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  • First note interrupted by pop

    Default First note latency

    When I press record, the first note I play on a virtual instrument is almost always delayed, no matter how long I wait after pressing record. After stopping playback, I trigger a note on the keyboard and once again, the first note I play is either unheard or only partially heard. It's kind of cut off by a clicking popping noise.  This happens only to the first note I play after either hitting record or stopping playback.  What is causing this and how do I get around it? I use a 2012 Mac mini quadcore server with 16gb ram, 1 internal 480gb ssd and 1 internal 1tb sshd. Almost all virtual instruments are being hosted in vienna ensemble pro 5 with no external slave computer. My buffer setting in Logic Pro x is 512. 

    Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

  • I think this is a drive / preload buffer problem.

    You may have set the preload buffer a bit to low in the directory manager.

    or you're using patches that use start offset (perf legato, perf trill) combine with a too low preload buffer setting.

    And it may help to avoid polyphonic legato with dimension strings, try mono Interval Mode.

    If you use the dimension strings, it's a good idea to put it on the SSD.


  • My buffer is set to the second highest setting.  I'd rather not go even higher, because I don't like latency, and I got the ssd in the hopes that I wouldn't have to bump up the buffer to such a high setting.

    I'm not using dimension strings.  The problem isn't happening with any patches that use perf legato; it's happening with really basic ones like the snare from the Kontakt 4 Factory library.  It's also happening with the omnisphere sounds and stylus rmx sounds.  What's the directory manager?


  • Ok,

    I was not talking about the buffer in Logic but the preload buffer in VI pro or in the directory manager . But if you did'nt change the default setting, this is not the problem. The directory manager is the software that manage VSL sample location and where you can assign the preload buffer. And the preload buffer is the portion of the sample that is load into RAM, the rest of the samples are loaded directly from the disk. If the disk is not fast enough to play the sample start of a sound, you need to put more preload in the RAM. So higher preload buffer. There a equivalent setting in Kontakt. But the default values should be just fine, specialy if your drives are fast enough.

    [EDIT] One more thing about preload buffer. The lower setting use less RAM but make the drive work harder. The higher=more RAM, less drive...

    The reason I mentionned it is because I have face the same kind of pop on my system. 

    Is the sample libraries that makes those pops are on the SSHD?

    Do you have the same behaviour with kontakt loaded in Logic (instead of Vienna Ensemble)?

    It's not normal to have pops with a simple snare sound with your setup. I can't see what would cause this. 


  • You could investigate your soundcard driver too.

    What's the sound device you use with witch OS X version. Check if there's a driver update.

    There was a problem with OS X 10.9.1 and Fusion Drive. This audio bug have been fixed with os x 10.9.2.


  • The sound device i use with mavericks is audio box usb by presonus.  


  • The sample libraries that make those pops are on the SSD.


  • Exs instruments, which are playing directly in logic, don't seem to be doing this.


  • GRHM,

    are the tracks with the delay problem AUX tracks? Meaning you're using the Logic feature that one can play midi on an AUX track. If so, there's the problem. It's what I consider a bug in Logic (both LP9 and LPX). My workaround: 1 extra bar preroll (if needed) and play a random note first to defuse the delay for the real notes; delete that note after recording. lame, yes, but better than having to use Midi + AUX tracks.


  • But this sort of bug doesn't happen when less instruments are loaded.  It only starts once I start building up an epic ensemble.