Awhile back, I posted a thread about latency issues that I'm having with BIAB2014. In spite of patient and generous help from several on this forum, it was never completely resolved. In a nutshell, I experience slight but annoying latency using the MME driver. Switching to ASIO4ALL has not helped as I then get no sound from my MIDI keyboard thru BIAB at all. (Keyboard is a Yamaha DGX640). I've tried following the procedure outlined in PGMusic's Help video about Latency, but it hasn't helped. As a result, I have not used BIAB much at all.

Well, now I'm asking whether perhaps there's another (hopefully more reliable/foolproof) way to "skin the cat". Are there hardware options (the more reasonably priced, the better) that would resolve the latency issues I'm having? Perhaps something with it's own ASIO driver?

If so, I'd appreciate any specific links.

FWIW, my set-up is as follows: DGX-640 connects to Win7 laptop computer via USB. Laptop sound is output to Behringer Xenyx502 Mixer which outputs to either headphones or to M-Audio BX5 monitors.

It's also important to note that I use Pianoteq (separate and apart from BIAB) and there is no issue with latency (also using ASIO4ALL). So I definitely do NOT want any proposed hardware solution to compromise Pianoteq's presently excellent performance.

I know absolutely nothing about any possible hardware options, I'd appreciate any explanation on how/where in my set-up any such device be placed (ie - between piano and computer?; between computer and mixer?; etc.

My main goal is to reduce/eliminate latency when I use my keyboard with BIAB. A secondary goal (but not critical) is to improve the quality or even selection of overall sounds in the system. (Would that involve a hardware synth of some sort? And would that be a totally separate device?)

Any help with these questions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Since I use software synths and MIDI controllers with ASIO4ALL and BiaB on my laptop when travelling and very rarely have any issues with that, I'm thinking that the odd man out in your setup is the Pianoteq software.

So that is what I'd be investigating if I were you, maybe there are internal Settings inside the Pianoteq that need to be tweaked, or something like that.

To be positive that is the case, I'd temporarily invoke *other* MIDI software synths and test the latency with BB and those other synths with the setup, for if all the other software synths can be made to work without the latency issue, then the Pianoteq software would definitely be the place to investigate this.


--Mac

I gave up a long time ago trying to eliminate latency from my keyboard when using BIAB and a soft synth. My keyboard line out goes to the mixer in parallel with the line out from a MIDI sound module (currently a SD50) which is driven by BIAB, and another line out from the computer to the mixer for real tracks. This works perfectly with no MME/ASIO issues to worry about.

Tony

Mac, I missing something about what you're suggesting. To clarify - Both BIAB and Pianoteq use ASIO4All. However, I DON'T run them at the same time. IOW, I'm running Pianoteq as a standalone, NOT as a VST plug-in, and not at the same time that I'm running BIAB. So, I don't see how Pianoteq would be interfering with BIAB in any way. (Maybe I'm missing something though....).

I don't particularly want to continue playing with settings inside BIAB. (As I mentioned earlier, I'm just tired of it....). But I'm willing to try to experiment with another MIDI software synth to verify your point, if that's still reasonable based upon what I just explained about how I'm using Pianoteq. What specific software synth would you suggest trying? - Is there one that's available as a free demo?

Thanks.

The Standalone version and the VSTi version are two different animals, man.

If you don't want to get into the inner workings of the Pianoteq VSTi and experiment, then you aren't likely to find joy there at all, don't know what else to say about that.


--Mac

Thanks for the response about your set-up, Tony. I'm not sure whether that type of set-up would work for me though.

If I understand your configuration correctly - your keyboard is not connected to your laptop at all? If that's the case, while it would work for mixing the BIAB output and keyboard output, I wouldn't be able to use Pianoteq (alone) without reconfiguring some cables. (Pianoteq requires that the MIDI controller is connected to the laptop.)

Thanks.

Here's the ASIO DirectX you can try
ftp://ftp.steinberg.net/Download/Hardware/ASIO/


Register 32 bit
copy asiodxfd.dll file to C:\Windows\System32

goto C:\Windows\System32 click on cmd.exe

at prompt type RegSvr32 asiodxfd.dll
Restart


Register 64bit
copy asiodxfd.dll file to C:\Windows\SysWOW64

goto C:\Windows\SysWOW64 right click on cmd.exe run as admin

at prompt type RegSvr32 asiodxfd.dll
Restart

You can change Buffer size for delay, just click on it change, hit enter.

The A53E should have Realtek audio, you can try this Realtek ASIO Driver: Realtek_ASIO_driver_v1.0.0.1.zip
You can adjust latency with the RTASIOCP.exe, might have to right click Run as Admin in Win7 ?
In Audio Stetting choose ASIO > Realtek

Register 32 bit
copy RTHDASIO.dll & RTLCPL.exe file to C:\Windows\System32

goto C:\Windows\System32 click on cmd.exe

at prompt type RegSvr32 RTHDASIO.dll

to un-register RegSvr32 /U RTHDASIO.dll

Restart


Register 64bit
copy RTHDASIO.dll & RTLCPL.exe file to C:\Windows\SysWOW64

goto C:\Windows\SysWOW64 right click on cmd.exe run as admin

at prompt type RegSvr32 RTHDASIO.dll

to un-register RegSvr32 /U RTHDASIO.dll

Restart

I have a number of hardware synths, and most of them have a latency of about 4-6ms - which is for all practical purposes, none.

I believe the Ketron SD2 has the best reputation, but I don't have one so I can't confirm.

I have an array of a half dozen sound modules and a couple of hardware samplers.

A lot of people are going to software synths, and I think that is affecting the hardware market. But I don't think they are ready for me yet - too much latency, too much CPU usage, and that limits how many I can mix together. And when I do mix them, each seems to have a different degree of latency, so they don't work together.

If I were to buy one today, I'd check out the ketron and buy it from a place where I could return it if I didn't like it.

Notes

Hey Solidrock, Thanks for the reply.

Because you posted two different messages, I'm a little confused. A few questions before I try your suggestions:

1. You posted about 2 different files (a file from ftp.steinberg.net and the Realtek ASIO driver). Are you suggesting that I install BOTH, or try the "Steinberg" alone first, and then install the Realtek driver if the first one alone doesn't do the trick? Or only try them one at a time?

2. Will either of these negatively effect ASIO4All which I'm successfully using with Pianoteq (standalone)? Is it OK for a Win7 system to have all 3 files (the Steinberg file, the Realtek file, and ASIO4All) installed concurrently, or is this asking for trouble?

3. Can any of these files be uninstalled easily thru Windows Uninstall function, if need be?

If any of these are successful, I wouldn't need to looks for a hardware solution (and save me some $$$, which is always good).

Thanks!

Thanks for the recommendation, Notes. I may give that a try after first trying some of the software solutions suggested by Solidrock.

I was hoping to read some useful customer reviews of the Ketron SD2 on Amazon, but there are only three and none are very enlightening unfortunately.

Thanks again.

I've used -- and loved the sounds -- of the Ketron SD2 since it came out.

Great little MIDI solution, don't let the small size and ease of operation fool you, that is a plus.

When using it out live, lots of other keyboardists ask me what I'm using for my piano sound.


--Mac

Hmmm...Excellent sound, Ease of Operation....An endorsement from you certainly trumps any Amazon Customer Reviews, Mac. Something to consider....

Thanks!

A friend of mine has the SD-2 and IMHO it is by far the best sounding GM sound set that I have ever heard. Plus there are extra banks with it that also sound excellent!

Solidrock - I did manual installations of both the DirectX ASIO DLL and the Realtek Audio DLL. Latency is about the same (but I do get sounds now when I hit the keys on my keyboard), and there are two other issues:

1.) I get a message that says: "The currently installed soundcard driver does not support Direct Sound Input. Audio Recording is not possible." when I'm in the MIDI/Audio settings dialog in BIAB.

This is confirmed in the Windows Sound settings which indicates that there is no recording device installed. (It shows "No audio devices installed" under "Record"). It has always been this way with this laptop. Am I missing some kind of sound input driver?

2. In terms of adjusting the latency using the "RTASIOCP.exe" file - Exactly where should that file be installed? When I highlight Realtek ASIO, then click on "ASIO Driver Control" in BIAB, I either get nothing popping up or a yellow "Error" box. I think that's because this "RTASIOCP.exe" file isn't where it should be.

Can you (or anyone) provide any insights to these questions?

Thanks!

LATENCY SUCCESS AT LAST!!!!

I don't know what happened, but in the time it took for me to write the above post the latency went away! I've closed/re-started BIAB since then, then did the same with the laptop and the latency is now just fine! I hope it continues to be the case. If so, question #2 above is moot.

However, I still can't record (Question #1), so could still use some help with that.

Thanks!

Vista, Win7 and Win 8 operating systems disable the "record what you hear" or "stereo mix" feature but it's pretty easy to enable the feature.

Right click on the speaker icon near the system clock to open up a sub menu and select the "Recording devices" option.

Once the Recording devices window opens, right click in a blank area where there is no writing to open another sub menu.

Put checkmarks to enable "Show Disabled Devices" and "Show Disconnected Devices"

Back in the Recording devices window, right click on the stereo mix option and enable the option.

Interesting.....Why on earth would this be disabled by default (and so unintuitive to activate)?

This worked exactly as you described, Jim. Thanks!

Copy RTLCPL.exe to the same location as RTHDASIO.dll that should give you the Realtek ASIO Control Panel from the audio settings.

Newbert, I've said this so many times and I'm laughing right now. Been there, done that. It's a good thing I still have thick hair or I'd be bald by now from all the hair pulling over this stuff.

You have to turn yourself into a computer nerd to work with digital audio. Just the way it is because we're maybe 3% of the market so nobody cares about us except us. This is all easily dismissed with the old farts wave of the hand while mumbling "it's hacker crap". Yes it is and don't worry about the why's or any of that just take notes and learn it.

Bob

It looks like you got the issue resolved.

That's good news.

Should it return at some future point, I would recommend switching to an external 3rd party USB connected musical interface which runs native (real) ASIO drivers.

On my Dell laptop, I was not ever able to get my DAW software to work properly. BB & RB worked fine on the MME drivers as long as I worked with audio but add a synth and latency was out the window.

I bought a Focusrite Saffire interface with audio preamps built in, running native ASIO and after setting it up in it's control panel, my synth latency is for all practical purposes, non-existent.

I run my DAW on the interface with the ASIO drivers, AND, at the same time, I can run BOTH Band in a Box AND Real Band using the MME drivers and hear ALL of it through the Saffire interface with my Mackie studio monitors.

In the (custom built) DAW I now use, there are no factory sound card chips/boards. I built it that way by design. But in my DELL lappy, I needed the Saffire to get latency free music.

Since you got the issue resolved, no need to run out and buy some new gear just to buy something. But keep this in mind. Perhaps not in this forum site, but in some other music forum sites I am active in, I would venture to guess that 95% or more are using the third party external (and some internal PCI card) sound card interface solution because it works, because it is convenient, and because the inputs and outputs available are easier to access, and it gives us a seamless recording experience.

BTW: if the interface has audio preamps, there is often no need to use a mixer in the audio chain unless you really need more inputs than the interface can handle. I plug mics and guitars straight in to the interface. (guitar= POD 2 guitar amp sim/processor) There is no mixing board in my studio.

BOLD: that would be my recommendation to eventually invest in.

Although I've mixed in the box for years I still have a mixer (3 year Behringer Xenyx 1622FX) which is actually just a glorified patch bay.

OP...glad you got things figured with your on-board sound choice.

Carry on....