DSP/VRM - Worth It?

  • Thread starter Thread starter DeadlySurfer
  • Start date Start date
D

DeadlySurfer

New member
Hey,

So I'm looking at buying a new interface. I've almost settled on the Focusrite Saffire Pro 24, but I don't know if to go for the DSP/VRM or not.

To me, I can see the VRM being useful, if it really is as good as they say. I record in my bedroom, so a studio situation would be nice. But then again, I don't see it being critical at the moment.

The DSP, they say you can have effects real time whilst tracking. Unless I'm missing something, I can do this anyway? Is it just for laptops that can benefit from the load being put onto the DSP chip rather than the processor?

If anyone has anything to say I'll gladly listen. A minor quabble I have about this interface is the way they keep marketing to the travelling producer, makes me feel like I should go for a bigger one!
 
I've never used the VRM thing myself but I have 2 friends who do & love it. One is a professional engineer with 25 plus years of experience & the other a younger home studio type. They both rave about the different perspectives it gives them on mixes. But it doesn't replace a good monitoring set up, it augments it. Both use them in their studios, not mobile.
 
Ah, that's interesting. I'm not sure what I'll do now, I'd just convinced myself against it. My reasoning for not is that I'll have my headphone feed, and I have two HiFi speakers hooker up to my PC, so pretty easily can listen to my mix through them to get an idea of a HiFi sound. And eventually I'll get some monitors (My headphones are in dire form at the moment, so they're my priority at the moment).
 
Meh, if you are just a bedroom guy and aren't doing a ton of tracks at any given time then it's not really that worth it.

Honestly for zero latency recording I find having a direct feed to be better...

However the problem lies when you start adding channels digitally, most of the ones I have seen without it don't really have a good low latency way of monitoring those digital extras.

It it nice to have DSP for having individual headphone mixes though.
 
Yeah, I won't be doing orchestral sort of loads for sure.

I'm a little confused here (I haven't slept, so bare with me), are you saying it's good to have the DSP when you have a lot of channels for latency issues, but not when there isn't a lot?

Without going on too much, at the moment I have a sampler for drums, VSTi for bass, and then I'll record vocals, guitar, acoustic, and a couple other things.

Edit: Are there any disadvantages to using the VRM/DSP? There's only £30 in it, it seems, so I'd rather pay the extra amount and have something I use rarely, than go cheap and have something that I could have more of.
 
Last edited:
Yes and here is why:

Take a couple channels that are on the interface: Most of the cheapos just have a mix knob that sends the signal right back out directly. This is about as zero as you get.

Where as DSP goes: mic preamp in--->internal DSP mixer-->back out. So while you can monitor a lot more channels this way (lets compare my old firepod that would only do 8, my current interface will do 18 with the DSP).

Do I notice any latency? No I don't, but it just seems like when you don't bother with software/chips/computations and instead just route the audio directly back out it would result in more of a "true" zero latency. I'm most likely talking out of my ass here though, but it just seems like any AD/DA stage is going to result in latency however minute it is.

I've never tested for it though, I should see how many samples of latency you get running audio through the DSP processor.
 
Ah, alright. I'm a little slow, but I think I understand. I've changed which interface I'm looking at now, which only seems to have DSP, no option not to, so that's easy.

I apriciate the in depth answer though, it's nice to know more whenever you get the chance. I doubt I'll noitice the latency anyway, it'd have to be a good second or something for me to be worried.

Thanks again.
 
DeadlySurfer, I would have totally agreed to the Focusrite Saffire PRO 24 DSP which I have. But I would recommend the Focusrite Saffire PRO 40 if you are going to go for a Firewire Interface. I recommend the PRO 40 for the extra inputs and outputs and I feel it has better performance than the PRO 24 DSP. The 24 is powered by the Firewire interface, the 40 is powered from mains only.
 
Hey man, thanks for the reply. I talked to a guy from the shop I was going to buy it from, who led me onto the USB versions, the Scarlette series. In the end I went for the 18i6, as it's pretty much the same as the 24 apparently, just without the VRM (Which I wasn't too concerned about). It saved a bit as I don't have to get a Firewire card, and the preamps are the same etc so it should be good. I checked out a few reviews and all seems good.

Please don't tell me I'm wrong now, I've spent about two years trying to find one interface! :facepalm: But honestly, I'm no superstar, the Scarlette has everything I need at a price I can afford, so I'm sure I'll be more than happy with it. It's replacing an old series Line 6 TonePort UX2, which bluescreens me each time I use it, so frankly I'll be over the moon with anything that runs right...

Thanks for all the replies and help though, I apriciate all of it, and apoligise for being fickle.

Thanks again.
 
If you have done that much research, then I think it would be a real diehard who would try to tell you your're wrong. If the interface runs USB 2 or USB 3 its as fast or faster than Firewire anyway. I was curious about your comment regarding the firewire card since most modern computers have at least one IEEE 1394 (Firewire) connection on the mobo. However, trying to find a laptop with firewire is the biggest hassle. That is if you dont want to pay an arm and a leg for it.

I have no complaints about your final choice. Keep us informed on how you go with it. Post a few recordings :D
 
Regarding the bluescreening Line 6 Toneport UX2, it sounds very much like the Lexicon Alpha audio interface. It performs well on a laptop running USB 2.0 but it CAN cause problems if you don't install the latest drivers for it. It is possible that may be the problem with the Line 6 which is a reputable brand, even if that interface is a bottom of the barrel model. The Lexicon Alpha is also way down the list but still performs superbly in its intended role. Drivers can change everything...
 
The USB thing was a major plus. As I'm not a Mac user, my laptop doesn't have the Firewire as you said. So it's nice that I'll be able to plug in and mess around on there. Unless I've missed it on my mobo, I can't see the Firewire port at all, which is odd.

I'm hoping to get it by the weekend, so I'll have to make sure not to sleep in 'till 12 each day to make the most of it... :)

Edit: Rearding the Line 6, it seems to be a known problem with 64 bit. I've installed the latest drivers, the ones that Line 6 say will fix the blue screen error, but it still happens. Everyone who has one seems to be stuck for now. But I found the preamps noisy, and didn't like the software too much anyway, so even if it fixes I'm not fussed.
 
The firewire port will most likely be labelled IEEE 1394

I am not a mac user either. My desktop has an IEEE 1394 port but my lappy doesn't so I am kinda forced into USB AIs there
 
I think it's meant to have it, I just can't for the life of me find it! This is coming from a guy who built his PC too...

It's annoying that more laptops don't have Firewire, I'd written off my laptop for recording because of that. For instance, if I wanted to record my drums, I'd have had to take my PC down and set up there, rather than my laptop which would be a lot less hassle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top