Pim M.

Q: Suddenly high latency

First of all: I realise there are a lot of topics regarding latency in MainStage, but excactly for that reason it's very hard to find a topic about the issues i'm experiencing. I really hope someone can help me. (I'm not a native English speaker, I hope I can explain everything clearly).

 

My setup

Macbook Pro 13" 2010 (C2D 2.4Ghz), 8GB RAM

Mainstage 3.0.3

Saffire Pro 14 (Firewire)

Kurzweil PC3x

Kurzweil PC361

 

Within MainStage I use some software synths, but most of the time it's just the audio of my two Kurzweil synths going into MainStage and than immediately to the output. One synth is connected via analog jack input, the other one with S/PDIF. I use MainStage to send Midi program changes to my synths and to be able to make 'mixing' presets for every song/preset.

 

The issue

During my latest gig I suddenly noticed a very heavy input latency while playing my synth. It was near the end of the gig, after playing nearly 2,5 hours. The strange thing is: it was a patch with only 1 audio input routed to the output. No heavy synths running on my macbook, nothing that could possibly cause a high CPU load or fill my memory. Restarting Mainstage solved the issue.

 

My question is: do you think this is a software issue, related to my Macbook or related to my audio interface? I am thinking about buying a new macbook or a new audio interface, but it only makes sense if i can be sure it fixes the problem.

 

Any help will be highly appreciated!

MainStage, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2), Saffire Pro 14, Macbook Pro 13" 201

Posted on Apr 29, 2014 3:11 AM

Close

Q: Suddenly high latency

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

first Previous Page 5 of 5
  • by dbaerg,

    dbaerg dbaerg Jun 4, 2015 11:02 AM in response to VHS1W
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 4, 2015 11:02 AM in response to VHS1W

    I've been giving lifesound's advice some serious working, and I have some good news - I've used MainStage now with Superior Drummer and Battery 3 with absolutely no sudden latency pops for 2 all day rehearsals.

     

    So the settings are these (see my previous long post for my system specs):

    Sample Rate: 44.1khz

    I/O Buffer size - 256

    I/O Safety Buffer - OFF

    Driver Latency - 32 samples (9.9ms latency)

    CPU usage - 8 cores

     

    Now, these exact settings won't work for everyone, and here's why. My Audio output unit is my Roland SPD-SX sampling pad, and it seems to allow for that low driver latency without audio quality setbacks. Use these same settings with the internal core audio driver however, and you're in for some screechy crap coming out of your speakers. If you're using core audio, set driver latency to 64 for good sound quality. The latency may be higher though, as generally core-audio has higher latency than external devices with the same sample settings.

     

    The key I found, is to turn off the I/O safety buffer, if this is checked latency pops occur more frequently. My system specs allow for this, but not everyone's will. Never hurts to try! I will continue to update if I run into anymore issues.

  • by Destyre,

    Destyre Destyre Feb 12, 2016 3:33 PM in response to Pim M.
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 12, 2016 3:33 PM in response to Pim M.

    I have the same problem with Logic 9 then Logic X when I upgraded...

    I tried all solutions given above and none of them worked. I tried to install Reaper and there is no problem with this software, so I guess Logic X is the real problem.

     

    Any other idea about how to fix the thing ?

  • by ap_nc,

    ap_nc ap_nc Feb 13, 2016 1:19 PM in response to Summervill2
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Feb 13, 2016 1:19 PM in response to Summervill2

    It is frustrating and still not resolved in 3.2.1 and/or ElCap.

     

    I keep my CPU usage as low as possible and restart MS between sets.

    Also graphics has a big effect on CPU. On my retina MBP I check the Low Resolution box.

  • by Blueberry,

    Blueberry Blueberry Feb 14, 2016 2:53 PM in response to ap_nc
    Level 4 (2,944 points)
    Feb 14, 2016 2:53 PM in response to ap_nc

    It is sadly not MainStage related, but some kind of bug combination between OS X and external audio hardware (I think USB based). If you search the internet, you'll find many issues just like this with many applications, like Logic Sudden latency when recording in Logic Pro X on Mavericks and Yosemite but also other applications.

  • by ap_nc,

    ap_nc ap_nc Feb 15, 2016 6:55 AM in response to Blueberry
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Feb 15, 2016 6:55 AM in response to Blueberry

    Not only USB.

    I experienced it awhile back using MS2 with an Alesis Multimix8 Firewire.

  • by Darcy Phillips1,

    Darcy Phillips1 Darcy Phillips1 Mar 1, 2016 12:59 PM in response to Pim M.
    Level 1 (59 points)
    Mar 1, 2016 12:59 PM in response to Pim M.

    Just thought I'd quickly weigh in here- I had this happening to me all the time- changed computers, changed interfaces, couldn't get rid of it. 6 months ago I changed to a babyface interface- problem completely disappeared and hasn't been back since.

  • by Maxcomi,

    Maxcomi Maxcomi Mar 31, 2016 9:36 AM in response to Pim M.
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mar 31, 2016 9:36 AM in response to Pim M.

    I had the same problem, finally solved upgrading to El Capitan

  • by Adrianvealemusic,

    Adrianvealemusic Adrianvealemusic Jul 8, 2016 6:21 PM in response to Pim M.
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 8, 2016 6:21 PM in response to Pim M.

    HI Everyone,

    I too experienced the dreaded latency issue on stage on the first date of a 6 month tour of a high profile artist. 3 resets during the show got me through, but it eroded my confidence in mainstage completely. Please remember, I'm no computer whiz, and I probably have the technical details wrong on some things.

     

    Here's my check list of things that I changed, that have now stopped the issue from recurring. I can't narrow it down to one specific thing I did (to be certain I went back to my apogee Duet which i had been using before the tour) but if you want to keep using mainstage, these are my list of options To try:

     

    1) replace all your cables, even if they are new. It seems simple but long USB cable runs, and short ones can cause issues and even new cables may cause the little glitch that sets off the latency. Maybe there's a loose wire that when shorts causes the clock to destabilise. Sometimes we buy a new interface and use the same cables.

    2. If you have a retina screen, run it in low resolution mode (right click on get info in the MainStage application and check low-res mode). This will reduce your CPU usage if you don't have a dedicated graphics card (13" Mbp particularly).

    3. Save each patch and layout for your shows and open them in an empty concert. Rebuild your show in the latest version. Maybe there is something residual triggering here.

    4. I turn off I/O safety buffer; experiment with this one. This maxed my CPU when it was on, and I have a reasonably fast Mac. lowering your CPU usage is more likely to reduce crashes not the latency issue, but hey, try it anyway.

    5. Does your interface have an alternate mains power supply? Don't rely on the USB slot to provide constant power. Possibly the introduction of latency occurs during a brief moment of power loss or energy change modes in the computer, so bring that mains power supply, and you know the power will be constant. I actually think this is the biggest possibility of the source of the problems.

    6. plug your interface into the powered slot! Don't go through a USB hub, because the data can bottleneck if you have too many devices on that one hub. My approach is that the interface goes into one slot on the laptop, and the hub goes into the other. The powered external hub receives all of your instruments and midi devices etc. the interface is therefore running independently. And make sure the USB slot on your Mac where the audio is going in is the powered hub. They are not all the same.

    7.Make sure the screensaver isn't kicking in. I disable the lock screen completely when performing, so that the screensaver or lock screen isn't attempting to kick in, and then being over-ridden by Mainstage's own setting.

    8. Oh, if you're using a hub, make sure it's externally powered.

    9. I found the latency setting and samples in audio preferences had no effect on the overall introduction of 1s of latency issue, but just at resetting the audio When You're on stage and you are in a hurry to restart.

    10. That didn't work? Throw your computer aggressively at an audience member during a show. It won't fix the latency, but you won't have a gig anymore, so in a way the need to use mainstage problem is fixed.

     

    good luck.

  • by lifenoise,

    lifenoise lifenoise Jul 9, 2016 4:44 AM in response to Adrianvealemusic
    Level 3 (758 points)
    Jul 9, 2016 4:44 AM in response to Adrianvealemusic

    All good advice. I would add the following:

     

    -If you're using a USB interface, invest in an ultra high quality USB cable. I spent $39.00 on an AudioQuest 1.5M cable. It's worth every penny.

     

    -If you need lots of inputs, opt for a Thunderbolt dock instead of a USB hub. It's much more dependable. I highly recommend the OWC.

  • by Maxcomi,

    Maxcomi Maxcomi Jul 12, 2016 1:22 PM in response to Adrianvealemusic
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 12, 2016 1:22 PM in response to Adrianvealemusic

    I had that problem first time with a Mac Book Pro and a Presonus Firestudio Tube both with MainStage and other software (ableton, logic, studio one) then I tried to change computer and buy a Mac Mini but the problem was not resolved. Then i changed audio interface and buy a Persons Studiolive 16.0.2 but non resolving, even changing cables. Upgrading to el captain the problem is less frequent but not resolved. I notice that using buffer 128 or higher the problem is just less frequent.

    Using Logic ProX when the problem occurs appears this warning "Error while trying to synchronize Audio and Midi. Sample rate 40471 recognized. Check conflict between Logic Pro and external device".

    Finally i think it depend on core audio driver and i think that apple developer must  take this problem seriously because it does mac not reliable to use software monitoring unless you use a audio interface whit property driver.

    Sorry for my english...i hope be understood.

first Previous Page 5 of 5