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#432741 - 09/29/03 02:28 PM

Why can't I monitor and record without a delay in the sound?

Teahead
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Registered: 02/20/03
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Hi, I'm using Cubasis vst 4.0 on my XP equipped laptop. I can enable the monitors in the software, but the sound reproduced is a second or two behind what I play! Same if I overdub (with monitors off) the track is also out of sync(!)

Do I just need a soundcard upgrade? Someone on the guitar forum mentioned adjusting the Windows Volume Control to run mic inputs direct to the speakers, thus overcoming the effect the software monitor is having on my signal.

Any help in this would be gratefully appreciated, I'm losing my mind, not being able to use this fantastic resource I have wasting away on my desktop! Thanks in advance, T.

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#432742 - 09/29/03 03:13 PM

Re: Why can't I monitor and record without a delay in the sound?

Matt.Hepworth
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Welcome to latency. If you look under your audio settings it should tell you your latency. Anything higher than 10ms is unacceptable for direct monitoring. You'll have better luck monitoring off your source. You can try to update your ASIO drivers for lower latency.

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#432743 - 09/29/03 04:49 PM

Re: Why can't I monitor and record without a delay in the sound?

Stein
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Registered: 01/23/01
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Quote:

Originally posted by NE-One:
Welcome to latency. If you look under your audio settings it should tell you your latency. Anything higher than 10ms is unacceptable for direct monitoring. You'll have better luck monitoring off your source. You can try to update your ASIO drivers for lower latency.

I'll think you'll find that "acceptable latency" is quite different from musician to musician. When recording f.x. rythm guitar, a latency greater than 3ms would drive most musicians crazy when monitoring from a headset. I myself have a difficult time playing keyboard with latencies in the 3-5ms range (but then again, I have problems with some hardware synths too).

Like NE-One says, there is no other alternative than monitoring from the source, usually by conneting the source to an external mixer and feeding both your monitor chain (headphones) and your DAW from there.

The most basic setup would be: Microphone (or any other signal source) connected to the mixer, mixer Aux Out feeding Headphones, mixer subgroup (or bus) feeding the inputs on your DAW (soundcard). The output from the DAW should be connected to inputs on your mixer for monitoring previous recorded tracks.

Stein Tore

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#432744 - 10/03/03 03:20 PM

Re: Why can't I monitor and record without a delay in the sound?

philbo_Tangent
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Another option is to get an audio interface that has real-time monitoring included. This is essentially the same as using an external mixer (the audio is sent back out before it ever gets converted to digital).

I don't know which type would work with a laptop though... Try looking at USB models..

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#432745 - 10/03/03 03:26 PM

Re: Why can't I monitor and record without a delay in the sound?

miroslav
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Quote:

Originally posted by Teahead:
...the sound reproduced is a second or two behind what I play!

Just play slower. $;\)$ :p

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#432746 - 10/03/03 03:37 PM

Re: Why can't I monitor and record without a delay in the sound?

miroslav
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Quote:

Originally posted by philbo_Tangent:
Another option is to get an audio interface that has real-time monitoring included. This is essentially the same as using an external mixer (the audio is sent back out before it ever gets converted to digital).

But you are still SOL when monitoring already recorded DAW tracks while also recording new ones...you still have latency issues… $\:\($

So far I've managed to avoid the latency issues by recoding to analog tape first...then dumping to digital. I only monitor the recorded analog tracks...so there is never a delay issue.

I've been thinking that even the folks that record direct to DAW...could benefit by using a tape deck just for monitoring purposes.
When recording to their DAW...they simultaneously record to the tape deck, and then use that only for your monitoring, while recording your new tracks direct to the DAW.
If you have a whole bunch of digital tracks already recorded...then do a quick mix, dump to a couple of tracks on the tape machine...and there's your playback source…WITHOUT any latency issues.

Once you get all your tracks into the DAW...just jog them as needed to get them all to line up. Easiest way is to always record a sound spike (percussive click is best) on each track at the same spot...like say, on pre-roll beat 2.
Then just line up the spikes and you are good to go.

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