a few quick basic questions?

[mcl116]

I've just started messing around with my recording stuff. 2 things... what's considered a decent level of latency? How would I lower it if it's too high?

Also when I was recording acoustic guitar with a condenser, in front of the sound-hole, about 6" away and then tried again at about 10-12" away. My problem is, I can hear my breathing at certain points of the recording. Don't say don't breathe so hard, b/c I trying different breathing and it still picked it up sometimes... how can I prevent this?

Also I can hear what the mic is picking up even when I have not selected the monitor button in cubase... why is that? And how can I fix that?
thanks

[buckkillr8]

need more info.

What's your PC specs?
What interface (if any) are you using?
what software?

etc.

[mcl116]

Originally Posted by buckkillr8

need more info.

What's your PC specs?
What interface (if any) are you using?
what software?

etc.

Using a macbook 500GB HD, 2GHz
Using Cubase LE 4 with a Presonus Audiobox USB

[buckkillr8]

well your CPU speed is fairly low and your running a USB interface. How many tracks are you trying to run? Plugins? Are you running ASIO drivers?

[mjbphotos]

Breathing - breathe through your nose not your mouth, man!
Sounds likethe microphone is probably angles the wrong way, rotate it 90 degrees in its holder - if it's a cardiode pattern, you are now picking up sound to the sides, not the top and bottom.

[mcl116]

Originally Posted by mjbphotos

Breathing - breathe through your nose not your mouth, man!
Sounds likethe microphone is probably angles the wrong way, rotate it 90 degrees in its holder - if it's a cardiode pattern, you are now picking up sound to the sides, not the top and bottom.

The condenser mic is upright (perpendicular to the floor), is that what you mean? I am breathing through my nose, I guess it's just something i'll have to be weary of...

Originally Posted by buckkillr8

well your CPU speed is fairly low and your running a USB interface. How many tracks are you trying to run? Plugins? Are you running ASIO drivers?

it's actually 2Ghz (which is still kinda slow i guess), sorry about that. I'm not trying to run anything really right now, just record and mess around. I just don't want too much latency. The manual said I don't need any ASIO drivers with a mac b/c it plug and play. If that's incorrect, please inform me otherwise, thanks.

[buckkillr8]

I'm not familiar with MAC's but Presonus gear likes ASIO drivers for the lowest latency. What's you buffer rate and sample set to?

[KineticSound]

Originally Posted by mcl116

Using a macbook 500GB HD, 2GHz

mcl,
Assuming you're using an Intel Core2Duo Macbook (same as I am; also 2.1GHz), 2 GHz is plenty of processor speed. Since your machine is of the faster variety with a large HD, I assume you're running at least 2GB of RAM?

I have my I/O buffer configured @ 256 Samples, and I typically run 2-6 tracks at once, each with a couple plugins, with no notable latency issues.

[gecko zzed]

Originally Posted by mcl116

I've just started messing around with my recording stuff. 2 things... what's considered a decent level of latency? How would I lower it if it's too high?

Also when I was recording acoustic guitar with a condenser, in front of the sound-hole, about 6" away and then tried again at about 10-12" away. My problem is, I can hear my breathing at certain points of the recording. Don't say don't breathe so hard, b/c I trying different breathing and it still picked it up sometimes... how can I prevent this?

Also I can hear what the mic is picking up even when I have not selected the monitor button in cubase... why is that? And how can I fix that?
thanks

1 Ten milliseconds or less is an acceptable level of latency. However, the real test is whether you notice it or not, and whether it is causing you a problem. Your device should have a control panel that allows you to adjust the level.

2 Breathe more quietly . . . but experiment with the mike placement. Arrange it so that it is facing down to the guitar, rather than facing straight on, or worse, upwards and towards your mouth. Also try playing with your head turned away. Try turning the gain down and playing a bit louder.

3 Possibly because you have hardware monitoring on, rather than software (i.e. Cubase) monitoring. It's not something that you necessarily need to fix; hardware monitoring usually provides the lowest latency.

[mcl116]

Originally Posted by buckkillr8

I'm not familiar with MAC's but Presonus gear likes ASIO drivers for the lowest latency. What's you buffer rate and sample set to?

My audio buffer sample is set it 192 samples and the rate is 44.1 kHz

I have an input latency reading of 10.975ms and an output latency reading of 10.227.

How am I looking here?

[KineticSound]

Originally Posted by mcl116

I have an input latency reading of 10.975ms and an output latency reading of 10.227.

How am I looking here?

That should be just fine. To Gecko's point, as long as it's not creating a problem for you while recording, you're good.

[Bristol Posse]

In addition to what has already been said, maybe you're recording too hot!! turn down the pre amps see if that reduces the breath sounds. You could try using a noise gate and see if that helps get rid of the unwanted backround noises

[mcl116]

Originally Posted by Bristol Posse

In addition to what has already been said, maybe you're recording too hot!! turn down the pre amps see if that reduces the breath sounds. You could try using a noise gate and see if that helps get rid of the unwanted backround noises

that definitely could be it. I kind of turned up the gain on my interface before I turned it up in cubase