Here's what I want to do. I love the "ValhallaRoom" reverb. I do live shows with Sonar playing the backup tracks. I would love to use that reverb on the live singers. Has anyone tried using plugins in that way?

Here's what I want to do. I love the "ValhallaRoom" reverb. I do live shows with Sonar playing the backup tracks. I would love to use that reverb on the live singers. Has anyone tried using plugins in that way?

Hey Cody,


You can use a DAW and Sonar for this purpose... but you need to be aware of a couple of things.
First, you need really low round-trip latency to effectively allow input-monitoring thru software.
Anything above about 6ms starts to feel sluggish.  Above 10ms feels terribly sluggish...
You audio interface determines the round-trip latency you can achieve.
ie:  The RME Babyface yields 4.9ms total round-trip latency at a 48-sample ASIO buffer size/44.1k.

Round-trip latency is the sum of the following:

• ASIO input buffer
• ASIO output buffer
• Latency of the A/D and D/A converters
• The driver's hidden safety buffer

Apps like Cantibile 2 Performer or Forte' (designed specifically for hosting VSTi/VST for live use) are more "gig friendly".

Hi Cody, Are you using a mixing board for the show? If you plan to connect your computer and audio interface in the effects loop of the mixer, a little latency shouldn't be a problem, it will just sound like there is a bit of predelay is on the reverb. If you're doing it this way, it's important that the signal coming back from the computer is 100% wet. Any dry signal that loops through the computer and mixes with the original signal will cause comb filtering.

Thanks for the replies. I'll be using an M7CL Yamaha Mixing Console. It's all the routing that's frying my non-mathmatical brain. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to make it work. Using an Octa-capture for the interface. I'm sure it'll work at least as well as that Gas-Powered go cart you have in your avatar Rick.

Here's how I'd do it: You said you also use the computer for playing back tracks so I'd route your playback tracks to Sonar's main output and assign the main outputs to two output channels of your Octa-Capture - let's say channels one and two. Make a new track in Sonar, assign the track's input to a line input from the Octa-Capture, (let's use line input #1) assign it's outputs to an unused buss in Sonar(any buss EXCEPT the main out is OK) and assign the output of that buss to two unused outputs of the Octa-Capture - let's say channels three and four. In your new track, insert your reverb in the effects bin and set the mix settings of the reverb to 100% wet. Put the track in record and turn on input echo. Connect the output of the M7 you're using for the reverb send to input 1 of the Octa-Capture and connect output channels 3 and 4 of the Octa-Capture to the inputs of the M7 you're using for the reverb return. I'm writing this all by memory so I may have missed something. Feel free to tweak my instructions as needed.

Thanks so much for the replies. I've set things up and they work great. . .as long as I'm not playing the song. Apparently you have to actually be recording in order to get the effect to work. I'm using the playlist to play the songs. I had everything all set up, with the track armed and input echo on. The effect is there until you start the song. While it is playing the effect disappears. Is there a setting that will allow the effect to work while the song is playing (not recording)?????

OK I have a happy ending to my quest. I found out the problem. In Preferences under "Recording and Playback" there was a box checked that said,"Disable input monitoring during playback." I just unchecked it and voila!!!! Thanks for everyone's help.