A way to avoid it?
I have two MIDI devices, a drum pad and an M-Audio Oxygen Keyboard, both provide MIDI out via USB.
When I use them to record MIDI tracks in an existing n-track song, both devices result in midi tracks that lag slightly behind the beat.
While recording, I am playing right on the beat, but the recorded midi tracks always end up with a slight lag.
After recording, I can slide the midi track over a bit and then everything lines up.
But is there a way for me to record midi in real time and have it properly in time?
One other thing is I tried playing with the buffering, and every time I change it, it reverts back to custom.
Hi Pingcat. I’ve had the same trouble. Often, a re-try, making sure I’ve zero’d the track gets it running right. What d’you reckon this has been a prob over the last couple of builds?
I am not too swift on Midi. However, is this not a problem with combining midi and audio that goes way back with any software. In my past I have fixed this by adding an “offset”/delay to the analog audio to match the delay that the midi has. I am not sure where this adjustment is in N-Track;
I’d sure check firs to see that I was using the Sound card for record and playback
See what happens if you turn off the “Live” button
From N_track Help content
3.5.1. Playing live through an instrument plug-in
Instrument plug-ins can be used to play a MIDI instrument live (i.e. let the VST/DX instrument output in realtime the notes you play on a MIDI keyboard).
To enable the live playing through an instrument plug-in enable the Live input processing mode by pressing the Live button on the toolbar, check the Connect input to output option in the Preferences/MIDI/MIDI devices dialog box and set the Echo mode to either ‘auto' or ‘manual' (if the echo mode is set to manual you'll have to select the desired instrument plug-ins in the output drop down box).
Note: the delay between the time a note is pressed on the MIDI keyboard and the time you actually hear the note played is called latency and is caused by playback buffering. With soundcards with WDM, WaveRT or Asio drivers the buffering can be usually made small enough so that the latency is not noticeable. Playback buffering can be adjusted in the Buffering settings dialog box.
I’ll be interested to hear if you find the necessary adjustments.
Bax
Hi Bax. Yes and no. I think it’s a build issue. The lag/delay I’ve experienced over the last couple of n builds, isn’t a few milliseconds, more of a whole beat and I don’t have latency issues at all on this machine. (Pingcat! How does your midi lag measure?) Like Pingcat, the delay is only on play-back and not ‘live’.
Yes, the delay is in the recorded midi track, I don’t know off hand if it is a beat or two, will check tonight.
I tried with the Live turned off using drum pads, and played in sync with the existing tracks during midi recording.
But at playback the midi is lagging.
Like I noted, sliding the midi track over a bit lines it up.
It seems that there is a large enough noticable time between my hitting a drum pad, and the signal passing over the USB, being buffered and handled in ntrack, and recorded to the midi track.
It happened on my old system, I had hoped that my new super fast system would not have it, but it does.
But this could be normal and to be expected because it is all going thru layers of software, correct?
Possibly what bax3 suggests “adding an “offset”/delay to the analog audio to match the delay that the midi has” would do the trick.
Will poke around for this tonight as well.
Yup. I tried moving offsets a while back and ended up with out of sync midi/timeline visuals.
I’m pretty sure it’s the build.
I’m having a few new midi probs inc’ when choosing multiple pastes they drift from the grid over the length, so having to paste singularly or break up the whole passage.
Quote:
One other thing is I tried playing with the buffering, and every time I change it, it reverts back to custom.
Regarding that buffering issue, Pingcat, I seem to have the same thing with my recent upgrade. The good news is I believe that although the text of the dropdown reverts back to "custom", the actual new chosen buffering settings do seem to change. From my experience, at any rate.
Hi Gents:
In my opinion, this has been an issue that has been there sense time… It’s not confined to n-Track…
I think it’s a Microsoft/Audio issue…
for the little bit I know…
I believe it’s been going on back in the mid '90’s when I had the Lexicon CORE-32 Hardware…
Back then I adjusted the issues by “Offsetting Recordings by(samples)” in the preferences…
Using MME, WDM,and ASIO drivers addresses this issues, BUT in with/different results…
The more tracks that are displayed on the timeline, the sync’ing issues change… also…
and…
as well…
the VU Meters display the lag…
Therefore Gents…
This isn’t an n’Track issue…
as much as it may be an Operating System, issue…
That’s only my opinion…
Having said that, I believe it may be FIXABLE…
If it’s what I think it is…
I am unable to imagine the exercise-in-math…
Is THIS one-in-the-same issue 
?
I’m just interested in adding my Two Cents to the topic…
Thank You Gents…
Bill…
Not sure, Bill. I’m having all sorts of midi goofyness.