Hey guys,
I know that in studios you have recording chains, like using e.g. a preamp and a compressor while recording.
Now I am wondering, if running outboard gear adds latency to your recording. I have 6ms of latency with a buffer length of 256smp.

Lets say I would run my mic through a preamp, than a compressor and than have it through my audio interface into my PC. Will I get more latency added to the 6ms I already have, when using a buffer length of 256?

I came to the thought about that, because I am thinking about recording with some plugins on, and they do have latency, let's say 0.73ms. So now if I record, I basically have 6.00ms + 0.73ms (from the plugin) = 6.73ms of latency.

Would it be similar using outboard gear?
Or would I have more latency?
Or would I have none?
Or would I have less latency, than using plugins?

 

In order to deliver processed signal, our computers constantly elaborate an A/D - D/A conversion: that is the cause of latency. On analog gear, signal in circuits travel at the speed of light, so there is no latency added, no matter how many insert we can use.
Take in consideration that there are cases in which your external gear (effect, compressor) is digital: on those -yes- there is the possibility of having latency

 

@recycle correct.

 

So even by having outboard gear I could potentially get e.g 0.3ms of latency added in my chain?

 

Or more- depends on your interface. But the process of your signal leaving the digital world for the outside and coming back again will add the same kind of latency that you get on your system when you run any kind of external input.

 

There will be latency.. on the order of .0000000003675466 or so ms of latency.

 

I've routed my mic through my motu mk3s pre, passed through an old ashly compressor with analog outs, then back in. This way I can monitor the dry or wet signal, and record both! Wicked useful, done it with guitars, vsti's, etc. Noticed no discernable latency. If you're splitting hairs yeah the quality of ad/da might arguably effect the sound "quality" (which is why people have $1000+ dedicated ad/da boxes) but we're looking for character anyways right? I use an SM7B with a cloudlifter, and running it through my old ashly CL52E sounds killer! Got it for $20 too