MIDI latency??

  • Thread starter Thread starter Zona Mona
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Zona Mona

Zona Mona

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I am sort of new to recording and am having a few problems/questios about using MIDI. First I should mention that I have Cubasis that came with my recording unit, a US-224. My computer has a MIDI soundcard a GM wavetable or something like that. Anyway, when I create a MIDI part, lets say this is a bass part and I already have audio above it, and then edit it using the score view (I am used to using Finale). When I play that part with my audio if I have a bass hit on 1 I don't actually hear the sound untill around the offbeat. Also the little bar on the mixer doesn't indicate sound untill that time as well.

Now my unrelated question is what is the difference between GS, GM and XG MIDI??

Thanks for your time
 
Info is needed about the platform and OS you are running before even a good guess could be made --- in general though, you need to point Cubasis to the Tascam unit as a soundcard, select the ASIO drivers and set for lowest latency.

GS, GM and XG are different manufacturers names for similar protocols intended to give some uniformity to storing, archiving and exchanging midi files and other data. For example in the GM protocol PC (program change) 1 will always bring up a piano sound, PC 44 a string sound, etc.
 
I don't know what you mean by platform. I am using XP Professional. My computer uses the tascam unit a the soundcard for all of the sounds, wav, mp3 MIDI everything, because my soundcard died so I just hooked the line oput on the unit to the speakers for the computer. I don't know what you mean by AISO drivers (what does AISO even mean).

about the GM GS thing, The only time it even makes sound (which are still about a half beat late) is when the mixer is set to GM.

Hope that helps you helping me

Thanks for all your time
 
you need to change your hardware buffer settings. i'm not familiar with cubase, but some where in a setups or options menu you should see Buffer or Latency settings...reduce that as much as you can :cool:
 
bennychico11's advice won't work if you're trying to play the Microsoft softsynth in real time. You need a softsynth that Cubasis can host -- that would be a VST instrument, and I'm sure it must come with a couple... and you also need ASIO drivers as ssscientist mentioned.

A little more about the GM-GS-XG thing. GS and XG are manufacturer-specific extensions to the standard GM (General MIDI). Roland and Yamaha, to be exact.
 
Ok here goes.

I tried to lower the buffer to reduce latency but two things happened:
  1. There was clicking and popping
  2. The latency was the same
Every time I start up Cubasis, I get a message that says "New AISO Drivers, should a similar configuration of outputs be used?" I don't know what this means but if the AISO driver have something to do with the MIDI, this might have an effect on it.

And I don't mean to sound like a complete bonehead but I still don't understand what AISO means or VST. Explaining those might help me out just a little bit. What do you mean by a "softsynth".

Sorry I am being such an idiot. Thank you all for your responses.

P.S. My computer has 256 MB of RAM do I need more??
 
ASIO (Audio Stream Input/Output), developed by Steinberg, is a cross-platform, multi-channel audio transfer protocol that is being adopted by many of the manufacturers of audio/MIDI sequencing applications. It allows software to have access to the multi-channel capabilities of a wide range of powerful sound cards.
ASIO expands on the basic capabilities of a standard computer sound card, most of which can only provide stereo (two-channel) audio input and output. The ASIO specification defines the interface that manufacturers of professional audio sound cards must use to create an ASIO driver for their hardware. This driver allows the host audio/MIDI application to "see" all of the inputs and outputs available on the sound card. The user can then assign these I/O ports as needed for recording or playback when using an ASIO-compatible software program. This allows the users to record more tracks simultaneously than the previous limitation of two channels imposed by a standard sound card.


VST
VST is an acronym for Virtual Studio Technology and refers either directly to some versions of the Steinberg Cubase program or VST plug-ins.

VST plug-ins
VST plug-ins are software modules that can take the form of instruments or effects. Competing technologies include Apple Computer's Audio Units, and Digidesign's AudioSuite, Real-time AudioSuite, and TDM.

VST instruments
A VST instrument (or VSTi) is a type of VST plug-in that is generally used to synthesize sound or play-back sampled audio. Types of VST instrument include (among others) virtual synthesizer devices and sampler devices.

VST instruments can be played in real-time when used with an appropriate software and hardware configuration.

VST effects
A VST effect is a type of VST plug-in that is generally used to process audio. Types of VST effect include (among others) reverb processors or phaser effects.

VST effects can be used in real-time when used with an appropriate software and hardware configuration, such as a sound card that supports ASIO, software that bypasses Windows' sluggish audio engine and so offers much lower latency times, allowing for effective real time playing.

More RAM is never a bad thing. It might be the cause of your problem, but it's hard to say.

I don't use Cubase either, but in SONAR the problem is usually related to buffers settings or drivers as was already suggested. It's not actually a MIDI problem, per se, as it's audio that's actually being delayed. The fact that you're getting an error message indicates that your problem is likely in your drivers though. Someone who knows more about Cubase will have to help you if this isn't enough. You might go to Steinberg's site if you haven't already.

Ted
 
I tried to lower the buffer to reduce latency but two things happened:
1. There was clicking and popping
2. The latency was the same
Click to expand...

Of course; as I told you, it's the Microsoft Wavetable softsynth, it is simply not playable in realtime while listening to pre-recorded tracks because of its architecture, no matter how you tweak your buffers.
 
I'm not sure if it is only an audio problem because on the MIDI mixer, it shows the little bar that goes up when a sound is "played" is also about a half of a beat late. The audio and this little bar are together.
 
The latency of the MIDI data should be negligible. I don't know why the visual MIDI indicator should be delayed too unless the "draw" command is tied to the audio output from the softsynth and not the MIDI data input from the MIDI interface.
 
Paul-

I understand what you're saying, but it's still actually an audio problem and, as I said before, since you're getting an error message, that's more than likely where the problem lies. When you play MIDI through a program like Cubase or SONAR, you have both an audio track and a MIDI track (at least that's how SONAR does it), even though it looks like the MIDI is being triggered late, the delay is coming out of the audio side. The ASIO drivers have nothing to do with MIDI.

If you're using the wavetable MIDI that comes with your soundcard, that is probably the root of your problem. It's very possible that it doesn't play well with ASIO drivers and is using the much slower MME drivers.

Do you have any outboard MIDI modules or keyboards? If so, try using them with the MIDI interface on the US224. I'll bet you get much better results. Or, try running a softsynth within Cubase. Again, with the ASIO drivers you should get much better results. Truthfully, onboard soundcards (I'm assuming that's what you're using) are all crappy and should be avoided. Some people are able to use them for basic things like playing back CDs or triggering system sounds, but they're not really useful for serious audio work and often cause problems with other devices.

I simply know nothing about Cubase specifically, so I really can't help you except in a general way. I know that Steinberg has a Cubase forum, you'll probably have the best chance of getting a good answer from them.

Good luck!

Ted
 
How does it work when I hook up a keyboard. I know I need to hook up the cable but does the Tascam unit automaticaly recognize my keyboard or do I have to do something special. Do I need to hook up input and output to the same device? Also what is a softsynth? Thanks.
 
Ok, you really need to spend some time reading manuals and learning something about the tools you own. Why did you buy all these things if you have no idea what they do? I'm not trying to be harsh, but some of your questions are a little surprising.

A soft-synth is a software synthesizer. IOW, it's not a hardware box. Cubase, I'm sure, comes with something and there are many that you can download as VSTi plug-ins online.

I'm assuming that you've already installed the drivers for the Tascam and that it's configured properly.

If you have a MIDI keyboard, connect the MIDI Out on the Tascam to the MIDI In on the keyboard and the MIDI In on the Tascam to the MIDI Out of the keyboard.

If the Tascam has been installed properly and configured within Cubase, then you should be able to record MIDI events into Cubase and when you play back a MIDI file, your keyboard should generate sounds.

You never really answered if you're using the wavetable synth on your internal soundcard. If that's the case, I already explained what's probably happening.

Ted
 
Thanks, I'll try hooking it up. By the way, I was using the souncard synth. The software doesn't have one seeing as it is the sofware that came bundled with the unit. I am planning on upgrading soon. Thanks for all of your help.
 
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