Help!

[DougD]

This seems like a pretty dead forum--but I give it a try anyway...

I have downloaded a shareware version of n-tracks and tried to use it. When I try to overdub any additional along with the first one, they are out of time. It says in the Help (yeah, as if...) that it will indicate a lag time to add, but I be dinged if I can find where it's indicated if at all.

Is this because it's the shareware version (possibly)?

Thanks,

-Doug

[bobbo]

DougD,
Try going to preferences and decreasing the playback buffers and preload buffers a little at a time until the tracks get more in synch. You may have already done this too, but it helps when I check the box where it says playback in mono. Also, when playing back, I usually have it so I won't see the waveform. But it all depends on your hard drive speed pretty much. I just fiddled around with all of the stuff on the preferences pages, and found what works for my system. One of these days I hope to get a faster drive. Also, I try to remember to record mono tracks except the drum track. That saves a lot of cpu usage. Good luck.
bobbo

[Slackmaster2K]

I'm not sure why decreasing the playback buffers would help with sync problems....n-track won't start recording until the playback buffers are full and the stream has started...or will it? I've always solved problems by increasing the buffers...hmm... I'm not disagreeing, I'm just wondering.

Anyway, DougD, while you're recording, there will be a lag indicator in the little clock area (on the toolbars, not the "Big Time" window). If there is no lag, you will not see the lag indicator... if you do see a lag indicator, and it's pretty steady, you should enter the opposite of this value in the lag compensation box in preferences (don't know exactly what it's called but it's obvious).

That is, if the lag is around -2040 then you'd enter 2040 to compensate. If it's 2455 then you'd enter -2455 , etc.

Are you using two soundcards BTW?

Also be sure to check the FAQ at www.fasoft.com

Slackmaster 2000

[gaffa]

I've had a similar problem, 'cept mine was due to the fact that the computer was pretty slow. It becomes a major problem when you're playing back one track and recording another. The lag time I was getting was close to 4-5 seconds, which is horrible.

Solution: get a faster computer (it worked for me, anyway). Not that that will solve you're immediate problem.

- gaffa

[MikeDog]

Howdy!

Rumor also has it that n-track performs almost exponentially better on an NT/2000 system versus 95/98. I know I run it on a fairly souped-up 98 system and can't get past seven or eight tracks before I run into problems. I can't speak from experience about using Win2000 -- anyone else?

MikeDog

[This message has been edited by MikeDog (edited 06-07-2000).]

[Slackmaster2K]

I used to run it on NT4...I now run it on Windows 2000.

However, I started on Windows 98. Yes, it runs MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH better on NT Fewer crashes and better performance. I wouldn't record on 95/98 if you paid me.

Slackmaster 2000

[signal2112]

i use n-track on windows 98 with no problem.
i'm running version 2.0.1
a faster computer seems to help alot
I have a :
400mhz amd k-6
128 ram
10gb 5200rpm maxtor hd
viking3 mtr board

n-track seems like it always had its glitches
throughout most of its versions,
but i like it well enough. most of all....its EASY TO USE!!!!! unlike most other programs of it's type.

[ME]

Doug,

I have been using N-Track for almost a year along with a few other more expensive recording programs. If you are simply interested in audio then n-track is one of the best and most reliable audio programs out (even if it is shareware).

I am using win 98 with a Celeron 466mhz and a 7200rpm HD. With the right buffering and windows tune-up you can get plenty of tracks. If I use a few plugins and mostly mono 16bit wave's I can get 24tracks with out any lag, skips, studders, freezes, or crashes.

Check out http://www.audioforums.com and read the windows tune-up article for optimizing your system for audio recording. Another great recourse is of coarse the N-Track user forum at http://www.FAsoft.com . There is always lots of help there.

By the way, you didn't give us a system description. Try adding that and someone with a similar system can jumpin and help you out a little better. If you are using an ISA sound card (like an old SB16) then this could be the first problem area.

Best Regards

[DougD]

Hey everyone, thanks for the help!

* I haven't tried tweaking the buffers or anything like that yet.

* I am not using two sound cards (is that the only way you will get a "lag indicator?"

* It goes out of time after a few seconds. I thought about shifting the track but that seemed like a needle in a haystack without a reference...

* I have tried it on two different systems--both to little avail. One is a desktop pentium 90 with 48MB mem(hey I would've been happy with even 4 tracks in sync--I'm not gonna shell out even $40 if it can't at least do that...) with a Turtle Beach Montego II and a laptop 333 PII with 128MB mem and the sound card (chip?) ESS Solo that it came with. Both seem to have the delay. Is the demo/shareware copy just crippled or can I seriously expect to be able to test it?

* i will check out the info and links evryone has provided.

Thanks again,

-Doug

[Dondello]

I wouldn't expect too much from the laptop considering it has a $3 soundcard in it (ESS), and I also wouldn't expect too much from a Pentium-90, although I have pulled it off effectively. Don't write of N-track completely because of this, definitely upgrade the desktop if you plan on recording extensively.

[ME]

Doug,

I am not sure how the P90 will perform. A friend of mine had a P75 and tried N-Track, couldn't even get one track to go.

Still, If you are tracking and just suffering lag...Look in the time window while recording and watch the lag indicator. If the lag does not continually get larger you should see one value that hangs out there. write that nuber down. Then open preferences and look for a box that is titled something like "lag offset". Type in the opposite of the number that you wrote down. Example; -2550 lag...type 2550 off set.

Give it a try and see if it helps you out. Of course if your lag keeps growing larger and larger as the track plays then it is definately a soundcard or soundcard driver problem. You should go to the company site of your soundcard and download a current driver for the modle #.

Later

[DougD]

Dondello,

If you could be more specific about the P90, especially your statement <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>"I also wouldn't expect too much from a Pentium-90, although I have pulled it off effectively"<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> So, just how did you pull it off? Also, you didn't give any info about the delay problem, and although it won't win any sonic excellence awards, I'm sure my "$3" sound "card" isn't contributing to the delay... (if so, explain how it could...)

Thanks,

-Doug

[This message has been edited by DougD (edited 06-13-2000).]