midi/audio sync problems....

[King of Snake]

I am using a Pulsar with Cubase 3.7 and an EMU Xtreme lead, and I noticed recently that the XL-1 does not play exactly in time with the audio from Cubase. (the XL has a tiny delay, most noticable when playing drum sequences) So I found that this could be solved by setting a positive midi to audio delay in the cubase audio->system screen. However, this also affects the midi going to Pulsar, which DOES play exactly in time with the audio. So I can't get both instruments to play in time at the same time which seems rediculous to me. Surely I must be doing something wrong? Is it normal for synths to have these tiny delays, and if so, how do you people get Pulsar and your external gear to play in time?

[subhuman]

Yes external gear has "MIDI delay" which you can help a bit by using midi interfaces designed to send out MIDI data in a special buffer to compensate. The differences between my friend's AMT8 with Logic, and my MOTU with Logic, are huge. I want an AMT8/Unitor8 now.

For Steinberg, seems like the Midex8 does the same thing...

[King of Snake]

So apart from buying an expensive
"professional" soundcard and sequencer, I still have to fork out for another piece of hardware to sync the damn things up when using an external synth!? I wish they could just incorporate this stuff in the card or at least tell me when I buy it "be aware that this product will not work perfectly unless you buy this piece of hardware a well"
Hmm, maybe I sound like a twat for not knowing this, but hey, I'm just a beginner

Oh well, I guess I'm just annoyed because as a student I don't have a lot of money to spare.
Any cheaper alternatives to the midex that will do the same thing or is this a case of "the more you pay, the better your timing"?

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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: King of Snake on 2002-02-02 05:03 ]</font>

[at0m]

For real live work, a fast patchbay would be advised. For home recordings however, Cubase or any other sequencer can compensate for the delay after the recording. For real time feeling howerver, you could use your synth's sounds instead of ie. VSTi. So you'll hear the timing perfect, and don't have to worry about latency- Verify the appropriate sequencer manuals for that.

Btw, if you have channels with off-set, you can conmpensate for them individually in Cubase's Inspectors View (lefthand side of arrangement and Track Properties).
tip: always use the same routing for your setup. It takes me about an hour to sync everything up, but usually I cannot use tight percussion via midi sync. It looks like ie. my Mc-505 jumps back'n'forth around the actual clock. That sucks, cos offsets are quite easy to compensate for, tightness<->floating clock is something different.

Try these sync tips (to compensate for offset). If these work, you're saved. If not, come back

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: atomic on 2002-02-02 09:06 ]</font>

[King of Snake]

I don't think I understand you completely....use my synths sounds instead of VSTi? I'm not using VSTi, I'm just using Pulsar synths and the XL-1.
I'll look into that compensation you mentioned though, never heard of it...