General audio/MIDI playback problems in both Cubase & Cakewalk

[Firedance]

Hi

OK, completely new to home recording and have started using these programmes literally for the first time this week. Big learning curve and a lot of trial and error but I can record sound at least so I'll worry about the fine tuning later.

Problem is with the sound playback.

In Cubase, I can record audio from my guitar no problem - no latency/distortion etc and sounds great - but I'm experiencing a full one second latency on the virtual drums and synths.

In Cakewalk, no problems with MIDI drums and synth but latency and crackly 'underwater sounding' audio from my guitar on playback - sounds fine when recording.

Logic tells me that the soundcard settings are maybe OK since between the 2 programmes, both MIDI and audio are successfull. Audigy 16 bit card BTW.

I tried fiddling with settings for buffer/latency/sample rate etc within the software, with the vague notion that this is what I should be doing but no luck. I feel (or hope) this has to be something simple.

Can anyone advise?

[garww]

Generally, there is a lot of stuff going on.

There are those interface problems you know a bit about.

The computer can actually be a problem - often with disk reading and writing. Or, another process interrupting what you are doing.

Lastly, these software instruments can be demanding.

It's not just you - everyone goes through this.

[Firedance]

Thanks garww.

I have persevered with Cubase and am ignoring Cakewalk for now. I've overcome the above problems and a few more that have arisen since.

[garww]

Most of popular computing works fine with sharing disk reading/writing and CPU usage, but audio needs to stream without being interrupted. So, it is demanding and adjustments need to me made.

For optimizing the OS, we try to cut down on start-up programs - the stuff running by the clock. we try to disable un-needed process like Windows indexing. and we try to defrag and partition disk space so there is a clean area for disk activity - maybe work on a separate drive.

Try to be specific with your questions on the forum : )

[Firedance]

Originally Posted by garww

Try to be specific with your questions on the forum : )

You mean my other thread? Yeah, I know

Problem is there are so many.

Thanks again though.