how can i record vocals over an instrumental?

[Legendary R.O.G]

I've been trying to record a demo,and no matter what i do there seems to always be an issue! 1. When ever i attempt to record, my vocals seem to be a tad delayed.i've tried to record using mixcraft 5,same thing. i'm using a behringer c-1u condenser mic(VERY SENSITIVE),what is the proper setting to get good sound response while recording? 2.I have all my instrumentals saved on a USB Flash.when i upload or open them with audacity i hear the music, it plays fine.however audacity gives me no option of recording.It plays the music, but i can't record my vocals over the music.Why is that,and how can i fix it? I've noticed though, it always allows me to use (clean speech). I do,yet and still, it wont give me the option of recording. Please help me to turn my home studio to a well oiled tecnological machine.

[steve]

When ever i attempt to record, my vocals seem to be a tad delayed.

Do you mean that it is delayed when you listen to it through headphones while you are recording, or do you mean that it is delayed on the track after you have recorded it?

I have all my instrumentals saved on a USB Flash.when i upload or open them with audacity i hear the music, it plays fine.however audacity gives me no option of recording.

If you just try recording (without importing any music tracks) can you record?
That is, has "importing music tracks" got anything to do with this question, or is the problem just that you cannot record with the microphone in any circumstances?

it always allows me to use (clean speech)

Are you talking about the "Clean Speech Chain effect", or the Clean Speech setting in Preferences?

[Legendary R.O.G]

YES,I HEAR MYSELF THROUGH THE HEADPHONES DELAYED WHICH THROWS ME OFF BEAT.I WAS WONDERING IF IT'S BECAUSE I NEED NOISE CANCELATION HEADOHONES.THING IS I CAN STILL HEAR MYSELF OUTSIDE OF THE HEADPHONES WHILE I'M RECORDING,SO I END UP COMPETING WITH MYSELF. YES, I CAN RECORD WITHOUT IMPORTING TRACKS. I NEED TO RECORD OVER THE IMPORTED TRACK.

Moderator note: please don't SHOUT.
Writing in capitals is considered very bad netiquette all over t'interweb. It also makes your post much harder to read and therefore more likely to be ignored/overlooked ...

[steve]

The delay is an inherent problem when using "Software Playthrough" due to the time that the software requires to relay the sound from the USB input to the internal sound card (there is no physical hardware connection so it has to be done in software). Disable "Software Playthrough" so that you only hear yourself outside of the headphones and you will eliminate the annoying echo. The setting is near the bottom of the Transport menu.

To be able to record while playing other tracks you need to enable "Overdub" which is also near the bottom of the Transport menu.

(and yes, please avoid typing in all upper-case ).

[Legendary R.O.G]

Thanks man,you're a life saver!