Kontakt 5 "latency/ Delay" with SONAR Platinum

[Andre Fernandes]

I have the latest version of KONTAKT (8 cores, offline interpolation: like realtime). I use it on Cakewalk Sonar Platinum. My computer has 16 GB RAM, WIN 10, Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-7700 CPU @ 3.60GHz, 3601 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 8 Logical Processor(s).

THE PROBLEM:

No matter the buffer size in my ASIO driver (from 16 up to 1024) - I usually use 512, to produce - I always get a slight delay from Kontakt (from light simple instruments to complicated articulated libraries). Even if I bounce the MIDI to audio I always have to drag the audio a bit early to get it right to the BPM.

ANY SUGGESTION/ SOLUTION?

[flugel45]

Is it a constant delay on all notes (latency) or just the first note not sounding/sounding late?

Is this just with Kontakt? What about other soft synths?

[Andre Fernandes]

Is it a constant delay on all notes (latency) or just the first note not sounding/sounding late?

Is this just with Kontakt? What about other soft synths?

All notes get that tiny small delay, in Kontakt.

As for other VSTi, I use lots of them and all work good. The only one I had a similar issue - this kind of tiny delay - was with refx VANGUARD.

[Jim Roseberry]

Latency has but two sources:
- Audio Interface
- Latent plugins

Due to Automatic Plugin Delay Compensation;
If you have a latent plugin inserted *anywhere* in the project, all other audio (including Kontakt) will be delayed by that exact amount (to maintain sample-accurate sync).

There's a Global PDC Bypass option in the Control Strip.
If this solves the latency issue, the problem was a latent plugin.

You don't list your specific audio interface.
You might want to use a short "impulse" (high transient) signal... and re-record that (looped back from your interface's output back to its input). Now zoom-in fully... and measure the exact timing offset.
If there's a timing offset between the two, the audio interface isn't reporting its offset correctly.
In that case, you need to manually enter that correct offset in Sonar.
At that point, all recorded audio should line up accurately with existing audio.

If you're using Kontakt libraries that make use of convolution processing, this may be adding latency.
If you're using Kontakt libraries with advanced scripting, this may be adding latency.

[Jim Roseberry]

When it comes to latency, some audio interfaces have significantly higher latency than others.
ie: If you're using a USB audio interface that has a large hidden safety-buffer, there will be significant latency at a 512-sample ASIO buffer size. Could easily be 20+ms... which would feel extremely sluggish.

[Andre Fernandes]

I use FOCUSRITE Scarlett 2i2.

If I start a new project, all VSTi and audio recording work perfectly on time. If I add Kontakt or Vanguard (vst) I get this small delay.

Latency has but two sources:
- Audio Interface
- Latent plugins

Due to Automatic Plugin Delay Compensation;
If you have a latent plugin inserted *anywhere* in the project, all other audio (including Kontakt) will be delayed by that exact amount (to maintain sample-accurate sync).

There's a Global PDC Bypass option in the Control Strip.
If this solves the latency issue, the problem was a latent plugin.

You don't list your specific audio interface.
You might want to use a short "impulse" (high transient) signal... and re-record that (looped back from your interface's output back to its input). Now zoom-in fully... and measure the exact timing offset.
If there's a timing offset between the two, the audio interface isn't reporting its offset correctly.
In that case, you need to manually enter that correct offset in Sonar.
At that point, all recorded audio should line up accurately with existing audio.

If you're using Kontakt libraries that make use of convolution processing, this may be adding latency.
If you're using Kontakt libraries with advanced scripting, this may be adding latency.

[Andre Fernandes]

When it comes to latency, some audio interfaces have significantly higher latency than others.
ie: If you're using a USB audio interface that has a large hidden safety-buffer, there will be significant latency at a 512-sample ASIO buffer size. Could easily be 20+ms... which would feel extremely sluggish.

What I don't understand is why is Kontakt affected and not all the other tens of VSTis I use.

[Andre Fernandes]

Latency has but two sources:
- Audio Interface
- Latent plugins

Due to Automatic Plugin Delay Compensation;
If you have a latent plugin inserted *anywhere* in the project, all other audio (including Kontakt) will be delayed by that exact amount (to maintain sample-accurate sync).

There's a Global PDC Bypass option in the Control Strip.
If this solves the latency issue, the problem was a latent plugin.

If I start a new blank project and only add Kontakt, the delay occurs.

[EvilDragon]

I wonder if the instrument you've loaded into Kontakt uses convolution effect. And if so, is the effect's latency set to zero latency mode or not, and if latency compensation is enabled or not.

[Andre Fernandes]

I wonder if the instrument you've loaded into Kontakt uses convolution effect. And if so, is the effect's latency set to zero latency mode or not, and if latency compensation is enabled or not.

It happens with ALL Kontakt instruments. Lets say, the "classic bass", from the Factory Library. It has NO convolution effect.

[Jim Roseberry]

If you enable the "Global PDC Bypass" option in the Control Strip, does the latency go away?

[Andre Fernandes]

If you enable the "Global PDC Bypass" option in the Control Strip, does the latency go away?

I just tried it in Sonar. Didn't help, stills have delay (playind MIDI & bouncing to audio)

[msorrels]

Classic Bass does have a reverb turned on by default. If you turn that off does the delay go away? In the test I just did with SONAR Platinum I loaded the Kontakt 5 Factory Classic Bass. It comes loaded with a club reverb enabled. If I play a single quarter note and record the audio output, with that enabled there is a slight delay. With it disabled the sound starts on the beat.

[Andre Fernandes]

Classic Bass does have a reverb turned on by default. If you turn that off does the delay go away? In the test I just did with SONAR Platinum I loaded the Kontakt 5 Factory Classic Bass. It comes loaded with a club reverb enabled. If I play a single quarter note and record the audio output, with that enabled there is a slight delay. With it disabled the sound starts on the beat.

Holy SH*T, man. I turned reverb off and it killed the delay. It must happen in lots of Kontakt instruments cause I have been noticed this before. This is bad and it was driving me nuts!!

[EvilDragon]

It's the convolution module, so I was right. Convolution = reverb, in this case. I also showed you how to fix it. Set the latency to 0 ms and disable delay compensation, then resave the NKI. Guess NI never updated the factory library with this tweak...

Proof: