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midi keyboard delay (not the effect!)

Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 12:15 am
by cleeko
i was wondering if someone could give me some advise on this problem

iv recently got a midi keyboard (CM UF5) and have got it running on my PC. it all seems to working fine except that when u play something there is nearly a second delay between the key being pressed and the sound coming through even though it registers on cubase in real time. the computer is new and pretty high spec although i havent got a new sound card in it yet. is this delay because of the shitty built in card or something completely different?

thanks guys

Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 12:30 am
by auan
Yep.

Basically the delay is caused by your computer taking time to do all the DSP stuff that the synth is doing, and then figuring out how to play it on your crappy built-in audio and even crapper Windows multimedia drivers. We geeks call it latency. And we run soundcards that use ASIO drivers, which replace the Windows drivers for audio apps, and take the latency down to times your ear can't even register. Unfotunately consumer soundcards and built-in audio don't support ASIO.

Long-term, you should invest in a decent PCI soundcard or USB interface. Personally I recommend the E-mu 0404 but the M-Audio Audiophile is another popular budget choice.

Meantime, get yourself a free prog called ASIO4ALL, which emulates ASIO drivers on any soundcard. It's by no means perfect, but will allow you to have fun with the CME (which I am completely jealous of btw) until your next paycheque drops.

Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 12:41 am
by cleeko
thanks thats really helpful!
I was looking at the M-audio Audiophile 2496 so thats good to hear
and yes the keyboard is sweeet, actually picked it up second hand on ebay.. dunno if this is like a studio sin but it seems fine to me!

Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 12:43 am
by auan
About everything in my studio but the computer itself came from ebay mate :D

Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 12:07 pm
by feasible_weasel
Auan wrote:About everything in my studio but the computer itself came from ebay mate :D
chairs and carpets too :wink: :D