Steinberg NUENDO Audiolink 96, Operation Manual, Page: 21 / 136

NUENDO AUDIOLINK 96
English – 21
ENGLISH
The screenshot to the left
shows a typical dialog used
for changing basic parameters
such as sample frequency and
resolution in an audio applica-
tion.
Any bit resolution can be se-
lected, providing it is sup-
ported by both the audio
hardware and the software.
Even if the input signal is 24
bit, the application can still be set to record at 16-bit resolution. The
lower 8 bits (and therefore any signals about 96dB below maximum
level) are lost entirely. On the other hand, there is nothing to gain from
recording a 16-bit signal at 24-bit resolution - this would only waste
precious space on the hard disk.
It often makes sense to monitor the input signal or send it directly to
the output. This can either be done at zero latency using TotalMix (see
the section “14. TotalMix: Routing and Monitoring” on page 45) or via
the Nuendo Audiolink 96 system’s useful real-time input monitor func-
tion (see Monitoring in the Settings dialog). Activating Record or Pause
in the application causes the input signal to be routed directly to the
corresponding output.
Currently two solutions exist which enable an automated control of
real-time monitoring. ZLM (Zero Latency Monitoring) allows monitor-
ing in Punch I/O mode - with this the system behaves like a tape ma-
chine. This method has been implemented in all versions of
Samplitude (by SEK’D), and can be activated using the global track op-
tion 'Hardware monitoring during Punch'.
The other solution is Steinberg’s ASIO protocol with our ASIO 2.0 driv-
ers and all ASIO 2.0 compatible programs. When 'ASIO Direct Monitor-
ing' has been switched on the input signal is routed in real-time to the
output whenever Record is started. As opposed to ZLM the monitored
signal can be freely mixed and routed, and is not restricted to the same
channel.