Live Input Processing

[LooneyTune]

A question on using Live input processing in n-Track. I sent the question to Flavio, who was somewhat vague in the response. He directed me to my Windows mixer settings which appear to be set correctly.

Running on a IBM T-23 Laptop, 1.1ghz and 256 Ram.

When ever I try to use live input processing I get a very significant delay in the timing.

For example, if I turn on n-Track now and press recored with LIVE turned on and tap my computer. There is a .5sec (?) delay before I hear it come out the speakers.

If I mute the master volume in playback settings, I obviously don't get the delay (but then I can't hear what I'm playing either!)

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

 

[Slackmaster2K]

That delay is to be expected when using live input processing. The only option to reduce it is to get a soundcard that supports low latency WDM or ASIO.

Slackmaster 2000

 

[LooneyTune]

Thanks Slackmaster!

I currently am using the supplied sound card with the PC (my office machine if you know what I mean). My sound card is a Crystal WDM Audio Codec card with one mic in and one line in and phones out. Don't know it's attributes (over my head). It is standard equipment for IBM ThinkPads.

Do you know anything about this card? Seems adequate for most of our recording needs but since I don't have a base for comparison I may not know what I'm missing!

Thanks again!

 

[Slackmaster2K]

Well, that crystal chipset is one step up from the lowest you can possibly go You won't get low latency with it...so either ditch the live input processing or learn to deal with the half second delay. You *might* try using DirectSound in n-Track and setting your buffers low...I've seen DS get down to 100ms which is of course only 1/10th of a second, and your soundcard should support it.

As far as solutions for a laptop, I'm not sure...I think you're limited to USB and I'm not to knowledgeable about USB soundcards.

Slackmaster 2000

 

[LooneyTune]

Figured as much.

I'll ditch the Live processing for now. I have enough work to do with learning how to just put a nice mix together.

Thanks for the help!

 

[sae]

if you want to go usb i would recommend something like this

 

[LooneyTune]

thanks for the link! Very cool machine. A bit out of my price range for what is just a hobby for me.

Bet the price comes down pretty quick though!

 

[sae]

they also have one that is a little bit smaller

http://www.tascam.com/products/product_information.php?product_id=12

 

[LooneyTune]

That's definately coming onto the radar. So the benny here is you no longer need to have a multi port sound card? You just use this machine infront of the PC?

 

[sae]

I don't really know how it works, it probably has it's own software and you have to do everything through the inferface

or....

it acts like a 4 track sound card.

I am not really sure, haven't done too much research