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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 68
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OP
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I am currently running BIAB on an ASUS G73jh laptop with the normal, make that read, not so good, sound card. Latency is running somewhere around 100 to 105 ms. I have tried ASIO 4ALL but that doesn't help very much. When I try to use my guitar or keyboard with BIAB the latency makes it impossible to try to play along. I think, please correct me if I'm wrong, that maybe a good, external sound card may solve the problem. I am trying to make some backing tracks to jam along with, but not having much success. I would like to record myself playing along with the backing track to see if that will help me get up to speed on timing and chord changes. Please let me know if anyone else has had this problem and if going to a new, better, external sound card was of any help. If so, could you recommend a good sound card to buy. I would like to keep the price around $75.00 or less if that is possible. If I can solve the latency problem I will probably upgrade to BIAB 2015. Many thanks.....
Phestus
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,808
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You need to look into a dedicated interface.
Get a USB connected, interface that can run native ASIO drivers. Native simply means no codecs and no wrappers like ASIO4ALL. Just the real ASIO drivers. The interface will also run all the other drivers as well but you need ASIO to do it right.
These cards/interfaces will make ALL the difference in the world.
I bought a Focusrite Saffire interface. Recording is now as natural as it's supposed to be. Latency is so low it's non-existant for all practical purposes. Under 8ms with my rig. 10 to 12ms is as high as you want it to be. Everything in my system plays totally in sync including the CPU heavy soft synths I have in the DAW.
Focusrite, Presonus, Roland, M-Audio..... just a few brands to look into. Avoid the "magical usb cord gizmos" because they may be cheap but they are not a good solution. Also avoid USB mics for similar reasons.
Don't be afraid to spend the money for a good interface. It's the heart of your studio and a good one makes like in the studio so much sweeter and easier, plus, it will last you for many years. My interface moved from my Dell lappy to my custom built DAW and still keeps working after more then 7 years......
Look for the proper number of inputs and outputs you will need, phantom power for condenser mics, audio preamps for guitars and mics, ASIO driver support, USB connection vs Firewire... go for USB.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 622
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 622 |
The Sapphire also has a "direct" channel that goes to your earphones bypassing the computer bus, but I find the latency low enough to me unnoticeable through my amp headphones.
Jan - 12 Core AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
32GB DDR4
Win 10 64-bit
Samsung m.2 SSD Boot drive,other SSD internal and USB drives.
MOTO 2
Ketron SD90
Aerophone AE-30, Yamaha WX-7
Yamaha RX-v381amp
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 68
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OP
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 68 |
Thanks for the quick response. I think you have just provided the answer to my problems. Been fighting this for quite sometime. Time to give up the fight and get the things fixed and move on. Shopping for the interface starts today. I will definitely check out the suggestions for interfaces you provided. Many thanks.
Phestus
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 68
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OP
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 68 |
Thanks Philly. You posted your answer while I was typing a response to Guitarhacker. Another unit to check out. Can't have too much info when trying to resolve a problem like this. Especially since I am new to this recording stuff. I've had my setup for sometime but health and other things kept interferring with getting down to business. Got to get a move on. 77 going on 90.
Phestus
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,730
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There are a lot of happy users of these type interfaces here, and one at the top of the list is anything Focusrite. I will toss in my complete happiness with PreSonus. I find their preamps pristine, and the software drivers very powerful, and another benefit to PreSonus is that you get a free copy of Studio one artist. A very powerful and useful companion to BiaB/RB. Those two brands seem to make up a large portion of what folks use these days.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,901
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Hey don't forget the MOTU. Besides rock solid drivers, the LED meters and lights on the front panel are simply stunning when you have multiple inputs recording in the dark. 
BIAB – 2026, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 622
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 622 |
One thing I DID find with my old M-Audio Fast Track Ultra was that DE-creasing the ASIO buffers was the key to low latency. The M-Audio is a decent device, but far too complex with all the multiple busses etc. for my needs. I DID like the digital out though, that I miss with my Focusrite. The RCAs are VERY noisy on my desktop. No problems with my Surface Pro 3, but I guess my desktop has a lot going on in the box. I use the Focusrite as an input and output through the Coax digital on my mobo.
Last edited by PhillyJazz; 01/02/15 01:05 PM.
Jan - 12 Core AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
32GB DDR4
Win 10 64-bit
Samsung m.2 SSD Boot drive,other SSD internal and USB drives.
MOTO 2
Ketron SD90
Aerophone AE-30, Yamaha WX-7
Yamaha RX-v381amp
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 68
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 68 |
Thanks for all the additional responses and the good info they provided. If I can't get my problem taken care of now, the problem is me and not the equipment. I'm on my way.
Phestus
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,869
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,869 |
Yes you get better results with a decent sound card, but a cheap usb sound card will also give decent latency these days. I have a small (matchbox size) device that cost me about £20 UK and does a great job.
Tech has moved on and there is a lot of decent stuff these days
Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,808
Veteran
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Veteran
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Wherever you buy, be sure they have a 30 day (minimum) no questions asked full 100% refund policy.
That way, you have a full month or more to see if the interface works like you need it to work.
In the past, it's been my experience from helping other folks starting out that certain brands had issues that were problematic.
All the brands named above in the posts are good candidates to choose from. I advise staying away from anything that's a cord based device, a USB mic, or uses some proprietary codec or driver wrapper. All those tend to be trouble.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 68
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 68 |
More good info. Thanks to all who have responded to my request for help with this problem. Still haven't made a purchase. Doing some research on which one I think will work best for my setup.
Phestus
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