Computer keyboard speed faster than MIDI keyboard?

chanders · Post by **chanders** » Wed May 09, 2007 2:56 pm

Hi all,
This is my first post! I just have a quick questions for the guys with the know how.

Why is it that if I use my computer keyboard to play notes in a VSTi it is instantaneous but when I use my external keyboard I have the latency problem?

I don't have a pro card yet but if it is instant with the computer keyboard shouldn't it be as fast with the external keyboard?

Thanks!

mister_doctor · Post by **mister_doctor** » Mon May 14, 2007 7:11 pm

This is my first post too! how appropriate

Here's as non-technical an explanation as I can come up with:

PC keyboards are really, really simple. a keystroke to a computer is as natural for it as us breathing. MIDI passes through additional layers of hardware and software before it does anything. Each VSTi adds a tiny bit of latency.

Post some details about your PC hardware / software combo and what MIDI and audio devices your using, so myself and others can be of more help.

A pro card will help. It doesn't have to be expensive. Are you looking to record anything outside of soft-synths?

cheers

chanders · Post by **chanders** » Mon May 14, 2007 7:41 pm

Hey! Thanks for your reply!

I know MIDI would have some delay but I didn't think it would be so much compared to a keystroke

Because the way I see it, the only delay would be between the MIDI controller and the PC. I guess it takes the MIDI to USB cable a long time to actually translate the MIDI so that ABLETON can see it...

I always thought the Latency was from the actual receipt of the message and sound generation, not from the MIDI controller to the software..

I am actually running a Intel Core 2 DUO @ 2.00 GHZ with 2GB Ram and 100GB 7200 RPM harddrive, Dell Precision. I am currently using the onboard soundcard but I just ordered the M-Audio Firewire 410.

I seriously hope that, that card takes care of the latency. Currently I am using a generic MIDI to USB cable for data from the MIDI controller to the PC..

Anyone with other thoughts, don't be shy

Dominik · Post by **Dominik** » Mon May 14, 2007 10:01 pm

if you use a new cheap 15 bugs gamecontroller pci card like a old soundblaster (with the 15 pin connector) just use the midi port from this card beside your new m-audio asio audio = options, connected to a midi keyboard with the standart 5 pin midi connector (a adapter cable is about 8 bugs) and set the buffer size to a low level, you are on the fastest side

chanders · Post by **chanders** » Thu May 17, 2007 2:53 pm

Ok guys, after doing some investigating it seems that the delay is actually in Ableton Live itself.

I used the same exact hardware setup with REASON 3 and the delay was not noticable whereas in LIVE it was quite noticable.

I really hope this changes when I use the M-Audio Firewire 410 as I would like to use a VSTi in Ableton without any noticable delay....

Amaury · Post by **Amaury** » Fri May 18, 2007 2:03 pm

chanders wrote:Ok guys, after doing some investigating it seems that the delay is actually in Ableton Live itself.

I used the same exact hardware setup with REASON 3 and the delay was not noticable whereas in LIVE it was quite noticable.

I really hope this changes when I use the M-Audio Firewire 410 as I would like to use a VSTi in Ableton without any noticable delay....

Hello,

I am not sure of how Reason is coded, but as they only use native devices, I guess they could manage to get as low plugin latency as possible.

VSTi are working with a buffer size. If that buffer size is great, then you'll experience more latency.

We are currently thinking about ways to reduce the experienced latency when playing with the keyboard, but for sure we will never be able to go below the instrument's own latency, and I can't tell if or when we'll have a better solution.

Regards,
Amaury