Using a Plug-In Host for Tracking Guitar in the Studio

[soundog]

I've been using Gig Performer (plug-in host) as a front-end to my DAW (Logic Pro). I split the guitar input using a Samson MDA1 passive DI so that one split output goes into my Apollo interface as a "clean" channel. The other split output gets routed through Gig Performer, hosting whatever plugins I want (TONEX and Helix Native are used in screen capture below). When I record tracks, I record 1 mono dry guitar, and 1 stereo wet guitar track (using a virtual stereo track from Gig Performer into Logic). I can reamp the dry track later if needed, or commit to the wet track. In my headphones or monitors, I hear the wet guitar mixed with my DAW recorded tracks.

 

Yes, I could simply use live monitoring through my DAW, but when playing back lots of recorded audio or virtual instrument tracks, latency can become a problem unless you've got a computer with lots of horsepower (or if you freeze tracks). I'm running Gig Performer at 32 samples, so latency is a non-issue (only 6 ms). I simultaneously run Logic Pro with as large a buffer as needed when tracking.

There are likely other plug-in hosts (free or $$) that would allow a similar workflow, but I prefer Gig Performer (and sometimes use it for live gigs via a laptop.)

[gigstage]

You mean 0.6 ms?

 

When I run Gig Performer with sample rate 44.1 kHz and 32 samples, that should be the latency.

 

You can even go with 16 samples (~0.3 ms) but that is exaggerating.