Interface with latency problem in Logic X

Question

Interface with latency problem in Logic X

How can I get rid of this latency problem? Any advice? THX!

My setup: logic x on a MacBook Pro 2015, 16 GB RAM, i5, Mac-OS 10.11.6.

I bought a Steinberg USB Audio Interface UR242 II, which was highly recommended in the press for it's low latency and good sound quality. But I have severe latency problems. In Logic X it partly crackles and sometimes even stops playing. due to high latency. While playing a track I cannot scroll with my bluetooth mouse without producing severe latency effects. When I shut off the interface and only use the onboard soundcard everything is fine.

I contacted forums and eventually Steinberg support, an I tried everything I was recommended: Giving it more Buffer, activating low latency, installing a new driver, freezing tracks in logic, turning off wifi and bluetooth. It doesn't accomplish anything, still the same problem.

A guy on the Steinberg forum told me, he had the same problem and downgraded his OS down to Maverick. And then it all worked fine.

I'm not quite sure about downgrading, since there are some security issues, are'n there?

Does anyone have some advice for me? Highly appreciated, thx!

Posted on Oct 2, 2016 12:43 PM

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Answer 1

Pancenter

Level 6

14,788 points

Oct 2, 2016 5:34 PM in response to LuckyNoSlevin

Set the basics up first.

In Logic's Preferences:

I/O Buffer = 256

Process Buffer Large

Multithreading = Playback Tracks

For testing open your processing threads (click-hold)... how many does it show, 4, 8?

Set it at half the maximum you have, if you have four max, set it to two.

Close Logic and re-open it.

Start with a clean project nothing heavy couple of software instrument tracks a couple of audio track.

If the problem is still there, do you know anyone you can borrow a powered USB 2.0 hub from, be better if you didn't have to buy one because there's no guarantee it will work. Audio Interface into USB hub, hub into computer.

(important that it's a USB 2.0 hub)

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Answer 2

Oct 3, 2016 12:51 AM in response to Pancenter

Hi Pancenter,

thanks for your reply! I tried the steps you recommended and then loaded some tracks, where I had the worst latency problems. It seems to be far better now, but it's not completely gone. I still haven't recorded any new stuff yet. There is still the problem with horizontal scrolling with the mouse though, but it's far better now. I think this could be an acceptable level for recording (I'm not scrolling while I'm playing guitar).

BTW: Multithreading shows me a max of 4 in my settings. The CPU meter showed me 2 bars, I set it to 4 tracks in the settings, just to try. One bar in "Audio" is pretty busy while the others are not at all.

I will check the USB hub. Powered means, it has got an external power supply (plug)? Is USB 3.0 OK too? amazon doesn't really have any more 2.0 hubs, outdated.

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Answer 3

kerochan

Level 4

1,071 points

Oct 3, 2016 1:00 AM in response to LuckyNoSlevin

Hi LuckynoSlevin

There must b an an answer to this I am sure.

You will need to be patient in the mean time till you find out exactly where the problem lies.

First off, which OS are you using?

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Answer 4

kerochan

Level 4

1,071 points

Oct 3, 2016 1:03 AM in response to Pancenter

Hi Panceneter

Is this how I need to have my audio preferences set? as you mentioned above

I have it on Process buffer MEDIUM

I/0 Buffer 64

Multithreading Playback & Live tracks

do I need to change this?

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Answer 5

Oct 3, 2016 1:52 AM in response to kerochan

Mac-OS 10.11.6, OS-X El Capitan

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Answer 6

Pancenter

Level 6

14,788 points

Oct 3, 2016 2:40 AM in response to kerochan

kerochan wrote:

Hi Panceneter

Is this how I need to have my audio preferences set?

Please start another thread... NO you don't need to change, is it working? if so. why change.

Those are Testing specs I posted.

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Answer 7

Pancenter

Level 6

14,788 points

Oct 3, 2016 2:53 AM in response to LuckyNoSlevin

Ok, a couple of things... first, you need to understand what latency is when referring to MIDI/Audio sequencers... It's a specific behavior, not all delays are latency in the sense we're speaking of.

Ok, so it improved... does your computer have two graphics systems, one software based (Intel) and the other hardware based ATI-AMD or Nvidea. You should be able to check System Preferences and find out. If you do have a dual graphics adapter it needs to be set you use hardware only.

Now that you've gotten this far.

Set the Process Buffer to medium and Logic's Preferences I/O Buffer to 128. if behavior gets worse, change it back.

Forget the USB hub for now. No, it can't be a 3.0 hub, the point is, your interface is 2.0.

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Answer 8

Oct 3, 2016 10:25 AM in response to Pancenter

Ok, so it improved... does your computer have two graphics systems, one software based (Intel) and the other hardware based ATI-AMD or Nvidea. You should be able to check System Preferences and find out. If you do have a dual graphics adapter it needs to be set you use hardware only.

I have a MacBook Pro and I use an external Dell screen connected via Display Port. Is that a problem?

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Answer 9

kerochan

Level 4

1,071 points

Oct 3, 2016 10:30 AM in response to Pancenter

ah, ok, just panicking ! alls working fine my end.

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Answer 10

Pancenter

Level 6

14,788 points

Oct 3, 2016 10:46 AM in response to LuckyNoSlevin

LuckyNoSlevin wrote:

Ok, so it improved... does your computer have two graphics systems, one software based (Intel) and the other hardware based ATI-AMD or Nvidea. You should be able to check System Preferences and find out. If you do have a dual graphics adapter it needs to be set you use hardware only.

I have a MacBook Pro and I use an external Dell screen connected via Display Port. Is that a problem?

Maybe I wasn't clear:

Your MacBook -may- have two kinds of graphics adapters, internal to the computer... the software version chokes when running Logic, the hardware version should only be used.

Note, if you have two graphics adapters they will probably be different models than the ones listed below, those are from an older MBP.

Open System Profiler by choosing About this Mac from the Apple menu. Then, click More Info.
Select "Graphics/Displays" in the Hardware section. Two entries should appear under Video Card: "Intel HD Graphics 4000" and "Nvidia GeForce GT 650M.
Click Intel HD Graphics 4000.
Read the detail view under Displays.

Let us know

Also, yes, the external display could be causing a problem, depending on how large the display is. We're just guessing unless you prost detailed specs, version of the operating system, version of Logic, everything you have connected.

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