Subject:best way to adjust latency?

Posted by: garybeck

Date:8/17/2015 11:35:43 PM

hello

I like to do multitrack recording (listen to a a recording and record another track while it's playing) so it's vitally important that the tracks are in sync. currently I am using a Zoom H1 microphone plugged into the USB port.

I noticed with the default settings the tracks are not in sync. I looked in the Options > Audio device and found there is an adjustment I can make to get the recorded track and the new one to be in better sync. I noticed the options are exactly the same in Sound Forge, Movie Studio, and Acid, so if i can figure this out it will help me in all 3 applications I intend to use.

SO I'm looking for the best method to set that adjustment? I would be very grateful if someone could give me an idea.

I tried this:

1) turn on metronome
2) record one track and simply clap along with the metronome
3) turn off the metronome
4) record another track while listening to the first track and try to clap along with it.
5) listen to both tracks together. if they are not in sync, adjust the latency and try again

i figure there must be something more scientific?

Thanks
Gary in Vermont

Subject:RE: best way to adjust latency?

Reply by: musicvid10

Date:8/18/2015 7:59:25 AM

Instead of clapping, just record an external metronome. They are cheap.

Subject:RE: best way to adjust latency?

Reply by: garybeck

Date:8/18/2015 10:43:36 AM

i do have an external metronome.

but i'm not sure how I would do that?

record it going one time.... play it back and record another track with the metronome at the same time...

but when I'm doing that, how would I attempt to play the 2nd one back at precisely the same time as I'm hearing the first one?

thanks.

Subject:RE: best way to adjust latency?

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:8/18/2015 6:27:51 PM

Multi-track recording with Sound Forge ?!!!

geoff

Subject:RE: best way to adjust latency?

Reply by: garybeck

Date:8/18/2015 11:00:57 PM

no i'm not using sound forge for multitrack recording. i am just asking the best way to adjust latency with my mic. i could have posted this in the Acid or Movie Studio forum. i chose this one. sorry, geeze! all three applications have the exact same control over latency.

Subject:RE: best way to adjust latency?

Reply by: pwppch

Date:8/19/2015 8:50:22 AM

For multitrack recording like this, we recommend the use of a i/o device that supports ASIO.

With ASIO supported device the driver/hardware can tell the software what the input to output latency is and ACID and Vegas can use this. Sound Forge has no use for this information, so it does not take advantage of it.

If you are trying to use two different physical devices - on for input and one for output - then adjusting the latency manually is the only viable solution. It can be very trial and error as there is no direct mechanism to hard lock two different devices. Also their clocks can be subtly different, which can lead to drift over time.

Peter

Subject:RE: best way to adjust latency?

Reply by: garybeck

Date:8/26/2015 10:44:36 PM

I figured out a way to do it...

turn on the metronome, put the microphone right next to the speaker.

view the recording and see how close the recorded click is to the beats on the measure.

adjust latency accordingly until they match up.

(to SONYPHC.... I switched to my ASIO device (focusrite 2i2). It did not adjust latency automatically. but I did the above and it seems to be just right now.)

Subject:RE: best way to adjust latency?

Reply by: ChristoC

Date:8/27/2015 3:30:19 PM

Just so you understand, ASIO Drivers always give you possibility of the lowest settings for Latency - they do not adjust latency automatically - the way you did it is perfect!
Always use the lowest value for latency that gives you reliable record and playback without glitches and the lowest timing error - that varies from PC to PC, which is why it is not set automatically, and conservative values are default.....

Subject:RE: best way to adjust latency?

Reply by: pwppch

Date:8/28/2015 5:17:24 PM

@ChristoC

Actually, if the driver is implemented correctly, it will tell you exactly the latency relationship between input and output.

Yes, there are drivers that do this wrong (or imprecisely) but if done properly in the driver, it works with out user intervention.

Peter