Latency help!

[mrfloyd]

Hello to all,

I have used Audacity for years and finally downloaded the 1.3.12 Beta version. I tried to make a recording but as I was putting down the original track there was a delay or a latency problem. I believe this can be fixed in the preference section but after that I'm not certain where to go and what setting to use.

I "upgraded" specifically because I wanted to begin multitracking and did not want to use the time slip on the older version to correct this problem. How can I hear the original track and also the the overdubbed new track as I record it in sync on my headphones. Tall order. I understand the problem, could someone help me with the solution?

This problem has vexed me for a long time ( and frustrated me to no end) and I would just like to get this taken care of once and for all. Would some kind person help me in this regards.

Any suggestions and help would be greatly appreciated and very welcome. I'm a music teacher and I really would like to begin getting some good tracks down for my students.

Thank you again,
Mr. Floyd

[steve]

Need to know what sort of microphone / sound card / operating system.

[mrfloyd]

Hello,

I'm using a 6yr old dell computer running windows XP, the sound card is the one that came with it, and the mic is a $7 dollar internet microphone. I will upgrade on the mic when I get things running. The memory at this point is 518mb ( 500 hundred something, I never can remember) I will upgrade this to 2gigs this month.

When using the older audacity program, I couldn't multitrack in syc without having one earphone on to hear the backing track and having one off to hear the overdub track. However there was never a time latency on the initial, or first track itself. I tried the time shift but could never line things up well.

I hope it helps, I really want to make this work. I have thought about upgrading and getting a whole new system but it does what I want it to do, I keep in bug free ( as best as anyone can) and I'm hoping that the upgrade with the memory will help.

Any help is greatly appreciated and extremly welcome. Thank you!
Best,
Floyd

[steve]

Look at the bottom of the "Transport" menu.
"Software Playthrough" should be OFF (not selected).

[mrfloyd]

I have done what you recommended. I cannot hear my initial track through the headphones. How can I overdub without any latency problems without the time shift tool. I was never succesful in this regard. I have looked throught tutorials but never quite got it. Here is what I would like to happen.

Overdub hearing my backing track and the overdub, through the headphones and have the new track in syc with the backing track while recording. Is this possible?

I appreciate your help and welcome any help
Best
Floyd

[steve]

I cannot hear my initial track through the headphones.

what do you mean "initial track"?

Here is what I would like to happen.

Overdub hearing my backing track and the overdub, through the headphones

Let's check that we're using the same terminology:

Let's say that you have some music and that has either been recorded or imported into Audacity. Let's call that the "backing track".
You now want to record vocals over the top. The vocals are the "overdub" and the process is called "overdubbing".

To be able to hear the backing track while you are recording you need to enable "overdub" at the bottom of the Transport menu.

To be able to hear the microphone you need to enable playback of the microphone input in the sound card mixer (nothing to do with Audacity).
Look for a loudspeaker icon near the Desktop time/date. Open the sound card mixer and turn up the volume on the "mic" playback (check that it is not muted).

[mrfloyd]

We are on the same page. Everything is correct and are terminology is the same. The problem is that the two tracks are not in sync with each other as I overdub. There is a delay. My playing is not out of time but the sound is. From reading all the wiki, forum materials and tutorials I guess this is called latency. I'm very aware that you know this, I did not until this week. I would like to overdub and have the tracks in sync, no delay, as in real time.

I did check the volume levels and they are up.

Any help is appreciated and very welcome, and thanks for your patience!
Best,
Floyd

[steve]

I did check the volume levels and they are up.

You should be able to hear the microphone through your headphones whether Audacity is running or not.
Can you?
If not, you need to examine your sound card settings and find what's wrong so that you can hear the microphone through your headphones (without Audacity running).

[mrfloyd]

Steve,

I have checked the settings and they are all up. I can make a recording with the same mic, but when Audacity is not on, the mic does not work.

I need to hear both the backing track and the new one throught the headphones. Is this normal that it does not?
Floyd

[kozikowski]

Is this normal that it does not?

It's perfectly normal to have problems with this. Overdubbing doesn't have a wiki or instruction page because it's so abysmally complicated and prone to failure.

Many people find they have better luck with a small external mixer and good microphone over trying to make the computer do everything. You just use Audacity as a "tape recorder" instead of the production manager.

Koz