tracks off-time? HELP!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jburn34
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Jburn34

Jburn34

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I've got n-tracks on an athlon xp2100, 512 megs of pc2100 ram, 120 gig hard drive,windows 98, and an m-audio 24/96 sound card. When I apply effects to tracks, they play back with a lot of lag. It sounds horrible. I just spent 70 dollars on this program and now I am wishing I hadn't.

Is there any solution?

Jeremy
 
Turn off live input processing. Also, use ASIO drivers for that Audiophile.

Slackmaster 2000
 
Where do you get ASIO drivers? I got the current drivers off the m-audio website.

Thanks for your help,
Jeremy
 
The drivers are all in one. You simply select the driver you want to use in n-Track's properties under "Wave Devices."

Slackmaster 2000
 
Ok...new twist to same problem...

When recording a midi track...I need to have live processing to hear the reference tracks and then also the keyboard vsti deal...but it sounds like crap when on the live deal...even only with 3 tracks.

Thanks,
Jeremy
 
What do you mean it sounds like crap? Are you getting dropouts and the like? If you're using ASIO, then increase the buffer settings a bit in the delta control panel, then restart n-Track. You will experience more latency when playing the keyboard, but your dropout problems should go away.

Slackmaster 2000
 
There are definitely some clicks, but it sounds like there is maybe some echo/repeats or something.

I know where the buffer settings are in n-track, are there separate ones for the sound card?

Thanks for all your help,
Jeremy
 
When you are using ASIO, there is only one buffer setting that makes any difference, and that's the DMA Buffer setting in the delta control panel. You can still change the buffer settings in n-Track but it really doesn't do anything. Oh, and whenever you change the buffer setting in the control panel you should do it with n-Track closed, or at least re-start n-track after the change.

When you are using WDM, there are two buffer settings that make a difference...the ones in the n-Track setup and the buffer setting in the delta control panel. It's best to leave the setting in the control panel at a very low value (like 64-128) and adjust the n-Track buffers up to a good working point.

Slackmaster 2000
 
Slack,

I played with all the drivers and buffer settings. It seemed actually I got better results (with more tweaking) on playback with the other drivers.

Is there anyway that I can save a track with its effects as a new wav file and delete the old one, theoretically freeing up system resources?

I can't get too low on the buffer setting whether using ASIO or not without getting a lot of crackling.

Thanks,
Jeremy
 
You can apply effects to a track "destructively." This basically overwrites your wave file with the processing applied.

I wouldn't really recommend it though, because you can't be sure what the mix is going to need in terms of processing while you're still tracking.

Instead maybe you should just learn to work in phases. Work on bits and pieces of the project and then assemble them later. One thing I do on occasion is make a mixdown of what I have, then use that single file as a guide to do whatever it is I need to do. When I'm done with my overdubs that were tracked to the mixdown file, I simply mixdown each track seperately, which fills all that space between 0 and where the track "really" started. Thus I can import them back into my main project and everything will line up.

Slackmaster 2000
 
Slackmaster,

Thanks...that is a great idea. I do most of my recording onto a Tascam 788 and then burn a cdr of the .wav files and dump them on the computer. Really the only thing right now recorded on n-track is the midi/keyboard stuff.

I'm in the process of mixing down about 10 tracks right now. I'm still new to the mixdown process. It's basically centered around acoustic guitar rhythm, with djembe and a light drum track (mainly for the kick drum).

There is one track of lead vocals, with one track of backing vocals, a background keyboard, a cymbal, snare, and other small stuff.

How can I apply what you were saying to this? Or do I need to move this to the mixing/ mastering forum.

Thanks again,
Jeremy
 
There is also a problem where it won't play initially until I got to buffer settings and hit "apply." Doesn't matter what they are set on, just that I got to hit "apply."

Jeremy
 
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