Delay issue recording MIDI track

[mickeyboy]

Hi all.

Let me explain what happens. I have a bunch of tracks already recorded, and what I want to do is to listen to the playback while I record the drum section using my MIDI controller. During the playback, I play the drums in what seems to be real time, but when I play everything back, the drums are slighty delayed. They don´t fit with the rest of the tracks.

Why does this happen and what can I do to fix it??

I´d strongly appreciate any help.

Thanks a lot

[brandondrury]

What recording software are you using?

Brandon

[gaz777]

this is a very common problem when attempting to record midi and listen to midi output at the same time. As well as what software are you using? also, what soundcard are you using? this happens very often when you are not using the ASIO drivers on soundcards that require the use of ASIO drivers for midi output to be in real time. For example, I am a heavy user of sampletank, if i don't slect the ASIO driver and just use standard windows drivers when i input midi, i experience exacly the same prob as you.

Regards,
Gary Arnold

Creative Director
Wavtracks Royalty Free Music
http://www.wavtracks.com
info@wavtracks.com

Wavtracks Royalty Free Music
P.O Box 56, Southgate
Sylvania 2224 NSW
Australia

[mickeyboy]

Sorry about the lack of info.

My audio interface is the EMU 1616M. and I use Cubase SX3. My OS is and AMD 3000+ 2Gb RAM and everything goes as smoothly as a sequencer should.

I have no problems whatsoever when recording guitars or mic´d intruments in real time, only have problems with MIDI data. I have the EMU ASIO drivers installed, selected and working, and all my MIDI inputs and outputs seem to be working flawlessly.

As I said, when I play all the tracks back, and press the keys of my keyboard, I hear the sound in real time, but when I actually record the track and then play everything back again (including the newly recorded MIDI track), the latest is slightly delayed.

I hope I´m making myself clear, if not, please ask me and I´ll give you all the info you might need.

Is there any way to fix this?

Thanks a lot.

[brandondrury]

I had this problem with Cubase SX3. When I downloaded the latest version of Cubase SX3, it fixed it.

Brandon

[mickeyboy]

Humm, I´ve downloaded the update (3.1.1.944) and still not working...

Any ideas? Could it have anything to do with some kind of buffer size somewhere??

Just thinking out loud.

[fabofrank]

hi Guys!

I have exactly the same problem! I'm using Cubase Studio 4 tog with an emu 4040 usb 2.0 and I'm sure the rest of my hardware is up to spec, eg ASIO drivers. Jus like mickeyboy, when i play and record over existing tracks in real time, it all sounds in beat, I even put on the metronome to be really sure. However, during playback, it all goes haywire!

I try reading up about it and got even more confused with terms like "direct monitor" being on or off, "having different buffer space during recording and playback"...and I know its got something to do with latency!

So now I'm stuck and can't move on. Any help is greatly appreciated and I know I speak for mickeyboy as well!

Cheers!

[mickeyboy]

Hey mate, I got this answer from someone else.

E-DSP also provides zero-latency, hardware-based mixing and monitoring via the included PatchMix DSP mixer, delivering unmatched flexibility in routing audio between all of your physical and virtual (ASIO/WDM) inputs and outputs- no external mixer needed.

You want to setup patch-mix to monitor directly off the audio interface when using mics. With software instruments you are stuck with post cpu monitoring. However, with hardware synth monitoring you again want to monitor off the input, not post CPU. For software, you want to use the smallest buffer size you can get away with. Make sure you are using the emu asio driver and not any imposter asio drivers. Latency compensation may not help and may make it worse. It basically delays what you hear so all the software processes happen on time.[/I]

I understand that it has to do with the buffer size. I´m gonna check it out right now. Please let me know if you make any advantages, and I´ll do the same.

Cheers.

[fabofrank]

Hey Mickeyboy,

I think I got it. I did a few stuff though so I don't exactly which is the magic button I pressed! Since our equipment are quite similar, except that I'm using Cubase Studio 4, it might work for you too...

Try this (I hope your SX3 screen is similar to mine)...

1. Go to the "File" menu and select "Prerefences".
2. From it, click on "VST" - under the option "Delay compensation....(for Recording", select 0.3ms.
3. click "Apply", "OK" then get out of that menu.
4. Now go to "Device" menu and select "Device Setup"
5. Click on "Midi Port Setup" - At the bottom of the screen, you will see "Use system time stamp...."
6. Make sure the box is "ticked"

After that, my recording sounds much better although it is not watertight yet!

You might wanna read this as well:
http://knowledgebase.steinberg.net/95_1.html

If I fig out more stuff, will share with all! Good Luck!

[mickeyboy]

Hey buddy!

I DO GOT IT.

First off, thanks a lot for the info, it´s been quite useful. If you check out the link you sent me, you´ll see there is another topic on the subject, labelled HOW CAN I COMPENSATE FOR SHIFTED OR DELAYED MIDI !!! which explains exactly how to fix the problem. It is SO simple to be fixed that it´s almost ridiculous.

This is the link. It worked perfectly for me, I hope it also will for you.

http://knowledgebase.steinberg.net/183_1.html

Now I´m a happy bunny!!