Syncing audio tracks

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Goodrat

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Is it actually possible to record multiple audio tracks with a computer? I beginning to have my doubts.
I recorded audio from my drum machine, then I recorded my guitar. Well of coarse they play back out of sync.

Now, since you cannot have effects on input because of sound card delay, I would think that recording a second track while listening to the first track is also not possible to get in sync. So how do you record multitrack audio with a multitrack program that doesn't really work? Or am I missing something? Or did I maybe have some kind of skip where the track started out ok, but I lost a short piece and I became out of sync?

I have a 400MHz, 160MB ram, pci128 soundcard, 18Gb dedicated hd 7400rpm udma 66.
 
Have faith -- there are hundreds of thousands multitracking on PCs every day.

I presume since you are posting here, you're using Cakewalk. Did you let the Wave Profiler set the sound card up for you? What is set as the Playback Timing Master? How about the Record Timing Master? (These settings are in the DirectShow Audio dialog box - select Audio from the Options menu, and select the General tab.)
 
I'll have to check when I get home. I'm sure I have some kind of setting wrong. I remember Cakewalk testing my drive, I'm not sure if that is what you mean. "Timming master" does not sound familiar without the program in front of me. I remember buffer settings. I also optimized my computer for audio as I read somewhere. My levels were also carefully set, but I remember hearing some poping and static at the beginning of one track. It's as if the track started ok, then was off a half a beat. I will probably at this point not use any midi, if you are refering to that.
 
By the way how do I set those buffer settings, trial and error? Does anyone have proper settings for cakewalk and windows 98 when using a pci128 card? I hear my card should have nice quality if you only record one channel at a time. Is there a better choice? If I'm not going to buy a stand alone multitracker, and give the computer a try, I really need to see if I can get this all to work.
 
I remember Cakewalk testing my drive, I'm not sure if that is what you mean.
Click to expand...
Well, when you install an application it usually tests for disk space first.... but as the last step (or perhaps on the first time you launch Cakewalk) it should have run something called the Wave Profiler that attempts to measure your audio system's properties and adjust its parameters accordingly. That's what I was referring to.

While I'm at it, here's something from Cakewalk's website that discusses particular sound cards; I've italicized part of it for emphasis:

"These cards are newer products from Creative Labs, designed to work with the newer PCI bus architecture.

"If you have installed the latest Creative soundcard driver, Cakewalk’s Wave Profiler should have no difficulty recognizing your soundcard, and automatically set the proper configuration options for your Cakewalk software. However, one particular option — the Use Wave Out Position For Timing — is very important and you should manually inspect this setting to make sure it has been set up correctly. (This option must be set correctly to ensure proper synchronization of MIDI and Audio recording and playback.)

"These soundcards should enable the Use Wave Out Position For Timing option. To check the setting of this option, open the Cakewalk Options | Audio dialog and click on the Device Profiles tab. Make sure your soundcard is selected in the list at the top. If the Use Wave Out Position For Timing box is un-checked (disabled), click on it to enable this option now. Then click OK to close the dialog."

This came from http://www.cakewalk.com/support/docs/soundcardtips.html
 
Ok now, but playback volume weirdness

Back home.....It seems the wave thingy must be ok, because my card is listed. I tried some optimization tricks with my pc and the problem seems to have gone away.

But I think there is some setting that is wrong on the project that has the problem. The strangest thing: My first drum track (audio from my drum machine) has a good level. My next recorded guitar track-- no matter what I do, displays on the playback meters at half the volume that was indicated on the record meters (and is heard in half volume).

Even after deleting both these tracks and recording just hitting a tom sound (audio from DM) it plays back at half the volume. First track or second...

If I open a new project the first and second ect are played back full volume as expected. This is without changing any levels.
What setting do you think I messed with on this project that would cause this??
 
I spoke too soon. I opened a new project, I don't see the half volume problem, however, on my second track I hear a few skips or clicks and then it is out of sync again.
 
My soundcard mixer is adjusted to playback the same volumes I record. That is tweeked just fine, but this one project I just had to delete. Playbacks were always registering half way on the meters. Starting a new project, that is ok, but I still have this glitch or skip problem. Maybe Cakewalk does not like my song. :)
 
Goodrat,

It's possible that if you recorded one part, then another part that included the playback of the first track -- that is, you rerecorded what was already there in addition to the new part -- something like what you describe would happen. The two parts combined like this usually cause interference with each other when played back, which muddies the sound and reduces the volume.
 
Nope, I was careful to only have one track record.
To backtrack I have two issues:

1) My second track recorded with a stutter or skip near the beginning to cause an offset in sync with the first. This happens every time I record my guitar. Levels are ok.

2) I had a project that always played back at half volume, even after erasing the tracks and trying again. This was only corrected by openning a new project. All settings the same.

#2 I'm currious about, but #1 is not solved yet.

Maybe tweek the buffer size? What's the advice on buffer size? (have 128MB ram)
 
I had the same problem (see my recent sound stutter) post. I resolved the problem merely by going to tools> audio options > Advanced and then increasing my playback buffer value from 2 to 4. This seemed to do it for me. poo had a different suggestion as you can read from his reply to my post.

Best of luck and with problem#2

Paul
 
Since the wav seems to be delayed visually, I may try the record buffer first. Wouldn't you think?
 
Ohhhhhhh this is fun!
I still have the same glitch problem and now the other problem is back again. Record at zero db and play back about half the volume. Open a new project and all is fine. Hmmmm....One week of Cakewalk and I have never seen more than one track actually recorded!
I wish I still had my AKAI 4 track cassete. I would have had a finished master by now.
 
Here's another clue for you all....Guitar Tracks II works fine. The walrus is Cakewalk.
 
I know it may be heresy but...... why don't you email Cakewalk tech support. You may have to wait a couple of days but they answered my queries pretty much.

Only a suggestion though....
 
You have Guitar Tracks II and Cakewalk? As far as I know, they are essentially the same product, just that Guitar Tracks is crippled a bit. So if they are both installed on the same machine, perhaps there's some sort of conflict going on -- wrong DLLs being loaded, funny registry entries, that sort of thing.
 
Yes, I e-mailed Cakewalk yesterday.
I did find out more about the half volume thing. When I wanted to record the track over, I would select edit-undo recording and I would still get the half volume playback after a new recording. However, if I delete track (and then open a new record track and record again), all is normal.
I can't see what I may have done to the track to make it behave this way.
 
Problem solved?

OK, I tried this tweek for my glitch problem, and I think it's working:

start/settings/control panel/mutimedia/
devices/ expand the media control devices,
select wave audio device, properties, select do not use.
 
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