Common Causes for Lyric Display Latency
Computer Processing or Display Output Setup
Computer Processing or Display Output Setup
ProPresenter Computer processing latency. (ProPresenter may actually have a delay from the time a slide is selected, to the time the slide is outputted due to hardware limitations, or video output setups)
Network Setup & Configuration
Network Setup & Configuration
Wifi network traffic can increase latency, and some routers can introduce latency or missed cues entirely if not setup properly.
ProPresenter Transition Length
ProPresenter Transition Length
ProPresenter's built-in transitions adding delay to how quickly the lyrics are displayed.
MIDI Cue Creation Error
MIDI Cue Creation Error
If a particular MIDI cue in a song is visibly in an incorrect location, it's possible there's an error for that particular song. If using the Production cues from MultiTracks.com, and the "Master" arrangement of the lyrics in ProPresenter, please reach out to support using the chat icon on the website to inform us of the potential mistake or issue. Our team is always able to review specific songs to ensure their accuracy.
Initial troubleshooting and best practices
Before diving into more specific troubleshooting steps, please take note of these particular recommended setup guidelines when automating ProPresenter with MIDI:
Using immediate 'Cut' Transitions or very fast transitions in ProPresenter.
(Transitions will increase the delay in lyrics displaying; learn more HERE).Using a dedicated network that is not bogged down by any network traffic.
Running ProPresenter off a computer that meets or exceeds Renewed Visions Recommended Specs
Recommended Troubleshooting steps:
The goal of these troubleshooting steps it to narrow down if the lyric display latency is occurring in Playback, occurring with the network connection, or occurring in ProPresenter. We'll start at the beginning of the chain and work forward.
Step 1: Is Playback sending MIDI out too late?
Check the visual triangles for the MIDI cues. Are they showing in a location that you'd expect? They will always be in a position before the words are being sung. If the triangles are not showing in the location you'd expect for a song, please contact the support team for further assistance and review with that song.
Test MIDI delay coming from Playback
This step can be skipped if running Playback from an iOS or iPadOS device (Can be tested further in Step 2). But if running Playback on a MacOS device, you can monitor MIDI coming fro Playback, without the variable of the network, by using the MacOS built-in IAC Driver. The steps would be:Enable the MacOS IACDriver (Steps)
Download a free MIDI Monitor App like MIDIView (Info)
Set MIDIView to listen to the IACDriver
Route Playback's MIDI Bus to the IAC driver
Play the song from Playback, and solo the "Reference" track.
Watch MIDIView while Playback is playing, and see if the MIDI is being received right when the triangles are present in Playback, and in time with what you'd expect for the lyrics you're listening to.
Step 2: Is the network causing MIDI latency into ProPresenter?
Check the MIDI Network Driver for MIDI Latency information:
Check the "Latency" bar in the "MIDI Network Setup" window on the ProPresenter device. Every time a MIDI cue is picked up on the network from Playback, there will be a bar showing here. If the latency is higher than 10-50 milliseconds, we'd suggest making changes to the network configuration. (More info below)Test MIDI Latency on receiving device with MIDIView
Alternatively, you can also test MIDI latency by putting MIDIView on the ProPresenter computer. Set MIDIView to listen to the network session the MIDI is routed over, and then start sending data from Playback over and monitor MIDIView.
Is the MIDI timecode coming over in MIDIView right when you'd expect? Or is it delayed in MIDIView later than you'd expect? If not coming through as quickly as you'd expect, we'd suggest making changed to the connection method or network configuration. (More info below)
Step 3: Is the latency occurring inside the ProPresenter Software?
Quick display latency test in ProPresenter
Within the ProPresenter software, turn on all video output sources typically used in your setup, and make sure all projectors or TVs are turned on as well.
Click through a few lyric slides, Play a video, test some slides with graphics, and then click through additional song lyric slides. Are the lyrics showing immediately when you click on the slide? Is there any noticeable latency? If so, you may have a bottleneck with the ProPresenter device. We'd ensure you're exceeding the recommended specs from Renewed Vision: Recommended Specs
Further troubleshooting can also be done with the Renewed Vision team to optimize performance and decrease software latency.
Other option for testing ProPresenter Latency
(in some cases there may be delay in ProPresenter processing the MIDI information. The below steps can test this out).Download the MIDIView software on the ProPresenter Computer, and have it monitor MIDI over the network session utilized for MIDI control.
Connect Playback and ProPresenter so Playback is controlling ProPresenter.
(Optional: enable all video output sources to monitor performance)Play a song with MIDI from the Playback app, and on the ProPresenter computer monitor the incoming MIDI in MIDIView, and compare it in real time with the orange selection box in ProPresenter, and optionally, the Video Output that's enabled.
Cross reference ProPresenter and MIDI view; are the MIDI cues coming into MIDIView from Playback, at or close to the exact time that ProPresenter is highlighting the lyric slide?
If the MIDI note is showing in MIDIView earlier than ProPresenter is selecting the slide, it's possible there is some software delay with ProPresenter. We'd recommend further troubleshooting with the ProPresenter software to determine the cause for latency occurring inside the ProPresenter app. Ensure you're following Renewed Visions recommended settings, and not doing any internet browsing on the ProPresenter device, and also meeting or exceeding the device spec recommendations from Renewed Vision.
If you followed all three main troubleshooting steps, and are still unsure of why the lyrics are firing late, please contact the MultiTracks.com support team using the chat icon in the lower-right, for further assistance!