Source-Connect Link Documentation

This document also applies to using the Source-Connect Link plugin

Find the Quick Video Introductions to Source-Connect Link on the Videos page.

What's Source-Connect Link?

The following documentation is taken from the full 3.9 manual found here.

New since Source-Connect version 3.6, Source-Connect Link provides a direct, internal connection via AAX, Audio Units and VST plugins to and from the Source-Connect application directly to your supported DAW of choice, such as Pro Tools, Logic or Nuendo. It is a quick, easy way to use Source-Connect, Remote Transport Sync, and the Q Manager with your DAW when you don't have the external equipment and/or a big enough audio interface to use Source-Connect with its own audio device.

This affords you to use the full features and stability of the Standalone application while taking advantage of the flexibility and recording/mixing features of your DAW with out needing additional cables or audio interfaces..

Quick-Start: Using Link

A quick-start guide follows:

1. Insert "Source-Connect Link" into your DAW on an Aux track. In Pro Tools, for example, this plugin is under the 'Other' menu.
2. Note the plugin ID that shows up in the plugin window.
3. Select this ID in the Settings->Audio I/O menu of Source-Connect.

To determine where in your Audio I/O you choose to use the Link plug-in see the next section below.

Example Uses

There are four common use cases for using the Link plugin:

1. Recording your Talent

One of the most common use cases for the Source-Connect plugin is to record your talent from Source-Connect 3.9 into your DAW. This example applies to DAW applications such as Pro Tools, Logic and Nuendo/Cubase.

1. Place the Source-Connect plugin as an insert in your DAW as the last plugin in the effects chain.
2. Select the plugin as your output in the Audio I/O Settings in Source-Connect 3.9.

Note: For talkback, use any direct audio input of your choice in Source-Connect 3.9. Below is an example where a USB Logitech microphone is being used as the direct audio input device.

2. Send a Mix

You want to send a live audio mix from your DAW to your Source-Connect partner.

1. In your DAW, create a duplicate channel that has your master channel as its input. 
2. Place the Source-Connect plugin on this as an insert on this channel. 
3. Create a talkback track (Track 1 in the image below) and route it through your DAW and into this channel. 
4. Select Source-Connect plugin as your input in the Audio I/O Settings in Source-Connect. 
5. Select the output device of your choice so you can hear your connection partner. 

3. Send a processed Microphone Signal

You may want to use plugins or processing on your microphone’s signal before sending it to Source-Connect. 

1. Place the Source-Connect plugin as an insert in your DAW so it is the last plugin in the effects chain.
2. Select the Source-Connect plugin as your input in the Send section of Source-Connect. 
3. To hear your connection partner in Source-Connect, use any output device of your choice in Source-Connect.

4. Send and receive through your DAW

In certain cases you may wish to use the Source-Connect plugin for both sending and receiving audio through your DAW. This may be the case in sessions where you switch frequently between recording and monitoring, or in a large session where the engineer may want all their I/O integrated in one mixer. There are two basic options to set up the plugin this way:

1. One Source-Connect plugin for Input and Output.

In your DAW, place the Source-Connect plugin as an insert on your track.

In this first configuration mode (one plugin for I/O), select the same plugin ID in Source-Connect for input and output.

Please note: when using the Source-Connect plugin for both send and receive, additional latency can cause an extra delay of up to 150ms depending on your DAW settings. Route everything on your own computer where possible.

1. One Source-Connect plugin for Input and one for Output. 

Some DAWs do not allow the routing flexibility for the convenience of an integrated send/receive plugin. In the case where separate Source-Connect plugins are required, the user should combine the routing for both configuration methods mentioned in this example use case.

Pro Tools HD/TDM

Source Elements does not support the use of the Source-Connect Link plug-in in Pro Tools HD lower than Pro Tools 10.3.5. These Pro Tools HD users must use the proper external digital I/O setup instead. 

Remote Transport Sync (RTS)

Sync to picture, ADR and for overdubbing.

You can use Link in any of the three scenarios described in 6.3. Then initiate the SeRewire device in your DAW's rewire feature set. Please refer to your DAWs Rewire instructions as well as the specific RTS section of this manual for further information.

Supported DAWs/Audio Hosts

This is not a comprehensive list, please contact us if your DAW is not listed here. 

• Pro Tools
• Logic
• Nuendo
• Cubase
• Reaper
• Digital Performer
• Ableton Live
• Studio One

Sample sessions to help you get started with Link here.

Send-only DAWs

The following DAWs only send audio OUT via Source-Connect Link; they are not able to receive the audio from the remote party to record them:

• GarageBand (not recommended as will pin your session at 44.1khz, when most connect at 48khz as the current standard)
• Adobe Audition

Unsupported hosts (will not work with the LINK plugin)

These hosts have been found to not work with Source-Connect Link plugin due to the way that they are configured to use plugins or due to incompatibilities. Note these are NOT DAWs - they are audio editing programs and therefore do not run plugins real-time. These can only be used to record on VO side for backups (on MAC) and without the use of the link plugin. On Windows, whether or not you can record with these while using Source-Connect will depend on the audio interface and if a true multi-client ASIO driver has been provided by the interface manufacturer. Windows will not share most plug and play audio drivers that install automatically when you plug the interface in.

• Twisted Wave
• Bias Peak
• Tracktion
• Audacity
• FL Studio

Troubleshooting

A common issue is that Source-Connect is not configured to use the same sample-rate as the DAW. Double check that the sample-rate you wish to use is properly supported by the audio device you have selected before choosing Link: Source-Connect needs a clock source and it uses the previously-selected source to do this. That source must support the sample-rate that your DAW is configured to use.

A secondary issue with Source-Connect Link may be additional latency. To mitigate latency between Source-Connect and your DAW try setting your plugin buffers and DAW host processing buffers to the lowest possible setting.

For example in Pro Tools open Playback Engine settings and lower the Host Processing buffer to 256 or lower. Source-Connect Link is a slim-line plugin and should not incur much additional CPU usage.