Native Instruments B4 II User Manual
B4 II
OPERATION MANUAL
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does
not represent a commitment on the part of Native Instruments Software Synthesis
GmbH. The software described by this document is subject to a License Agreement
and may not be copied to other media. No part of this publication may be copied,
reproduced or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior
written permission by Native Instruments Software Synthesis GmbH. All product
and company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective owners.
User’s Guide written by: Thomas Loop, Michael Kurz, Darwin Grosse
© Native Instruments Software Synthesis GmbH, 2004. All rights reserved.
B4 Is a trademark of Native Instruments Software Synthesis.
Germany USA
Native Instruments GmbH Native Instruments USA, Inc.
Schlesische Str. 28 5631 A Hollywood Boulevard
D-10997 Berlin Los Angeles, CA 90028
Germany USA
info@native-instruments.de info@native-instruments.com
www.native-instruments.de www.native-instruments.com
Table Of Contents
About the Native Instruments B4 ......................................................... 5
Introduction .................................................................................... 5
Installation under Windows XP ............................................................ 7
Software Installation ........................................................................ 7
VST plug-in Installation .................................................................... 7
DXi 2 plug-in Setup ......................................................................... 8
RTAS plug-in installation .................................................................. 8
Installation under MacOS X ................................................................. 8
Installing B4 II in OS X ................................................................... 8
MacOS Audio Unit plug-in Installation ............................................... 9
RTAS plug-in installation .................................................................. 9
Product Authorization ......................................................................... 9
What is the Product Authorization? .................................................... 9
Conducting the Product Authorization ...............................................11
Method A: B4 II computer has direct access to the internet ................11
Method B: Internet Connection on another computer ..........................13
Method C: No Internet Connection available ......................................15
Registration support .......................................................................17
Audio Interfaces ...............................................................................18
Standalone Application ...................................................................18
More About Latency ...................................................................... 20
B4 II as standalone .......................................................................... 25
Soundcard (Audio Interface) ............................................................25
Routing .........................................................................................27
MIDI ............................................................................................ 28
B4 II as Instrument Plug-in ............................................................... 29
VST 2.0 Plug-In ............................................................................ 29
Audio Units Plug-ins .......................................................................31
DXi 2 plug-in ............................................................................... 35
Using B4 II with Pro Tools .............................................................. 36
B4 II – III
The B4 User Interface .......................................................................37
Using Presets ................................................................................41
Saving Presets .............................................................................. 42
The Preset View ............................................................................ 43
Keyboard Splits ............................................................................. 46
MIDI Response ............................................................................. 48
The B4 as an effects unit ................................................................49
Setup View ................................................................................... 50
Full Screen mode .......................................................................... 55
Creating Your Own Sounds ................................................................ 56
Manual View Controls .................................................................... 56
Organ View Controls ...................................................................... 62
Expert View Controls...................................................................... 67
Drawbar Programming Basics .............................................................74
Theory ..........................................................................................74
Practice ........................................................................................76
Appendix A: Keyboard and Mouse Control .......................................... 79
Appendix B: Recommended Reading and Listening ........................... 80
Appendix C: The B4 Signal Flow ........................................................ 84
IV – B4 II
About the Native Instruments B4
Introduction
The B4, in perspective...
Congratulations on your purchase of the Native Instruments B4. The B4
combines the classic and robust tonewheel organ and rotating speaker sound
with the convenience of software.
The original B3 organ set many standards with its beefy sound and unique
interface. This instrument spans all genres – from R&B to Jazz, House to Gospel
– and is a valuable tool for any player or producer. The Native Instrument B4
honors this standard, and provides a software that maintains the classic look,
lush tone, and famous presets of the original.
B4 II – 5
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Of course, there are a number of advantages the B4 has over the original
tonewheel organ, including:
• Reduced size and weight
• Increased preset storage
• Velocity sensitivity
• MIDI automation of all parameters
• Multiple organ models in one package
• Integrated reverb
• A ample selection of cabinet models
The Native Instruments B4 integrates seamlessly into the computer-based
virtual studio.
It is important to note that the B4 is not another sampled organ, but a
complete software model of the tonal characteristics of the original tonewheel
and rotating speaker and cabinet system. Effects like harmonic foldback
(tones repeating in octaves at the high and low extremes of the keyboard) and
loudness robbing (the same tone triggered with multiple keys “compressing”
the tone volume) are faithfully reproduced as critical characteristics of the
instrument. This attention to the details of sound production make the B4 a
stunningly realistic and useful musical instrument.
Installation under Windows XP
Software Installation
• Insert the B4 II CD into the CD drive.
• Use the Windows Explorer to view the contents of the CD.
• Start the installation by double-clicking B4 II Setup.exe.
• The setup program will suggest C:\Program Files\Native Instruments\
Product Name\ as the path for the destination folder. You may also
choose another folder if you wish.
Installed Folders, Files, and Links
The setup program creates a new folder called B4 II\ in the installation directory
(Program Files\Native Instruments). This folder contains the les required to
operate the software. If you do not choose a different program group during
the installation, links to the Product and a ReadMe le are added to the Start
menu under Programs/Native Instruments.
VST plug-in Installation
• Insert the Installation CD into the CD drive.
• Use the Windows Explorer to view the contents of the CD. To start,
double-click the B4 II Setup.exe le.
• When the choice is given by the installer, select VST plug-in from the
list of components to install.
• You can now choose to automatically search for the VST plug-in folder
or manually select the VST plug-in folder of your choice. Please select
the option that best suits your installation requirements.
Note: If more than one host program for VST 2.0 plug-ins is installed
on your computer, the installer lets you install to multiple VST-folders
by shift-clicking them. If you decide to install them at a later date,
simply copy the “B4 II VST.dll” le into the VST plug-ins folders of
these programs. Windows: If the VST plug-in les are not visible in
the Windows Explorer, select the Show All Files option. This option is
located in the Explorer menu View Folder Options... on the View tab
below Hidden Files. Optionally, you can set up your programs so that
they all use the same VST plug-ins folder.
B4 II – 7
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DXi 2 plug-in Setup
DXi 2 is a plug-in interface for software synthesizers and instruments based
on Microsoft DXi technology. Sonar from Cakewalk and Fruity Loops are the
most well known host sequencers that support DXi.
Installation
• Insert the Installation CD into the CD drive of your computer.
• Use the Windows Explorer to view the contents of the CD and double-
click the B4 II.exe le to start the installation.
• Continue the B4 II installation until you come to the Choose plug-ins
page. Tick the checkbox DXi plug-in.
The installation program copies the B4 II plug-in to your hard disk and registers
it as a DXi 2 plug-in for use in DXi 2-compatible host programs. After the
installation, the software appears as a plug-in in the host program.
RTAS plug-in installation
• Launch the B4 II Installer from the CD.
• Select the Custom installation type.
• Select only RTAS from the list of components to install.
Installation under MacOS X
Installing B4 II in OS X
• Insert the Installation CD into the CD drive of your computer.
• Double-click the installation program B4 II Installer to start it.
• The start screen appears rst. After clicking Continue and conrming the
license agreement, a dialog opens where you can select the installation
location and the destination folder.
The installation program suggests a path for the B4 II folder; if you do not
select a different destination, the B4 II folder is created on the rst hard
disk. You can choose between Easy Install, where both the standalone and
plug-in versions are installed, or Custom Install, where you can select which
versions you want to install.
MacOS Audio Unit plug-in Installation
• Launch the B4 II Installer from the CD
• Select the Custom installation type.
• Select only Audio Unit from the list of components to install.
RTAS plug-in installation
• Launch the B4 II Installer from the CD
• Select the Custom installation type.
• Select only RTAS from the list of components to install.
Product Authorization
Part of the B4 II installation is a Product Authorization which has to be fulllled
in order to make permanent use of the software. We recommend that you
take notice of this chapter rst, then proceed with the software installation as
described in the following chapters and nally return to this chapter.
What is the Product Authorization?
The Product Authorization includes a full registration. After having completed
the authorization, you can make use of all online services related to the
registered product. On the Native Instruments website you can read online
tutorials, get technical support, participate in the NI forums and download
updates.
B4 II requires the Product Authorization in order to use the software perma-
nently. You can run B4 II for 30 days without any limitations. As long as the
software runs unauthorized a message at every program start reminds you
that the authorization has not been completed yet and indicates how many
more days the software is running without an authorization.
The Product Authorization is performed by a small application called
Registration Tool. The Registration Tool generates a so called System ID
which serves as request code for receiving an Authorization Key. The System
ID is based on some hardware components of your computer system, the
operating system version and the serial number you have entered at the B4
II installation.
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Note: Exchanging your audio card, MIDI interface or external equipment
will not start the request for a new Authorization Key. Only exchanging a
basic hardware component in your computer or installing a new operating
system might produce a new Product Authorization request. In this case
the Registration Tool will reect the change by displaying a new System
ID and you have to repeat the Product Authorization.
The System ID has to be sent to Native Instruments in order to receive the
Authorization Key which allows the permanent use of B4 II. Since the Product
Authorization is part of the license agreement B4 II will stop launching after
30 days if it was not authorized until then. Of course, it is also possible to
complete the Product Authorization after 30 days. In this case the software will
launch again as soon as the Product Authorization has been completed.
Note: The data transfer at the online Product Authorization is done via
a secure connection using 128 bit encryption. Native Instruments keeps
your personal data like email and postal address in condence. No data
will be passed to a third party.
Registration Tool
Conducting the Product Authorization
Native Instruments has set a high value on making the authorization procedure
as easy and comfortable as possible. In the following sections we describe
three methods of conducting the Product Authorization. We recommend
Method A and Method B since these result in the easiest and fastest way of
receiving the Authorization Key.
Method A: B4 II computer has direct access to the internet
Important: This method requires a valid email address to complete the
Product Authorization, since the registration code will be sent to you
by email.
• Windows: Start the Registration Tool from the start menu (Native
Instruments B4 II B4 II Registration Tool) or from the B4 II instal-
lation folder (default path: C:\Program Files\Native Instruments\B4
II\).
• MacOS: Start the Registration Tool from the B4 II installation folder
(default path: Applications\B4 II\).
• A click on the Register Now button opens the Native Instruments
registration webpage. Therefore your standard Internet Browser will
be opened and an internet connection will be established according to
your system settings. Your System ID will be automatically transmitted
to the registration form.
• On the rst online page you are asked if it is your First Registration at
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Native Instruments or if you want to do an Additional Registration.
• Depending on the option you have chosen on the rst online page you
now get a login page asking for your username and password or a form
where you can ll out your address data. Please ll out all required
elds and follow the instructions on the screen to complete the regis-
tration.
• On the last online registration page your Authorization Key is directly
shown in the browser. Please copy the full number (12 x 5 digits) and
paste it to the registration tool. Within a few minutes you will also receive
an email from the Native Instruments registration system containing
the Authorization key. The Authorization key is available in the email
body and additionally as text attachment. This email also contains the
password which is required for using the online services.
• Start the Registration Tool again and either copy the Authorization
Key from the email and press the Paste from Clipboard. button in the
Registration Tool or use the Open File button in the Registration Tool
to open the email attachment which you previously have saved to hard
disk.
• Click on theClick on the Complete button.
After completing the Product Authorization the Registration Tool looks like this
Now the B4 II Product Authorization has been completed. The authorization
message at every B4 II start has disappeared and you can use the software
permanently:
Method B: Internet Connection on another computer
Important: This method requires a valid email address to complete the
Product Authorization, since the Authorization Key will be send to you
by email.
• Windows: Start the Registration Tool from the start menu (Native
Instruments B4 II B4 II Registration Tool) or from the product installation folder (default path: C:\Program Files\Native Instruments\B4
II\).
• MacOS: Start the Registration Tool from the B4 II installation folder
(default path: Applications\B4 II\).
B4 II – 13
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• A click on the Save Registration File button opens a Save dialog for
saving a HTML le. Save the HTML le to any storage medium.
• Transfer the HTML le to another computer where you have internet
access (via oppy disk, CDR etc.).
• Open the HTML le in your internet browser.
• The HTML page contains a link for the registration page on the Native
Instruments website. When you click on this link an internet connection
will be established according to your system settings.
• On the rst online page you are asked if it is your First Registration at
Native Instruments or if you want to do an Additional Registration.
• Depending on the option you have chosen on the rst online page
you now get a login page asking for your username and password
or a form where you can ll out your address data. Please ll out all
required elds and follow the instructions on the screen to complete
the registration.
• Within a few minutes you will receive an email from the Native
Instruments registration system containing the Authorization key. The
Authorization key is available in the email body and additionally as text
attachment. This email also contains the password which is required
for using the online services.
• Transfer the text attachment to the computer where you have installed
B4 II.
• Start the Registration Tool again and use the Open File button in the
Registration Tool to open the email attachment which you previously
have saved to hard disk.
• Click on the Complete button.
After completing the Product Authorization the Registration Tool looks likelike
this
Now the B4 II Product Authorization has been completed. The authorization
message at every B4 II start has disappeared and you can use the software
permanently:
Method C: No Internet Connection available
Important: Following this method you will have to ll in a form which
you send to Native Instruments. You will receive the Authorization Key
either by email (recommended), by postal mail or by fax. If you do not
provide Native Instruments with a valid email address in the form, be
prepared to type in the Authorization Key manually (about 60 digits).
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If you do not have access to the internet or if you do not have a working email
address, the Product Authorization can also be done via postal mail or fax.
Although Native Instruments goes after a fast handling of your authorization
requests, it is generally recommended that you prefer Method A or Method
B for shortest return times and most comfortable operation. Please note the
following instructions to fullll the Product Authorization:
• Windows: Start the Registration Tool from the Windows start menu
(Native Instruments B4 II B4 II Registration Tool) or from the product
installation folder (default path: C:\Program Files\Native Instruments\B4
II\).
• MacOS: Start the Registration Tool from the B4 II installation folder
(default path: Applications\B4 II\)
• A click on the Fill Out Form button opens a local HTML le in the
operating system’s standard browser or another program which you
have dened as standard application for opening HTML les.
• The HTML le contains all information Native Instruments requires for
completing the Product Authorization and registration. Please ll in the
required data and print it out, or write a letter containing the data.
If you write a letter please attend to a legible handwriting to avoid
mistakes at the Native Instruments registration team. Illegible email
or postal addresses can cause problems with the Authorization Key
delivery.
Send the form to Native Instruments using one of the following contact addresses:
Native Instruments GmbH Native Instruments USANative Instruments USA
Registration 5631 A Hollywood Boulevard5631 A Hollywood Boulevard
Schlesische Straße 28 Los Angeles CA 90028
10997 Berlin USAUSA
Germany
Fax: +49 30 6110352400 Fax: +1-323-372-3676
• You will receive the Authorization Key via email (recommended), fax or
mail.
• Start the Registration Tool again and either copy the Authorization
Key from the email and press the Paste from Clipboard button in the
Registration Tool or use the Open File button in the Registration Tool
to open the email attachment which you previously have saved to hard
disk. If you have received the Authorization Key by mail or fax, type it
in manually.
• Click on the Complete button.
• Now the B4 II Product Authorization has been completed. The
authorization message at every B4 II start has disappeared and you
can use the software permanently:
Registration support
If you run into problems during the Product Authorization the Native Instruments
registration support team will be happy to help you. In this case send a support
request on the NI website using the following URL:
http://www.native-instruments.com/registersupport.info
Please describe the occurred problem as accurate as possible and provide the
registration support team with the necessary details to solve the problem.
B4 II – 17
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Audio Interfaces
Audio interfaces, which include software routines called drivers, allow B4 II
(and other programs you have installed, if present) to communicate with your
computer’s audio hardware. This section describes how to use various audio
interfaces with B4 II.
There are two main ways to implement B4 II:
As a “standalone” device that requires no host software. The application’s
audio and MIDI connections interact directly with your computer’s audio/MIDI
hardware interface.
As a plug-in that works in conjunction with a “host” program, such as
sequencing or hard disk recording software. In this case, the host program
interacts directly with the computer’s hardware interface. B4 II connects to the
host program via “virtual patch cords.” The audio outputs appear as signals
in the host’s mixer, and the host passes MIDI data to the software.
We’ll describe each mode in detail, but first let’s look at the various
interface drivers and plug-in formats used by different operating systems
and programs.
Standalone Application
B4 II works in standalone mode with ASIO, MME, DirectSound, and Core
Audio. The software/computer combination acts as an instrument, similar to
a hardware digital synthesizer. The table shows you which drivers are available
under which Operating System:
Driver Windows MacOS X
ASIO 2.0 • •
DirectSound •
MME •
Core Audio •
Plug-In
Used as a plug-in, B4 II is not a standalone program but rather a program
“module” that can be integrated into a “host” program such as a sequencer.
plug-in mode allows you to integrate it seamlessly with the sequencer.
Furthermore, it has many other uses as a plug-in:
• MIDI sequencing of B4 II and audio mix-down of the MIDI tracks within
a single program
• Comfortable automation of B4 II parameters in the sequencer
• Further processing of B4 II signals using additional plug-ins
• Sample-accurate timing with MIDI controllers (when used as VST 2.0
plug-in)
• Restoring of all plug-in settings when the host document (such as a
song le of the sequencer) is loaded
• Integration with other instruments into a “virtual studio”
Some shortcuts / key commands do not work in all sequencers. This is
due to the fact that the host capture keys for themselves and do not
pass them on to the plug-in.
This table provides you with an overview of which interfaces are supported
by which host programs:
Plug-in Interface Host-Program Windows Mac
VST 2.0 Plug-in Cubase, Nuendo • •
DXi Sonar •
Audio Units Logic •
Note: Some hosts include “wrappers” that allow running B4 II with
a choice of plug-in protocols. Try each one, as one may offer better
performance than another. Example: With Sonar, running B4 II as a
DXi instrument allows using multiple outputs, while running it as a VST
instrument provides more automation options
Interface Details
The interfaces described below represent different ways B4 II can communicate
with your sound card. Available interfaces depend on your computer, the
audio interface (sound card) you’re using, and your computer platform (B4
II supports Windows XP or MacOS X). Choose the fastest interface protocol
supported by your interface, which will likely be ASIO with Windows, or Core
Audio for Mac. For Windows, you can also use DirectSound and Multimedia
(also called MME), but expect a signicant delay (called latency) between the
time you play a note and the time you hear it.
ASIO (Audio Streaming Input Output): This cross-platform plug-in protocol
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was developed by Steinberg. It is highly recommended for its low latency,
multi-channel audio card support, and high performance.
DirectSound: Developed by Microsoft, this is a is a component of DirectX 5.0
or higher for Windows. How well DirectX works well depends on your sound
card. If you adjust the interface for an acceptable amount of latency, you
may hear glitches and clicks in the audio output that can only be xed if you
increase latency.
MME (Multi Media Extension): This is the standard Windows audio driver.
Most sound cards support this interface and work with it quite well. However,
MME is even less suitable than DirectSound for real-time applications due to
its comparatively high latency.
Core Audio: This audio interface for MacOS X is integrated tightly into the
operating system, and works with external audio hardware as well as the Mac’s
integrated audio output.
Plug-In Details
VST (Virtual Studio Technology): Like ASIO, this cross-platform plug-in
technology was developed by Steinberg. It is the most common plug-in format,
and many programs are optimized to work with VST plug-ins.
DXi2 (DirectX Instrument 2): Based on Microsoft DirectX technology, this
plug-in interface for software synthesizers and instruments is designed for low
latency and high performance on the Windows platform. Cakewalk Sonar and
Image Line FL Studio are the most well-known hosts that support DXi.
RTAS (Real Time Audio Suite): This interface protocol from Digidesign allows
using plug-ins with ProTools (or other Digidesign-compatible software). Unlike
traditional TDM effects that depend on using Digidesign hardware, RTAS plugins are “native”. This means the host processor performs all computations
needed for the plug-in.
AU (Audio Units): This plug-in format is exclusively for the Macintosh OS X
platform, and is tied in closely with the operating system.
More About Latency
As with any digital device (including hardware signal processors) that convert
audio to data and back again, a computer adds a certain amount of delay
(“latency”) when processing audio signals. Fortunately, with today’s computers
and low-latency sound card drivers, this delay can be so small that you can’t
hear it (e.g., under 3 milliseconds, which is about the same delay caused by
moving your head one meter further away from a speaker). However, typical
computers are generally not set up for low latency; attempting to play in real
time through B4 II will probably be unsatisfying because of the delay.
Any computer-based audio system has some delay between the audio input
and output. As a result, if you’re playing a MIDI keyboard through B4 II, you
may hear an annoying delay between the time you hit a key and hear a sound.
Even the most powerful computer can only do a certain number of calculations
per second; generating and processing sounds demands a lot from a computer,
so it’s important to minimize any computer-based delays.
Fortunately, three main factors make delays virtually insignicant, assuming
you have a suitable computer setup (see System Requirements).
• Today’s multi-GigaHertz computers are so fast they dramatically reduce
latency.
• Many sound cards and audio interfaces include drivers optimized for
low latency.
• NI’s software has been optimized to function as efficiently as
possible.
Use Low-Latency Drivers
Drivers are pieces of code that handle communications between your computer
and audio interface, whether built into a computer or attached via USB or
FireWire. The more efciently they transfer data between audio interface and
computer, the lower the latency.
B4 II works with two low-latency driver types:
• ASIO (Advanced Streaming Input Output). This cross-platform protocol
was originally developed by Steinberg.
• Core Audio (Mac only). This low-latency protocol was created by Apple
for the Macintosh, starting with OS X.
If your audio interface does not support one of these protocols, you will likely
hear an audible delay if you play through B4 II in real time. Although B4 II can
work with the DirectSound and MME drivers common in Windows machines,
you will probably not have a satisfying playing experience.
How Low Can You Go?
1.5 ms of latency approaches the theoretical minimum, because it will always
take some time to convert a keyboard press into MIDI data, than convert B4's
digital audio out to analog. However, note that ultra-low latency settings (or
higher sampling rates) make your computer work harder, which may limit the
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polyphony or number of effects you can add while still retaining glitch-free
audio. So, here are some tips on living with latency.
About Samples and Buffers
Audio cannot be handled continuously by a computer, but has to wait its turn
while other operations are being carried out. As a result, sound cards create
a “buffer,” which can hold a certain number of samples, where data can be
stored and released as needed to create a smooth ow of data. An analogy
would be if you had a hose that didn’t deliver water continuously, but in bursts.
So, you use a holding tank to store the water coming in from the hose, and
have a valve in the tank that releases a steady amount of water in a smooth,
continuous ow.
If the tank (buffer) is large, then you can store more water in case the hose
goes dry for a bit. But it will take longer to ll the bucket, which is equivalent
to latency. A smaller tank takes less time to ll, but the hose had better deliver
water on a pretty continuous basis.
All ASIO audio interfaces and sound cards include a control panel where you
can adjust latency. This may be given as the number of samples per buffer,
as shown in the Terratec EWX control panel:
For example, the Terratec EWX ASIO control panel lets you choose a particular
number of samples/buffer. The display then shows the resulting latency. In
this case, 256 samples/buffer has been selected, giving latency of just under
6 ms at 44.1 kHz. Setting this to 128 samples/buffer will reduce the latency,
but may stress out your computer more.
Some control panels simply show the latency that results from choosing a
particular setting in milliseconds rather than showing samples/buffer.
In this screen shot, note that Creamware’s ASIO control panel simply lets you
choose the desired latency; buffers are adjusted “behind the scenes” within
the Creamware Scope application (in this case, to 128 samples). The Device
Setup panel in Cubase conrms the latency, which is about 4 ms, but doesn’t
indicate the buffer size.
Warning: Different Types Of ASIO
It’s extremely important to use the ASIO driver written for the card you’re using.
There are also “generic” ASIO drivers, typically called (for Windows) “ASIO
DirectX Full Duplex Driver” or “ASIO Multimedia Driver.” They will usually be
found in a drop-down menu in the host program where you choose the desired
ASIO driver. If you’re not sure which one to use, try them all, and choose the
one with the lowest latency. There should be an obvious, dramatic difference
when you use the correct ASIO driver.
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Tips On Minimizing Latency
• Set latency to the highest comfortable value. 256 samples/buffer is
very responsive yet gives your computer some “breathing room.” 512
samples may also be acceptable; anything more will create too much
delay. If you can’t get reliable audio with 512 samples, it’s time for a
better computer!
• If your ASIO Control Panel shows latency in milliseconds, you’ll nd
that anything over 10 ms or so gives an audible delay. 5 ms is a good
compromise between speed and minimum stress to your computer.
• Download your sound card’s latest drivers from the manufacturer’s web
site. This can make a huge difference in performance.
• If you are recording in a host application and using software synthesizers,
use your program’s “freeze” function (if available) to disconnect some
synths from the CPU. Or, render a soft synth’s output as a hard disk
audio track (then remove the soft synth), as audio tracks are less taxing
on the computer. Hint: If you retain the MIDI track driving the soft synth,
which places virtually no stress on your CPU, you can always edit the
part later by re-inserting the soft synth.
• Sometimes there are two latency adjustments: A Control Panel for the
sound card sets a minimum amount of latency, and the host can increase
from this value if needed. Or, the host may “lock” to the control panel
setting.
B4 II as standalone
When used as a plug-in, the host program has already set up its audio and MIDI
connections, and B4 II simply “plugs in” to these. However, with standalone
operation B4 II communicates directly with your audio interface. It’s therefore
necessary to specify audio and MIDI settings, as well as the preferred driver
protocol (of course, plug-in format is not an issue).
Setup for Mac and Windows machines is essentially identical, except where
indicated. Note that if you change your audio interface, you will almost certainly
need to re-adjust these settings.
Call up the Audio + MIDI Settings setup dialog from the Setup menu. You’ll
see three tabs for Soundcard, Routing (audio output patching), and MIDI.
Soundcard (Audio Interface)
Audio + MIDI Settings dialog
Interface: Choose the fastest interface protocol supported by your interface,
which will be ASIO or Core Audio. For Windows, you can also use DirectSound
and Multimedia (also called MME), but expect a signicant delay between the
time you play a note and the time you hear it.
Windows only: Avoid using any drivers listed as “emulated,” as they
provide poorer performance than other drivers. For example, although
DirectSound drivers generally outperform MME drivers, MME drivers
will outperform emulated DirectSound drivers.
B4 II – 25
26 – B4 IIB4 II
Sample rate: The drop-down menu will display compatible sample rates for
your audio interface. 44.1kHz is the same sample rate used for CDs, and is
the most “universal” choice. However, some audio interfaces offer 48kHz and
96kHz (B4 II accepts up to 96kHz sample rates). These higher rates stress
your computer more, but offer somewhat better high frequency response. If
you are using B4 II standalone, choose whichever rate you prefer. When used
as a plug-in with a host program (e.g., Cubase, Digital Performer, Logic, Sonar,
etc.), the host will determine the sample rate.
Output Device: Use ASIO written specically for your audio interface (not
“ASIO DirectX” or “ASIO Multimedia,” unless no other choices are available),
or for the Mac, Core Audio.
Output Latency: This eld displays the output latency. For some drivers you
can adjust the latency individually using a fader.
Adjust latency for the fastest possible setting that gives consistent audio
performance. The CPU may not be able to keep up with fast settings, resulting in possible crackles or pops in the audio. Slower settings will give more
consistent audio performance, but the amount of delay may be musically
unsatisfying.
Experiment with the latency setting until you nd the best compromise between consistent audio performance and fast response. A quick way to adjust
latency is as follows:
Select any instrument and play it while moving the Latency slider.
Move the Latency slider to the left until you start to hear clicks in the audio
output.
Now move the slider to the right until the clicks disappear. This is the optimum setting.
Routing
Using the drop-down menu, Output 1/2 is assigned to an output from a multioutput sound card.
If your sound card offers multiple outputs, you can choose which ones connect.
Click on Outputs to select the outputs from drop-down menus.
Similarly, use input to select the audio input if you wish to use B4 II as an
effect.
If you experience a humming or buzzing, maybe even feedback, when
you start B4 II, it is likely that you have the B4's input set to your
computer's built-in microphone. Please select another input or disable
input altogether by choosing "not connected" from the drop-down
menu.
B4 II – 27
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