KVR Audio

T-CM11 · Post by **T-CM11** » Tue May 01, 2012 1:15 pm

I'm asking this for a friend of mine:
He has a Core2 Quad Q9450 with 8GB RAM etc. running Win7 x64 and a NI Komplete Audio 6. And Cubase 6.
Before that an m-audio Audiophile 2496 and a Novation Nio.
When he plays a Roland XP80 (through a mixer > audio in), there's always an unacceptable latency. It sounds like +40 ms - even though with every audio interface he used the Asio drivers with the lowest buffer settings.
Now the direct monitoring on the NI works, but there's too much latency without.
It looks like the PC is the cause, but what exactly is wrong with it?

UltraJv · Post by **UltraJv** » Tue May 01, 2012 2:26 pm

T-CM11 wrote:I'm asking this for a friend of mine:
He has a Core2 Quad Q9450 with 8GB RAM etc. running Win7 x64 and a NI Komplete Audio 6. And Cubase 6.
Before that an m-audio Audiophile 2496 and a Novation Nio.
When he plays a Roland XP80 (through a mixer > audio in), there's always an unacceptable latency. It sounds like +40 ms - even though with every audio interface he used the Asio drivers with the lowest buffer settings.
Now the direct monitoring on the NI works, but there's too much latency without.
It looks like the PC is the cause, but what exactly is wrong with it?

Direct monitoring is what your supposed to use when monitoring live, thats its purpose. Leave it on and dont worry.

T-CM11 · Post by **T-CM11** » Tue May 01, 2012 2:32 pm

UltraJv wrote: Direct monitoring is what your supposed to use when monitoring live, thats its purpose.

I know. But on my own system, with a Tascam US122MkII, I can play my Slim Phatty with Software effects on it (so no Direct Monitoring), with hardly any noticable latency. So why can't he?

UltraJv wrote:Leave it on and dont worry.

He would like to use VST effects on the audio source before recording...

UltraJv · Post by **UltraJv** » Tue May 01, 2012 2:41 pm

T-CM11 wrote:
UltraJv wrote: Direct monitoring is what your supposed to use when monitoring live, thats its purpose.
I know. But on my own system, with a Tascam US122MkII, I can play my Slim Phatty with Software effects on it (so no Direct Monitoring), with hardly any noticable latency. So why can't he?
UltraJv wrote:Leave it on and dont worry.
He would like to use VST effects on the audio source before recording...

Some FX are for mastering, they have inherent latency and cant be used for live. Thi sis where DPC compensation comes in. Its better on some hosts than others. Ableton is a known offender.

T-CM11 · Post by **T-CM11** » Tue May 01, 2012 2:43 pm

UltraJv wrote: Some FX are for mastering, they have inherent latency and cant be used for live.

But other effects are perfectly fine. I have no problems on my own system. He can't even begin to put effects on it because of the latency.

UltraJv · Post by **UltraJv** » Tue May 01, 2012 2:44 pm

T-CM11 wrote:
UltraJv wrote: Some FX are for mastering, they have inherent latency and cant be used for live.
But other effects are perfectly fine. I have no problems on my own system. He can't even begin to put effects on it because of the latency.

Has he tried DPC latency check :

http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml

He probably has something on his system thats causing this. Or something isnt setup right like correct ASIO driver in Cubase. Is the latency buffer in ASIO setup adjusted for round 5ms ? Maybe its a plugin problem.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Tue May 01, 2012 3:14 pm

I use an NI AK1 on a dual-core laptop (2gb RM) without any latency issues. I can get down to 2ms no problem. Does your friend have the latest drivers installed?

T-CM11 · Post by **T-CM11** » Tue May 01, 2012 3:23 pm

Yep, latest Asio drivers on all 3 audio interfaces! And lowest buffer settings... I tried it all. It seems to much of a coincidence to be blamed on all 3 audio interfaces.
No, didn't try DPC yet. I thought it was more to see spikes, audio interrupts...

RunBeerRun · Post by **RunBeerRun** » Tue May 01, 2012 6:28 pm

That's weird, I would expect at least low latency with crackles. If it was my computer, I'd go into Msconfig and disable everything I could, restart and try again.

UltraJv · Post by **UltraJv** » Tue May 01, 2012 7:00 pm

Does he have any plugs on the main vst stereo output?

T-CM11 · Post by **T-CM11** » Tue May 01, 2012 7:32 pm

No, nothing.

UltraJv · Post by **UltraJv** » Tue May 01, 2012 9:26 pm

What other software has he got on the pc? Some utils (power savers etc) malware checkers can cause trouble.

T-CM11 · Post by **T-CM11** » Wed May 02, 2012 6:54 am

UltraJv wrote:What other software has he got on the pc? Some utils (power savers etc) malware checkers can cause trouble.

Just Cubase 4 & 6, Ms Office 2k7, Avast.

ermi · Post by **ermi** » Wed May 02, 2012 9:06 am

Weird, indeed. Did you try with Wasapi?

Also, did you try disabling Avast?

T-CM11 · Post by **T-CM11** » Wed May 02, 2012 9:26 am

ermi wrote:Weird, indeed. Did you try with Wasapi?

I don't think the NI interface supports WASAPI. Which ones do?

ermi wrote:Also, did you try disabling Avast?

Yep. No difference...

Latency with whatever audio interface