Tracks not aligning properly.

[kenneth050881]

Complete Noob so apologies before I start!!!

Equipment, Behringer C1U, Martin DG16GTE, Laptop, Reaper

Im trying to lay down an acoustic song by recording the guitar track first. Then im recording vocals and percussion by playing back track one and recording the tracks individually. Im timing it well but when I play back the tracks are ever so slightly out of time with each other and im not sure why.

Im new to this and only really looking to basically record my songs so not spend too much, do I have a rubbish sound card or am i missing a setting somewhere?

 

[squibble94]

Are you using ASIO4ALL Drivers?

 

[Dr. Varney]

It's called 'latency' and it's occurring, probably because you're using your laptop's onboard sound chip, which is just not effective enough for recording multitracked audio, as a dedicated, near-zero-latency sound card/audio interface would be.

In other words, first you need to upgrade your sound (either internally - or in the case of your laptop - externally, with an audio interface connected via firewire or USB).

Or you will have to check for something called 'latency compensation' in your recording software. Check your software user manual. It will usually be adjustable, somewhere in the preferences panel in the software. In fact, check this first -because I recall having exactly the same problem with a program called Audacity on my laptop and all it required was that I download an improved version of the program, which had proper latency compensation built in. Things improved after that. I upgraded my sound card later. I'm glad I just remembered to mention that!

Hope this helps

Regards

Dr. V

 

[Dr. Varney]

Are you using ASIO4ALL Drivers?

If he's using his onboard sound, he probably won't have access to any ASIO drivers, which usually come with the dedicated soundcards. You can record and multitrack audio with Windows Wave drivers but there will be some added latency, which can be corrected in the software.

Dr. V

 

[TimOBrien]

Still using a built-in soundcard?? Unfortunately, those are made with less than $1 worth of chips for beeps, boops and light gaming (not to mention cheapness for the manufacturer) and NOT quality music production. The poor drivers also lead to high latency or delay in the sound.

#1 Rule of Recording: You MUST replace the built-in soundcard.

Here's a good guide and tested suggestions that WORK: http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm
(you'll want to bookmark and read through all of Tweak's Guide while you're there...)

Another good article: Choosing an audio interface - http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep08/articles/audiointerfaces.htm

 

[squibble94]

If he's using his onboard sound, he probably won't have access to any ASIO drivers, which usually come with the dedicated soundcards. You can record and multitrack audio with Windows Wave drivers but there will be some added latency, which can be corrected in the software.

Dr. V

No, you can download them. I used to use them with my sound cards all the time.

 

[kenneth050881]

Thanks alot guys, you have been a great help to a complete noob!

I have downloaded the ASIO drivers, did so from day 1. Does reaper have the Latency Compensation setting?

Also sorry to be another pain but can anyone recommend a basic sound card that I could upgrade my laptop to that would combat this? Im really not looking to record studio level songs just basic demo's but I want to be able to mix tracks.

 

[oretez]

ASIO4ALL might help

but no matter how fast the system there can still be some offset among tracks recorded sequentially (for all kinds of reasons, in addition to 'buffer size', and simply picking up an interface can put one on path of the sequential gear enhancement we all so love)

As a general rule I do recommend acquiring a real A/D/A audio card and while there are some decent ones that are cheap, that by itself will probably not be the final gear step . . . particularly when acoustic guitar is a primary element

if the offset, among tracks, is purely offset and not offset + drift then you can create a work flow where you create a track with a specific time marker, like a film clapper, a sharp percussive mark that can be used to line up successive tracks. Time marker is not absolutely necessary (familiarity with material makes it pretty easy, with digital editing, to align tracks if you are dealing solely with offset not drift) but can be useful when you are getting started)

 

[TetraFish]

Thanks alot guys, you have been a great help to a complete noob!

I have downloaded the ASIO drivers, did so from day 1. Does reaper have the Latency Compensation setting?

Also sorry to be another pain but can anyone recommend a basic sound card that I could upgrade my laptop to that would combat this? Im really not looking to record studio level songs just basic demo's but I want to be able to mix tracks.

Not sure about your budget but for a laptop you'd want to go with a simple usb recording interface. Lots of them out there for $200 or under.

 

[TimOBrien]

Just remember, ASIO4all is a great little hack, but you're still putting your audio through 40cents worth of chips.

..... would you put a 40cent oil filter in your car???

You still need to replace that cheap sucker.

 

[moresound]

Thanks alot guys, you have been a great help to a complete noob!

I have downloaded the ASIO drivers, did so from day 1. Does reaper have the Latency Compensation setting?

Also sorry to be another pain but can anyone recommend a basic sound card that I could upgrade my laptop to that would combat this? Im really not looking to record studio level songs just basic demo's but I want to be able to mix tracks.

If your going to download an up date or get a new latency compensation program....... be sure and get one that you can manually set as well as having an auto setting, for there will come a time that you will have to manually manipulate the latency of certain tracks.

 

[Dr. Varney]

No, you can download them. I used to use them with my sound cards all the time.

Cool! I didn't know you could do that. But from what I can gather from reading, this ASIO4all is a mere stop gap.

Dr. V