NO MORE TIME DELAYS: From now on, every recording will be perfectly timed

Steinberg Lounge
1

Goal: Achieve the “zenith” of recording quality (100% latency elimination).

Rule: First record, then measure with the tool, then enter the minus value. Never push manually!

1. The foundation (preparation)

• THE ANCHOR: A fixed WAV file (e.g., snare or click) on track 1. Do not use software instruments; only a real audio file is an incorruptible zero point.

• THE SLAVE: Track 2, which is ready for the calibration recording.

• THE ADAPTER: An adapter (XLR male to jack) to physically close the loop.

2. The calibration setup (the loop)

We measure the entire chain to find the absolute truth:

1. Microphone off: Disconnect the microphone from the XLR cable.

2. Build a bridge: Plug the adapter into the XLR cable.

3. Close the circuit: Connect the interface output (Line Out) to your preamp via the cable. The preamp goes back into the interface as usual.

• Path: DAW (WAV anchor) ➔ Out ➔ Adapter ➔ XLR cable ➔ Preamp ➔ In ➔ DAW.

3. The process (recording & measurement)

1. Recording: Record the anchor (track 1) on track 2. (Do not use any plugins yet!)

2. Analysis: Load the measurement tool (e.g., MAutoAlign) on both tracks.

3. Measurement: Let the tool calculate the offset between the anchor WAV (track 1) and the recorded slave WAV (track 2).

4. Result: The tool will give you an exact value in samples.

4. The law (the entry)

1. Take this sample value (e.g., 172).

2. THE GOLDEN RULE: The value must be entered as a MINUS VALUE.

3. Go to the track parameters of the DAW and enter exactly this value (e.g., -172 samples) in the track delay field.

4. Completion: Remove the measurement tool, disconnect the adapter, and reconnect the microphone to the XLR cable.

5. The result: The zenith

From now on, every recording you make using this setup will be automatically pulled forward by the measured time value by the DAW.

• Your vocals/instrument will land on the sample exactly where the WAV (the anchor) is located.

• The hardware may color the sound, but it can no longer manipulate your timing.

“The WAV is the anchor, the tool is the judge, the minus offset is justice. Those who push lose. Those who measure reach the zenith.”

Rinaldo is the Architekt of this System !

2

but when you record with plugins that sample value changes and it depend on the plugin chain, the whole proyect latency also depends on all the other plugins present, I mean it´s not the same recording a first track that recording over 20 tracks with plugins…

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Are you a human?

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4

The delay compensation is doing this already. If you don’t turn it off it will place everything in sync.

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If you want to record with plugins, you’ll need to measure them into your chain, of course. But I recommend doing it without plugins for 100% timing accuracy. Don’t rely on the PDC.

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The offset must be entered in the track delay. Each track has a different chain. Measure each track individually.

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That isn’t correct. They have all the same delay. If the delay compensation is on, it is the same for all tracks. But it is 0 with delay compensation on.

If the delay compensation is not working correct, it is most likely a plugin with wrong handling of the delay it produces. But these plugins are very rare these days.

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To make it clear, if all tracks would have different latency it would be impossible to record phase coherent live recordings.
But some of us do exactly this with no problems. It just works. Everything is in sync.

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