Latency Issues with Sonar X1 Essential

Do you have a separate sound card or are you relying on your computer's built-in sound card? You need a sound card for low latency. Edirol/MOTU/M-Audio etc etc etc

Thanks for the prompt response,v.much appreciated, whats the minimum spec of external sound card I can get away with to obtainthe 'zero' l;atency and is there any that you would recommed for the set up we have? Frazzel

Well, there are gobs of sound cards/audio interfaces out there that have ways of offering "zero" latency monitoring (usually by splitting the signal before the A/D converters), if you don't need to add any processing for monitoring purposes it's probably the way to go. I use a Presonus Firebox that can do it but there are tons of others.

If you want the best round-trip latency you're going to want to focus your searching on some of the mid-to-upper end interfaces. Generally speaking, I'd look at units from Presonus, Focusrite, MOTU, and RME (the best of the bunch) and then start picking units based on your I/O requirements and other factors (portability, connection)

If you're using on-board sound now, pretty much anything you buy will be better. And for most purposes, a good $200 will get you something very capable.

Had to re register here..hmm. Bought a Focusrite Saffire 6 USB. Once I unchecked all of the laptop sound drivers etc...Brilliant, wonderful sound. 

Then I tried a cheap usb midi keyboard, and voila! no lag, great sound, as long as you use the Focusrite Saffire unit only. 

At GC in Manhattan, as I am checking out, the next guy wanted to return Sonar X1 as he said he couldn't get any sound at all.