I have basically given up on making new music with Cakewalk due to the contant crashing, but I wanted to finish off my current projects and I have come across a new issue.
Whenever I record audio, the existing audiotracks playback is a few seconds off, making it very difficult to record the new. In playback all is well.
Is there anything in Cakewalk I could have activated or a setting that would cauce this phenomenon ?

A little more detail on the specific project you are working on might help with responses.
i.e. How many tracks, just audio. any vsti's involved, interface etc?

Its not a major issue you are having. You just need to configure your set-up so it doesn't compensate for latency.

Bypass all your Fx ('e')

Thanks for the responses. I think it was a Melodyne issue. I used Melodyne on some tracks, but not rendered. Rendering fixed it. I just never had that issue with other projects.

as said above, the more pre-recorded tracks you are playing back when recording will add to your lag dependent on how good your system is. The more fx you have on those tracks when playing back will add even more lag between what your are hearing live from your audio device and the playback signal. Your best bet when recording additional tracks is to strip back whatever you are playing back through your monitors/headphones to the bare minimum you need, to know where the new part comes in.