Recording issues with X2

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daveg1
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2014/11/28 19:52:04 (permalink)

Recording issues with X2

I need some help. After recording my drum track (regular acoustic drums ) I try to lay a guitar track to the drums, but the guitar is always a 1/4 to a 1/2 second behind the drums on the play back. I tried quantize to no avail. Any suggestions? Seems kind of silly spending all this money on software, mics, interface and I can't record drums and a guitar in sync.
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    gswitz
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    Re: Recording issues with X2 2014/11/28 20:25:13 (permalink)
    What is your buffer setting for your interface? Lots of interfaces buffer up to a second of data. You can turn this down. When you play along, if you buffer is too big, you'll play out out of sync. You can always nudge the track back if you want.
     
    Most of us monitor with very low latency (like less than 10 milliseconds).

    StudioCat > I use Windows 10 and Sonar Platinum. I have a touch screen.
    I make some videos. This one shows how to do a physical loopback on the RME UCX to get many more equalizer nodes.
    #2
    Guitarpima
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    Re: Recording issues with X2 2014/11/28 20:29:30 (permalink)
    If you have effects on your tracks, freeze the tracks and the aforementioned buffer settings are crucial.

    Notation, the original DAW. Everything else is just rote. We are who we are and no more than another. Humans, you people are crazy.
     
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    johnnyV
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    Re: Recording issues with X2 2014/11/28 20:38:31 (permalink)
    You don't mention your specs or audio interface? 
    Sonar automatically compensates for timing offset.  But this is when we use a proper audio interface with good drivers. 
    Most modern Audio interfaces have zero latency / direct monitoring. You hear the original recording of the drums and play along using the interfaces monitoring.You should monitor the input at the interface. Never monitor your new track with input echo unless your system has RTL below something like 5ms. 

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    daveg1
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    Re: Recording issues with X2 2014/11/29 05:21:09 (permalink)
    I'll look into all of the above. I have the Tascam 1800 interface. Buffers are pretty much maxed to prevent dropouts. Thanks for the advice, I will experiment with your ideas.
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    gswitz
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    Re: Recording issues with X2 2014/11/29 06:58:44 (permalink)
    Buffers are one of those things I tweak a fair amount. I want them as low as possible without risking crackles or dropouts when I'm tracking. When I'm mixing, I push them to the ceiling.
     
    I put a sticker on top of my interface advising me to push buffers to the ceiling, turn off WIFI, disable virus scanning, and set laptops to Presentation Mode --- a checklist for before I record because I often use my interface with seldom used computers that need to be quickly configured and I sometimes forget something while setting up mics and running cables. I did ask RME whether the sticker on the interface might shorten its life due to heat, but they said nah it'll have no noticeable affect.

    StudioCat > I use Windows 10 and Sonar Platinum. I have a touch screen.
    I make some videos. This one shows how to do a physical loopback on the RME UCX to get many more equalizer nodes.
    #6
    gswitz
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    Re: Recording issues with X2 2014/11/29 07:27:11 (permalink)
    http://forum.cakewalk.com/Fridays-Tip-of-the-Week-Tip-42-on-15-Groovy-Groove-Clip-Tips-m3074655-p2.aspx#3105274
     
    This is also an interesting thread for people trying to figure out best buffer settings.

    StudioCat > I use Windows 10 and Sonar Platinum. I have a touch screen.
    I make some videos. This one shows how to do a physical loopback on the RME UCX to get many more equalizer nodes.
    #7
    johnnyV
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    Re: Recording issues with X2 2014/11/29 11:14:00 (permalink)
    I have the us1641 which is the same unit only older model. I think they share 99% of the driver.
    I like the unit in all aspects other than the drivers caused me grief. You still don't mention your computer, but the drivers for XP 32 bit where real bad. Windows 7 64 bit was much better performance. But I found it was mostly stable for working with recording audio only projects. SOon as I started adding VST's I would run into issues. SO I bought the Scarlett which even with the same computer improved my performance 100 fold. 
     
    But the TAscam should work fine for what your trying to do. 
     
    Make sure you go to the Tascam web site and see if there is a Firmware update and download the most up to date driver for the OS you are using. Don't use the disk that came with it. 
     
    Make sure it is your timing master in Sonar and running in ASIO mode. 
    You mention the slider! The slider should be greyed out in ASIO mode. Buffer setting is in the Tascam control panel, set it at Normal for most recording situation. 
     
    Use the Mix control on the front to mix the input with the computer playback for direct monitoring. I put it at 12 o Clock mostly. You might have to turn up the Monitor Volume to make up for this. 
     
    The Tascam line up in the past has very pour drivers and therefore suffers from large Round Trip Latency specs. This does not matter as long as you don't engage input echo. 
     

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    robert_e_bone
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    Re: Recording issues with X2 2014/11/29 11:41:42 (permalink)
    An easy test to see if effects that are loaded in the problem project is to simply hit the letter 'E' on your computer keyboard, and then play the project.  This toggles on/off the bypassing of all effects in the project.  
     
    IF the dropouts and crackles and such go away, then most likely at least one, if not more, of the loaded effects in the project are causing/contributing to the problems.
     
    IF the dropouts do NOT go away, then the cause of the troubles lie elsewhere, and other steps to resolve can be followed.
     
    There are certain kinds of effects that, when loaded and used while recording, use processing techniques to do what they do that by their nature can cause these types of problems - this would include effects that use 'look-ahead processing', or consume a bunch of CPU.
     
    So, those kinds of effects are actually meant to be used during mixing/mastering, and not during recording. Once you identify effects that are causing issues during recording, you can either swap them out until you finish tracking/recording, or you can bypass those effects (power them off) or bypass all effects ('E') just until you finish recording, and then you can load up those effects again for mixing - and also then bump up your ASIO Buffer Size to something like either 1024 or even 2048, if available, which makes the buffer large enough to accommodate those kinds of effects.  
     
    Generally speaking, for the rest of time, you will need to adjust your ASIO Buffer Size to be low - like maybe 128 - during recording, and then bump it up to something like 1024 or 2048 when you begin mixing.  This is an easy thing to change back and forth as needed, and is just part of the process.
     
    Again, it may well be that none of the above may apply, but it is an easy thing to test ('E' to bypass, then 'E' again to enable the effects again when done testing it).
     
    I hope any of the above helps you, 
     
    Bob Bone
     

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