Configuration
Alienware R10 = Cubase 1 asio fireface (synchronized to an external clock: spdif usi u24xl)
2 screens, one above the other
IP: 192.168.50.1
Esprimo P957 = Cubase 2. asio 2.0 usi u24
1 screen
placed to the left of the two Alienware screens
IP: 192.168.50.2
Both PCs are directly connected via Ethernet.
VST System Link is used to synchronize the two Cubase 12 Pro.
Microsoft PowerToys Mouse Without Borders is used to have just one keyboard and one mouse for both PCs.
The problem
With Mouse Without Borders completely turned off:
Play on Cubase 1 → Cubase 2 starts, and both stay synchronized.
Play on Cubase 2 → Cubase 1 starts, and both stay synchronized.
With Mouse Without Borders turned on:
Play on Cubase 1 → Cubase 1 starts, but Cubase 2 doesn’t start immediately; I have to move the mouse over to the Cubase 2 screen for them to sync. As soon as I move the mouse back to Cubase 1, Cubase 2 stops again.and so on. Play on Cubase 2 → Cubase 1 starts, when I move the mouse over 1, 2 stops, but 1 keeps going, I move the mouse back over 2, and 2 resumes where it stopped and 1 syncs with 2. etc… So the problem is closely related to the activation of Mouse Without Borders. What we’ve already checked:
- VST System Link works without Mouse Without Borders. This is important: System Link doesn’t always fail.
- Mouse Without Borders can indeed move the mouse between the two PCs. So the basic communication of PowerToys works.
- “Easy Mouse” It must stay enabled, otherwise the mouse can’t move from one PC to the other.
- “Use the service” Alienware: enabled Esprimo: initially disabled We enabled it on the Esprimo. No change: the Cubase problem remains the same. So this setting is probably not the solution.
Ctrl + Alt + Delete This is an interesting clue: When the mouse is on the Esprimo and Mouse Without Borders is active, Ctrl + Alt + Delete opens the Task Manager on the Alienware, not on the Esprimo. This shows that Mouse Without Borders intercepts/transmits certain keyboard commands between machines. So the main point is: Why does Mouse Without Borders interfere with the VST System Link transport behavior when System Link works normally as soon as Mouse Without Borders is stopped? And above all, we need to find the exact setting or behavior of Mouse Without Borders that causes this interaction. I haven’t found the solution yet. Thanks in advance to all the experts who can help me solve my problem.