On this current project, I have about 5 audio files each with 2-3 simple Sonitus plugins. No softsynths or anything. My performance bar is VERY light, with almost no activity in the CPU meters, and memory usage is very low.

But when I press play, there is an annoying delay before playback starts. What's going on? This shouldn't be happening with the specs that I have... it should be instant

I've been noticing this myself. Don't know what is causing it. I have no virus software, internet, firewalls etc. running. I make sure to turn off everything possible. Sonar keeps white screening everytime I close it. I haven't had time to contact Cakewalk yet on that. since it happens everytime they should be able to determin whats causing it.

Does this happen every time you hit play? My system does this every time I have let it sit idle for a while. I don't know the amount of time, but I want to say leaving it idle for 10 minutes or so makes it act the way you have described.

The same thing is happening with me too. I have maybe 10 tracks, mostly soft synths. There are a handful of effects on the busses. Before upgrading to X2, I could run projects like this in 8.5 with no problems. The delay after hitting play only happens sometimes. I haven't paid enough attention to notice a pattern.

Sounds like latency to me - what are your driver settings?

What happens if you disable ALL Fx?

If it's all projects it's usually the symptoms of a driver issue.

Happens to me if I use my interface's latest driver. All earlier versions are fine. I assume it's a driver bug in my case.

are you sure you don't have the metronome muted but the metronome set for 1 measure of count in? This could account for a measure of silence before the project starts.

This is due to many variables like you rPC, your sound card drivers, your sound card driver settings and the project.
I have 60 plus track projects that do not do this, so i imagine its one or two or all the above items i listed.

Definitely check the audio interface drivers. And check the Driver Mode in SONAR as well. SONAR prefers ASIO usually. But sometimes WDM works better. Don't use MME

Scott

--
Scott R. Garrigus - http://garrigus.com
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series: http://garrigus.com/?PowerBooks
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I found this happens if you have the asio set at 512. If you push it up to 2048 does it still happen. You only need low latency if you are recording?