DP with Universal Audio's ARM (Accelerated Realtime Monitoring)

[bkshepard]

I have an Apollo x6 (1st gen) audio interface connected to my computer via Thunderbolt. Is there a way to use the Universal Audio ARM with DP and that interface? With my old MOTU 896HD (it died!), I could use CueMix for "realtime" monitoring and I can use the Apollo x6 with UA's Luna for ARM. I just prefer to work in DP rather than Luna and am hoping there is a way to take advantage of the ARM capabilities within DP. I've already set the audio buffer in DP as low as it will go, but there is still an obvious latency in the headphone cue. It may not be possible, but If anybody knows a way to accomplish that, it's probably someone here. BTW, purchasing a new MOTU interface for this purpose isn't in the cards at the moment. Thanks!

[James Steele]

Doesn’t UA have some sort of separate console app similar to MOTU‘s CueMix that is specifically designed to do low latency monitoring?

[bkshepard]

It does have a separate console, but the ARM function doesn’t seem to be built into it. I can only make it work within Luna.

[rainmaker]

The UA Console app is how Luna handles ARM and low latency monitoring. Luna makes it very convenient and sleek, as it’s all in one interface without having to switch between different app screens. But in the background, it is Console that is making the ARM feature work in Luna.

Although not as sleek, because you have to switch between two apps, using Console with another DAW (like DP) accomplishes the same thing. Console is where you set up your low latency monitoring mixes.

[HCMarkus]

I use my MOTU 828ES' built in hardware mixer for monitoring instruments/vocal inputs while recording, running the mixer interface on an iPad. The mixer is always active on the iPad, and DP is always active on my Mac, so no having to click on DP to activate it after moving a fader on the mixer.

Is this possible with the UA Console? If so, it might be an efficient work-around when using DAWs other than Luna.

[bkshepard]

Console is where you set up your low latency monitoring mixes.

I don’t see a way to turn on the ARM function in the stand-alone version of the UA Console. LUNA has its own version of the Console app which appears to have more options—including ARM—than the stand-alone version.

[HCMarkus]

Console is where you set up your low latency monitoring mixes.

I don’t see a way to turn on the ARM function in the stand-alone version of the UA Console. LUNA has its own version of the Console app which appears to have more options—including ARM—than the stand-alone version.

But doesn't using UA Console by definition provide "ARM"? What options are missing from console?

[bkshepard]

But doesn't using UA Console by definition provide "ARM"? What options are missing from console?

Not that I can find. The Console inside LUNA has a button to activate/deactivate ARM, but that doesn't seem to be present in the standalone version. Maybe I'm missing something really obvious (wouldn't be the first time), but I can't find a way to activate ARM in the standalone Console. Even all of UA's promotional materials about ARM only mention using it in LUNA.

[HCMarkus]

But doesn't using UA Console by definition provide "ARM"? What options are missing from console?

Not that I can find. The Console inside LUNA has a button to activate/deactivate ARM, but that doesn't seem to be present in the standalone version. Maybe I'm missing something really obvious (wouldn't be the first time), but I can't find a way to activate ARM in the standalone Console. Even all of UA's promotional materials about ARM only mention using it in LUNA.

I think the reason is the UA Console IS in ARM Mode all the time... it runs in the hardware. I don't own UA hardware, but am pretty sure enabling ARM in LUNA routes audio FX thru the Console transparently. Like DP used to have Direct Hardware Monitoring (IIRC that is what is was called) where DP could control the hardware mixer in MOTU interfaces.

[bkshepard]

Ah! Okay, I’ll dig deeper and see if I can make it go. Thanks for the tip, HCMarkus!

[HCMarkus]

One other point BK... I moved to 15.5 Sequoia a couple of weeks ago and all is well. We have essentially the same computers, so you may be good to go, too.

[bkshepard]

Yeah, I'm already there, just forgot to update my signature.

[rainmaker]

Yes, UA Console is always in “Arm” mode with any DAW you use it with. There’s no need or option to turn that mode on. That is inherently how UA Console works all the time. And behind the scenes, it is functioning the same way for Luna to provide the Arm function within Luna.

Luna simply makes it seamless, so you don’t have to use the separate UA Console window. With other DAWs, you don’t have that integration, so you have to use Console to set up your monitor mixes.