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Virtual Audition Latency (music school)

Discussion in 'Recording Gear and Equipment [BG]' started by Lakland1008, Aug 12, 2021.

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  1. Aug 12, 2021 #1
    Lakland1008

    Lakland1008

    Jul 8, 2021
    Hey all,

    I have a virtual audition for music school coming up and I'll be auditioning on electric bass.

    It will be over zoom and I will be playing along to backing tracks, all of which are playing from my end of the call. I've been doing some practice runs with friends and family and I'm having too much latency between my bass signal and the track i'm playing along to.

    It sounds great on my end but there's too much latency on the other end of the call.

    I have my bass running into a focusrite scarlett solo and I'm playing the backing tracks in itunes. Then I'm sharing my audio. I've tried routing the input from my scarlett solo and the tracks from itunes through Loopback but the latency is still there.

    Do I need a different virtual mixer/router before the track and bass signals hit zoom? Is there a better setup that will have less latency?
     
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2021
  2. Aug 12, 2021 #2
    flojob

    flojob Gold Supporting Member

    Oct 15, 2011
    I have no idea, but congrats on getting the opportunity!
    You should really just contact the school, and ask what they recommend using. You can't have been the only person to encounter the problem, and they may already have a solution.
     
  3. Aug 13, 2021 #3
    silky smoove

    silky smoove Supporting Member

    May 19, 2004
    Seattle, WA
    So the backing tracks are on your end, the bass is obviously on your end, but you’re getting audible latency? Is there some interaction with Zoom that’s screwing things up? If so can you turn off the audio from Zoom on your end during the portions while you’re playing and not speaking with the folks on the call?
     
  4. Aug 13, 2021 #4
    Frank Tuesday

    Frank Tuesday

    Jul 11, 2008
    Kansas City, MO
    The latency problem is between the recorded tracks and your bass? Or is it the video doesn't sync with the audio?

    Are you running your bass through any other software, or just straight into Zoom?

    I've never played over Zoom, so I don't have any experience.

    I'd look at playing the music from outside the computer, and running it through the Focusrite with your bass. This way the latency on both will be the same. Put the backing tracks on your phone. Do you have an amp that has an aux in? Do you have any other way to connect your bass and your phone to the Focusrite? A mixer? A DI?
     
    AGCurry likes this.
  5. Aug 15, 2021 #5
    Geri O

    Geri O Endorsing Artist, Mike Lull Guitars and Basses Gold Supporting Member

    Sep 6, 2013
    Florence, MS
    All I can offer is….

    If the latency issue is between your bass and the recorded tracks you are playing with, you can reduce the block size of the samples. I typically mix at 512 samples, but when I’m tracking or overdubbing, I’ll lower that to 128 or even 64. The lower the block size, the less latency you’ll experience while tracking along with the recorded tracks.

    If you understand all of this and this isn’t what’s going on, my apologies.
     
  6. Aug 15, 2021 #6
    flojob

    flojob Gold Supporting Member

    Oct 15, 2011
    Or just open air mic the tracks and your bass.