Master clock in Audition?

[BenSanders2000]

Hi, I have the option of using either my Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 as the master clock in Audition, (which I'm using as a USB interface to record from my XLR mic) or I can set the master clock to my output which is a DAC/AMP (Oppo HA-2 SE) Which is ideal, and why?

Cheers.

[Bob Howes]

You'll likely find it makes no noticeable difference but it seems slightly more common to use the output device (as long as the Focusrite can accept an external time reference).

[BenSanders2000]

Thanks, appreciated!

[ryclark]

I would have said the other way around for recording. Use the source device as the Master clock and let the output device follow. If your Focusrite is always connected then I would leave that as Master only using the DAC if playing back without the Focusrite connected.

But may I ask a question why aren't you using the Focusrite for both input and output to save any confusion? Aren't there problems with both devices connected using the ASIO drivers if you are recording via the Focusrite and monitoring from the DAC?

[BenSanders2000]

If I use ASIO I can't select my DAC as the output, meaning I have to use MME.

I use the Oppo DAC as output because I use it for all other media playback (music etc)

[Bob Howes]

You might find that it would be better to use ASIO and route all your other sounds (music, video, games, whatever) through that.  In effect that's what I do although I try to keep my audio computer as clean as possible.

As for master clock, ryclark's suggestion makes sense but, as I say, you likely won't find any difference and Audition (at least on my computer) defaults to the output and since it works fine that way, it's one less thing to fiddle with when you have a lot to do.  Like me on Thursday...but I shouldn't complain about being busy.

[BenSanders2000]

I would use ASIO but that makes my £300 Dac redundant!

[Bob Howes]

I hate to say this but if you can find a way to do some blind testing you may well find that it IS redundant.  Of all the things that effect the perceived quality of your system, the output DAC is near the bottom of the list, well behind microphones, mic pre amps, input DAC, effects you use in editing, monitoring headphones and speakers, and the acoustics of your room

Very briefly, the big advantages of ASIO are a mix of lower latency input monitoring and a complete bypass of Windows audio which is a bodge made more for games and watching Youtube.  In most cases, it's a far more reliable and easier to use system if you can use ASIO.

[BenSanders2000]

Latency isn't an issue for me in current usage. I'm recording mic input to put on top of some video footage so the mic is the only thing being used in Audition.

[Bob Howes]

If it's good for you, great. I didn't mean to be rude. However I used to record a lot of voice overs for video and 99% of the reporters I worked wanted a mix of the video sound and their own voices in their headphones. I've seen very few systems that can achieve this, or even just their voice, using MME and a round trip via the computer.

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