• Adl9
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Topic: Feature request - delay for outputs

I just bought the UCX II. I want to use it for video productions and hang it in front of a Blackmagic ATEM to bring the mixed sound together with the video signals from the video cameras. To sync sound and video, I need to delay the sound a bit.

There is a workaround, which is also described here.
https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=26978
You use the FX echo as delay and then use only the FX return. This works, but has two major disadvantages for me. I can't use the FX for anything else and it's an unnecessary detour from the outputs back to the inputs and then back to the outputs.

I would love if there was an option in TotalMix to give each individual output a delay. Maybe only for TotalMix 2 ;-)
But that would be very helpful.

Thanks!

  • ramses
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Re: Feature request - delay for outputs

I think this would actually be a task for a video editing program, to offset the audio track accordingly.

A workaround would be to use several nested loopbacks, because then the converter latency would add up. For this you would have some inputs/outputs available.

Such a delay is a permanent delay regarding synchronization of picture and sound and has nothing to do with a delay function from the FX section.

Of course, it would be a nice function that could find its application in TotalMix FX, as in this case, which can also be found in TVs and BluRay players today.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
  • Adl9
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Re: Feature request - delay for outputs

Yeah, you're right, once I get into the software, it's easy. But for on-site productions, it's often important to solve everything with dedicated hardware. For example, if I want to livestream my finished production, it's good to have redundancy. Any software that is used for streaming can do audio-delay (vMix, OBS, Wirecast...), but if you want to use hardware in parallel (e.g. Blackmagic Web Presenter 4K) then that device cannot do audio-delay. It is always better to get video and audio sync as early as possible in the chain. So it's better to delay the sound a bit right at the beginning.
In video circles, the Behringer X Air XR12 or XR16 is quite popular, because the devices can delay. But the quality of the RME UCX II was more important to me. Would be just nice if the function could be implemented in TotalMix.

RME, please release TotalMix 2.0 with delays built in - at least for the outputs.

4 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2021-08-12 15:58:49)

  • ramses
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Re: Feature request - delay for outputs

And did you understand / try the workaround with cascaded loopbacks ?
Maybe it can bring you closer to the delay that you want.

What could also help is perhaps the use of Liveprofessor and a plugin which creates such a delay.
By using Live Professor you can use VST plugins in TM FX

https://audiostrom.com/
https://www.voxengo.com/product/sounddelay/

Here you can see Liveprofessor in action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ95oc6zO3w

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
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Re: Feature request - delay for outputs

Adl9 wrote:

RME, please release TotalMix 2.0 with delays built in - at least for the outputs.

Delay would need physical memory - in the hardware. Totalmix is not software, it's essentially a GUI for the devices' hardware...

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • Adl9
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Re: Feature request - delay for outputs

Yes, to be hones I did not try the workaround with cascaded loopbacks. Did not understand how this can be better than misusing the echo.
At the moment my solution is, send my final mix to ADAT out and then back into the ADAT in with a toslink patch cable. From there as FX send to FX Stereo Echo with values: Feedback 0 / Width 1.00 / Vol. 0.0 / HC Off
and I can dial in the DelayTime I want.
For me using several nested/cascaded loopbacks seems as trying things out until the delay is perfect vs dialing in the right value with my workaround. Maybe I may not fully unterstand the cascaded loopbacks.

Thanks for the hint with Liveprofessor and using VST plugins in TM FX. I will definitely take a closer look!

  • Adl9
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Re: Feature request - delay for outputs

RME Support wrote:
Adl9 wrote:

RME, please release TotalMix 2.0 with delays built in - at least for the outputs.

Delay would need physical memory - in the hardware. Totalmix is not software, it's essentially a GUI for the devices' hardware...

My understanding is that the hardware is there if FX can implement delays. Thus also controllable via GUI (TotalMix). But this is of course only a guess from the outside, from someone who doesn't really have a clue about the used hardware and the possibilities...

  • ramses
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Re: Feature request - delay for outputs

For my understanding the usual delay / FX effect for a musician (guitarist, vocalist, ..) is something completely different to a constant time shift for synchronization purposes.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
  • Adl9
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Re: Feature request - delay for outputs

Yes, you are certainly right. The question is whether there are any disadvantages associated with this use. The admin once wrote in another post that with the Echo FX effect the delay can only be set in steps of 10 ms and not 1 ms, because it is not that accurate. So it could be that it is not constant?
After all, just because something isn't meant to be used for that doesn't automatically mean it can't be used for that. But maybe there are disadvantages that I don't see at the moment.