question about buffering

[ckzdub]

Im using FL i dont really know anything about buffer length or how it works but read something saying if you get cracks stutters or pops you should try lowering your buffer length. my computer is pretty strong, 2gb of ram and quad core processer ive never really had issues with lag stutters on playback but on the current tune im working on i got a ton of vst's / tons of processing on many different channals and it seems to be causing lag. i heard this could be a result of having just a standard audio card that with came with my pc, and getting a specialized 1 for production will help reduce these unwanted noises and lags... ive only been produducin for serveral months now but think it might be time to get a soundcard, UNLESS this problem is possible to fix with buffering.

my buffer length before i touched it or modified it came standard at around 2200 samples (51 sec), i am starting to get lag at this setting so i tried lowering it just even a little and it started lagging more. so i tried raising it to about 2600 is where it stopped stuttering and it seemed to help slightly although random hi-hats volume would become very quiet almost unhearable and completely screw up my mix... should i just adjust the mix acordingly to where it doesnt lag? it seems way off because to get the hat to how loud it was before at this buffer length i had to put it up to like +20 db when it was at -8db before...


any ideas on what i should do in this situation, i really wanna just be able to load as much shit as possible into my daw and never have to worry about lag/stutters/ pops/ unwanted sounds. i also would like to be able to record from my midi keyboard and having exactly what i play record to the daw without having lag and having to move each note with my curser slightly, which is something i have to do every single time no matter what.


thanks in advance

[abelard]

built in sound is shit, the only real cure is an audio interface

download the ASIO driver, should be able to get your latency down to almost nothing.

[corpu5]

im in the same boat as you me bradha, i use ableton on a 2gb/ dual core processor/ vista laptop and never had problems until i started processing/splitting my basslines and i'd suddenly get cracks n delays n shits. Im hoping an audio card will solve most of the problems, ive downloaded those asio drivers but they only help a bit, i'll assume in conjunction with an audio interface all me worries will dissapear am i right? Dont tell me to get a macbook pro...

[relik]

the buffer length really shouldn't have any relation to the loudness of your hats. something else is probably going on there, but yeah, either get an audio interface or use the ASIO drivers to solve the latency issues. the ASIO drivers should already be installed as they come with FL. i'd take a look at your CPU and memory usage too if you still have underruns. you could just be maxing your system out if you are using a bunch of VSTs and have other programs running at the same time. should really use a machine that's dedicated for production only if you aren't and disable all the visual effects and other useless crap in your OS.

[drokkr]

I use FL and have had no problems since I put ASIO on my comp at the start of the year.

You could also bounce your synth parts to audio that will free up lots of cpu, this should help you a bit

[Depone]

2 gig of ram is also nearly the bare minimum for a clean stutter free workhorse... i Suggest getting at least 4gigs. That and a proper low latency usb/firewire external soundcard.

[my_fickle_eye]

http://www.asio4all.com/ and put the buffer size to maximum!

[rekstep]

when u download asio wat folders do u put it in for fl

[Basic A]

when u download asio wat folders do u put it in for fl

Dont listen to these guys, FL install ASIO for all by default.

And thats wierd dude, buffer length has nothin to do with how the sound is processed, it just sets how much of it gets 'buffered' or processed early, like on youtube vids, get it?

[grooki]

If you want seamless midi then yes you will have to get a soundcard. I don't mind the lag much, but then I never record things live, I create the line on the keyboard and then key it in.

[rekstep]

in the mean time i can figure anything to do to fix it buffer length aint doing






Edit: wat they said ^^ to do worked

[JFK]

2gb of Ram is insufficent mate. Bottom line.

4gb minimum. Preferrably 6 - 8gb.