Latency and 1.8 vs. 2.1

[Lester]

Hi there - just wanted to start by saying I really appreciate the ASIO4ALL driver - works really well!

I just updated my audio box to an AMD 1.8 machine - now I just want to improve software latency when using VSTI Insts. I am using the ASIO4ALL driver (1.8 - latest version, 2.1 - doesn't work for some reason??), and am wondering how I can tweak it further. The latency has improved immensely by using ASIO4ALL - it's just a couple milliseconds off that I need to fix ..

So:

1) Any ideas why 2.1 doesn't work?
2) How can I reduce latency in the control panel (v. 1.8). Do I need to restart my audio applications after any tweak I do in the control panel?

Thanks for helping me out - great software!

[Michael Tippach]

Hello Lester,

1) What exactly happens when 2.1 does not work? What do you see in the A4A control panel when you expand the device list? What sound chip/host application do you use?

2) When playing VSTi, you should disable all inputs as this just might give that extra millisecond. ASIO4ALL has a default KS buffers setting of "3" which you most definitely should have changed to "2".

If roundtrip (i.e. the sum of input and output-) latency matters, we should definitely try to get v2.1 to work on your system as the v2 audio engine has certain improvements WRT that.

-Mike

[Lester]

Hello Lester,
1) What exactly happens when 2.1 does not work? What do you see in the A4A control panel when you expand the device list? What sound chip/host application do you use?

Hi there!

I am using Sonic Foundry Acid Pro 4, and have K7SOM+7.5c Mobo - www.ecsusa.com/products/k7som_7c.html

Here is what I see in the control panel:

Creative SB Audigy LS:
(unavailable) - IN 2x 8-96kHz, 24 bits <-- obviously this is my prob! It only happens when I am running Acid Pro 4 and using a VST Inst .. in this case - V-Station. It says the input is "Available" if VST insts. aren't trying to use it in Acid 4.
Running - OUT 6x 4-192kHz, 32 bits

2) When playing VSTi, you should disable all inputs as this just might give that extra millisecond. ASIO4ALL has a default KS buffers setting of "3" which you most definitely should have changed to "2".

Is KS Buffers the same thing as Kernel Buffers? If so, mine says "2" Have no idea if this is related, but XP keeps saying it detects a modem - I none (onboard/card) installed! ..

If roundtrip (i.e. the sum of input and output-) latency matters, we should definitely try to get v2.1 to work on your system as the v2 audio engine has certain improvements WRT that.
-Mike

I most certainly agree. I know my MIDI input works with ASIO4ALL 1.8, so it doesn't appear to be a MIDI input issue.

Any ideas what I should try? Thanks again for the help!

[Lester]

OK - making progress here - I just got it working! (uninstalled modem). However, when I shut down Acid, I get:

"Improper shutdown detected! Audio disabled! Please check the ASIO4ALL control panel!" - and then it disables again.

[lester]

.. still no luck! ...

[lester]

Is anyone familiar with Acid enough to guide me through why ASIO4ALL is not responding? I've tried a few other generic drivers which work, but would rather give ASIO4ALL a try. And once again, 1.8 did work - so I'm wondering where to go with 2.0?

Please let me know - is another Audio application recommended? (I am used to Acid though ...)

[lester]

OK - I'd really hoped to get some feedback.

I'll go elsewhere I guess ..