Metronome out of sync?

Are you using the MIDI metronome or audio metronome? What MC are you running?
For what it's worth, most of us don't use the met; we set up a drum click track (I could never hear the metronome anyway) and don't start recording until the time line goes several measures.

Yeah.... don't use the metronome in MC. I also had a hard time hearing it besides that, it sounds so sterile where the simple addition of a snare/kick is so much easier to hear.  Some of the synths can play a pretty impressive drum track for timing. Look into Jamstix as a really neat drum solution. 

I don't use it. As Greg pointed out, most of us here simply set up a drum track either in audio loops or with Midi using a synth. It's easier to hear.

I always set up 2 count in measures where I have just a snare side stick on the 4 beats and the music starts on measure 3 beat one.  This works for me and it allows any lead in notes to be played properly in measure 2 beats 3 &4. 

greg is saying there is an option to use either AUDIO or MIDI for the metronome output.  always use the AUDIO, the MIDI is difficult to set up correctly.

you didn't say which version of MC you're using and the way you get to the parameters to choose which type of metronome is different for different versions.

if using MC6, press "P" on the keyboard, then look for METRONOME (can't be more specific, I'm at work and don't remember the exact location).

if using MC5 and below, OPTIONS>AUDIO and look in the different tabs, I think it's in there (again, I can't look since I'm at work.)

You'll want to learn how to use the Record Punch in/out settings to start recording where you want to punch in and out.

Right. Drag the cursor across the timeline to select the times you want the recording to start and end.
Once it's set, you can put the Now time marker a few measures ahead of where you want to record, click Arm then Record. The Now marker will start moving and you can play along with it, but it won't be recorded until it reaches the start time you entered. Real handy for fixing those 1 or 2 (or 20 ) notes you flubbed.
Search "punch" in the help files for more info.

Oooh that's nifty, I guess I couldn't find it because I didn't know what it was called. I feel like a I ask a lot of very beginnger questions on here, but you guys definitively help me find the right answers. Thanks!