Midi delay between tracks (latency?)

[IBNezz]

Hello again,

So home recording life has been full of new things learned despite the steep learning curve, but I've come to a few items that I can't seem to find the solution. System description below questions:

1. Midi Latency? - Basically I will lay down my first MIDI track. During recording of 2nd track, I play new MIDI track in synch with the first track, but when I play back both tracks, the 2nd track has lagged behind the first. Is this common and each track just has to be shifted over by the delay amount, or does this sound like a software/hardward issue?

2. Normalizing computer crash - This is probably the result of a slow/low capacity computer, but when I normalize a track, it always crashes. Anyone have the same issue with this?

System:

Laptop computer - probably a couple of years old...and I don't have the processor/RAM info at this moment.

Cubase LE 4

Presonus FP10 interface

Finally, I have been though the entire Cubase LE 4 manual, and have reviewed hundreds of forum topics on this site, but haven't found what a similar issue. (I probably wasn't looking in the right places )

[CyberCat]

What you need to do is to set Cubase to quantize the notes during recording (if that is possible, I've never used Cubase). This will ensure that they always fall in sync with all the tracks. You may have to fiddle with the quantize settings for the various tracks and do a few practice runs before you get the notes to record in sync (you might have to play ahead to compensate for latency).

Or, you can quantize the notes after you record them.

[IBNezz]

Thanks Cybercat. I did try quantitizing last night. Basically, the offset from track to track was so great that although each note was quantitized, the effect did not overcome the offset value (if this makes sense).

After claiming to have reviewed "hundreds" of forum topics in my original post, I notice that this forum as a great feature where it features related post to a person's question. The link below that I just copy/pasted led to a great improvement in the delay. [I'm not sure how to do a quote from a different post]



#9 (permalink) 08-03-2007, 10:58 AM
fabofrank
Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 20
Rep Power: 1


Re: Delay issue recording MIDI track

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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:
PC Windows MIDI port configuration and troubleshooting :: Knowledge Base :: Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH

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

[P.P.T.]

In my host (Tracktion) the overdubs always line up, the latency doesn't affect that.
Maybe it's your host or some setting in your host.

I wouldn't use quantize for this as quantize will effect the timing of your performance. That is, it will affect the timing within the performance as opposed to affecting the timing relative to the other tracks in the project. Unless that is what you want.