cannot remove latency

[Dan]

Hi, I only recently bought EZDrummer 3, and I’m beginning to regret it.

The videos make it look simple, but it really isn’t – you have a load of setup in your drum module (TD-27 in my case), and then if you want to just listen to a track and play along, it was easier just using the TS-27 and Bluetooth.

so…

1. I cannot get a decent latency with any other option other than ‘exclusive’, where, as the name would suggest, nothing else on my PC will have sound.
2. I have tried all the other ‘working’ options with the settings as low as possible, which means I can run with something like Reaper, but there is still noticeable latency and/or distorted audio.

What else can I try before I give it all back and go back to using my phone bluetoothed to my TD-27?

I really appreciate any help you can provide.

Dan

Operating system: Windows 10

Topic

[Shootie]

There’s lots of custom ways to figure this out depending on the user and experience.

If you want to give up listening through your TD27 and buy an audio interface and then use a DAW, that is typically an end game solution unless your computer is so old/slow it simply can’t handle whatever you do audio wise.

You never mentioned adjusting buffer settings, but since you said you tried all, you obviously put most of your time there.

EZD3 Tutorials | EZBass Tutorials | Toontrack themed FB Group | Toontrack themed Discord Group

[Dan]

hey Shootie, thanks for getting back so quickly.

I’ve connected TD-27 to an old desktop – it’s an old but decent spec (16gb RAM, i7, 1070 GFX etc).

I’m running EXDrummer into Reaper already.

I’ve lowered the buffer as low as it will go on each working option in the ‘output’ list (ASIO doesn’t work for example).

so, final outcomes are:

1. exclusive on audio out on EZDrummer = no latency, but no other sound available from any other software.
2. any other audio option on EZDrummer = latency and/or distorted sound, but sound is available from the other software (like Repaer).

[Doug]

Best solution for you would be to just buy an audio interface.

I have 2 separate setups with EZD from my laptop:  One that uses my MOTU M2 2×2 USB audio interface and my ‘practice/backup’ rig that uses an even *cheaper* Behringer UMC202HD USB Audio Interface.  Either one works fine for reducing latency.    (The MOTU unit has MIDI also, but I don’t use it)

The MOTU is great (I like the metering and MIDI) but either of the above should work fine for you.   The behringer can be had for like $USD 69 or less.

Also note: even when you’re routing EZD thru your audio interface you can still ALSO route your TD27 audio into one of the *analog* inputs on either of the above-mentioned interfaces.  I do precisely that so that I have a backup when I’m gigging with EZD.  My default is to use EZD3 live, with my module volume at zero. But if anything goes amiss w/my PC host,  I just turn up the audio signal from my module and I’m still good to go.

Good luck!

 

Operating system: Windows 10

[Dan]

Thanks for this Doug.

if i use an audio interface, will that enable me to hear sound from youtube or Reaper and EZD3 without the noise or lag?

I’ve never set anything like this up before and I can’t find any decent info on how to do it all.

thanks in advance.

[Shootie]

I said use a DAW, so you could bring individual audio files (songs) to jam with. Not stream in media from a web browser or apple music for example.

The simplest setup if you just want to jam and not record is you get an audio interface with “Loopback”. The least expensive Scarlett 2i2 for example (3rd generation or higher). Loopback will enable you to pipe in audio from other applications while EZDrummer is occupying your audio driver. These interfaces come with a virtual mixer so you can mix EZD with your other audio apps to a degree. I use RME which is expensive, but has no limitations.

A vid for generic audio/toontrack setup options.

EZD3 Tutorials | EZBass Tutorials | Toontrack themed FB Group | Toontrack themed Discord Group

[Dan]

Thanks again Shootie – i think i said already, i am using Reaper so i can drop mp3s in and jam, but only if I select poor-performing audio settings where I get latency and/or distortion.

I’ll look at scarlett 2i2.

Dan

 

[Dan]

i checked out the video (is that you btw?), but I’m still unsure on how to physically connect everything up.

• TD-27 to PC or USB Audio Interface (by which type of cable, midi or USB?)
• PC speaker output to USB Audio Interface.
• Headphones in the USB Audio interface.
• Do I just run Reaper or youtube as normal once connected?

[Shootie]

Yes.

I don’t explain Loopback in this video but only introduce it.

Roland > USB > Computer.
Computer > USB > Interface.
Switch EZD or Reaper to Interface in settings, whichever you’re using.
Plug headphones into interface.

You need to learn Loopback to stream audio in from other programs. Otherwise, import individual audio tracks into reaper to jam to.

EZD3 Tutorials | EZBass Tutorials | Toontrack themed FB Group | Toontrack themed Discord Group

1

Thanked by: Dan

[Doug]

Use the topology shootie recommended (PC at the center of all USB connections).

Be sure to install any drivers/config tools recommended by the audio interface manufacturer.  That’ll allow you to modify the interface’s buffer size to trade off latency for audio quality. (Rule of thumb is use smallest buffer size and increase incrementally if pops or other noise shows up.)

It does seem counterintuitive that your can pay a lot for a high end laptop or desktop rig and it’ll still have lame audio processing hardware inside.  Another advantage of going to an external audio interface is that it gets the analog portion of your signals OUTSIDE of the RF hellscape that is the interior of a computer case… 😉

 

Good luck!

[Dan]

thanks everyone, much appreciated.

[Buranski]

What are your computer specs?

[Author]

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