ASIO Direct Monitoring

If your audio hardware is ASIO 2.0 compatible, it may support ASIO Direct Monitoring. This feature may also be available for audio hardware with Mac OSdrivers. In ASIO Direct Monitoring mode, the monitoring is done in the audio hardware, and monitoring is controlled from Cubase. The latency value of the audio hardware configuration does not affect the monitor signal when using ASIO Direct Monitoring.

Procedure

  1. In the track list, activate Monitor.
  2. Select Devices > Device Setup.
  3. In the Device Setup dialog, select your driver in the Devices list on the left to display the driver settings for your audio hardware, and activate the Direct Monitoring checkbox.

    If the checkbox is grayed out, your audio hardware (or its driver) does not support ASIO Direct Monitoring. Consult the audio hardware manufacturer for details.

  4. Select File > Preferences > VST.
  5. Open the Auto Monitoring pop-up menu and select a monitoring mode.
  6. In the MixConsole, adjust the monitoring level and panning.

    Depending on the audio hardware, this might not be possible.

After Completing This Task

You can monitor the input levels of audio tracks, that is, you can map the input bus metering to monitor-enabled audio tracks and watch the input levels of your audio tracks when working in the Project window.

  • Select File > Preferences > Metering and activate Map Input Bus Metering to Audio Track (in Direct Monitoring).

    As the tracks are mirroring the input bus signal you will see the same signal in both places. When using mapped metering, any functions that you apply to the audio track are not reflected in its meters.

Note

When using Steinberg hardware (MR816 series) in combination with ASIO Direct Monitoring, monitoring will be virtually latency-free. If you are using RME Audio Hammerfall DSP audio hardware, make sure that the pan law is set to -3 dB in the card’s preferences.

Note

With Direct Monitoring activated, Direct Routing cannot be used for routing destinations 2-8. Only the first bus can be used for Direct Monitoring.