Decided to add some synths to the plug-ins list, so as not to be limited to ForteDXi voices. Chose the synth tab, per the BIAB instructions, and navigated to my Cakewalk folder which contains most of my plug-ins. Started with Native Instruments Akoustik Piano - loaded fine, played fine. Then chose NI's B4 II (organ) - loaded fine but wouldn't play at all (yes I had an organ voice selected). Then chose NI's Elektrik Piano - full 5 seconds latency. Funny thing is, after I shut down BIAB and re-opened, it still had Elektrik Piano as the plug-in, and it played with almost no latency whatsoever. But as soon as I switched to Akoustik Piano (which had played fine the first time), I then got the big 5 second latency from that one too.

All of these VSTi's play with no noticeable latency in Sonar. Any reason why they'd be giving me trouble in BIAB? Does it have to do with registering them with BIAB first? I'm using ASIO and have an Edirol UA-25EX sound interface. My USB midi controller at the moment is a new Akai Pro LPK25 Laptop Performance Keyboard. Again, no latency whatsoever in Sonar with this very same setup, both directly before and directly after my aforementioned BIAB session. BIAB 2010, Build #294. Thanks for any input.

- Bob K.

Not much to add, but the Dxi Vsc version always worked perfectly with my rigs.

Then I got the Ketron and ditched the plug in stuff. Haven't looked back.

My Roland Rogers W50 keyboard may be older than dirt but some of the sounds are better than the Ketron so run both line out and midi out and choose which to use. Stick that in the notes at the start of the song. All my songs are saved so the mixer has all buttons, midi, audio, mic at 12 oclock, and a note if I need to move the main volume control.

Hi Bob,

Those VSTi's you mention are not GM compat multitimbral, are they? Don't know, but that *may* have something to do with it. BiaB is designed to address a single synth that is multitimbral.


--Mac

I tried a non mutitimbral VSTi and it played fine. Weird but fine.

Hello Bob,

To improve the latency, you should use ASIO drivers, and check the setting 'ASIO Always On' in the drivers window. But - if you are wanting to use different VSTi plugins for different tracks, you should use RealBand instead, since Band-in-a-Box can only use one VSTi plugin at a time.

I just checked and B4II does work in BiaB. But you must set the midi output channel(s) in BiaB to match the B4II input channel. However you will only get one sound, that of the B4II. No drums, strings, bass etc as BiaB can only use one VSTi or DXi at a time. You should be using a sequencer if you want to use multiple VSTs and DXs.

I use Cakewalks TTS-1 as my main sound source in BiaB. I use BiaB as a sketch pad then bring everything into Sonar. I end up modifying most of the BiaB midi files and changing the sound source from the TTS-1 to many other better sounding, IMO, sources.

Hi! Mario how did you get tts1 to play in biab when I tried It told me it would only play in sonar!! Pete b

Hi Pete, I don’t know. I just picked TTS-1 from the VST/DXi drop down menu and it worked. The TTS-1 is from Sonar 5.2PE, an older version of Sonar for sure. Maybe it has changed, don’t know, but I doubt it. I’m also using MME drivers. Again don’t know if that would make a difference. I also have GM2 support highlighted and route midi thru to midi driver checked. I also have the latest addition of BiaB with all the updates on. However I’ve been using TTS-1 for some time now.

Sorry I can’t be more helpful. If you’re still having problems feel free to PM me and hopefully I can help you without tying up the forum.

Edit: I just read in another message that you are using Windows 7/64 bit. I'm using 32 bit XP Pro. If I remember correctly I don't think TTS-1 will run on win 7/64 bit. You should check over at Cakewalks forums for that. Note that as I don't have nor do I plan on buying real soon, Win 7/64 bit. I'll wait until all of you envelope leading types clear the way for me

I would add that I have tried very hard to get my ASIO drivers working well in BIAB on two different computers with two different high quality manufacturers' ASIO drivers, RME and Echo Audio, and also with the well regarded ASIO4All ASIO driver ... and have given up. I'm either using MME drivers on Windows or direct midi to sound module.

I also note that I have never had these problems in any other audio software package I own, which includes to latest updates Cubase5, Ableton6, AcidPro6, Reaper3 and many other applets ... or stand alone synths like NI FM8.

The very fact that, as you describe, it works sometimes and doesn't others suggests a basic problem with BIAB's ASIO implimentation. That was my experience as well. Further, everytime, on both PCs, I have changed the VST/ DXi host the program has crashed ... although with the MME drivers is properly loaded on boot up.

If you search this forum for "ASIO," you will find all kinds of threads noting these or similar ASIO problems ... as well as comments in many of the threads from some folks who report they have never experienced these problems.

Now, while it is true that proper GM patch selection sync issues will affect the sound that you get (the patch that plays) from your VSTi, it has absolutely nothing to do with latency ... other than in the very odd case that the patch that responded just happened to be some pad with an extraordinary long attack time.

I, as I believe others, have simply learned to compose/ arrange in BIAB and then drag the song's converted midi file to your sequencer of choice ... where easier patch and instument selection is available ... with the expected low latency of ASIO other things being equal, i.e., you have enought CPU and RAM to set a low buffer in your ASIO audio device. That would be my choice and recommendation for recording midi or audio to a song you created in BIAB.

Prado