Track 2 is not in sync with track 1 in 4 different audio programs.

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Wanderinjohn

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Dell Inspiron 1420 laptop
Windows Vista Home Premium 32
Processor Intel Core 2 Duo T5750 @ 2ghz 2ghz
Memory Ram 3.00 gig
32 bit operating system
Sigma Tel High Definition Audio sound card

Have tested 4 audio programs and they all have the same issue.
Cakewalk Sonar 3
Cool Edit Pro
Mixpad
Audacity

Record on track 1. No stutter. No drop-outs
Record on track 2. Seems to be ok.
On playback, Trk 2 lags Trk1 by a fraction of a second and stutters and then drops out.

I've updated all drivers / turned off applications /
Cakewalk
tried all latency settings / switched drivers from WDM/KS - ASIO - MME 32, and default(?)
Running @ 16bit / 44k - Buffer in playback que - 4
Have run wave profiler and passed.
Tried clock settings - internal and audio (default)
Turned "snap to grid" on and off.
Tested the other 3 programs and they record and playback but the next track has the delay as well.

My studio consists of 2 synths, drum machine, Acoustic/electric guitars, bass, and mics running through a Mackie CFX20, output to Berhinger self-powered 12 inch speakers.
I separated the drum machine from the loop and went direct. In case my cable routing was creating the delayed 2nd track. Same results.

I've reached the end of my knowledge at this point. Any suggestions?
Was considering buying an audio interface, (MAudio Fasttrack) to see if that would correct the problem. Or upgrading My Vista 32 to Windows 7.
But first I'd like to see if I'm only a couple mouse clicks away from fixing this. Someone please help. Thanks
 
Internal soundcards are not designed for duplex audio, i.e. simultaneous recording and playback, and that is the most likely culprit.

If you want to pursue recording, then you should consider getting a dedcated audio interface to replace the sound card.
 
Thanks for the reply.
So if I understand,
I purchase something like the M Audio Fast track with a USB connection and install proper drivers and that will work? Is there anything else I should do for better performance?
And is USB a good way to go or should I go with Firewire or PCI?
Thanks again.
 
I did try that but it stuttered and dropped out as well. I agree that it is probably my sound card. I just never had this issue with my old XP, Windows 98, 95, 486, Commodor 64, Atari 2600.......Thanks for your reply.
 
I had read that yesterday but after going through my system 100 times looking for my issues and reading a lot of tech forums, I had no more retention capabilities. "Cup runnith over", so to speak. Call me lazy, but I just want to capture the creative moment when it strikes, and not have to struggle through the learning curve of embracing the technology. As an electrical contractor, I've had to spend more time on contract law then on actually doing electrical work. Kind of parallels a bit. A humble thanks for the reply.
( and using the Atari 2600 for sound processing ) ... Is turning the volume up and down a form of processing? Lol...
 
Wanderinjohn said:
I had read that yesterday but after going through my system 100 times looking for my issues and reading a lot of tech forums, I had no more retention capabilities. "Cup runnith over", so to speak. Call me lazy, but I just want to capture the creative moment when it strikes, and not have to struggle through the learning curve of embracing the technology. As an electrical contractor, I've had to spend more time on contract law then on actually doing electrical work. Kind of parallels a bit. A humble thanks for the reply.
( and using the Atari 2600 for sound processing ) ... Is turning the volume up and down a form of processing? Lol...
Click to expand...

Most interfaces are pretty straight forward. Once they are set up you don;t have to do much else. And if you want to capture the music it's pretty much a requirement.
 
Wanderinjohn said:
Call me lazy, but I just want to capture the creative moment when it strikes, and not have to struggle through the learning curve of embracing the technology.
Click to expand...

This is why pro studios still exist.
 
A couple things.

Vista is widely known to be problematic for digital audio.

A USB or Firewire interface should give you better performance because the interface would be doing the AD/DA duties that your laptop is currently doing.
 
Thank you all for the support. I'll include you in the liner notes of my next CD release. Don't worry though. I won't credit (blame) you for the mixing and mastering...
I'll let you know how the interface turns out. Until then...
 
Wanderinjohn said:
Call me lazy, but I just want to capture the creative moment when it strikes, and not have to struggle through the learning curve of embracing the technology.
Click to expand...

Just get a handheld digital recorder, plonk it down in front of you and press record, in that case.

But you know, as an electrician, that being a good electrician requires you to 'embrace the technology'. If you want to do more than just capture the 'creative moment', you will have to start climbing the stairs of that learning curve.
 
Bought the Tascam 144 and though it worked perfectly, I still had the issues.
As I was returning it, a guy who owns and runs a computer business approached me and said that Vista was the issue and to install Windows 7. I plan to do that soon but in the meantime, I bought the Tascam DP008 8 pocket 8 track. 2 hours later, I had a first draft of a song on 4 tracks recorded. I am very happy. When I fix my computer, I can dump tracks or whole songs into my DAW and tweak and master there.
Furthermore, as an electrical contractor, I've embraced 23 years of technology and would like to come home and relax by writing and recording. Not fighting with drivers and latency..... Nice to know but I'm a musician first. I'll have to deal with that at some point again but it's wonderful to be able to just press record and go.

Thank you all for the support and the sarcasm. It's all good.
 
It's just part of the hazing.

Consider yourself lucky you didn't have to fluff the billygoat like Arcadeko did.

BTW, 30 year IBEW member here. Are you hiring? :D
 
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That little Tascam looks like a great unit for portable recording, been looking at it myself to have an easy way to record ideas when I'm on the road or what not. Sometimes my IPhone voice recorder is a little too limited.

You might still find yourself wanting a dedicated audio interface eventually though. Your internal soundcard as I understand it will never be up to snuff for processing audio except in a very limited capacity, especially now that you've got a good recording unit in the Tascam recorder.
 
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