RE: latency info for computers producing audio

["Mike Barrs" <mbarrs@nightviewer.com>]

> From: SoundFNR@aol.com [mailto:SoundFNR@aol.com]

>
> found this on the ComputerMuzys site
>
> well explained, and figures too :-
>
>
> < The "latency" thing : Why is there a delay between my MIDI
> input and audio
> output ?>
>
<snip>

> Especially on the Windows(r) platform things can be quite serious.
>
<snip>

> Though, starting from Windows 98, things are improving, and with
> a good setup and a good soundcard you may achieve latencies of 20ms
> or less. Especially if you use the ASIO drivers !
>
> Even on faster systems like the Mac (latencies up to 15ms), Linux (up to
> 10ms) and BeOs (up to 10ms), the problem is there. And even on dedicated
> hardware machines like samplers and drumboxes, there are measurable 
>delays
!
> (Roland R8/R70 : 10ms, Yamaha O2R : 20ms, ...)


That's misleading, or maybe it's just dated information. It implies that
Windows is an inferior platform for realtime Midi/softsynth/softsampler 
use.

I run Sonar 2.2 on a modest (by today's standards) 1 gigHz Dell computer
under Win/XP. I trigger percussion samples with the DR-008 drum module from
a DrumKAT pad and pedals. My soundcard is a Dakota, running the latest
driver in ASIO mode.

The latency on this system is 1.5 ms.

The *true* latency is more like 4 ms, allowing for the time in and out of
the A/D-D/A converters. But it feels pretty damnned immediate when I'm
playing drum samples off the pads. Anything under 5 ms. is fine for most
people... unless you have a hyper-attenuated sense of time.

With contemporary audio software, and a good soundcard with good drivers,
latency is no longer a serious issue. And it doesn't matter what OS you 
run.
You just need the right gear, and the right drivers.

--
Mike Barrs