On a few projects I've been working on the playback timing of the project is very unsatisfactory when I record audio. The projects are medium size with around 8 audio tracks and 8 midi tracks, a couple of soft synths and 20-30 automation envelopes. Playback is usually fine when not recording. I'm wondering if it is because I'm low on memory. Performance meter doesn't indicate processor limitations. I'm not having the problem with smaller projects.

2 Gb of RAM does seem low by todays standards - is there any particular reason you're running Win 8 in 32 bit mode?

Until you go 64 bit you won't get any benefit from adding more RAM

What happens to your project if you freeze all of your soft synths?

HI max. check to see if you have enabled any delay compensating plugins. You can try clicking the pdc button in the control bar. You can also try increasing the midi buffers in preferences>midi playback and recording>prepare using: i have mine set to 1000.

Bristol Jonesey: Haven't tried freezing everything yet. That's my last resort as I still want to tweak. Just wouldn't mind a rough mix of the project to hear elsewhere. Going 64bit means a new PC which may or may not cure the problem!

Tom: I've got Concrete Limiter on my main bus but turning it off doesn't solve the problem. I think the problem is my Virus TI plays back out of sync when recording on another track. My timing sync in X2A is audio. I'll try internal sync just in case the TI doesn't like audio sync. PDC on/off makes no difference. I've tried big buffers but that made no difference so gone back to defaults. Midi load is light as triggering mainly arps. Audio running very well with no pops and crackles.

Try disabling ALL of your plugins whenever you're tracking - this minimizes latency throughout your system.

what are you using for a soundcard?
could be latency.

what are you using for a soundcard?
could be latency.

RME HDSP 9632.
It is latency but why should the playback timing get out of sync with itself when recording the mixdown?

maxsax

what are you using for a soundcard?
could be latency.

RME HDSP 9632.
It is latency but why should the playback timing get out of sync with itself when recording the mixdown?

What do you mean by "recording the mixdown"?  Are you exporting the track to audio?
 
Is this where the timing issues occur?  When you export the mix to a wav or mp3?  Or does it happen when you are recording a new part?

What do you mean by "recording the mixdown"?  Are you exporting the track to audio?

 
No. I'm recording the output from my mixer (hardware X2A midi triggered synth and X2A audio outs)  back into X2A as a mix. I don't care if the mixdown recording is out of sync with the playback tracks. The problem is that the playback tracks go out of sync with each other when I record the mix into X2A. When I'm not recording, just playing back the arrangement, there is no problem.

Check your clock settings in sonar for the audio. I have my rme card set to use an unused o/i for the masters in my case the spdif. do you have input monitoring on? what connections on your hdsp card are you using for the output to the board and the input back to sonar? Is the midi out coming from the hdsp or a different midi i/o? Hope you get it sorted.