Buffer Change Throws off MIDI Timing

What audio interface are you using? ASIO4ALL has always been hit-or-miss for me. I avoid it. 

Go to the Line 6 site and download the latest UX2 drivers.

Johnbee58

brundlefly
 
If you're only using soft synths, their output is handled more like recorded audio, and changing buffer latency shouldn't affect them.

 
Exactly!  That's what I always thought.  I never had this happen in Samplitude or Mixcraft.  It seems that the buffer size throws the whole timeline off.
 
What are some alternatives to ASIO4ALL?
 
John B.

Download the Line 6 drivers. Also, bigger is not always better for buffer settings. There's a range of values that's optimum, and found mostly through trial and error.
 
I've never seen a situation where ASIO4ALL provided better performance than the manufacturer's dedicated drivers, although I suppose anything is possible.

ASIO4ALL only relates to audio, not MIDI. You do not need ASIO4ALL for recording MIDI, and having both ASIO4ALL and your Line 6 drivers installed could be a problem. I'd recommend uninstalling ASIO4ALL.
 
As to MIDI, it's not clear if you're using a controller, what type of controller, whether it's USB or 5-pin DIN, etc. or exactly how you're using MIDI.

Assuming that the OP is experiencing the same behaviour as I did, then:

• The late midi notes occur on playback, not recording. Notes in PRV that show up as being exactly on the beat play late and this can be demonstrated by bouncing or exporting to audio and examining the waveform while zoomed in.
• The "lateness" varies from beat to beat. It also depends on where playback is started from, i.e. starting playback a bar earlier will result in a particular note playing late by a different amount.
• Some notes are missing on playback. Again, this varies depending on where playback is started from, but is otherwise fairly consistent.
• This is all very much dependent on which softsynth you are using. NI B4II is particularly bad. With some others it is barely noticeable.

If the OP says that the above description does not match what he is seeing, then please ignore my post.

Kev999
The "lateness" varies from beat to beat. It also depends on where playback is started from, i.e. starting playback a bar earlier will result in a particular note playing late by a different amount.
[snip]
NI B4II is particularly bad.

 
All the old NI synths will be using Bitbridge in SONAR x64, and Bitbridge has at least one known bug in this area. Other than that, and dropped notes due to an insufficiently large Prepare Using buffer, I don't really recall anyone describing an issue quite like yours.
 
I could be wrong, but I presumed the OP meant that some whole tracks were playing back late relative to others in proportion to the increase in the buffer latency.
 
 

Anderton
ASIO4ALL only relates to audio, not MIDI. You do not need ASIO4ALL for recording MIDI, and having both ASIO4ALL and your Line 6 drivers installed could be a problem. I'd recommend uninstalling ASIO4ALL.
 
As to MIDI, it's not clear if you're using a controller, what type of controller, whether it's USB or 5-pin DIN, etc. or exactly how you're using MIDI.

Craig, I use USB for MIDI connection.  This is interesting.  All these years I just assumed that I needed ASIO4ALL as drivers for my MIDI sound libraries, but it looks as if I was misinformed when I first started learning the MIDI process.  There are two other driver selections that I could choose from besides ASIO.  If I uninstall ASIO4ALL would the ASIO selection still be available to me, or should I select one of the other drivers? (I can't think of what they're called now, but I'm sure you know what I'm talking about).
 
John B.

ASIO4all is known to interfere with your proper ASIO drivers when both are installed. There have been a number of threads on this topic. It's not your fault as many web sites and even manufactures seem to recommend asio4all as a solution. But that solution is only to be used for things like using an on board sound card or a weird no name brand audio interface that does not come with ASIO or WDM drivers. 
 
Not only does asio4all interfere with proper performance, it's almost like malware to totally get rid of. Google " completely removing asio4all" 
 
Do that first. all traces, even the registry I think. 
 
Then go to the Line 6 web site and download the latest driver that matches your OS version and 64 bit.
Install following instructions about when to plug in your interface.
Always use the same USB port etc.
Re boot.
Check windows sound control panel and make sure the line 6 is working in windows now. 
Now open Sonar and go to Edit/ preferences /Audio drivers and see if the line 6 is your timing master and in ASIO mode. I like to switch to WDM mode so Sonar will run an audio test,
Then I switch back to ASIO. All should be good now. 
If you are using your Audio interfaces MIDI ports then the Line 6 drivers are used.
If you are using a USB keyboard controller, then there will be midi drivers that are available from that manufactures web site, so check that they are also up to date.
Don't use the CD or DVD's that come with equipment, always check at manufactures web site and compare version numbers. 
Check your firmware as well, firmware updates are important to all our midi and audio gear. 
 
Keep a folder with all your drivers, manuals and firmware on a external drive.  
 

Thanks JohnnyV, Craig and all for your advise.  I have a bit of a concern though.  If I uninstall ASIO4ALL and use the UX2s drivers exclusively would I have to do all of my mixing through the UX2?  It's been my practice to mix through the speakers and the type of speakers I mix through are not the high end type of field monitors but are really a cheap IPOD type with a subwoofer.  They plug into a single mini out on the back of my desktop PC.  Not the best monitoring, for sure, but all I can afford now.  I like to do my final mix through them and removing ASIO4ALL might mean having to go back to all mixes through headphones.  Or am I wrong?
 
John B.

57Gregy
In ASIO mode, you can only use 1 device at a time, so yes you'll have to mix through the UX2.
Just get an adapter (if necessary) so you can plug your computer speakers into the UX2.

Yes, you simply need an adapter that breaks out your mini plug into two 1/4" jacks. The UX2 output will probably produce better fidelity than your computer's speaker outputs anyway.

Thanks Craig, coming from you that means a lot to me. After all I've known you for 30 year or more, but you just met me :)
Most of what I know was learned by reading magazines and books on audio, so your one of my original Professors of Tech! 
 
JohnnyB,  As a few have said, you really don't want to have to switch drivers just for playback of your audio. You will still have issues, You could even revert to your on board sound cards drivers which probably won't interfere with line 6, but this is still a funky set up. You audio interface can and will do everything for you and do it better. 
 
What I have done when travelling and I have my interface but  I don't have my studio monitors.
If the computer I'm using has typical desktop speakers I plug them into the headphone jack of the interface. All you need is the 1/8" to 1/4"  TRS adapter that comes with most headphones.  
This is actually what computer speakers are made to plug into- a headphone jack.