Lavry Engineering have announced, what they call a specialty product, the Latency Killer (LK-1). A specialty product as it doesn’t fit into any product category. The LK-1 will be used for overdubbing work and latency free real time monitoring of your DAW.
The basic concept is based on muting the playback of the recorded channel (on the DAW), and replacing it with the music signal before the AD conversion.
Such signal replacement is not new, it has been done in studios utilizing mixers, headphone amplifiers and various gear for steering analog signals. The LK-1 offers a complete integrated solution.
The LK-1 offers a big advantage over mixers: There is no signal alteration and no coloration because the LK-1 output is hardwired to the input (no electronics in the signal path). Mixers place many additional circuits in the signal path.
Converter makers have been pushed to accommodate low latency. This comes at great sacrifices in audio quality. This is the tail wagging the dog. Some IC makers go as far as providing “switchable” digital filters (lower latency at lower quality or higher latency for higher quality). The LK-1 enables use of quality converters (no latency concerns).
Freedom from latency concerns enables use of large buffers, many plugins in series and even additional hardware in the signal path, with no limits.
The user interface of the Latency Killer is designed for easy workflow. The learning curve is minimal. The hookup (with any digital system) is easy and requires no additional hardware (other than a few cables)
The rotary settings are precise and repeatable. 3dB coarse and 1/2dB fine steps for volume and thirteen positions for pan. The unit also offers 2 complete user defined presets.
Two separate headphone amplifiers (with individual volume control) accommodate different headphones and ear sensitivity. This is especially helpful when the musician and the DAW operator are not the same person.
The LK-1 also offers hookup to effect units (DDL and reverb are often used in overdubbing to help the musician hear themselves above the recorded music tracks). The effects channels only modify what is heard through the headphones and leave no marks on the recording tracks. However, there are optional feed-through outputs for effects to be recorded on separate tracks.
Specifications
- ZERO LATENCY Cue mix with any digital recording system
- Hard-wired signal path for critical signals with no loss of quality
- Two recording inputs and Stereo playback monitoring
- Volume and Panning for recording inputs and Effects
- Intuitive operation with color-coded push buttons and large knob
- Two high quality headphone outputs with independent Volume
- Two Effects Sends and Returns for recording signals
- Balanced or unbalanced connections for ¼” or XLR inputs & outputs
- The transparency and signal integrity of a Lavry product