Looking for any tips on improving recording quality.  I run my guitar into a Yamaha Audiogram 3 interface with USB connected to computer, then set up an audio track and load GR 5 in as a plug in effect, after turning on input echo.  I seem to get a lot of line noise, latency, and strange stuff happening. Is there a better way work flow? Other settings? The performance is not as good as if I record the guita on an external device and upload the track as a WAv and then put GR5 on as an effect.
 
I have the audio settings using WDM/KS driver, 44.1 sampling rate, 2 buffers and buffer setting as fast as possible
 
I srun Sonar PE 8.2, Windows 7, my computer has 12gb ram and Intel 2.8 GHz processor

I have never had any luck with WDM/KS drivers! I obtain as low as 64 samples or 2 ms latency with ASIO. Some computers work with different driver configs. I would try ASIO to be sure.

use the gate and you can double the sample rate in GR5.
those are basically your options, I agree with sid, wdm drivers are for the birds.
best wishes.

Use ASIO mode. 

Thanks guys, what is the best ASIO driver?

Johnny4Lonnie - once you get it set right you should have a signal that sounds like you're playing through an amp with a sense of no latency, which is what it sounds like at 2ms.

Johnny4Lonnie


Thanks guys, what is the best ASIO driver?

the asio driver you have installed with your interface.
 
see when you installed your interface(audio sound card) its usb right ?
you should have installed a drivers disk or gone to the web site for your interface (again, the thing you plug your guitar in to)
and downloaded the drivers for the unit.
 
if you go to preferences/play back and recording:see photo-
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1536&bih=708&tbm=isch&tbs=simg:CAQSUAneAYTV3GheTBo8CxCwjKcIGioKKAgBEgL4Bxog9ys8V_1u3a3eZh7bqW5ljr69AtAVaQyq2qzfAyYYnSRIMCxCOrv4IGgAMIZ80E3rwpWgl&sa=X&ei=9_ZcUde2Gcri4APU4IC4Bg&ved=0CCkQwg4&q=sonar%20preferences%20drivers
 
(disregard the red circle)
 
change this to asio like it is in the photo.
 
as long as you have installed the drivers, then it will be available.
 

heres the support page for your product
http://usa.yamaha.com/products/music-production/interfaces/audiogram/audiogram3/?mode=model#tab=product_lineup

click on support to download the drivers.

heres some info on set up, ignore the Cubase set up info and just do what I have explained in the previous post.
http://faq.yamaha.com/us/en/article/music-production/interfaces/audiogram/1912/3721/AUDIOGRAM3_and_AUDIOGRAM6_Divers_and_Connections/?current_page_id=1&sort=&type=

Guys, thanks for the tips. I installed the drivers and am running ASIO4All. It's a little better but in order to get a clean sound I have to have the Buffer size set to 512 samples, which results in 12msec latency in and out.  Is there any thing else I can try to improve on that?  The other settings I have:
 
Latency compensation In and Out - 16 samples
I do not have the boxes checked for Hardware buffer, always resample 44-48kHz, and Force WDM driver to 16 bit

I thought your interface had asio drivers?
I looked on the Yamaha website?
is this not the case?