KVR Audio

addylewis · Post by **addylewis** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 3:04 pm

Bloody annoying innit?

I'd like to use v-stack as a host, but I get just as much latency from my instruments as I do in cubase...whats everyone think of it as a host?

I'm using a usb interface at the moment, and I'm getting some right latency - you can tap a key and snatch your hand away before you get any sound out the speakers...

I'm getting a USB keyboard in a couple of days - should that help the latency? - it was fine when I was using it via the joystick port on my old PII - no problems whatsoever - but now I'm actually using the MIDI socket and a USB interface (coz my new computer hasn't got a joystick port) I find it hard to play anything into the bloody thing...!!

n-04:05:03:05:7 · Post by **n-04:05:03:05:7** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 3:12 pm

What brand/model of USB interface are u using?

addylewis · Post by **addylewis** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 3:17 pm

its not a right expensive one (i'm a bass player really - can't afford a lot for my keyboard stuff (still a student) - its a USB midisport 2x2, I know its not great, but I'd still like to be able to play something into it and not have my timing thrown off every 2 secs ya know...)

Hovmod · Post by **Hovmod** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 3:22 pm

I've got the 2x2 and I get good latency values, independent of hosts. Are you sure you've got the latest drivers for your sound card installed? That made a huge difference for me.

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 3:46 pm

Hovmod wrote:I've got the 2x2 and I get good latency values, independent of hosts. Are you sure you've got the latest drivers for your sound card installed? That made a huge difference for me.

2x2 turned out to be a nightmare for me...either my computer would lose it or sometimes out of the blue it crashed my system (bsod). It did this on two machines...in fact after my experiences in retail and with my dio soundcard, my 2x2 and uno I can safely say it will be a long time before I go near them again...even if they did get bought out (which btw now their hq is 2 miles away)...

TBH though I think many computers have issues with usb devices that get powered via usb. My Edirol PCR50 use to pop up with the message "hardware not found" all the time and I had to reboot...last spring I used the ac adapter and it hasn't happened at all since

addylewis · Post by **addylewis** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 4:04 pm

I dunno - I've found the latency is more on some instruments than others when I'm using them as standalone (does that sound right...?)

the native B4 is the main problem - in a host or independantly its got a half second latency - the moogs are almost fine independantly (i've got the Minimonsta which is very little (actually playable with no problems when standalone), the arturia mini/modular moogs which aren't really that playable and the b4 which is just stupid) this isn't including Da Hornet, the plugsound modules and a few other non-standalone synths which are almost useless as they are now... - do ya reckon the usb controller may get rid of the impossible latency?

oh yeah - hovmod, I'm not using a proper soundcard - just the on-board C-media card buuilt into the computer (well, I could try and upgrade the drivers - but it works for recording and stuff as it is and I don't wanna risk messing it up...)

Scotrick · Post by **Scotrick** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 4:28 pm

yup, there's a small confusion here...

latency is a function, almost completely, of your soundcard, not the MIDI interface...

and then, your host, whatever host you play your VSTi in... if the ones you've mentioned all have standalone modes, and you're simply playing them from your MIDI interface to the soundcard, then for sure your problem is due to your soundcard's sample rate and buffer settings...

all of those VSTi you've mentioned are great units that deserve a high quality sound card to show their strengths... the built-in one you're using doesn't have the best analog to digtial converters, so not only are you losing quality with what you record, but you also aren't hearing the true sounds of your recordings as the digital to analog conversion isn't very good either...

but if you're stuck with it for financial reasons, you should search for the asio4all driver and install it, and then try low buffer settings, around 512 tends to get reasonable latency while still maintaining crackle free recording (for a bunch of sound cards, yours might be different)

good luck, and get a new sound card as soon as you can... look at it like this: how much did you spend on your bass? your computer? all of those soft synths? your sound card, for your recording purposes, is just as important as those tools, and you should spend just as much on it

markroom · Post by **markroom** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 4:35 pm

get a better sound card- make sure it has asio2 drivers example- emu 0404 about one hundred bucks

or try downloading asio4all

if ur card cant cut it -it dont matter what u stick in it

addylewis · Post by **addylewis** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 4:58 pm

cheers for the advice - I'll see if I can get a different soundcard...but won't the drivers for my built in card naff it up? - I've been told it can if you've got more than one card in...

addylewis · Post by **addylewis** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 4:59 pm

oh yeah - I paid nothing whatsoever for the synths (bootleg) the computer was a 5-600 quid job off ebay

GypsyJazz · Post by **GypsyJazz** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 2:10 am

addylewis wrote:cheers for the advice - I'll see if I can get a different soundcard...but won't the drivers for my built in card naff it up? - I've been told it can if you've got more than one card in...

Disable onboard sound in the bios.

Scotrick · Post by **Scotrick** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 3:56 pm

well, I can't resist the slap with the newspaper:\

from me to you: DON'T STEAL SOFTWARE!

hopefully they'll lock this thread

there's so many free VSTi out there...

but the most important part is that you can't expect your built-in audio card to compare to a pro or even a semi pro card like an M-Audio 2496...

addylewis · Post by **addylewis** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 7:21 pm

I'll try it - is the ONLY way of getting into the bios when the computer is booting windows? - if it is then I'm knackered coz my keyboard is a USB plug-and-play-within-windowsxp one which doesn't work outside of windows...

I've got a sound blaster live card knocking around somewhere (an internal one from about 5 years ago) do ya reckon that'd work better? (not sure exactly which version...the gold one I think...it didn't come with that front drive bay thing and theres only one actual card) - I suppose its worth just having a bash with it and seeing what happens...

waiting man · Post by **waiting man** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 7:53 pm

you'll try what?
a new soundcard or stopping the stealing?

and no, avoid the soundblaster like there's no tomorrow.

Midiworks · Post by **Midiworks** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 9:57 pm

Try this:
http://www.asio4all.com/

LATENCY...GRR...!!! opinions on V-stack as a VSTI host?