Subject:Softsynth Issues

Posted by: Glyph

Date:1/2/2009 7:45:10 PM

This is the single most frustrating issue I've had with acid and I've tried for years to fix it.

I'm using Acid 6.0 and whenever I work with midi and add a softsynth, it never gives me a playback with the same quality sound as in the plugin's window or even the vertical keyboard on the track. It always has a kind of quieter filtered sound which devastates any kind of quality strings or piano.

Please help me out here!
Thanks

Subject:RE: Softsynth Issues

Reply by: darrena

Date:1/2/2009 10:31:56 PM

i never had this problem with acid 6... are you using an ASIO audio interface/driver? any audio problems i have had with softsynths have happened when i accidentally was switched from asio to the microsoft sound mapper in the audio device tab of the preferences dialog (say, because the asio device was off when i booted acid).

if you don't have an ASIO audio device you can try ASIO4All, it's an ASIO driver for some standard sound cards.

also, you might want to try acid 7.0a and see if it rectifies your problem.

Subject:RE: Softsynth Issues

Reply by: Glyph

Date:1/3/2009 1:14:52 PM

Ok, I tried the trial of Acid 7.0 and that didn't help.

I also tried the Asio4all and I can't hear anything at all. Either I have some settings wrong or its not compatible with my sound card.

The really weird thing is that all the sounds are perfect inside the softsynth plugin window. I am using Native Instruments Kontakt, and all the samples play perfectly until I put them into track, then they start to sound weird.

Any ideas would be great.

Subject:RE: Softsynth Issues

Reply by: pwppch

Date:1/3/2009 9:40:34 PM

Which softsynth(s) are you using?

Starting from an empty/new project. Exactly what do you do to recreate the problem?

Thanks
Peter

Subject:RE: Softsynth Issues

Reply by: Glyph

Date:1/4/2009 7:27:38 PM

Ok lets say I open acid and start a new project.

Normally I will insert a midi track then click on "Midi Output" and insert new Softsynth.

I'm using Kontakt from native instruments so when the plugin window comes up I load violin ensemble for example. The instrument loads and I can play it in the window and it sounds fine.

So I go into the midi track and paint some notes and when It plays back its sounds different. Its softer and less distinct then in the instruments window.

I know, its weird.

Subject:RE: Softsynth Issues

Reply by: pwppch

Date:1/5/2009 12:21:18 AM

Does it happen with other VSTis or only Kontakt?

When you play from the track keyboard or the Kontakt keyboard what "velocity" are you playing with?

In contrast what are the note velocities of the notes playing back from the timeline?

Do your MIDI track's have any controller data or pan/vol settings?

Peter

Subject:RE: Softsynth Issues

Reply by: thirdnostril

Date:1/5/2009 7:50:26 AM

Isn't the level you get in the synth window set by the Preview fader, and the level you get when you playback set by the track and Master faders?

Just a thought, I could be wrong.

My softsynth issue is, how much RAM could one synth need in order not to crackle, jitter, and skip as I play? I have 3GB, ACID and one soft synth is all that's running, and I have the background processes at a minimum.

Ableton Live Lite does it too, but much less.

Subject:RE: Softsynth Issues

Reply by: Glyph

Date:1/5/2009 8:24:44 AM

Ok I played around with the velocity curve and I believe I finally have what I've been looking for.

I think the problem has been that I haven't been using a controller so its a little hard to get the velocity I want.

Thanks a lot!

Subject:RE: Softsynth Issues

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:1/5/2009 6:04:12 PM

So you've been dropping notes manually ? What about setting a higher velocity 'Default' - I guess there is somewhere one can do that...

geoff

Subject:RE: Softsynth Issues

Reply by: darrena

Date:1/5/2009 8:40:52 PM

For the Kontakt problem I'm with Geoff. I didn't realize you were playing the notes on the preview keyboard in Kontakt. I'm guessing the Kontakt keyboard that you click with a mouse is playing at velocity 127 by default. Acid inserts notes at 64. I'd suggest getting a controller keyboard. You'll get carpel tunnel building a whole song in the Piano Roll.

As for the crackeling, this is not RAM. This is probably buffer. For one, I've NEVER been able to get any softsynth to play right in Acid without using an ASIO driver. So if you're just using a common sound card with the standard Microsoft Sound Mapper set in Preferences/Audio Device, you'll get crackeling. Switch to an ASIO driver (f your interface has one) or use ASIO4ALL (a generic ASIO driver for Windows). Your crackeling will disappear...

...if not, increase the ASIO sample buffer of your audio interface. Any device that comes with an ASIO driver will do this for you. ASIO4ALL also does this.

Without a real audio interface (no, Sound Blaster does NOT count <g>), your mileage may vary.

Subject:RE: Softsynth Issues

Reply by: Glyph

Date:1/6/2009 8:51:01 PM

Yes it does take a while doing all the notes manually, but its what I have to do for now. Any idea what parameter changes the velocity for Kontakt? I can go in and manually change it from 64 to 127 but I'm hoping work it with an envelope and get a little more dynamic.

Here's a side question that would also help the problem if you have any insights.
Right now I have an old keyboard hooked by midi cables into my Digitech guitar pedal and from there to my computer through USB. It worked as a controller before, i tried hooking it up again and now whenever I press a key while in Acid my computer restarts. Thanks guys, you've helped with my biggest problem already.

Subject:RE: Softsynth Issues

Reply by: Glyph

Date:1/6/2009 9:14:20 PM

Actually Never mind, I found a modwheel setting and I can control the velocity from there. Thanks though.

Subject:RE: Softsynth Issues

Reply by: darrena

Date:1/6/2009 9:20:35 PM

You have a couple options, but AFAIK there is no velocity "envelope" since envelope data is continuous and velocity is a "per note" attribute. But Acid comes as close as you can get!

Go to Edit / Midi Processes & Filters, then choose the Velocity tab. You will see that you can set all velocities to a level, you can add a certain amount to each velocity, you can scale it by a percentage, and you can even have velocity change over time.

You can use this dialog in both the piano roll view and the main project view. Even better, enable "inline editing" of MIDI and make each track big enough so you can see the whole part and then you can select time ranges and do the change over time. (Just remember if your goal is to set the velocity for a range of notes and not the whole clip, select the "Apply to selected notes only")

It sounds like you have a relatively "janky" MIDI setup. And I'm gleaning you're likely on a budget that doesn't allow for you to go buy a nice keyboard controller right now. So why don't you plunk down $50 at sweetwater sound and get the Korg nanoKEY. It's a 1-octave velocity-sensitive keyboard that's the tiniest thing I've ever seen (it's basically made out of laptop keyboard parts). Now it's not really shaped exactly like a piano keyboard but it will speed you up dramatically.

I keep one in my laptop bag in case I'm stuck somewhere and want to compose.

Subject:RE: Softsynth Issues

Reply by: thirdnostril

Date:1/7/2009 7:17:52 AM

Those nanokeys look straightout of 2001: A Space Odyssey. They have a decent feel for such a low-budget device, too.

Subject:RE: Softsynth Issues

Reply by: Glyph

Date:1/7/2009 10:44:53 AM

Ya, I don't exactly have a stellar set up and its been really bugging me. Up to this point I've spent several years composing on the keys and then manually painting in-track every note I played. Definitely not the most effective method. But I think the tips will hold me over until I get a controller, which will hopefully be very soon.