Hello. I just purchased and installed Artist and began reading the manual, and tried recording for the first time today. I am running Windows 10 on a Dell XPS 15. I simply spoke into the laptop's built in mic after following the initial instructions in the manual. My voice registered on the meters and I heard it through the speakers, but for one thing I didn't hear my voice at the same time as I spoke, only a second later, and for another, there seemed to be a digital delay somewhere because my words just kept repeating then fading out as if through a delay. I read about the Input Echo thing and made sure that was off, but it didn't help. Can anyone help me? Thanks.
 

See if there's a software setting for your microphone for echo cancellation. It also sounds like latency issues?
 
Here's a couple of KB articles that may help...
http://www.cakewalk.com/Support/Knowledge-Base/2007013182/Im-getting-a-delay-or-latency-when-recording-or-performing-synths
 
http://www.cakewalk.com/Support/Knowledge-Base/2007013376/Windows-Optimization-Guide
 
 

Hi. I also think this is latency related. Which driver mode do you use? When SONAR is open, go to Preferences (P), Audio, Playback and Recording to check driver mode.
To lower latency, go to Preferences (P), Audio, Driver Setting.
All the best.

Are you using the native laptop audio instead of an external audio interface?  If so - it may just not have the horsepower to keep up with a daw.  Even a low cost usb audio interface could yield better performance.