latancy

[paresh]

Hi guys - I am considering switching to Mackie's Tracktion sequencer, where I can have both midi & audio files. I use a Roland VSC software tone module for midi sounds. But in my current format - Cakewalk GT Pro, I can't import midi so I convert the midi files to wav first & then import them into GT Pr. So I don't have to deal w latancy. I don't really understand latancy - will this be a problem w using both audio & midi files in the sequencer + using software for the midi sounds? I have a fairly powerful computer & XP, & an excellent Edirol UA-5 sound card. thanks!!

 

[manning1]

latency can occur for a number of reasons.depending how
your computer is set up.
if you detail your computer confign IN FULL i'll try and identify any potential problems. i also need to know whats in your pci slots.
also several software multitrack applications can correct for latency.
there are some tutorials that are well worth a read in the support section at pgmusic.com. look for free tutorials down the page.
anyway tell me your configuration. i'm a computer engr.
will help if i can.
peace.

 

[paresh]

Hi & thanks for yr kind offer. It sounds pretty complicated to me... so much of this stuff is: VSTs etc. It like learning but the technology changes so fast. Anyway my set up is:

Dell Inspiron 8200, XP, Cakewalk GT Pro 2 sequencer, Jammer midi software, Roland VSC sound canvas for midi sound, Editol ua-5 audio capture sound card, USB 2.0 adaptor is in the card slot - that's all. Thanks!!!

 

[manning1]

paresh. how much memory do you have ?
it looks like 512 to me from the specs. a laptop. am i correct ?
heres my comments....
1. the processor is good.
2. from what i read on the spec the hard drive is 5400 rpm. please confirm.
if INDEED it is 5400 rpm , ask dell if there is a possiblity of upgrading the internal hard drive to a 7200 rpm hard drive. or adding an external hard drive.
one of the problems is having both windows and your tracks on
the same hard drive. this can lead to contention for the disc.
3.please confirm the edirol is a usb device. if it is...you might be getting latency from this device. i'll be honest up front i dont like uab. been lots of problems. some folks have none, others have lots. it seems to vary.

i have to be brutally honest with you, and i have no wish to upset you ,
but this is the first year with the coming of high power processors and 7200 rpm drives in laptops that i would start to recommend a laptop as a daw.
to be frank up till now i didnt consider the computer architecture in laptops powerfull enough. neither the processors - nor the hard drives.
please get back to me. i have other ideas.

 

[TripleJ]

The architecture of laptops hasn't ever been a problem. The problem is people tend to skimp on laptops - getting slow hard drives and little ram.

The main problem with laptops however is that audio input options are severely limited - I don't personally trust external devices.

 

[crankz1]

Yeah ... I've got no troubles running an older HP zu1175 laptop.
It's a PIII 700 mHz.
However, I did up the RAM to 512 and the original HDD shot craps so I replaced it with a Hitachi 60gig 7200 RPM drive.

As far as external devices .... I trust mine.
Mine is a MOTU 828mkII connected via a PCMCIA FireWire adapter. Also on the FireWire adapter is a Western Digital 120 gig FireWire drive for the audio data.
No sweat tracking 18 simultaneous channels or playing them back.
Granted the processor is a bit lacking for any intensive effects DSP, but for remote location recording .... I'm tickled pink!

 

[manning1]

crankz. well done. but your not the norm..believe me.
ive seen so many screwed up laptop configs and people tring to shoehorn multitrack recording ....my comment about computer architecture related to the fact that people always want more. more plug ins particularly.
so an older laptop dies on the vine with the processor load. my congrats though on getting an older laptop working well. kudos to you.

 

[paresh]

Manning - Yes it's a laptop. I didn't know where to look up the RAM...Cpu is Pent 4 - 1.6 gig. I just upgraded the hard drive after the old one crashed to a faster one & 60 gig memory. Don't know the speed... The Edirol is USB. So far no latancy bec I'm just doing audio, midi is converted to audio. Maybe I'll just stick w that format. I'm a serious amateur - not a pro - & don't record a lot of tracks at once for the most part. the one exception is that I'm now starting to do some ambient recording w many layers of tracks & I get drop outs sometimes. I cd install a second hard drive for recording only. I didn't want to spend the money but maybe it's worth it? Thanks again for yr time.

 

[AlChuck]

The only place you should be havign trouble with latency (not latancy) is in trying to use effects plug-ins in realtime or monitor the signal from an input after they go throogh plug-ins, or in trying to play softsynths in real-time with a MIDI controller. Just playing an already-recorded MIDI sequence along with audio tracks should not be a problem.

You say you can't import MIDI into GP Pro; why not just open a MIDI file, then save it as a Cakewalk project?

 

[crankz1]

I didn't know where to look up the RAM... QUOTE]

Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information .... Listed under "Total Physical Memory"

If you are starting to experience drop out's with multiple tracks, investing in a second hard drive for the audio data would be money well spent.
Drop out's usually stem from lack of disk throughput. Having the one single drive doing the work of OS/program read/writes and stream the audio data is a bit much for those tinny little heads flying across the platters

 

[paresh]

Not sure I can do that in Jammer but I'll check it out. I've just been converting the Jammer midi file to wav in my Roland VSC & inport that to GT Pro & it works. Of course I have to do all my editing of the midi file bef I convert it to audio.

 

[paresh]

My memory is only 256. Is it better to upgrade memory or add a second hard drive if I had to choose one or the other?

 

[crankz1]

I'd pry up the memory first.
Keep in mind, you may still suffer drop out issues due to the previously mentioned reasons. So keep budgeting for that extra drive too.

 

[manning1]

paresh. right there is one problem. memory. get 512 ram.
a very good program i use that lines up tracks fine is powertracks from pgmusic.com. very tight integration of audio and midi. midi tracks
or audio tracks, it doesnt care. try the demo sometime and tell me if you still get latency. but you need once again 512 ram. there is also latency adjustment feature. try the demo sometime. there are lots of free tutorials / problem solvers in the support section at pg to help you if you wish.
there are customer references here...
http://www.music123.com/item/?itemno=33678&t=4#tab

 

[NYMorningstar]

paresh. right there is one problem. powertracks from pgmusic.com.

Your right about that manning!