Topic by yeq30

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Topic: Latency problem with Sound Blaster MX3 USB audio box

I've got a Sound Blaster X3 USB audio box to drive my headphones. The latency is dreadful, around 1 second, even though it has its own ASIO driver. I was using ASIO4ALL before and just plugging the headphones into the laptop jack and this was very good quality. The MX3 was supposed to improve things but it seems to be a giant leap backwards. I have played around with the settings and options in the X3 Command software but no joy. Has anyone got any experience with this setup/problem before I have to clear my diary and devote serious time to it ?

My setup is Roland LX708 with Pianoteq7 and a really good, fast Windows 10 laptop.

Reply by miiindbullets

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Re: Latency problem with Sound Blaster MX3 USB audio box

I haven't used this particular card, but ASIO drivers should fix the latency.

Have you downloaded/installed those, or are you just using the class-compliant WDM driver?

EDIT: Here's the link to the drivers:

https://support.creative.com/downloads/...e=1#type_1

Once installed, launch PianoTeq and click Options -> Devices, make sure Audio Device Type is "ASIO", select your X3, and set the "Audio Buffer Size" to 128, and adjust up/down accordingly. More samples = fewer pops/clicks, and fewer samples = lower latency.

Last edited by miiindbullets (22-06-2022 22:54)
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Reply by yeq30

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Re: Latency problem with Sound Blaster MX3 USB audio box

Thanks. Yes, I was using ASIO. Before I got the X3 I was using ASIO4ALL Ok. Then the X3 installed its own ASIO driver. I set it to shortest buffer length but still got about 200mS latency. The whole Windows sound driver stuff crashed the next day and I let Windows Troubleshooter re-install the drivers. Since then, I have found that simply choosing "Windows Audio - Low Latency" beats everything - including ASIO4ALL. I have therefore stopped using the X3 box and ASIO4ALL completely. I am simply plugging my headphones into the laptop jack and the result is very good. I contacted Sound Blaster tech support and they were quite helpful but no solution. I'm surprised - this is ,meant to be a flagship high-performance gadget !)

Phil

miiindbullets wrote:

I haven't used this particular card, but ASIO drivers should fix the latency.

Have you downloaded/installed those, or are you just using the class-compliant WDM driver?

EDIT: Here's the link to the drivers:

https://support.creative.com/downloads/...e=1#type_1

Once installed, launch PianoTeq and click Options -> Devices, make sure Audio Device Type is "ASIO", select your X3, and set the "Audio Buffer Size" to 128, and adjust up/down accordingly. More samples = fewer pops/clicks, and fewer samples = lower latency.

Reply by yeq30

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Re: Latency problem with Sound Blaster MX3 USB audio box

Answering my own topic a bit here: I was not able to get the X3 latency down below about 200mS no matter what options and settings I chose with the Sound Blaster box. Their tech support was quite helpful but have not come up with any solution. The day after posting here, my laptop sound system totally crashed and I let Windows Troubleshooter reinstall the sound drivers. After this, I found that just choosing "Windows Audio (Low Latency Mode)" in the Pianoteq7 options gave the best possible result with no detectable latency. This is bit odd because before I bought the X3 box, this option had noticeable latency and was not usable. Perhaps, when Troubleshooter re-installed te windows sound drivers, they put some new ones in. I don't see how this can be possible though because I do run a driver update checker every day. Anyway, I am no longer using the Sound Blaster box or ASIO4ALL. Perhaps Sound Blaster will fix their latency problem - or maybe not.

Last edited by yeq30 (25-06-2022 19:58)

Reply by yeq30

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Re: Latency problem with Sound Blaster MX3 USB audio box

yeq30 wrote:

I've got a Sound Blaster X3 USB audio box to drive my headphones. The latency is dreadful, around 1 second, even though it has its own ASIO driver. I was using ASIO4ALL before and just plugging the headphones into the laptop jack and this was very good quality. The MX3 was supposed to improve things but it seems to be a giant leap backwards. I have played around with the settings and options in the X3 Command software but no joy. Has anyone got any experience with this setup/problem before I have to clear my diary and devote serious time to it ?

My setup is Roland LX708 with Pianoteq7 and a really good, fast Windows 10 laptop.

Possibly Solved: Again, answering my own topic. I have had loads of good help from Creative Labs but still no solution. I have now Done this: Install ASIO4ALL latest version, start Pianoteq and open the Options panel, Choose Audio Device Type ASIO, Device ASIO4ALL v2, Sample Rate 192000, Buffer size 1024 (5.3mS), Click to show the ASIO4ALL control panel, Check "Sound Blaster X3" there, In the CreativeApp set Direct Mode On. I get no latency to the headphones now.