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GK Plex and Logic Pro X

bassartist

bassartist

Apr 26, 2005
254
90
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#1
Just bought the GK Plex and it is really nice. Curious as to how anyone is using in either Logic or Garageband? Need help in setting it up as my main bass source for recording. The only way I see to connect to my iMac is via the usb. But there is a ton of latency which I cannot get rid of. If I run the plex into my Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, it's much better but I'm not sure if I'm doing it right, but here is the chain: Bass => GK Plex input => GK plex output => Scarlett Input. Any help is appreciated.
 
#2
If you’re using software monitoring; latency can be adjusted by modifying the size of your input buffer. You’ll find under the audio section of Logic’s preferences. The lower the buffer the less latency you’ll have, but the less stable the software will perform. The general rule for using software monitoring is to use as small of a buffer as you can get away with. I never monitor through the software if I can avoid it.

If your GK and Focusrite units are giving you wildly different levels of latency I would be sure that you’ve downloaded and installed the latest version of the drivers/mixer software for each interface. Also, as a good practice, if you’re monitoring through the software you should try to keep your session as clean and free from plugins as possible while tracking if you want to reduce latency. It’s also worth doing a loopback test using the I/O plugin to be sure that your system is calculating the correct number of samples to offset recordings by for accurate placement of recorded material.
 
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#3
silky smoove said:
If you’re using software monitoring; latency can be adjusted by modifying the size of your input buffer. You’ll find under the audio section of Logic’s preferences. The lower the buffer the less latency you’ll have, but the less stable the software will perform. The general rule for using software monitoring is to use as small of a buffer as you can get away with. I never monitor through the software if I can avoid it.

If your GK and Focusrite units are giving you wildly different levels of latency I would be sure that you’ve downloaded and installed the latest version of the drivers/mixer software for each interface. Also, as a good practice, if you’re monitoring through the software you should try to keep your session as clean and free from plugins as possible while tracking if you want to reduce latency. It’s also worth doing a loopback test using the I/O plugin to be sure that your system is calculating the correct number of samples to offset recordings by for accurate placement of recorded material.
Click to expand...
So, is it okay to plug the GK into the focusrite via the DI or the 1/4” jack? Which is better and why?
 
#4
bassartist said:
So, is it okay to plug the GK into the focusrite via the DI or the 1/4” jack? Which is better and why?
Click to expand...
Sure it's fine. Either the 1/4" or the XLR would be fine depending on the inputs to the Focusrite and what they want to see from an impedance perspective. I'm guessing the differences would be negligible, but I'd probably start with the XLR and see how it goes.

From your OP I thought you wanted to bypass the Focusrite and just use the GK to interface with your computer. Is that not the case? Would you prefer to run the GK into the Focusrite and send the cascaded signal into your computer?
 
#5
I want to use the Focusrite interface and have the GK plex as my preferred bass sound. This is where I get confused. Because in Garageband it seems I have to use one of the built-in presets which is what I'm trying to avoid.
 
#6
bassartist said:
I want to use the Focusrite interface and have the GK plex as my preferred bass sound. This is where I get confused. Because in Garageband it seems I have to use one of the built-in presets which is what I'm trying to avoid.
Click to expand...
In that case just run the GK into the Focusrite while keeping the Focusrite's mic pre gain set to unity, and be sure to watch the output level of the GK which will likely be capable of clipping the mic pre or the AD in your Focusrite if set too high. From there just load up an empty track in GarageBand, not a bass-specific one and you'll be all set.
 
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#7
silky smoove said:
In that case just run the GK into the Focusrite while keeping the Focusrite's mic pre gain set to unity, and be sure to watch the output level of the GK which will likely be capable of clipping the mic pre or the AD in your Focusrite if set too high. From there just load up an empty track in GarageBand, not a bass-specific one and you'll be all set.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I’ll try that out.
 
#8
silky smoove said:
If you’re using software monitoring; latency can be adjusted by modifying the size of your input buffer. You’ll find under the audio section of Logic’s preferences. The lower the buffer the less latency you’ll have, but the less stable the software will perform. The general rule for using software monitoring is to use as small of a buffer as you can get away with. I never monitor through the software if I can avoid it.

If your GK and Focusrite units are giving you wildly different levels of latency I would be sure that you’ve downloaded and installed the latest version of the drivers/mixer software for each interface. Also, as a good practice, if you’re monitoring through the software you should try to keep your session as clean and free from plugins as possible while tracking if you want to reduce latency. It’s also worth doing a loopback test using the I/O plugin to be sure that your system is calculating the correct number of samples to offset recordings by for accurate placement of recorded material.
Click to expand...
I figured it out. Chose the "Plex" as my input device and and "Built-In output" as the output device. This cleared up the latency. If I choose the Plex as the output device, the latency kicks in.
 
#9
bassartist said:
I figured it out. Chose the "Plex" as my input device and and "Built-In output" as the output device. This cleared up the latency. If I choose the Plex as the output device, the latency kicks in.
Click to expand...
You're adjusting those settings in your DAW while the GK is connected via USB? Since the Plex doesn't have speaker outputs, how were you using it as an output device previously? I don't understand how that would introduce latency, or rather I don't understand how you would even hear anything through the Plex as an output device. Headphones?
 

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