MIDI Echo / Feedback

[Memodeth]

Hi,

 

I am using Logic 9 Pro on a Mid-2012 Macbook Pro with Apogee Duet II audio interface. I connect a simple keyboard such as iRig keys, or Line6 mobile, or m-Audio 88es through usb. When playing midi instruments, like Garageband's piano, or a higher end instrument from Kontakt, I get sort of a synth sound at the background. It is like an echo but not exactly. So I play a note on a piano instrument, the piano sound is there, but at the background there is a synth sound, like a low quality string section sound. This is in all instruments.

 

Why is this happening? How can I prevent it?

 

Thanks very much for your help

[Atlas007]

Providing a completelist of your system setup specs could be helpful (see forum rule #5)...

You are monitoring from where (Mac output / Duet / speakers)?

Do you have anything running on your MBP besides Logic?

Could you post a screen capture of you Mixer window with ALL view button selected?

If you mute the track onto which is instantiated the plugin and play your keyboard, do you still hear the background intruder sound? Adversely, what about if you solo the plugin track?

You titled your post as MIDI echo / feedback, normally this would cause doubling exactly the same sound. Have you checked in your Controller Setup window ? Try Bypassing All Controller...

[Memodeth]

Thanks for your reply.

Actually, I narrowed down the problem to Apogee Duet II.

If I remove Duet II, the problem goes away.

So basically when I set my input and output to Duet II and monitor from Duet II, I get sort of a feedback sound while the note being played on the instrument is sustaining; and even some mild stuttering maybe. It is quite difficult to describe. I can also say that it almost sounds like the system cannot sustain the original sound, so it gradually replaces it with a lower quality synth.

 

Any ideas why this might be happening?

[Atlas007]

Have you tried with another app, I mean besides Logic?

[Memodeth]

I tried Garageband and same thing happens.

[Atlas007]

In Logic, have you tried setting the Audio preferences at lower levels decreasing the I/O buffer size for instance.

[Memodeth]

Yes, I have

[David Nahmani]

Any way you could post a sample of the echo sound?

[Memodeth]

Any way you could post a sample of the echo sound?

 

OK, so it just got weirder.

 

I tried to record a sample audio to send you how it sounds. However, I found out that the problem is with the Duet's output. Because the audio I recorded sounded normal through the built-in output, but through the Duet's output it sounded as if there was a mild phaser or flanger effect, and as the sound sustains it starts to stutter mildly. It is quite difficult to describe but it sounds as if there is some sort of effect, which makes the sound more synth-like.

 

 

P.S. Sorry I posted this problem on a Logic forum, initially I thought it was a problem with the DAW settings. However, members of this forum are extremely knowledgable, so maybe someone will have an idea about the problem. I am sorry for the inconvenience, but thanks to your help, at least I was able to discover the source of the problem.

[Atlas007]

]...

I tried to record a sample audio to send you how it sounds. However, I found out that the problem is with the Duet's output. Because the audio I recorded sounded normal through the built-in output, but through the Duet's output it sounded as if there was a mild phaser or flanger effect, and as the sound sustains it starts to stutter mildly. It is quite difficult to describe but it sounds as if there is some sort of effect, which makes the sound more synth-like.

What you describes resemble as a sample clocking issue...

[Memodeth]

Well, I don't know what it means but can it be fixed

[David Nahmani]

Any way you could post a sample of the echo sound?