Question about VST effects

[naquadaX]

Hi all,

I'm really new about VST plugins and, I don't know if what I want to do is feasible.

I've installed Kristal Audio Engine and some VST plugins (voxengo and classic plugins) on my PC.
I've no problem to record my bass nor to apply VST effects on the recorded sound.

But what I would like to do is to hear the processed sound (by VST) at the same time I play my bass.

I tried it with Audacity with no results, am I missing something ?

Thanks in advance for your help,

 

[geoffkhan]

Hmmm... I know in Sonar you can hear your VST effects real-time. I've used Kristal Audio Engine a long time ago, and it seems sophisticated enough to be able to do real-time VSTs.

 

[KarateKid25]

Your talking about latency. Its the time it takes for your computer soundcard to process the input signal and play you back the VST effect. The quickest you can get it is 2 Miliseconds which is still pretty annoying

 

[naquadaX]

Actually, my problem is not latency.

The problem is when I record the bass, I apply a VST effect but I don't hear the processed sound at all.
I only hear the unprocessed sound.

To listen to the processed sound, I have to stop recording and then replay the sound in Kristal Audio Engine.

 

[DougP]

there should be a monitoring button. i am not familiar with Kristal at all, but other programs call it "Monitor" it allows you to hear the sound after the effects have been applied. you might experience a little bit of latency depending on your setup.

 

[winston]

I've used Audacity (mostly in Linux, also a bit in XP) and the effects are not real-time; you have to select a prerecorded waveform region and apply FX to it, which takes from a few seconds to a few minutes depending on clip size and computer power.

I've also used Kristal a bit and was able to monitor FX while recording. What kind of soundcard/interface are you using and what kind of volume controls does it have? If there is a mixer control for "monitor mix" or "PCM" be sure to turn it up.

 

[naquadaX]

Thanks for your tips about the monitor function.

I managed to make it work.
I had to install kX asio drivers and use the Kristal LiveIn plugin.

The Kristal Waver has a monitor button, but it doesn't seem to work. I don't know if it's a software limitation or because of my sound card (a SBlive platinum with live drive rack).

Anyone had experience with this sound card ?

Anyway, now I can test VST effects as I play