Subject:Midi keyboard-delayed response

Posted by: maxx

Date:7/11/2003 12:07:28 AM

I've installed ACID Pro 4.0 on a high powered Toshiba Satellite laptop and all works great, however when using a USB midi keyboard (Oxygen-8) I'm experiencing a noticable delay between hitting a note and having the DLS synth respond (when minitoring in realtime).

What can I do to tighten up midi keyboard response? Are there any specific buffer settings I need to be aware of?

At the moment I'm not using any additional audio/midi hardware interface - just the built-in Yamaha audio in the Toshiba. The Oxy-8 is a straight USB connection so I'm assuming any midi issues are internal to ACID.

thanks!

maxx

Subject:RE: Midi keyboard-delayed response

Reply by: groovewerx

Date:7/11/2003 12:44:00 AM

Its called latency:

http://www.digitalprosound.com/Htm/Articles/April/Audio_Latency.htm

http://www.audiosynth.com/schtmldocs/Tutorials/SC2_Tutorial_0.8.5/5SoundProcessingBasics/5.4DigitalAudioLatenc.html

Subject:RE: Midi keyboard-delayed response

Reply by: maxx

Date:7/12/2003 12:12:41 AM

Understood. Well aware of basic latency issues.

My question is, what can I do - if anything - to tighten it up and minimize it in this situation? Are there any specific user-adjustable buffer settings I can access that I might not be aware of?

I have far geater experience with Mac/Pro Tools TDM (non host-based) systems where latency is less of an issue due to audio chores being handled by dedicated PCI DSP cards. Even in that environment however, there are buffer settings and preferences that have some bearing on the result.

Subject:RE: Midi keyboard-delayed response

Reply by: MyST

Date:7/12/2003 8:55:30 AM

How good is the soundcard?
If you could find the specs maybe it would show that it isn't capable of low latency.
Check out laptop soundcards from companies such as Echo (www.echoaudio.com).
I have a CHEAP midi keyboard contoller hooked up to this Echo Mia equipped desktop, and I can't notice any latency.

M

Subject:RE: Midi keyboard-delayed response

Reply by: Spy

Date:7/12/2003 9:39:51 AM

"My question is, what can I do - if anything - to tighten it up and minimize it in this situation? Are there any specific user-adjustable buffer settings I can access that I might not be aware of?"

Greetings maxx,

Apologies if you're already aware of this but go to the menus (top left of screen, like other MS compatible software) and choose 'Options'. From the Options menu choose 'Preferences'. In the resulting window click on the 'Audio' tab and you can adjust the buffer size in there.

Specific settings will depend on your cpu, your RAM, your soundcard, and the number of tracks and/or effects and/or VSTis in your project so just play around with the settings until you find what works for you.

HTH






One Love, Spy!

Subject:RE: Midi keyboard-delayed response

Reply by: maxx

Date:7/12/2003 5:31:48 PM

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: RE: Midi keyboard-delayed response
Posted by: MyST (Ignore This User)
Date: 7/12/2003 8:55:30 AM

How good is the soundcard?
If you could find the specs maybe it would show that it isn't capable of low latency.
Check out laptop soundcards from companies such as Echo (www.echoaudio.com).
I have a CHEAP midi keyboard contoller hooked up to this Echo Mia equipped desktop, and I can't notice any latency.

M
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, this is very much a possibility. In this particular case I'm helping a (non-technically inclined) friend who is an Acid user to set up a laptop/Acid rig. His machine is curently using the built-in Toshiba/Yamaha audio card. Within a few weeks he will be acquiring a Digidesign M-box and at that point he'll be able to use the AISO drivers to run ACID through that interface.

My own PC/Acid rig is a P-4 2.2Ghz desktop rig with an Echo Gina 24 and I don't have any noticeable latency issues there.

Thank you for te suggestion. I will see what the Yamaha audio spec's are.

Best,
Maxx

Subject:RE: Midi keyboard-delayed response

Reply by: maxx

Date:7/12/2003 5:38:06 PM

"Greetings maxx,

Apologies if you're already aware of this but go to the menus (top left of screen, like other MS compatible software) and choose 'Options'. From the Options menu choose 'Preferences'. In the resulting window click on the 'Audio' tab and you can adjust the buffer size in there.

Specific settings will depend on your cpu, your RAM, your soundcard, and the number of tracks and/or effects and/or VSTis in your project so just play around with the settings until you find what works for you.

HTH"

Thank you. I will double check audio preferences and see if I can effect some sort of improvement. Another forum user (MyST) suggested it may be the built-in sound card currently used in the laptop. If so this will be resolved with a proper audio interface (Mbox, Echo, etc...).

thanks again,

maxx