KVR Audio

chironex · Post by **chironex** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 11:15 pm

Hey peoples,

My current MIDI...I dunno, interpreting system (ASIO4ALL, 24 ms Latency at around 512 buffer size) is evidently terrible. What USB-type hardware can I purchase to improve my MIDI latency with a good price/performance ratio? I'm looking to spend around $100 dollars here, anything more is too much. And sound cards don't work; I'm using a laptop.

Thanks for your input!

ford442 · Post by **ford442** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 11:42 pm

ok - you arent talking about MIDI latency - there is such thing, but you mean your overall audio latency.. i would suggest an m-audio external deal.. USB Audiophile is cheap.. i think the 410 has more ins and outs or something.. then there's the firewire audiophile which i have and works very nice if your laptop has built-in firewire - 2-in and 2-out plus MIDI and SPDI/F..

Shy · Post by **Shy** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 11:57 pm

I suggest that you spend 30 dollars more and get Tascam US-122L. It's the best USB interface at this price range. Good low latency performance, which competitors like M-Audio (with Transit which has unusable ASIO performance, and even Fast Track) don't come anywhere near. "2 XLR inputs with phantom power, 2 analog line inputs (1 switchable to high impedance for use with guitars, basses, etc.), 1 MIDI input, 1 MIDI output" = great features. And you also get Cubase LE and GigaStudio 3 LE with it.

thelizard · Post by **thelizard** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 12:07 am

With the 11% over at AudioMidi, you can get it for just about $100, actually. And the US-144 is $120.

chironex · Post by **chironex** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 1:02 am

Cool, thanks!

But, umm...will it work on Vista?

And just to clarify: Putting the US-122L into my USB will (with an installation, I guess) automatically up my latency?

Shy · Post by **Shy** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 5:52 am

It works on Vista. The ASIO latency setting should be accessible either via your host, or a control panel the Tascam software installs. Yes, Tascam's ASIO performance (latency, CPU usage and stability) is much better than you can get with ASIO4ALL on an AC97 sound chip.

C00kie · Post by **C00kie** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:18 am

chironex wrote:My current MIDI...I dunno, interpreting system (ASIO4ALL, 24 ms Latency at around 512 buffer size) is evidently terrible.

That latency is not in the midi path (from keyboard to computer) but in the audio path (from the host to outputs of the soundcard.)

chironex wrote:What USB-type hardware can I purchase to improve my MIDI latency with a good price/performance ratio? I'm looking to spend around $100 dollars here, anything more is too much. And sound cards don't work; I'm using a laptop.

You'll want a USB audio interface with it's own Asio support, maybe you want it to have a midi port also. There are plenty around.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/USB-Sound-- ... rds.gc?o=1

chironex · Post by **chironex** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:40 am

So, considering the Tascam is what has been suggested most, I guess it's what I'll go with! It's only $103 at this audioMidi place...hopefully I can save up enough money before the sale ends!

chironex · Post by **chironex** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:44 pm

Wait a minute...most website I go on give the US-220L a review of only around 7/10. Why is this?

(Sorry about dbl post)

Shy · Post by **Shy** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:18 am

Where? Score based on what?

chironex · Post by **chironex** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 1:09 am

Dunno, I just googled it, and just about every website gave reviews of around 7/10.

Shy · Post by **Shy** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 12:35 pm

Well give at least one example.

chironex · Post by **chironex** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:15 pm

Here's evern worse:

http://www.amazon.com/Tascam-US-122L/dp/B000JQQGZI

I'm running vista. If it's not compatible, than no.

How does the Audiophile rate, latency - wise?

Shy · Post by **Shy** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 5:32 pm

There's one post there from a year ago, of a guy with an attitude problem who probably threatened everyone at Tascam with lawsuits because they simply didn't have Vista support for that device back then. By now it fully supports Vista (both 32 and 64 bit editions) and it's been working just fine for a friend of mine on Vista, with hibernation and all.

Which Audiophile do you mean? I don't think there's a USB Audiophile. Also, I don't see info on M-Audio's site about the FireWire Audiophile. It's probably discontinued. I only see there's a beta driver for Vista 32-bit. I don't know about the FireWire version's latency, but I know the 122L has better latency/performance than the PCI versions.

ford442 · Post by **ford442** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 11:07 pm

omg - i'm so behind the times.. i had no idea my audiophile was discontinued.. but you're right.. i'm fairly certain there was a USB audiophile.. ya - here are it's drivers on the site.. also discontinued i guess..
cubase is showing me 7.8ms in and 7.8ms out at 256 samples on my firewire audiopghile.. FYI..

MIDI Hardware (is this in the correct topic?)