latency with 2nd MIDI device

[Laurence Levin]

Hi! Windows 10. Pretty powerful PC with an i5 processor and 12GB RAM. 

So, I have two keyboards - an arranger keyboard (Yamaha SX900) and a digital grand piano (Roland FP90). 

All I have on Cakewalk by Bandlab is a three track MIDI with the output to the arranger keyboard. Then I go to record Pianoteq  - a very nice VST using my Roland digital grand as a MIDI controller. I get tons of hung notes. 

So I have a problem in Cakewalk playing or recording the VST with my Roland digital piano as the MIDI controller while a MIDI track is output to my Yamaha arranger keyboard

I don't have a problem playing this virtual instrument with my digital piano being a MIDI controller while utilizing the VST's standalone player

I don't have a problem playing or recording this VST in Cakewalk by Bandlab in a 16 track audio project as long as there's no MIDI going to another instrument. 

The problem seems to be isolated to playing the VST with MIDI instrument 1 as an input while a MIDI track is output to MIDI instrument 2. 

Both keyboards are the latest model with the latest drivers. I'm using a latest generation Focusrite Scarlett 4i2. 

Any suggestions? Thank you! 

 

[John Vere]

You are not being clear on where you’re hearing the latency?  
Is the Yamaha playing late?  How are you monitoring it while Cakewalk is playing the project? 

[Laurence Levin]

Thanks John for your quick reply seeking clarification. 

The MIDI plays seamlessly on the Yamaha. The MIDI tracks are sent to the Yamaha. I'm going from the audio out of the Yamaha into my Soundcard's audio inputs and monitoring this audio from an audio track created in Cakewalk. 

The notes that hang are on the VST which I'm trying to play using my Roland digital grand as a MIDI controller. 

Does this help? Please let me know if you could use additional info like screenshots. 

Edited January 7, 2022 by Laurence Levin

[bvideo]

Is midi going through a midi interface or a USB connection? Any further details would help: make, model, hub?

[Laurence Levin]

19 minutes ago, bvideo said:

Is midi going through a midi interface or a USB connection? Any further details would help: make, model, hub?

The Yamaha arranger keyboard that's playing back the MIDI tracks without issue is connected to the computer via USB. Yamaha has dedicated USB drivers that I installed.

The Roland digital grand that I'm not able to play or record without hung notes has been connected to the computer via USB, but I just tried connecting it via a MIDI cable to the MIDI input of my Scarlett 4i4 2nd generation (latest driver's). 

As stated I can play this VST in a multi track Cakewalk audio project, but when there are two keyboards involved, I can't play this VST.

I can use the Yamaha as a MIDI playback device in Cakewalk and use the Roland keyboard as a MIDI controller to play additional voices in the Yamaha keyboard, but when I try to play my two favorite piano VSTs along with the midi's, I have problems. 😢

[John Vere]

Not sure why you would need an audio track in Cakewalk to hear the Yamaha audio output. It should be heard directly though your monitoring system which I assume you have connected to your audio interface. 
You are using ASIO driver mode? 
Here’s two of my tutorials that might help 

 

[Laurence Levin]

8 hours ago, John Vere said:

Not sure why you would need an audio track in Cakewalk to hear the Yamaha audio output. It should be heard directly though your monitoring system which I assume you have connected to your audio interface. 
You are using ASIO driver mode? 
Here’s two of my tutorials that might help 

 

Thanks, I'll review these videos and follow up. Yes, I'm using the latest Focusrite Asio drivers in Cakewalk.

For some reason, I can't hear the MIDI playback through my monitors unless I create an audio track and select input echo. I'll try to figure out how to listen directly through the audio interface.

Either way, I'll eliminate the audio track monitoring the MIDI and try to play the VST with my Roland digital grand while listening to the MIDI through the soundcard or the Yamaha keyboard's internal speakers.

I'll report back. Thanks again.

[John Vere]

You just used the word sound card? By this do you mean your 4i2 interface or your computer sound card?  
Your monitors should be connected to the output of the Scarlett. I can see you would have issues if you are using your on board audio at the same time as your interface. 
Your Yamaha’s audio  would be connected to the 3/4 inputs of the Scarlett. You would hear the audio via the direct monitoring system. 
 

Edited January 8, 2022 by John Vere

[bvideo]

The next thing I would check for is midi routing. Maybe there is some kind of midi storm or at least duplication of data going through the Roland or going to Pianoteq. I don't know if MidiOx might help diagnose this or maybe examining the event list of the track you are recording for Pianoteq. So also check your MIDI tracks' channel configuration (setting a single channel instead of omni)  and make sure echo is off  and make sure "local control"  and "thru" is off for your keyboards.

[Laurence Levin]

On 1/8/2022 at 9:47 AM, John Vere said:

You just used the word sound card? By this do you mean your 4i2 interface or your computer sound card?  
Your monitors should be connected to the output of the Scarlett. I can see you would have issues if you are using your on board audio at the same time as your interface. 
Your Yamaha’s audio  would be connected to the 3/4 inputs of the Scarlett. You would hear the audio via the direct monitoring system. 
 

Yes, I'm only using the Focusrite 4i4 3rd generation. I can't find a way to monitor (at least through headphones) analog audio inputs 3 and 4 and my VST being ouput to channels 1 and 2 or 3 and 4. I've tried all kinds of combinations in the Focusrite control, and I can only monitor each separately. I made a query at the Focusrite Forum. 

Anyway, this is the reason that I created an audio channel in my DAW for inputs 3 and 4 and used input echo to hear the keyboard MIDI and my VST at the same time. 

I will get MIDI OX and try to learn how to use it. Sorry if I'm straying from a Cakewalk issue into a Focusrite issue!!

[John Vere]

No problem I have a Scarlett 6i6 3rd Gen so I also have mix control. I’ll hook it up and see if I can figure it out. I pretty sure it’s doable but mix control is a nightmare 

[John Vere]

I have a Korg 05/rw sound module which is MIDI only.  This would be exactly like using one of your keyboards, including the fact that it's also very old!  I conected the Audio outputs of the Korg to input 3/4 of my Scarlett 6i6. I connected the MIDI output of the 6i6 to the MIDI input of the Korg. I set it in GM mode. 

Opened Cakewalk and Imported a  GM MIDI file.  I checked the Focusrite MIDI output was selected in Preferences.  All the instruments were also pointed at my Korg Sound module  via the Focusrite MIDI port as thier outputs.   This is the default as there is no instrument loaded.

The sound from the Korg comes out of my Monitors.

Here is a screen shot of my control panel. I have not touched it or made changes from the default. You might want to try "reseting to Factory Defaults. It's gotten me out of trouble lots! Our interfaces are identical more or less,  mine just has a few more features like SPDIF. 

Also check under the HELP tab and make sure you have the latest driver and firmware. I would think it's exactly the same as mine. 

[Laurence Levin]

On 1/9/2022 at 3:50 PM, John Vere said:

I have a Korg 05/rw sound module which is MIDI only.  This would be exactly like using one of your keyboards, including the fact that it's also very old!  I conected the Audio outputs of the Korg to input 3/4 of my Scarlett 6i6. I connected the MIDI output of the 6i6 to the MIDI input of the Korg. I set it in GM mode. 

Opened Cakewalk and Imported a  GM MIDI file.  I checked the Focusrite MIDI output was selected in Preferences.  All the instruments were also pointed at my Korg Sound module  via the Focusrite MIDI port as thier outputs.   This is the default as there is no instrument loaded.

The sound from the Korg comes out of my Monitors.

Here is a screen shot of my control panel. I have not touched it or made changes from the default. You might want to try "reseting to Factory Defaults. It's gotten me out of trouble lots! Our interfaces are identical more or less,  mine just has a few more features like SPDIF. 

Also check under the HELP tab and make sure you have the latest driver and firmware. I would think it's exactly the same as mine. 

It seems like you're directly monitoring a MIDI playing back from your DAW, sent to your KORG and then output from your KORG into your Scarlett interface. 

I can do this as well. What I'm not able to do is do this while I also monitor a VST - now this is a Focusrite issue, not a Cakewalk by Bandlab issue. 

My Bandlab issue is while 1) listening to this MIDI through an Audio Channel using input echo and 2) playing a VST on another keyboard, I'm getting hung notes on the VST.