I have been experimenting with using JackTrip to port the audio directly into and out of ProTools Studio using Audio Bridge which comes with ProTools.
Both parties have a 1 Gb fiber internet connection. Unlike when we record directly into JackTrip, the latency and audio degradation that we encounter when piping into ProTools makes the results unusable. Of course I know I can always record into JackTrip, then convert the flac to a wav file ready to be imported into ProTools. But this is a tedious and time consuming process I’d love to avoid. Have any other users encountered this issue and discovered a way to make the input from JackTrip record to ProTools without high latency and audio degradation?
1 Like
If I remember correctly, you are using the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2.
Are you using Windows or Mac?
After I know your OS, I can suggest and provide some guidance for a number of alternatives to using the ProTools Audio Bridge that might give you lower latency.
Thank you for your inquiry!
Hi Synthia,
Thanks for your quick response. I’m using a Mac Pro with a Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56. My singing partner is on Windows 11 using a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. We both have fiber internet connection.
1 Like
You are very welcome, @stevenhmark! I did a bit of research on the ProTools Audio Bridge, and it appears to be made by Dolby, and is a separate app that can be uninstalled, disabled or not selected in the interfaces. It seemed to get in the way of any other devices I tried, so I found a version of PT that does not use the Audio Bridge - ProTools First (now called “Intro”).
The problem, IMHO, with so-called low latency virtual audio loopback devices like this is that they are geared towards connecting apps that stay in your local network, whereas JackTrip sends and receives to and from the WAN, and the approach to latency issues can differ.
The good news is that with your Mac, you can either disable, uninstall, or even get a version of PT that does not use Dolby’s Audio Bridge, and use a low latency virtual audio loopback devices called, Blackhole, for free, or pay a fee for a different one called Loopback.
If you are going to do the recording on your Mac, you’re in luck. But if not, the bad news is that none of those is available for Windows.
For the low latency audio on Windows that JackTrip needs, you need an ASIO driver. I was able to get a free one called, ASIO4ALL (big headache) to work somewhat. There is another one called ReaRoute, a virtual audio device that comes with Reaper (free evaluation) that should work well, but PT insisted on opening ASIO4ALL instead of ReaRoute.
An additional note about using the same device for more than one app on Windows is to be sure an disable “Exclusive Mode” for the recording and playback tabs.
Anyway, maybe you will just do the recording on the Mac, and hopefully not have to deal with Windows. I am going to do some additional testing and research on this for Windows with different versions of PT to see if there is a better solution.
If I find something that works well, I will report back, and please let us know your progress.
Thanks for the tip! Fortunately I am doing all the recording on my Mac Pro. I’ll try using Black Hole and let you know how it goes.
1 Like
Still attempting to use JackTrip as a virtual i/o to record from a remote studio directly into ProTools. I’m apparently not routing things correctly. When recording a vocal from the remote studio, I set his input channel to receive from Blackhole input 1. The signal came through fine, and I recorded a take but when I soloed his track for playback, some of the other previously recorded tracks were also mixed in. So clearly I’m confused about how to route the outputs.
For output to Jacktrip, I used the multiport set with my Scarlett as the primary output and Blackhole the secondary output. Some previously recorded tracks bled onto the remote vocal I was now recording.
So what is the proper method to route my multitrack project output so that the remote participant can hear everything but my previously recorded tracks don’t get routed through onto the new track?
1 Like
@stevenhmark I messaged you with some tips. Let me know if you have questions.
Awesome, thank you so much! I’ll be working on this today and will get back to let you know how it went.
I ran a test today using the configuration you prescribed. This is a multi track project. In lieu of backing tracks, I routed each individual track to a submaster aux. I disabled the output of the individual tracks and bussed them to my new submaster, outputting its signal to Scarlet 1.
Unfortunately the remote studio couldn’t hear the tracks at all although he could hear my voice (without even inputting into ProTools).
I just know I’m close here but something just isn’t working. I could hear his voice perfectly.
Was I supposed to run a physical connection to Scarlet 1? Or should I be able to simply select Scarlet 1 as my output from my submaster?
I so appreciate your working with me to troubleshoot this issue. Let me know if you have any other ideas.
Please see below.
[stevenhmark] stevenhmark https://community.jacktrip.org/u/stevenhmark
July 21I ran a test today using the configuration you prescribed. This is a
multi track project. In lieu of backing tracks, I routed each individual
track to a submaster aux. I disabled the output of the individual tracks
and bussed them to my new submaster, outputting its signal to Scarlet 1.
Scarlett 1 corresponds to the first input on the front of the Scarlett.
If there is no input there I doubt if there would be any audio output.
Unfortunately the remote studio couldn’t hear the tracks at all although
he could hear my voice (without even inputting into ProTools).
This tells me that the built-in mic and speakers were active rather than
the Scarlett and Blackhole.
Did you set up an aggregate device? This is important because it allows
you to select the Scarlett and Blackhole to use simultaneously without
the built-ins getting in the way.
Make sure that on the left side of the Audio-Midi Setup window, the
speaker and mic icons should appear next to the Aggregate Device, and
not next to the built-ins or other devices listed.
I just know I’m close here but something just isn’t working. I could
hear his voice perfectly.Was I supposed to run a physical connection to Scarlet 1? Or should I be
able to simply select Scarlet 1 as my output from my submaster?
Scarlett 1 corresponds to the first input on the front of the Scarlett.
If there is no input there I doubt if there would be any audio output.
If the submaster aux is software, maybe use a Blackhole connection to
output to the Scarlett, but IDK if that will work.
Where is the submaster aux located? If it is a hardware mixer, which
one? Some do not allow output from aux.
I so appreciate your working with me to troubleshoot this issue. Let me
know if you have any other ideas.
synthia
oh dear, we probably need to do a session together but I will summarize
here:
-
The microphone icon is on your PC Camera Audio. That means your
camera microphone is active. -
The speaker icon is active on your Multi-Output device with the
Scarlett and Blackhole, however, this device does not offer any inputs,
only outputs.
2b. My recommendation is to create an Aggregate Device in the Mac’s
Audio-Midi Setup window; rather than using a Multi-Output device. Then
select the Scarlett and Blackhole. I would also not use the ProTools
Aggregate I/O.
2c. Make sure that the Aggregate Device is set for input and output and
that you see the mic and speaker icons next to the Aggregate Device.
-
Set ProTools to the Aggregate Device you will create, not the
multi-output device. Let ProTools use the default output (which will be
tied to the Aggregate device you created. -
The JackTrip settings: output looks ok but input should be set to
Stereo, not mix to mono.
it occurred to me that you might be trying to send and receive more than
two channels? The Virtual Studio servers are only two channels. Period.
I apologize for my confusion but if I am to send and receive on only two channels, why do I need four channels of Blackhole? Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought you instructed me to assign Blackhole channel 4 as the input for remote vocals in Pro Tools.
I didn’t realize there was a difference between multi output and aggregate devices. I’ve corrected that now. And as you predicted the mic and speaker icons now show next to the aggregate device.
Seems to me that if I send the output of the submix to Saffire 1, that should do the trick. When John finally gets his lazy butt out of bed, I’ll run a test with this config.
Again, I very much appreciate your hanging in there with me to help this 70 year old geezer conquer remote recording in Pro Tools.
1 Like
Well, let me say that with what you are doing here, I think your geezer status, as you put it, is now in question!
Thank you so much for your engagement here. It is vital that we share current experiences because there is a LOT of documentation over the past 15 years that may or may not be as relevant.
Right, Blackhole. Blackhole chs. 3/4 correspond to the default chs. 1/2. That’s because the computer/DAW has chs. 1/2 reserved, so Blackhole begins on ch. 3.
My brain still does somersaults, but I hope that explains it.
I’m looking forward to your next report!
p.s. the remote machine does not need to use Blackhole at all. Their mic will be Ch. 1 and their output will be Chs. 1/2.
John will be connecting with me shortly. Quick question. With JackTrip up, should I be seeing an output signal on the JT output meters when I play the track? (Submix output is assigned to Scarlet 1.)
Just connected with John. He still doesn’t hear the tracks even though he can hear my mic. Would you be willing to connect for a brief troubleshooting session?
I’m available anytime this afternoon. You can call or text me anytime at 817-456-1438
I verified that I am only sending on one channel (Scarlet 1) and receiving only two channels.
In ProTools, did you select the Aggregate as the audio device? If so,
try using a Blackhole channel for the aux output.
be careful with feedback loops! take off headphones.