Reliable setup at minimum latency. Mac?

[Vresky]

Hello

Till now we perform using a i7 16 giga on windows, this desktop computer allow an output latency close to 1ms.

As its pretty heavy and as midi driver are unstable on windows, we think about changing to MacBook.

Is it possible to run heavy live set on a big MacBook with a 1 ms latency? Are midi driver more stable on Mac ?

To assume this 1 ms latency we use a pci soundcard, if we switch to a MacBook we should grab a solid interface like a rme. We only need 4 in 4 out. Actualy I don't like the idea of a USB or FireWire interface but there is no alternative if we switch to a MacBook.

As this setup is only dedicated to live performances, it shouldn't never krakles or lose the connection with the soundcard. In live we don't use clips, everything is played live. thats why reliability and shorter latency are important to us.

Any feedback about a MacBook setup running a rme or another good soundcard will be very appreciated.

[stoersignal]

that depends on your settings!
which sr, which buffersize are you using when getting 1 ms?
about the midi drivers: yes, they are very stable.
but you should mind: external interfaces always have bigger latencies than internal.
last week i got my Apogee symphony I/O with thunderbolt. that way i have a roundtrip latency of 1.8ms at 96k and a buffersize of 32
btw: i love your music and your maxforlive devices

[Vresky]

Thank you Stoersignal

which sr, which buffersize are you using when getting 1 ms?

was 64 ( at 44khz) and i was sêaking about output latency only , not input + output.


about the midi drivers: yes, they are very stable.

on mac maybe. it seems.
they are not stable at all...to me on pc
.
padkontrol need to be pluged in/out along set in order to restart the connection. we did some test on mac and its 1à time more fadter to get the connection back.

the umg3 and umg2 midi card are really shity material. having a read at the read me file of those interface is just incredible: they are not supposed to work. ( but sometimes it could work for few)

novation product have a twitch, 2 launchpads and a nocturn. Its a fukin mess they disconnect all the time and the "livetwitchtranslator" is a nightmare. plug-in in out the twitch in order to get the connection back occurs blue screen..


but you should mind: external interfaces always have bigger latencies than internal.

yes that what i say, i dont like usb or firewire interface but if we turn mac ( macbook quad or macmini quad) there is no way to use internal interface. If our setup could becomme more stable im ok to lose few ms of latency.. 2or 3.. no more. a mac tower is kind expensive and heavy.. i dont know, maybe i should consider buying a mac pro.


last week i got my Apogee symphony I/O with thunderbolt. that way i have a roundtrip latency of 1.8ms at 96k and a buffersize of 32


thats not bad but it seems tunderbolt slower than a 100 dollar old Pci card. its kind a nonsense. years after years sound card and midi card work slower and slower. thank you capitalism.



i just test a rme and a 2 motu. (babyface, ultralite and mk3) we did test on a duali5 macbook.
the babyface was making a lot of crakle at every latency ...i dont understad. maybe the card is defect.
the motu was kind of ok with a latency of 3 ms.



btw: i love your music and your maxforlive devices

thank you.. i hope we can manage a more stable setup. its really a big problem, we have to cancel the sonar festival and other upcoming gigs . i dont want to go crash myslef there cause of the midi drivers on windows.

i think we will give all our controller ( i keep joypad , joystik and guitar hero that are more reliable than novation and korg product) and we would build osc controller ourself.. whitout driver , just screaming over the Ethernet cable this could be more reliable than all the shit form the industry.


thank you

[blakjesus]

which sr, which buffersize are you using when getting 1 ms?

was 64 ( at 44khz) and i was sêaking about output latency only , not input + output.

I currently use a 2010 Macbook Pro to do live sets (with both clips and instruments) alongside my Saffire Pro 40 interface and get 2.61 ms (output only). For me it's as stable as a rock. Firewire interfaces tend to have a good average latency. Mine isn't even considered "top-of-the-line" but still performs the way i need it to. I'm sure an RME or Motu interface would be able to get you even less latency than mine.

[Vresky]

YO jesus

Thank you for your feedback.

2 or 3 ms its not a big deal. im maybe a bit obsessed with latency. but stability is more important.I will take a look at the safire.