My new problem: MIDI Controller Latency

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rpmfd
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2010/07/29 20:51:20 (permalink)

My new problem: MIDI Controller Latency

ok,
Sonar studio running 64 bit version
Windows 7
M-Audio Key Rig 49, attached through usb
Alesis Multimix8 running on MME drivers, attached through usb
Toshiba Laptop Satellite with i7 cpu

The problem is, there is a delay from when I strike a key on the KeyRig and when the sound is produced. Though I have been researching this online, I do not know how to trouble shoot this problem, or even where to begin, or what settings in sonar effect this.

I believe the soundcard on the laptop is completely out of the picture. Though, If I were to use the laptops soundcard (for the ms wavetable) and my alesis there would be a difference in when each would play a track. The Alesis would sound first. I don't know the reason for this or if it can be changed, it's just an observation. My laptop seems plenty fast enough for my needs. I've ran 32 tracks of MIDI through GPO4 (most instruments with KS)and the cpu was between 30 and 40 percent.

Can anyone point in the direction to solve my problem, even if it means some new equipment?

Thanks




#1

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    kmcm
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    Re:My new problem: MIDI Controller Latency 2010/07/29 21:23:23 (permalink)
    Using Microsoft MME drivers may be the problem as they are general drivers for sterio sound.

    If you look in you help files try to find ASIO drivers as they are more comperhensive.

    Most programs - Go To > Options > Audio Options > General - Driver Mode > it is here that you may have an option  - (arrow down) to choose ASIO drivers.  Then at the ASIO PANEL radio button - keep it at the default of 10 ms. You may then notice the lower latency settings is then grayed out. The ASIO drivers have the best latency factor.

    Kevin

    Music Creator 5 - Gigabyte X48 motherboard - 4MB dd3 Ram - Intel Duo 3GHz - Windows Vista - Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Elite Pro - 4 x Sata2 Hard Drives in Striped RAID Array - Studio monitor amp and speakers - Yamaha Electric / Midi Piano

    Kevin @ Brisbane Australia
    #2
    rpmfd
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    Re:My new problem: MIDI Controller Latency 2010/07/29 22:27:36 (permalink)
    Kevin,

    Do the drivers control a MIDI controller (keyboard)?
    #3
    Jim Wright
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    Re:My new problem: MIDI Controller Latency 2010/08/10 00:17:28 (permalink)
    I don't think it's MIDI Controller latency; I think it's audio playback latency. (Although you could be suffering from both...)

    It's very likely the MME drivers.  All of your audio goes through them.  They typically have a lot of latency (0.1 second or more, which is very noticeable).  A good audio driver (ASIO or WDM) should give you much less latency.

    According to the Alesis website - there are no 64 bit Win 7 drivers yet.  So, you're probably stuck using MME drivers for now...

    Before going 64-bits, you need to make sure that _all_ the software you use will support 64 bits.  Sadly, that's still not the case for a lot of software drivers for hardware products (and software plug-ins).  If you can dual-boot your laptop to run Win 7 in 32-bit mode, you may find that works better for you.

    Good luck,
    Jim
    #4
    MidiLifeCrisis
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    Re:My new problem: MIDI Controller Latency 2010/09/08 12:16:39 (permalink)
    I agree with Jim.  I am using Sonar 8.5 Studio and recently acquired an A-Pro 800 and immediately suffered from horrible latency.  Short story is that swapping out MME drivers for WDM solved my problem.  Granted, I'm on 32-bit XP desktop with an old SB-Live PCI 5.1 card, but I figure if it made that much difference for me on older equipment...
     
    I did take a side road into ASIO with USB connected through an H4N that was supposed to solve things - but no luck.  Found some cool free utilities for checking machine latency specifically for audio processing.  Tried another sound card.
     
    If you're still wrestling with this, I can provide much more information that should help in resolving the issue.  On the other hand, if you have solved it on a laptop - I would like to know more of what you did - I have a laptop that is currently insufferable in the latency department.
     
    Regards,
     
    David
    #5
    SDream
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    Re:My new problem: MIDI Controller Latency 2010/09/13 05:26:04 (permalink)
    Hi all,
     
    I have a similar ltency problem using A-PRO500 keyboard on Windows 7 64 and Sonar LE.
     
    I'm interested by a step by step explanation to solve this problem.
     
    Thanks in advance
    Chris
    #6
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