Why the delay?

[Sam P]

Hi,

just recently hooked up my RD700sx to my computer and tested it with steinbergs hypersonic 2 and also Native instruments FM7 software. When pressing down a key there is a long time gap between the action of pressing down a key and hearing a sound. This delay makes playing awful!

 

Was wondering if anybody has had this problem, is this a hardware problem like not enough ram (i have 1gb on 3.4ghz processor). Also should i invest in a soundcard? (currently using the one built into the motherboard).

 

Any help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

thanks,

Sam.

[ProfD]

Sounds like a latency issue. Check your audio interface and software. Adjust the latency (usually in milliseconds or MB) to compensate for the jet lag.

[linwood]

Yea...reduce the buffer size and put a good sound card in there. Maybe look into one of these:

 

http://www.rme-audio.com/english/index.htm

[Bobadohshe]

How did you connect it to your computer? What interface are you using?

[SilverDragonSoun]

How did you connect it to your computer? What interface are you using?

 

 

Good questions as this could also create an issue. It sound like a latency issue at first glance. Your buffer size probably needs to be reduced as mentioned and if your running this stuff using a factory sound card this will be a huge part of it.

[mlh]

make sure you are using ASIO drivers. if the built in sound

doesnt have them, try ASIO4ALL (I don't have a link, try google)

WDM drivers don't do it for real time audio.

if you get the buffer size too small you will get pops now and

again. 128 will probably work well.

 

Mike

 

[Chaso DeChaso]

Interesting, I am also using Hypersonic 2 and a Roland RD-700 (not the SX) along with The Grand 2, Halion 3.1, Halion Symphonic Orchestra, and a pile of other Steinberg products all within Cubase. Most of these are new to me and Hypersonic 2 has quickly established itself as my "go to" instrument.

 

While I am seemingly always futzing with one setting or another, Hypersonic has had really low latency on my system (which is slightly below yours - a 2.2 Ghz processor and 1GB of RAM). If the delay is really long I don't think it is a simple latency issue and it almost certainly is not an issue of inadequate RAM or anything.

 

Probably some other setting is off - and there are so many to chase down. One example might be selecting "Use System Time Stamp" (I believe it is called, at least within Cubase). I am thinking your problem is possibly drivers but more likely some goofy setting buried three menus deep somewhere (one of the problems with software set-ups, at least for non-computer types such as myself...)

 

Good luck - hopefully others smarter than myself will chip in. Mainly I just wanted to chip in that exceedingly long delays (like a note showing up an eight note or quarter note late) have never been a matter of latency settings in my system.

[Sam P]

Hi,

Thanks for the input. I connect using the Roland USB midi driver, i dont think there is a problem with the midi as cubase appears to work fine. I've spent some time trying out different latencys, but when too low a lot of noise interference occurs (pops and crackles). This does however help the delay issue a little.

 

I think it will be due to my drivers on the motherboard, i am using ASIO drivers but not sure on the quality of the build so

I've gone ahead and bought a soundcard (soundblaster audigy 2 platinum EX) - seems within my budget and comes with a lot of connections. Hopefully this will sort the delay problem out when it arrives. Thanks for reassuring me my pc specs are adequate - i never know what sort of machines the music programs "like" to run on! And yes, i do find Hypersonic a great tool to play along to compared to other soft synths.

 

I'll keep you posted!

 

Sam.

[NoahZark]

Hi,

Thanks for the input. I connect using the Roland USB midi driver, i dont think there is a problem with the midi as cubase appears to work fine. I've spent some time trying out different latencys, but when too low a lot of noise interference occurs (pops and crackles). This does however help the delay issue a little.

 

I think it will be due to my drivers on the motherboard, i am using ASIO drivers but not sure on the quality of the build so

I've gone ahead and bought a soundcard (soundblaster audigy 2 platinum EX) - seems within my budget and comes with a lot of connections. Hopefully this will sort the delay problem out when it arrives. Thanks for reassuring me my pc specs are adequate - i never know what sort of machines the music programs "like" to run on! And yes, i do find Hypersonic a great tool to play along to compared to other soft synths.

 

I'll keep you posted!

 

Sam.

 

I think the question was how you were sending your audio to your computer, right? Your audio isn't traveling over the USB MIDI cable, that's for sure.

 

Anyway, I'm no expert, but I've spent some time researching this topic because I'm starting to think about building a computer-based home studio. It seems that most folks running audio into their computers stay away from Soundblaster sound cards (even the high-end ones) because they're just not intended for quality audio input. If you're committed to a relatively low-cost PCI audio interface, I've read decent things about some of the products made by M-Audio and E-mu. You may also want to think about a dedicated, stand-alone USB or firewire audio interface. (I've personally been eyeing the MOTU Ultralite, although it's definitely on the pricey side, which is why I haven't pulled the trigger on it.)

 

One things seems apparent to me from my research, however: When you start down the path of using your computer to make music, you need to stop shopping in computer stores (the Circuit Citys and Best Buys of the world) and start shopping in music stores (the Sweetwaters and Guitar Centers of the world). They carry the hardware and the software that you need for such purposes.

 

Just my two cents,

Noah