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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 730
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 730 |
I always use the "pause play until MIDI received" option and when using a midi only style and an external synth the song starts "instantly" with the first key press on my midi keyboard. When I choose a style with retracks there is a short delay before the song starts. I always have the external synth set as the output driver, the latency is set to zero and I wait until the real tracks are fully loaded.
Is this inevitable with real tracks? I thought the latency issue was only related to using a software synth?
Tony Wright
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
Have you tried freezing the realtracks in the song? I'd try that and report back!
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Quote:
Is this inevitable with real tracks? I thought the latency issue was only related to using a software synth?
Tony Wright
Hi Tony,
"Latency" refers to how long after a MIDI note-on message is sent before we actually hear the note played, or in the case of recording Audio tracks, how long it takes the monitored Audio to make a "round trip" through the computer to the earphones.
What you are experiencing is not latency, it is the amount of time it takes for a RealTrack to start playing after it begins loading, and is normal.
The Freeze function can be used to eliminate that wait-state, just be advised that a Frozen file will always play the very same realtrack arrangement every time, it will not regenerate a new part when you press Play.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 730
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 730 |
I knew about the real tracks loading time and was waiting until they were fully loaded. I tried freezing the tracks but there is still a very small delay between pressing a keyboard key and the song starting. If you compare the start of a frozen real track song and a midi external synth song, using a midi signal to start both, there is definitely a small but annoying difference - unless it is a peculiarity of my system. It's just that I have got used to using BIAB to play an accompanyment without having to make a slight tempo adjustment as I start the song. If I were a better muscian it probably wouldn't bother me.
Tony Wright
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
I just add a longer intro.
Lately I'm been doing
C.d
C.db
C.dbg
then
C
This give me a measure of drums (or two), then bring in the bass, then the guitar, and to me this sounds cool. I jump in on keys later so any delay at the start is masked by my making eyes at some chick in the front row. In that I only play nursing homes I just hope she doesn't fall asleep before I start the song. Other than that I keep Band in a Box in the wrecked room.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Quote:
I knew about the real tracks loading time and was waiting until they were fully loaded. I tried freezing the tracks but there is still a very small delay between pressing a keyboard key and the song starting. If you compare the start of a frozen real track song and a midi external synth song, using a midi signal to start both, there is definitely a small but annoying difference - unless it is a peculiarity of my system. It's just that I have got used to using BIAB to play an accompanyment without having to make a slight tempo adjustment as I start the song. If I were a better muscian it probably wouldn't bother me.
Tony Wright
Maybe try ASIO audio drivers?
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697 |
Quote:
I always use the "pause play until MIDI received" option and when using a midi only style and an external synth the song starts "instantly" with the first key press on my midi keyboard. When I choose a style with retracks there is a short delay before the song starts. I always have the external synth set as the output driver, the latency is set to zero and I wait until the real tracks are fully loaded.
Is this inevitable with real tracks? I thought the latency issue was only related to using a software synth?
Tony Wright
You're confusing the issue. Midi is still midi whether it's hitting the key on your controller to start the song or hitting that same key to make a sound using a software synth. It's dependent on your midi latency setting either way. ASIO gives you lower latency than MME. If you need to read more about it, do a forum search using keywords "asio latency". It seems like there's a new thread about it every week in both the Biab and RB forums and they go into more detail than you will ever want to know.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 730
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 730 |
Thanks Mac
Yes, I am using ASIO, the tracks are frozen, the software synth is not selected in MIDI setup, and the latency is set to zero but there is still a slight start delay compared with starting my external synth. Does no-one else get this delay? Perhaps I am expecting too much from real tracks.
Tony
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,725
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,725 |
Hello Tony,
In my testing, I do not experience any delay at all - it starts instantaneously whether I'm using RealTracks or MIDI tracks or both. I tested using ASIO4ALL, on a Windows XP machine, using both DXi and a hardware synth. I'm not sure exactly what is causing that problem for you. What is your setup - computer, operating system, soundcard, ASIO drivers?
Check your latency settings again. The setting you are interested in for audio playback is in Opt. | Preferences | Audio. The latency is set in the ASIO driver's control panel. One thing to try is to set ASIO Always On in that dialog. Another thing to check, is to see if you have the same problem if you start playback by pressing a key on your computer keyboard instead of your MIDI keyboard.
Andrew
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 730
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 730 |
Got it!
It was the ASIO "always on" that needed ticking. I'm annoyed with myself because I thought I had that selected but somehow it got unticked. That's the problem with being a casual user of BIAB.
Thanks for your help
Tony
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