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Subject:Input monitoring latency while recording
Posted by: dtracyoh
Date:9/7/2008 8:26:48 PM

After a number of years recording with Adobe Audition (using a SB Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro external box), I made the switch to Acid Pro 6.0 primarily for its MIDI recording capabilities. The transition to Acid Pro has been smooth with one major exception: when a track is armed for recording (recording a guitar for instance) with 'input monitor' turned 'off', I do not hear what I'm playing, but the resulting recorded track is complete and perfectly in sync with the already-recorded tracks. With 'input monitor' turned on while recording, I can hear what I'm playing, but there is a major lag between what I play and what I'm hearing on the input side, although the resulting recorded track ends up perfectly in sync. I checked references in the Knowledge Base for Soundblaster-related issues and did not find a solution, although there is some indication that the problem may be related to the incoming audio not being properly routed for playback by the sound card drivers. I've been unsuccessful so far finding a solution via the Creative (Soundblaster) site. Maybe it's time to go with a better soundcard, although I have to say that my current Soundblaster setup has worked flawlessly with Adobe Audition for the past couple of years. I've tried various parameter combinations on the Audio Device and Audio preferences for Acid Pro, but so far to no avail.

Any ideas on this one? Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Doug

Subject:RE: Input monitoring latency while recording
Reply by: JohnnyRoy
Date:9/8/2008 4:48:31 AM

> Any ideas on this one?

What do you have your project Sample Rate set to? (Alt+Enter | Audio) It should be 48,000 if you are using a SoundBlaster card. SoundBlaster only supports 48K in hardware. If your project is set to 44K then the driver is converting 44K to 48K to process internally and then converting 48K back to 44K to output from the hardware. These two software conversions, who's speed is totally dependent on your PC processor, could be the cause of latency during real-time monitoring.

> Maybe it's time to go with a better soundcard

No truer works were spoken from a SoundBlaster customer. If you are serious about audio recording, get a pro audio interface and a good set of reference monitors. You will be amazed at what you weren't hearing before!

~jr

Message last edited on9/8/2008 4:49:23 AM byJohnnyRoy.
Subject:RE: Input monitoring latency while recording
Reply by: feign
Date:9/8/2008 6:57:50 PM

Let me second what Johnny Roy said regarding sound cards. I used to think that people putting down Soundblaster cards were elitist snobs. Then I checked around and found professional sound cards that cost the same as Soundblasters. I got an M-Audio Delta 66, and even to my untrained ears, the difference in sound quality was -- well, not day and night...call it bright sunshine versus overcast (I had good audiophile speakers to begin with, so that made the difference even more noticeable). Plus the pro cards give you much flexibility in setting sample rates and other settings, as well as true ASIO.

If you think Acid is enjoyable to work with, then you'll find it even more of a pleasure with a good pro sound card. There are several threads in this forum where different models are discussed.

Subject:RE: Input monitoring latency while recording
Reply by: dtracyoh
Date:9/9/2008 10:09:29 AM

Thanks for the feedback and great advice. I perused the soundcard recommendations in the other forum threads and hope to have a better soundcard installed in a couple of days. Hopefully this will resolve the monitoring issue, as well bumping up my recording sound quality significantly. It is still astounding to me that one person with a PC and a few hundred bucks can have recording capabilities that engineers/producers in million-dollar studios a few decades ago could only dream of.
Again, thanks!
Doug

Subject:RE: Input monitoring latency while recording
Reply by: JohnnyRoy
Date:9/10/2008 5:51:12 AM

> I perused the soundcard recommendations in the other forum threads and hope to have a better soundcard installed in a couple of days.

As far as sound cards go there are a few things to consider. Internal vs external. I prefer external because inside a computer case is a noisy electronic environment. There is less change of noise if the audio device isn't inside the case. For external there is USB vs Firewire. I prefer firewire because it is a more robust protocol. I have an M-Audio Firewire 410 and I just purchased a PreSonus FireStudio. Both firewire devices that work well with ACID giving you 2 or 8 inputs respectively.

Also consider if you have an external mixer or if you want to plug directly into the device. For direct connect consider if you will be using microphones that require a preamp, XLR jacks, and 48v phantom power. There is also the question of having the correct connections for the audio monitors that you will be using.

So consider your needs carefully before you select a new audio device and feel free to ask questions here BEFORE you purchase (so many people post after they purchase the wrong thing and can't get it to work... don't be one of them). ;-) Stick with name brands like Echo, M-Audio, PreSonus and you should be fine.

~jr

Message last edited on9/10/2008 5:54:30 AM byJohnnyRoy.
Subject:RE: Input monitoring latency while recording
Reply by: dtracyoh
Date:9/11/2008 8:15:28 PM

I greatly appreciate the advice. I'll be installing an M-Audio Delta1010LT as soon as it arrives. Now, after ordering the card, I'm having second thoughts and thinking that external might have been a better choice, but for now I'll run with this decision and see how it goes. I can see that I'm rapidly moving toward a complete overhaul of my recording rig (PC, et al) anyway , so of this experience will be invaluable in spec'ing out the new setup and getting me where I want to go. So much to learn....but what a great ride!
Again, thanks.
Doug.

Subject:RE: Input monitoring latency while recording
Reply by: JohnnyRoy
Date:9/12/2008 6:49:34 PM

The Delta1010 is a great card. You won't be sorry you bought it.

~jr

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