Music Production Lesson: Latency and Stereo vs. Mono

Introduction

In this video, I'll briefly cover a few key concepts we've discussed earlier.

Understanding Latency

• What is Latency?
  Latency is the delay between sending signals to Pro Tools and receiving them back.

• Demonstration
  To illustrate this, I've turned my latency all the way up. When I input monitor this track and speak into the microphone, you'll hear a slightly disconcerting delay.

• Impact on Musicians
  This delay can be very distracting to a musician. When they play, the fraction of a second delay may hinder their performance.

Managing Latency

• Lowering Latency
  Reducing latency gives the computer less time to process tasks. If we ask it to perform processor-intensive tasks, like using reverb or impulse responses, it needs time to manage these.

• Balance Hardware Buffer Size
  You can adjust the hardware buffer size in Pro Tools by going to Setup > Playback Engine. Currently, my hardware buffer size is set to 1024 samples.

  • When I lower it to 32 samples, the latency becomes almost unnoticeable. However, my computer may struggle with multiple tracks and plugins.
  • 128 samples is typically a good compromise, allowing for minimal delay while the computer still performs adequately.

Input Monitoring

• Testing Again
  Let's input monitor again: "1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3." I can detect a slight delay, but it's manageable for most musicians. Sensitivity to delay varies per musician, so keep that in mind and accommodate as needed.

• Using Input Monitoring
  If latency remains problematic, consider input monitoring, sending a copy of the signal to the musician before it reaches your analog-to-digital converters. This capability depends on your audio interface.

  • For example, my Audient ID 22 offers an application to control this.
  • Check your manual for details on your equipment or reach out to me for assistance.

The Mono vs. Stereo Debate

• Clarifying Terms
  This is a common source of confusion:
  • Stereo does not simply mean two; it refers to sound with positional information. The term "stereo" actually means "solid."
  • Mono does not mean one; it is a sound without positional context.

Understanding Stereo Sound

• Perception of Sound
  Our brains identify the location of sound through interaural amplitude, time, and timbre differences. Capturing this information, particularly with stereo mic techniques, results in a true stereo signal.

• Recording Techniques

  • Recording with One Microphone:
    If I use a single microphone, I can capture the sound's timbre but not its spatial characteristics.

    • Example: When I snap my fingers, it's a monophonic sound source, but I hear it in stereo.

  • Minimum Requirements for Stereo:
    To capture a stereo signal, you need at least two microphones and, to reproduce this signal with positional information, you need two speakers.

Conclusion: Distinction in Microphone Techniques

• If I place two microphones on a snare drum (one top, one bottom), that's not stereo, but rather dual micing or dual mono, essentially two copies of the snare signal.

• When to Use Stereo vs. Mono in Pro Tools:

  • For stereo tracks, capture sounds with positional information using a stereo mic array, ideal for drum overheads, pianos, choirs, etc.
  • Use a single microphone for kick drums, snare drums, or guitars, those are mono recordings.

• Final Note:
  You can always pan mono recordings later to create stereo properties, but remember that what you initially captured is mono.

Recap

• One microphone = mono recording.
• Two microphones = dual mono, unless capturing positional information, in which case you have stereo.

See you in the next video!