mic and record into Sonar I now have to turn on "Input Echo" ON to hear FX inserts. Is this correct? The only reason I ask is that when I turn the effect (let's say reverb in this case) mix to dry, or when I do not have any effect inserted but still have the "Input Echo" ON, I hear a tiny bit of latency, almost like a mild flanging effect. Obviously when the effect is on you cannot hear this latency, but the fact that it is there as a result of switching on the "Input Echo" makes me wonder if it is having a deleterious effect on the added effect! I hope this makes sense.

Playback sounds great by the way, so that's not a problem. I am just wondering if it is 1. normal to hear this mild latency when you switch "Input Echo" ON, and 2. is this really the right way to hear the effect while you are recording and want to have the effect (not record the effect though).

THanks,

Mike

Yeah Mike, all that you mentioned is my experience as well. It will not effect your recording or anything. If you can lower your ASIO buffers even more, that flanging type effect will be even less. Thankfully I can run my ASIO buffers down to 32 samples so I don't get much of that sound at all. Most times I run at 64 but there are a few times when I just need things as low as I can go. All the stuff you're experiencing is normal though, no worries brother. :) Good luck!
 
-Danny

Danny, Thanks for the confirmation! Much appreciated. Mike

Another option Michael is that you can buy a cheap hardware reverb unit like the Alesis NanoVerb 2.
On most interfaces there's inserts that allow you to add FX for recording purposes but doesn't record the effect.
Using in the box FX and input echo is great and all as long as you have a light project. 
But say you're pretty deep into things and decide you want to add some back up vocals. Now the latency of input echo can get unbearable.
If your interface allows for direct monotoring this might be something you may want to look into as well.

Just throwing some options at ya brother.  


Mike