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Using Real-Time Effects
In the Console view and Track view, you can use plug-in effects non-destructively,
in real time. You can also hear your plug-in effects in real time on any live
instruments you are recording—just make sure Input Monitoring is enabled (see
“Input Monitoring” on page 180).
For example, suppose you want to add a reverb effect to an audio track containing
a recorded violin solo. You could do it in two different ways:
• Destructive—The digital audio data itself is modified. Although this may be
exactly what you want, it does limit your options. If you want to modify the
effect parameters slightly or to remove the effect and try a different effect, you
must use the Undo command, or revert to a saved copy of the original data.
• Non-destructive (real-time)—The digital audio data in your track is not
changed but simply altered on the fly during playback. This means you can
experiment with effects parameters, bypass effects, or remove them entirely at
any time. Since most effects require complex numeric calculations, real-time
effects processing puts a heavy load on your computer’s CPU. If you use too
many effects, the CPU will not be able to keep up and playback will sound
choppy and disconnected.
You can also apply real-time audio effects to a submix in a bus. For example, rather
than patching separate reverb effects in each of several guitar tracks, you can mix
the guitar tracks together in a bus and apply a single reverb effect to the submix.
This makes much more efficient use of CPU time. Patching effects on a bus also
opens up new creative possibilities.
There are several reasons why you might want to apply effects offline
(destructively):
• If you want to apply more effects than your CPU can handle, applying some of
the effects offline will reduce CPU usage during playback.
• If you want to apply effects to an individual audio clip, rather than the whole
track, it is simpler to do so using offline effects.
The File-Export-Audio command, allows you to apply real-time effects when you
export, so you do not need to apply your effects destructively or use the Edit-
Bounce to Track(s) command to prepare the tracks beforehand. For information
about exporting audio, see “Preparing Audio for Distribution” on page 459.
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