Plugin delay compensation (PDC) UI enhancements

Some plugins use a look-ahead buffer mechanism, which results in a short delay being introduced to the output signal when the plugin is used in real-time. Sonar applies automatic plugin delay compensation (PDC) during recording and playback on tracks that have input echo enabled. This ensures that all tracks are aligned properly. The exact latency is calculated automatically, and is influenced by all plugins in a track’s signal path.

Override PDC during playback, recording, or both

The PDC Override button in the Control Bar’s Mix module allows you to override PDC, and thereby reduce latency caused by plugin delay compensation in the signal flow. It allows you to play in real time within projects containing look-ahead plugins. When the PDC override button is engaged, any PDC latency for input monitored tracks or instrument tracks is bypassed, and the input monitor signal is passed through in real time. This is useful for recording or input monitoring in real time.

The PDC Override button has a new popup menu that allows you to selectively override PDC for playback, recording, or both. To do so, long press or right-click the button and select the desired options:

Override during playback. If this option is disabled, PDC Override will not affect tracks with input echo during playback.

Override while recording. If this option is disabled, PDC Override will not affect tracks with input echo during recording.

Both are enabled by default. If both are disabled, PDC override is still in effect during idle input monitoring.

The above modes are only active when the PDC Override button is engaged.

PDC Latency displayed in Track Properties Inspector

The Track Properties Inspector shows the max/net PDC latency for that track/bus signal path in milliseconds and samples, as a result of compensating for other delay present in the project.

A. Show/hide Track Properties Inspector B. PDC Latency 

 

Note: The displayed PDC Latency value is static text that is calculated automatically during playback and only updates in the UI when playback is stopped.

 

Tip: The PDC Override button tooltip displays the project wide PDC latency in milliseconds and samples.

PDC latency tooltips

Plugin, FX Rack, ProChannel strip and modules all display tooltips showing the plugin lookahead latency when present.

Hover over the FX Rack header to show the PDC latency for the entire rack.

Hover over the an effect to show the PDC latency for that effect.

 

See:

PDC override

Look-ahead processing at high latencies

Properties Inspector - Track Properties

New features