HXFX midi receive latency SOLVED ! Not HXFX's fault.

[xuoham]

Hi,

 

I am controlling my HXFX (3.70.0)  with a Morningstar MC6 MKII and i am experiencing a really noticeable latency between the MC6 commands and the HXFX reaction.  Something like 30ms or more.

I am sending 2 slmultaneous CCs so i doubt this is choking the HX.

The connection is a simple MC6 midi out to HXFX midi in.

USB midi off / PC Rx,Tx off / Midi thru off / Midi clock off both ways / Snap CC off

 

Anybody having this ? Anything i am missing ?

 

I am wondering if this is normal, and if yes, whether this could be addressed in a future update.

 

Thanks in advance for any insight

[Schmalle]

Don't know but here is what you can do to narrow down the problem:

You could record the MIDI IN messages via USB using a DAW to test when the messages come in (the duration between two sent CC messages) and whether there is other stuff that is going on.

You could simultaneously record an audio track to measure the actual reaction delay time.

 

Hope that helps.

[xuoham]

Thanks a lot for your time !  ... but that does not help.

 

No need to measure, i do not care whether it's 25ms or 40ms, it's already too much latency felt.

It actually feels more like 200ms !

And i am not using my DAW as this is a live rig.

The MC6 editor has a great monitor section with timing in ms and it's clear that the

latency is in the HXFX's reaction.

 

As to why, this is a complete mystery ...

 

Doing the same thing with my BOSS GT1000 is a breeze and the GT1000 reacts so fast that it's impossible to feel any latency.

Clear winner here.

[Schmalle]

There are some effects parameters that have a ramp time.

Can you post the preset that is choking?

[xuoham]

Well, it's just some delays for looping, very simple.

One CC to switch the delay on, one CC to control feedback.

 

Delay on, feedback 0 or 80%

Delay off, feedback 100%

 

Sometimes i punch into the delay with precise timing.

At that time the latency is a problem.

 

Not at home now so can't send preset.

 

Thank you though ! 

[Schmalle]

To test whether the problem still occurs without MIDI:

Bypass Assign the delay to an onboard footswitch and add the feedback parameter via Controller Assign. Test for latency.

 

[DunedinDragon]

The place to start is to use a MIDI monitor so you can see what's being sent and the timing of it to determine if the problem is in the MC6 or the HX FX.  I've been using a MC8 for years to control everything on my Helix Floor with no problems.

[xuoham]

Yes, thanks a lot for chiming in, but like i said above it's what i do too.  ^ ^

And obviously the MC6 is not at fault here.

[xuoham]

On 2/17/2024 at 8:10 AM, Schmalle said:

To test whether the problem still occurs without MIDI:

Bypass Assign the delay to an onboard footswitch and add the feedback parameter via Controller Assign. Test for latency.

 

That's a smart advice !

Yep no problem with the blocks response, so this is definitely a midi issue.

Gonna try to control with another controller now.

 

Thanks Schmalle !

[xuoham]

OK, thanks guys for your help, case closed.

 

The problem is within the MC6.

 

When midi monitoring the MC6 everything is fine ( i send 3 simultaneous CCs at each press ) which means that the 3 CC

are sent not simultaneously but in series within a 6ms time span. So barely noticeable.

 

But monitoring like this was just a part of the picture. Yes the CCs could have been further apart,

i thought this could have been the problem, but it didn't occur to me that the whole 3 CCs group could be delayed, stupid me.

 

So, to be sure i decided to compare with the computer clock (the MC6 displays the time according to the Windows clock y/m/d/h/m/s/ms !!).

I would press the switch let's say exactly at 8:00:00:000. and then the monitor would show something like 8:00:00:290.

 

Yes, almost 300ms delay, just because there are 3 CC sent in one shot !

 

Wow, first time i find something that bugs me with that incredibly genius MC6 MKII !

 

Sooooo ... i'm off to the Morningstar forum to try to find some insights.

 

Apologies for wasting your time, this is not a HXFX problem, which i am very glad to know !

 

Thanks a lot and happy playing !

 

ps: Also, i already have the switches sensitivity of the MC6 at 5, the minimum latency setting, so that's not the problem.

 

[xuoham]

And i right away got the answer and solution here at le bottom of the page, lol :

https://manuals.morningstar.io/mc-midi-controller/switch-latency

 

Double tap presets are the culprits !

 

Closing of the case closed, haha !

[DunedinDragon]

On 2/17/2024 at 5:18 AM, xuoham said:

Yes, thanks a lot for chiming in, but like i said above it's what i do too.  ^ ^

And obviously the MC6 is not at fault here.

Famous last words...............

 

[xuoham]

On 2/17/2024 at 10:14 PM, DunedinDragon said:

Famous last words...............

 

Yes, Dunedin, sorry, my bad ... i already did seppuku 3.5 times this morning, that should do it ...