Articles

Near Zero Latency vs Zero Latency Digital Monitoring

• Introduction
• Zero Latency Direct Monitoring
• Near Zero Latency Direct Monitoring
• Examples
• How to Choose
• Further Reading

INTRODUCTION

Direct Monitor is a common feature of audio interfaces that lets you listen to your instrument through the audio interface without distracting latency.

Zero Latency Monitoring

PreSonus AUDIOBOX USB

Zero Latency Direct Monitoring is an analog solution. There's really no latency whatsoever and no real dynamics loss. There's most often just one knob that controls the volume balance between playback and input signals. Some interfaces have a mono/stereo switch that pans both inputs hard left and hard right.

PROS

No latency

Easy to use inputs/playback mixer knob

No dynamics loss

CONS

Hard panning is possible only with some interfaces (e.g. Focusrite Scarlett 2i4)

No routing options, no effects during tracking

Near Zero Latency Monitoring

Focusrite Saffire MixControl

In this case there's a digital mixer inside an audio interface that gives you full control over volume, panning and routing of audio signals at a cost of small added latency and some loss of dynamics as digital domain has its limitations.

There audio interfaces with Near Zero Latency Monitoring that have built-in digital signal processor (DSP) and with these there's an option of adding eq, compression and reverb to the monitored signal and that can make tracking easier. For instance, some singers like to track with a little bit of reverb. It's also easier to track bass parts with added compression.

PROS

Full routing, volume and pan control

You can add effects to make tracking easier (some interfaces)

Possibility of saving mixer presets

CONS

Some latency

Some dynamics loss

EXAMPLES

Zero Latency Direct Monitoring usually means that there's a INPUTS/PLAYBACK Mixer knob somewhere and Near Zero Latency Direct Monitoring means that there's a digital mixer inside that you can control through a dedicated application on your computer, save presets etc.

Table 1 Examples Zero Latency Direct Monitoring and Near Zero Latency Direct Monitoring audio interfaces

HOW TO CHOOSE

For recording guitar amps, effects processors and keyboards you'll be more satisfied with Zero Latency Monitoring beacuse there's no latency and you get better dynamics. Near Zero Latency Direct Monitoring is great when you're working with multiple inputs and outputs because of flexible routing. DSP solutions are the way to go when you like adding effects to make tracking easier.

FURTHER READING

The Truth About Digital Audio Latency by Wesley Elianna Smith on www.presonus.com

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• How to choose an audio interface for recording guitars
• Audio interface round trip latency database
• The lowest round trip latency audio interface for PC