Midi latency (sonar 4.1, radium 49)

[wesley tanner]

ok, I've done the search function, but seen no real answers to my question, so here goes.

I run Sonar 4.1 producer's edition on a P3 2ghz 768 ramm dell computer.

I recently purchased a midi controller (M-audio radium 49) for the sole purpose of using some of the soft synths I have. Is there ANYWAY to monitor the midi sound without actually going through the softsynths? I don't care if it's a general midi sound when recording, I just want to hear what I'm playing when I'm playing it. I have brought the buffer way way down to get the latency as low as possible, but it's still very difficult to keep things in time. Is there ANYWAY to get around this?

 

[SonicAlbert]

You've discovered one of the major weaknesses of soft synths in my opinion. If you can't bring the latency down any further by reducing the buffer size, there are a few options left to try.

One, get a faster more powerful computer just to run the soft synths.

Two, lower the buffer further if possible, but only run one soft synth at a time. What you would do is record that one part to audio, then turn that soft synth off and go on to record another part with a soft synth. Since playing back audio tracks takes a lot less computing power than running soft synth, you can get better performance by using only one soft synth at a time.

I personally hate working that way, because I want to hear all the parts at the same time, and maybe make adjustments freely without having to go back and record entire synth tracks over and over.

Which leads to the third solution, that of getting yourself at least one good hardware synth to use as your main sound source. Or at least a sound source to use while working out your music. Once the arrangements are set you can then substitute soft synth tracks for some of the hardware midi tracks.

There's only one soft synth that I use at this point, and a soft sampler from time to time. I'm still using hardware and find it very convenient and easy to work with. When I play a note I hear the sound without the latency and the burden on the CPU.

 

[Atterion]

Which leads to the third solution, that of getting yourself at least one good hardware synth to use as your main sound source. Or at least a sound source to use while working out your music. Once the arrangements are set you can then substitute soft synth tracks for some of the hardware midi tracks.

That's how I do it. I don't experience latency problems with my soft-synths though, it's just easier to get inspired with hardware. Make sure you have the latest ASIO driver installed and selected in Sonar (or WDM Drivers, which Sonar often handles better depending on your hardware).

I personally hate working that way, because I want to hear all the parts at the same time, and maybe make adjustments freely without having to go back and record entire synth tracks over and over.

Sonar 4 has wonderfully simple (And Comprehensive freeze features). Piece O' Cake.

 

[wesley tanner]

I always thought there'd be some way to directly control like the microsoft general midi sounds on the soundcard, even if that's not the sound I'm going to wind up using... but I guess it looks like I'm going to have to buy SOME kind of direct monitoring device... what do these run, and what's the easiest way to get it set up(remember CHEAAAP, I'm gonna use soft synths after this)

sorry for such a newbie question, I know a lot about audio but crap about midi, so now I feel like a jackass. I was lookin' for the cheapest, easiest way to get into a controller, look where that got me...

 

[SonicAlbert]

Maybe you should look for something like a used Roland Sound Canvas. I think there is a Kawai GM box that is considered decent too. I know Yamaha has made them as well.