Problems with Cubase VST 24

[Dazzer]

I've just built a P4 3GHz 1Gb RAM computer for music/midi recording. But I can't quite get Cubase VST 24 to work. I've the following questions which hopefully someone can help me with or point me to a site for cubase duffers like me.

1. I can't seem to get any drums. I guess I need to map the drums or make it play the Sounblaster Live! drums - but I can't see how. It plays the Soundblaster samples ok - though there seem to be a slight delay.

2. Is there a setting to cut the Live! samples delay? [This is there just using soundfont not cubase]

3. There is a 1 second or more delay on the VST instruments. I had this on my old P2 computer and the consensus was it wasn't fast enough. A P4 clearly should be. Have I missed setting something up?

4. The Cubase I have is around 5 years old. Could it be its not up to it? Can anyone recommend another free/cheap program I could try to make sure my computer is set up ok?

Dazzer

[SonicVanguard]

The answer to every question is your Soundblaster Live! card. Although it is ASIO compliant, it does not have ASIO specific drivers - hence your VSTi delays. You need a ASIO compliant sound card with ASIO specific drivers that VST can properly deal with. I'd look at the M-Audio Audiophile 192 - huge upgrade from the Live! card and will work flawlessly with any Cubase product. Keep in mind it's a prosumer card and can be a handful to setup at first (there's a lot more than just plug-n-play with this card) - once you've got everything setup, it will work wonderfully.