Compensating for delay in monitoring during overdubbing

Audacity Help Forum Windows
1

I need to know if anyone can tell me how to compensate for the delay in output monitoring during overdubbing. If I cannot hear the input I’m recording in the same time as the tracks already recorded, this setup isn’t very useful.

I know about latency, I know about soundcard delay, I know where these are in the manual, but I don’t see any instructions in the manual regarding fixing this delay, just a warning that it will occur.

I’m running Win10, Audacity 2.1.2, and a Behringer XENYX 302USB mixer for my I/O.

2

The delay occurs if you route the sound through the computer before sending it to your headphones. To avoid the delay, monitor through your mixer.

3

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the tip. I am monitoring through my mixer. That’s where the headphones are plugged in. STill get the delay. Is there something software-related I have to do in order to re-route the audio output?

4

Most mixing desks allow you to monitor the sound that is going into the desk. This has nothing to do with Audacity or even being connected to a computer - you should be able to monitor the input to the desk via headphones plugged into the desk even without the desk being connected to the computer.

In Audacity, “Transport menu > Software Playthrough” should be off (not selected), otherwise you will get an echo.