MIDI/Audio issues with both Cubase & Cakewalk

Caveat

Hi

OK, completely new to home recording and have started using these programmes literally for the first time this week. Big learning curve and a lot of trial and error but I can record sound at least so I'll worry about the fine tuning later.

Problem is with the sound playback.

In Cubase, I can record audio from my guitar no problem - no latency/distortion etc and sounds great - but I'm experiencing a full one second latency on the virtual drums and synths.

In Cakewalk, no problems with MIDI drums and synth but latency and crackly 'underwater sounding' audio from my guitar on playback - sounds fine when recording.

Logic tells me that the soundcard settings are maybe OK since between the 2 programmes, both MIDI and audio are successfull. Audigy 16 bit card BTW.

I tried fiddling with settings for buffer/latency/sample rate etc within the software, with the vague notion that this is what I should be doing but no luck. I feel (or hope) this has to be something simple.

Can anyone advise?

Cheers

JonathanAnon

I've worked with Cubasis for years and had similar issues with latency and playback. Sounds like a processor power / audio card issue.

Cubase - Have you tried playing in the piece with just a standard MIDI instrument, not a VST instrument, and see if the latency is still there. What I used to do to bypass this issue was to play the MIDI in with a standard MIDI instrument (not requiring as much processor power), and then when it's recorded switch the instrument on playback. Not ideal, but it worked.

I guess the first thing to work out is if the latency happens on ALL instruments, or just the ones that require a lot of processor power.

Cakewalk - I used to get issues that my processor could only handly about 4 simultaneous wave files playing and a couple of VST instruments before it would start glitching and jerking.

I think you should post more details about what you are running, but I would think the source of your problem is either processor, audio card or ASIO driver.

Caveat

Thanks Jonathan

OK, concentrating on Cubase for the moment as everyone seems to think it's the better programme. Since audio is fine, I'm happy to use MIDI as you say rather than VST - BUT - loads of options seem to be greyed out for me under both the MIDI and Audio tabs including drum editor, key editor etc

Any idea what's going on? It's Cubase SX3.

PC wise I have 3 gig processor and 1 gig of RAM - shouldn't really be problems there?

What else do you need to know?

kfoltman

Are you using an ASIO driver?

Helix

i think the above might have the nail on the head

get asio4all (google it for the download, too lazy to myself lol) if you dont have an asio compliant soundcard

kfoltman

Helix wrote: »

i think the above might have the nail on the head

get asio4all (google it for the download, too lazy to myself lol) if you dont have an asio compliant soundcard

Well, it's Audigy, so there's probably a choice of Creative's ASIO driver and kX driver. Both should be usable (though I'm not speaking from experience, the last Cr*****e Labs soundcard I had was Live!). On the other hand, the "standard" WinMM and DirectSound ASIO drivers in Cubase will probably not work well.

On the other hand, for cards without native ASIO drivers (like all kinds of onboard audio), asio4all is a very good solution.

Helix

its possible he just hasnt enabled the card's asio driver

on any of my setups it hasnt defaulted to it. hes possible still on mme (is that it?) or dx

JonathanAnon

I've been that soldier, trying the Kx asio4all and other drivers, but I think you would be better off with a card that has it's own proper drivers. Should be able to pick one up cheap enough on ebay these days.

What card do you have in it exactly. Is is Audigy 1/2, and is it live, plat, extigy?
I think all the Audigy's came with ASIO drivers to be honest. I only had to use the freeware ASIO drivers when I had an SB Live.

Caveat

Thanks very much guys.

No, don't know exact card - will advise later.

Since last posting I have recorded a MIDI drum sequence in Cubase (only by selecting an area within the actual MIDI track would the drum editor become 'ungreyed' ) and I have added a guitar track. But the audio on the guitar track is really quiet and can't figure out how to increase the levels yet.

Sorry, I know I'm jumping around with my 'problems'

Am only starting to realise the importance of ASIO. I have a probably better soundcard available - E-MU APS ecard - which was lying dormant because it couldn't be used with XP. I've recently discovered though that XP drivers are now available for this card - should I go with this instead maybe? Might have less problems?

JonathanAnon

To change boost the audio, you need a wave editor like Creative WaveStudio (which came with my version of Cubasis VST) or Audacity http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Again with the card, it's pointless asking for opinions without putting the full model names. Like asking me should I buy a Ford. There should be an SB- number on the side of the Creative card which will help you to identify it.

Caveat

OK some (partial) answers here.

Seems that I do have ASIO drivers - a message telling me they are being initialised displays when Cubase opens.

Also, my audio level problem seems to be sorted.

This might sound silly - but I recorded the original track at quite a low volume (it was late) and just assumed that it could be increased almost limitlessly. But maybe if the source volume levels are low to begin with you can't simply increase without restrictions - I recorded another section, louder this time, and it's fine. Am I wrong on this?

Sorry, can't remember exact model of the Audigy soundcard but it is a soundblaster if that's any help?

TBH this is all just so new to me that I'm just going to drive you all mental hopping around asking ill informed questions so thanks for the input and it would make more sense for me to come back when I myself have made a bit more sense of what I am dealing with in the first place.

I'm sure mixing/mastering will come up in the not too distant future...

Thanks!

kfoltman

Caveat wrote: »

This might sound silly - but I recorded the original track at quite a low volume (it was late) and just assumed that it could be increased almost limitlessly. But maybe if the source volume levels are low to begin with you can't simply increase without restrictions - I recorded another section, louder this time, and it's fine. Am I wrong on this?

Low level signal = worse signal to noise ratio and worse resolution (which further degrades the signal to noise ratio, by introducing quantization errors). You need to record loud enough (just not too loud, or you'll run into clipping problems that may ruin an otherwise perfect take).

Sorry, can't remember exact model of the Audigy soundcard but it is a soundblaster if that's any help?

Every Audigy is a soundblaster, so it won't help :-)

Also, last time I checked (long ago) Cubase may use its own ASIO drivers for MME and DirectX. If you have an Audigy-specific ASIO driver, then you shouldn't use the Steinberg's MME or DirectX, as they are last resort options, giving you ugly latency and probably very little control over your soundcard.

TBH this is all just so new to me that I'm just going to drive you all mental hopping around asking ill informed questions so thanks for the input and it would make more sense for me to come back when I myself have made a bit more sense of what I am dealing with in the first place.

There's always a lot to learn!

Caveat

OK guys I really need help here. I'm sorry, but this will be a long winded post.

I know I'm probably being a complete tool in more than one respect but please bear with me. Save a few abstract semi-notions, I know close to ZERO about music recording and the associated technology - I'm just a poor eejit who has spent 20 years playing guitar and writing songs in my own home and now wants to record them. I don't even know much about PCs.

Fair enough, Cubase is fairly dense and detailed to the uninitiated (me) but i don't mind - I will feel my way. Right now I just need to be able to record:

Vocals, midi, acoustic/electric guitar.

I have:

PC running XP, 3G processor, 1G RAM - should be adequate?

Audigy SB C8E0 - does that make sense?

Sennheiser E815S Mic - just bought this.

Guitars: acoustic + electric.

Can record MIDI drums/keyboards seemingly OK...ish...stuttering or something on MIDI bass lines but I'll sort it.

More pressing is: the Mic that i just bought does not produce any sound. it works - put it though my ****ty HH amp, but nothing in Cubase. Is it a settings problem? Apparently, I should have a preamp ( which I don't) BUT my mate is using a totally cheapo Philips Mic directly into his Mac and it's fine?!

Settings problem? In sounds & audio devices:

Audio: Sound Playback: SB Audigy; Sound Recording SB Audigy.
Voice: as above

Under volume, all options are up to the max.

Cubase channel Audio settings don't give me any option other than Stereo IN/OUT.

What is going on?

TIA

JonathanAnon

Okay well if the main issue is with levels on your input, I would take down audacity http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ and do a bit of troubleshooting.

1) I would try record in to Audacity to see if the problem is just a cubase issue or whether it is across all applications. If the sound is bad on both cubase and audacity, the try the ones below.
2) Make sure that you are plugged in to the right input.
3) If it is check the cable from mic to PC (assuming that it's a different cable or that you using an adapter to change from 1/4 inch to 3.5mm audio input) I wouldnt rule out the issue being to do with an adapter either, I had one of those go dodgy on me this year already. Or try another mic in the same port and see if it works.
4) Check the levels on the computer inputs. Best place I spose would be Sound and Audio Properties | Audio | Sound Recording and then choose Volume and check the input level for the mic input

good luck

kfoltman

Choosing the right input in the soundcard's mixer seems important too!

Caveat

Got sorted with this in the end - thanks for replies.

PMI

All well and good running the asio driver but where is the buffer set? at around 128-256 you will be past the 18ms threshold for the human brain to notice, so you need to get it to 64 or under and then listen for ticks and glitches...

If you have a toy oops I mean a creative card you will prob be better for the asio4all driver from www.asio4all.com

PaulBrewer

Caveat wrote: »

OK guys I really need help here. I'm sorry, but this will be a long winded post.

I know I'm probably being a complete tool in more than one respect but please bear with me. Save a few abstract semi-notions, I know close to ZERO about music recording and the associated technology - I'm just a poor eejit who has spent 20 years playing guitar and writing songs in my own home and now wants to record them. I don't even know much about PCs.

Fair enough, Cubase is fairly dense and detailed to the uninitiated (me) but i don't mind - I will feel my way. Right now I just need to be able to record:

Vocals, midi, acoustic/electric guitar.

I have:

PC running XP, 3G processor, 1G RAM - should be adequate?

Audigy SB C8E0 - does that make sense?

Sennheiser E815S Mic - just bought this.

Guitars: acoustic + electric.

Can record MIDI drums/keyboards seemingly OK...ish...stuttering or something on MIDI bass lines but I'll sort it.

More pressing is: the Mic that i just bought does not produce any sound. it works - put it though my ****ty HH amp, but nothing in Cubase. Is it a settings problem? Apparently, I should have a preamp ( which I don't) BUT my mate is using a totally cheapo Philips Mic directly into his Mac and it's fine?!

Settings problem? In sounds & audio devices:

Audio: Sound Playback: SB Audigy; Sound Recording SB Audigy.
Voice: as above

Under volume, all options are up to the max.

Cubase channel Audio settings don't give me any option other than Stereo IN/OUT.

What is going on?

TIA

Caveat , what's going on is your not calling Cubase support which should, in my opinion, be the FIRST port of call, not the last.

Chances are they hear about problems similar to yours every day and will probably sort it in 5 mins.
That is what they're there for - to sort your problems.

On a more general note - why are guys disinclined to call Support ?
It seems obvious to me that the person I'll ask a question to is the one who most likely has the answer.
That doesn't appear to be the case when guys have gear issues. Why is that?

Please explain !!

Caveat

PaulBrewer wrote: »

Please explain !!

Well problem sorted now anyway.

But, in my case, I would have been unable to avail of free support I'm sure.

PaulBrewer

Caveat wrote: »

Well problem sorted now anyway.

But, in my case, I would have been unable to avail of free support I'm sure.

Why ?

Caveat

PC was given to me (couple emigrating) - preinstalled with many programmes. The legitimacy of some of them is questionable.

PaulBrewer

Caveat wrote: »

PC was given to me (couple emigrating) - preinstalled with many programmes. The legitimacy of some of them is questionable.

Is that why they're emigrating ?

Caveat

Jaysus don't even joke.:eek:

TBH a bit of dilemma for me - I always go the conventional route. E.g. don't have any movies/songs etc. My principles were stretched to the limit on this one though, I mean I'm hardly going to refuse the machine 'on moral grounds' ...

Neurojazz

Cubase support = going to Arbiter, which means no replies of any worth in any sort of time that's reasonable.

The forums can help with 99% of the problems that crop up in day to day use pretty much as so many users would have hit the same problems at some point!