User guide

Avid Recording Studio User Guide18
Direct Monitoring
When recording an audio signal, there is often a
slight delay before it reaches the outputs of
Pro Tools SE and Fast Track. This delay, called la-
tency, is caused by the computer processing re-
quired to convert and record audio. Since this
delay can be distracting, Fast Track provides a di-
rect monitoring path from the inputs to the out-
puts, which is activated by pressing the Direct
Monitor button.
When the Direct Monitor button is pressed, the
input signal is mixed with the output signal
from Pro Tools SE, and routed directly to the
Line and Headphone Outputs. This allows you
to hear the “live” inputs without latency and
has no effect on what is being recorded.
When using the Direct Monitor feature you
should click the Mute button on the track you
are recording on, as this prevents Pro Tools SE
from sending the recorded signal (post-disk) to
the Line and Headphone outputs, causing “dou-
ble-monitoring.”
When “double-monitoring” occurs there will be
an increase in volume and an undesirable “phas-
ing” sound. For more details about its monitor-
ing function refer to your music software docu-
mentation.
Sample Rate and Bit Depth
Fast Track can operate at two sample rates (44.1
or 48 kHz) and two different bit depths (16- or
24-bit) to accommodate a variety of projects.
You should decide on a sample rate and bit
depth for your project before recording, to max-
imize fidelity and avoid time consuming format
conversions.
These settings can be changed in the Software
Control Panel, as described in Chapter 4, “The
Software Control Panel.”
The following guidelines should help you
choose appropriate settings for your recording:
Music Projects
If the final mix will be played back on CD, or in
MP3 format, a resolution of 24-bits with a sam-
ple rate of 44.1 kHz is recommended.
Video Projects
If the final mix is intended for DVD, film or TV,
a resolution of 24-bits with a sample rate of
48 kHz is recommended.
Once you have finished recording your per-
formance, click the Mute button again to
hear the performance before clicking the
Play button.
It is not possible to raise the fidelity of pre-
viously recorded audio by increasing its bit
depth or sample rate.
Always use the highest possible settings
that are appropriate for your project.
The final output file will have to be con-
verted to 16-bit/44.1 kHz for playback on
CD and some audio player applications.