Tutorials and Tips
MIDI Timing Tips
Saturday, 14 June 2008 18:52 | Last Updated on Saturday, 12 November 2011 20:20 | Published Date | 
Written by Lanter | 
| 
MIDI Timing
The MIDI recorded too late and/or Cubase getting stuck while recording
If you are not interested in WHY, skip to solutions HERE
Timing problems listing
Solution general
Solution Cubase SX
Solution Cubase 4
Device list
As these are problems that pop up frequently on the cubase.net user forum, I decided to create a page for this.
Problems and solutions apply to Cubase SX3 and Cubase 4 and derivatives.
Most likely these problems are caused by the fact that each PC motherboard has 2 clocks available. This means that developers of MIDI device drivers and those of sequencing software may be using different clocks for timing. As not on all motherboards the 2 clocks are in perfect sync, in such cases timing problems may arise.
More technical info on the 2 clock problem can be found here: Parapoetica
Info on the MIDITest utility: MIDITest
Another excellent MIDI tool: MIDI-OX
Timing problems: MIDI recorded too late
Symptoms: all recorded notes are usually 1/16th too late.
Solution: see below.
Timing problems: recorded MIDI shifting more and more
Symptoms: the longer Cubase is started up, the more recorded MIDI tends to shift too late.
Solution: see below.
Timing problems: no timing at all
Symptoms: all recorded notes end up on beat 1.
Solution: see below.
Timing problems: MIDI recorded too early
Symptoms: all recorded MIDI is placed around 1/16th too early
Solution: there is no guaranteed solution for this problem, you may try the method below.
Recording locking up Cubase using MIDISport 8x8
Symptoms: when recording from a port that has previously recorded data being sent to (eg like punching on a track that already has some parts playing) Cubase may lock up. Usually you will see all three Stop, Play and Record buttons highlighted.
Solution: you definitely have to use the emulated DirectMusic drivers for the inputs of the MIDISport.
Best thing to do is use emulated for inputs and Windows MIDI for outputs.
(thanks to forum member xmusic who was the one that found the solution to this specific problem)
Solutions
It is important to know that in Windows there are two types of MIDI drivers: 'Windows MIDI' and 'DirectMusic'. Also an "emulated" version of the DirectMusic drivers exists.
| First thing to try is to enable 'Use System Timestamp' for the port type your device is using. Go to 'Devices > Device Setup > MIDI' and check the timestamp option for the appropriate driver ty |
If you are so lucky that this solves your problem, you can skip the rest of this page.
If not, try one of the methods below. There is a separate manual for Cubase SX and Cubase 4 as the layouts are somewhat different in both programs.
Cubase SX
| First disable the port filter. In Explorer go to your Cubase root folder and from its sub folder 'midi port enabler' move the file 'ignoreportfilter' to the Cubase root folder. Start Cubase again. Now go to 'Devices > Device Setup > MIDI'. You will probably see MIDI ports in both 'Direct Music' and 'Windows MIDI'. The thing to do now is to determine which ports would lead to the best timing results. The thing to note here is that you cannot activate/deactivate anything here, the 'Active' entry simply displays whether you have a port assigned to anything in Cubase (track, metronome, etc). What you CAN do is enable/disable 'Show'. Having ports not showing will prevent you from choosing them. All drivers are present all the time, whether put to 'Show' or filtered or not, they are present in Windows. Also, in 'All MIDI Inputs' the inputs you are not going to use should be set inactive. You should never use the same port from both 'Direct Music' and 'Windows MIDI' as that would lead to recording double notes. On the same count, having both port types enabled for outs would lead to sending everything double. There may also be a check box in either or both of 'Direct Music' and 'Windows MIDI' called 'Use System Timestamp', depending on your SX version. Now, using this background info, you have to do some testing. Principally there are 4 different options: - use Direct Music ports; timestamp not activated - use Direct Music ports; timestamp activated - use Windows MIDI ports; timestamp not activated - use Windows MIDI ports; timestamp activated For each of the 4 options, choose the appropriate ins and outs and do a record test. Be careful to only 'Show' the exact ports you are going to test or use. * When while having the port filter disabled, you still have only ports in either 'Direct Music' or 'Windows MIDI', there are only two testing options: timestamp activated/deactivated. * Some devices may produce 3 driver types: WinMIDI, Direct Music and Direct Music emulated, so you would have 6 options to test |
| First disable the port filter. In Explorer go to your Cubase root folder and from its sub folder 'midi port enabler' move the file 'ignoreportfilter' to the Cubase root folder. Start Cubase again. Now go to 'Devices > Device Setup > MIDI'. You will now probably see MIDI ports for both 'Direct Music' (emulated) and 'Windows MIDI'. Thing to do now is to determine which ports would lead to the best timing results. The thing to note here is that you cannot activate/deactivate anything here, the 'State' entry simply displays whether you have a port assigned to anything in Cubase (track, metronome, etc). What you CAN do is enable/disable 'Visible'. Having ports not showing will prevent you from choosing them. All drivers are present all the time, whether put to 'Visible' or filtered or not, they are present in Windows. Also, in 'All Inputs' the inputs you are not going to use should be unchecked. You should never use the same port from both 'Direct Music' and 'Windows MIDI' as that would lead to recording double notes. On the same count, having both port types enabled for outs would lead to sending everything double. There also is a check box for both 'Direct Music' and 'Windows MIDI' called 'Use System Timestamp'. Now, using this background info, you have to do some testing. Principally there are 4 different options: - use Direct Music ports; timestamp not activated - use Direct Music ports; timestamp activated - use Windows MIDI ports; timestamp not activated - use Windows MIDI ports; timestamp activated For each of the 4 options, choose the appropriate ins and outs and do a record test. Be careful to only make 'Visible' the exact ports you are going to test or use. * When while having the port filter disabled, you still have only ports in either 'Direct Music' or 'Windows MIDI', there are only two testing options: timestamp activated/deactivated. * Some devices may produce 3 driver types: WinMIDI, Direct Music and Direct Music emulated, so you would have 6 options to test. |
Devices reported to benefit from using (emulated) DirectMusic drivers
MIDI Devices
MIDISport/m-audio USB
Emagic MT4
ESI 8-port
Edirol FA-101
MOTU Fastlane 2x2 USB
Presonus FireBox
Presonus FirePod
Saffire LE
E-MU 1820m (sometimes)
LynxOne
RME Digiface
Keyboards USB
Roland RD700SX
Keystation pro-88
Axiom 61
Should you own a device that benefits from (emulated) DirectMusic drivers and it is not in this list, please post a PM to lanter at the cubase.net forum.
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