MIDI input latency problem

[AleCerto]

I have a very big latency problem with DP7.11 and all the Virtual Instruments I own (all the DP "core" Virtuals, MachFive2 and NI Komplete6 stuff).

Each time I play a note or something, both on the master keyboard and MIDI guitar, the notes I'm playing sound very late in time!
If I record on a MIDI track (hardly trying not to listen to the click because of the latency and without input quantize) and I play it back, what I recorded sounds in time - in other words, it looks like DP records MIDI data properly and in time.

If I use MachFive2 (or NI Kontakt4, and so on) as a stand-alone application, I have a "normal" and acceptable latency (a few ms): what I'm playing sounds practically "in time".

I have this awful latency problem only within DP7 (beside DP7.11, I've also tried with DP7.02 and DP7.1 but there's always the same latency problem).
I've looked for information/solutions both in the manuals and in the Motunation forums but I was not able to find a solution out.

I do need to solve this issue as soon as possible, otherwise I can't use DP almost at all (and on Friday I've to start a new gig)!

Could you please help me?
Have I to set some "hidden" preferences or other?

TIA,
Ale

[jarok]

Hi

This topic might help you:

http://www.motunation.com/forum/viewtop ... cy#p338380" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

jarok

[AleCerto]

Thanks for the advice but my latency problem seems to be a "simple" Buffer Size related issue.

I've tried different sizes and setting the Buffer Size at 128 the "input" latency is acceptable - at 64 it is wonderful - (as stated in the DP7 Getting Started Guide page 19, too): now I can play my VIs in time, WOW!.

The only problem is now the CPU "works a lot" (Audio Performance), so I decided to use a small Buffer Size for recording/composing and to rise it when I mix.

My current audio setup is now:
MOTU Audio System
Hardware Driver: Digidesign HW (HD)
Buffer Size: 128
Host Buffer Multiplayer: 1
Work priority: High

Ale

[David Polich]

This issue is an old one, very common. Most VI's will exhibit
latency when triggering them with buffer sizes set higher. In
fact, this information has been in every DP manual since version
4.5, when DP first acquired the ability to handle VI's.

Latency is the tradeoff you get with a higher buffer size because
it takes longer for the input to be processed and then output as
audio. A current Intel Mac should be more than powerful enough to
run DP at lower buffer settings. That said, keep in mind that
software companies continue to produce VI's that are more and more
CPU-intensive - the more powerful computers get, the more CPU-intensive
VI's and plugs become.

[FMiguelez]

.

My computer is old. And slow. So what I do in these cases, since I HATE waiting for ages while the MAS system reloads after a change in buffer size, is simply to use (temporarily) my external synths to record the notes of the instruments that will later be the VIs . Once everything is there, and I don't have anything more to record or play, THEN I simply reassign the instrument to the true VI that I really want.

If I need a bass guitar, Instead of suffering with latency and buffer sizes, I just record a bass part using my Roland, and voila. Same with the piano. Instead of recording it with Ivory, I'll use the Roland piano, and when I finish recording, I reassign it to the "real" thing, and then I will edit away until it sounds the way I want.

Now that the notes are all in there, it's a simple matter of editing, using keyswitches, making the VI "sing", mixing etc.
Unless the VI sound is CRITICAL at recording (seldom), this procedure almost always speeds up things here.

[David Polich]

.

My computer is old. And slow. So what I do in these cases, since I HATE waiting for ages while the MAS system reloads after a change in buffer size, is simply to use (temporarily) my external synths to record the notes of the instruments that will later be the VIs . Once everything is there, and I don't have anything more to record or play, THEN I simply reassign the instrument to the true VI that I really want.

If I need a bass guitar, Instead of suffering with latency and buffer sizes, I just record a bass part using my Roland, and voila. Same with the piano. Instead of recording it with Ivory, I'll use the Roland piano, and when I finish recording, I reassign it to the "real" thing, and then I will edit away until it sounds the way I want.

Now that the notes are all in there, it's a simple matter of editing, using keyswitches, making the VI "sing", mixing etc.
Unless the VI sound is CRITICAL at recording (seldom), this procedure almost always speeds up things here.

I like this kind of thinking - wow, doing the best with what you have,
instead of "fixing" things by purchasing a new computer.

I've had most of my VI's on a second computer (PC) for years. It's connected via MIDI and it's essentially just another hardware synth in my
setup. I can fire up a CPU-heavy VI on the PC and trigger it in realtime with no latency...thanks to this, I haven't had to retire my G5. In this economy, I like the idea of using what I paid thousands for, as long as possible.

[crduval]

.
If I need a bass guitar, Instead of suffering with latency and buffer sizes, I just record a bass part using my Roland, and voila. Same with the piano. Instead of recording it with Ivory, I'll use the Roland piano, and when I finish recording, I reassign it to the "real" thing, and then I will edit away until it sounds the way I want.

+1

This is the approach I use too. I use my K2500 (and R-8 for drums) to play MIDI in real time, and they have sounds that are representative enough to use in place of my frequently used VIs.

When this is not the case, or when I need to "play" the sound to get the feeling I need, I reduce buffer size to the minimum possible, then in my head I try to "disconnect" my fingers from what I am hearing - its the same technique you need to play an old mechanical/pneumatic theater or church organ, where there can literally be seconds between the pressing of a key and hearing the sound come through the pipes. If needed, I nudge the track around from there...

BTW, I highly recommend experiencing playing one of those old massive organs at least once - the experience and sound is unforgettable... and the technique really has helped me deal with latency