MPC Studio Latency Solution?

So I just recently purchased the MPC Studio and the first real problem I had encountered was latency. I was stuck wondering why exactly there was such a delay in response time from the pads as I am familiar with Akai's older models and had no such issues with this. I came to the realization that because the device is entirely USB powered it is my CPU doing all of the audio processing causing the inevitable latency I was struggling with. So using the MPC software provided I used preferences to tweak both the audio buffer size and sample rate which adjusted the latency to a point of substantial improvement, so much so that my device was finally playable. This did not abolish it entirely though so I am now looking at what the best external solution would be so that it is not my 13 in. Acer notebook handling all of the audio processing. Something portable of course, whether a USB sound card or zero latency audio interface perhaps? Any help someone could provide me with would be beyond appreciated so that I am set up with using my new product to it's full potential.

Snowball.

Name a price range and I could recommend many different options for USB interfaces.

$300 would be the most I'd be willing to dish out.

Snowball wrote:$300 would be the most I'd be willing to dish out.

I look for the most inputs and lowest latency drivers when choosing an audio interface. This Focusrite unit is probably the best for the price in those 2 areas.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Focusrite-S ... 1882487.gc

There's a model underneath this one with less inputs at $249, the linked one is $299. Maybe the one with fewer inputs will suffice, I figure it's good to have at least a few extra inputs to hook up synths and other things (TV's, iPods etc you can sample anything). Both units include a copy of Ableton Live Lite 8 and Novations Bass Station VST which is a nice bonus.

When you get an external interface you'll want to go in Device Manager and disable the onboard sound (Realtek or whatever it is). This avoids any conflicts with the ASIO driver your USB interface will run off. You can toggle it back on whenever the laptop needs audio without the USB interface present.

In the meantime you can try to lower the latency of the built in motherboard sound with ASIO4All. It works on 99% of software I've used but I don't have a Studio so I can't guarantee it will work. It's an emulated ASIO driver that will allow the WDM driver the onboard sound uses to process the audio stream faster resulting in lower latency on user MIDI input.

http://www.asio4all.com/

After installing ASIO4All should show up as audio driver choice in any digital audio software you have installed.

Thanks a bunch I'll look into those as some options. I am very familiar with ASIO4ALL as I do have it installed but haven't fully looked into how to integrate it properly. I appreciate all the help.

Downloaded the Driver but when I use it in the MPC Studio software no sound comes out? I do notice a huge improvement in latency though, I might just adjust the latency in direct sound mode.

Falox wrote:Downloaded the Driver but when I use it in the MPC Studio software no sound comes out? I do notice a huge improvement in latency though, I might just adjust the latency in direct sound mode.

Make sure the studio software has the right sound card assigned as the output. If you are running Windows 7, I know it likes to switch around the default sound card... it does for me at least.

Changed the output to the AISOL program, but still no sound coming out of the software. I wasn't really bothered by the latency issues until I tried splitting up a sample.. they're overlapping when I audition them and I still don't have a solution

Do your self a favor and choose an rme soundcard.

-Good sounquality
-short latency
-super stable driver
-good support


It might be a bit expensive in the first moment but in the end of the day you run into less problems...

pull-over wrote:Do your self a favor and choose an rme soundcard.

-Good sounquality
-short latency
-super stable driver
-good support


It might be a bit expensive in the first moment but in the end of the day you run into less problems...

Yeah the OP said $300 was his max so I tried to find the most input/outputs and lowest latency driver in that prce range for him.

I have to concede your point, I went through numerous $150-$400 interfaces, but finally settled on an RME Multiface II/PCIe combo. Cost about $100 more than my laptop But like you mentioned it's the best investment if you can afford it at some point, as it makes all your software feel almost indiscernible from hardware latency wise.

Snowball sorry I didn't get to testing ASIO4ALL+Ren Demo. As I feared these other guys checked and the Studio didn't seem to want to output through ASIO4All. Did anybody try the ASIO4All on the same system with other software. just to narrow down if it's only the Ren/Studio software that it's an issue with? I've gotten ASIO4All working with Reason. Live, Sonar, Cubase, FL Studio and most other apps over the years.

I'm currently considering looking into the EIE Pro right now as an interface. Anybody dealt with this product before with a quick review for me? I still am also struggling with sound output on my ASIO4ALL so have been simply using the Direct Sound option for the time being. Latency really isn't that large of an issue for me anymore but it defnitely is there at points so I figure taking advantage of the perks of an audio interface to hopefully kibosh the littlest bits of latency I am now encountering wouldn't be a bad idea at all.

I've never used the EIE pro, but a shitload of people have been complaining to Akai for almost a year of harsh static sound and it haven't been corrected.

http://community.akaipro.com/akai_professional/topics/harsh_static_with_akai_eie_pro

toxicc wrote:I've never used the EIE pro, but a shitload of people have been complaining to Akai for almost a year of harsh static sound and it haven't been corrected.

http://community.akaipro.com/akai_professional/topics/harsh_static_with_akai_eie_pro

was going to say I noticed the same thing...

I have an m-audio fast track ultra that has been great for my needs. It was about $300 a couple of years ago.

MeSoHordey wrote:

toxicc wrote:I've never used the EIE pro, but a shitload of people have been complaining to Akai for almost a year of harsh static sound and it haven't been corrected.

http://community.akaipro.com/akai_professional/topics/harsh_static_with_akai_eie_pro

was going to say I noticed the same thing...

I have an m-audio fast track ultra that has been great for my needs. It was about $300 a couple of years ago.

I have one of those Fast Track Ultras. It's pretty nice all around. I find the gain a tad low and at least on the two computers I used it on the "High Performance" buffer toggle corrupted my OS 4 times. Support was like "it's an experimental thing your mileage may vary"

Basically if the High Performance setting doesn't work you can't have a sample buffer under 128 samples. I know it can go lower because if you run it on OS X where there's only Core Audio so no "High Performance" toggle is necessary. (There is no M-Audio front end)

128 samples is more than useable, but I was on a quad and an 8 core respectively that the High Performance wouldn't work. The interface can do it, my computer can do it but the ASIO driver ruins the show for 96, 88 or possibly 64 sample buffers.

I have seen discounted ones at $249 so if 128 is cool it's a lot of inputs and outputs for not too much $.

Id like to add that 2nd hand Digi002 can be had within specified price range