4.4 Guidelines for Plug-in Delay Compensation
When Duende PCIe plug-ins are used, the audio data to be
processed by Duende PCIe is sent to the Duende PCIe DSP
engine by the host application. The audio is then processed by
the DSPs and sent back to the host application.
This transfer of audio data produces latency (delay) in the
audio signal being processed. Latency time is dependant on
the sample rate, type of plug-in(s) loaded and the audio
interface buffer setting.
If this latency is not compensated, the processed audio will
arrive late in relation to the unprocessed audio. The more
processing that takes place on a particular signal, the later it
will arrive back in the host.
Most host applications automatically compensate for this
latency by simply turning on the Plug-in Delay Compensation
(PDC) or similar, usually found in the applications
preferences. Some hosts even provide full plug-in delay
compensation throughout the entire signal path, including
sends, groups, and buses.
The location of the settings for the PDC option within some
common host applications is as follows:
Cubase SX/4 + Nuendo 2/3/4:
Always on unless the ‘Constrain Delay Compensation’ feature
is used to disable delay compensation on individual plug-ins:
‘Devices Menu>Plug-in Information>Use Delay Compensation’
Logic Pro:
‘Preferences>Audio>General’
Digital Performer 4/5:
‘Setup menu>Configure Audio System>Configure Studio
Settings...’
Ableton Live:
‘Options>Delay Compensation’
Important: Delay compensation is fully automatic and requires
no user intervention when Duende PCIe plug-ins are used in
hosts that support full Plug-in Delay Compensation.
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