Timing - I just can't get it right!

fragsta · Post by **fragsta** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 7:33 am

This is one of the most basic things to do with playing music and yet when I'm recording, I just can't get it right. I have some drum loops on my PC and I play my electric-acoustic guitar (plugged into an amp) along to them, and when I'm just playing, it sounds absolutely fine. But as soon as I start recording (microphone picks up the sound from the amp), I always somehow go out of time. It's not obvious in the first bar or maybe even the second but soon enough my guitar is hitting that chord WAY before the next bar of the drums starts.

It probably sounds like a very stupid question but can anyone offer any advice here? I'm recording with Adobe Audition 1.5, I've tried doing it with just the metronome going but even that doesn't work. Its worst when I'm playing at low tempos.

Thanks, I'd appreciate any advice.

GlennCase · Post by **GlennCase** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 9:48 am

It's not a stupid question. You are dealing with latency issues.

Most recording software has ways for you to adjust latency. It depends on the software and hardware you are recording with, but for starters, <a href="http://www.staudio.de/kb/english/sonar/ ... tml">check out this link.</a> About halfway down the page you will see how you adjust those settings in Cakewalk Sonar, and maybe that will give you a starting point on how to fix the settings in your program.

I don't know much about the subject, myself, but maybe someone else can help you with your specific problem.

ROCK!

Glenn Case

fragsta · Post by **fragsta** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 9:52 am

Surely with latency issues, though, it's just being in front of the drums by a few seconds, or whatever, isn't it? Because here the tempo I'm playing at is actually faster than that of the drums, i.e. the time between the first strum of the guitar in one bar and the first beat of the drum in the same bar increases for each bar. Surely that's an error on my part?

GlennCase · Post by **GlennCase** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 9:59 am

fragsta wrote:Surely with latency issues, though, it's just being in front of the drums by a few seconds, or whatever, isn't it? Because here the tempo I'm playing at is actually faster than that of the drums, i.e. the time between the first strum of the guitar in one bar and the first beat of the drum in the same bar increases for each bar. Surely that's an error on my part?

At it's most basic level: If it sounds okay while you're recording it, and it sounds different during playback, you have one of two issues.

1. Something is wrong with the settings on your computer.
2. Something is wrong with your ear.

If you think it might be you, I recommend practicing to a metronome that isn't being overpowered by your playing. Once you're happy with how you're sounding, record again and see if you still have the same problem.

ROCK!

Glenn Case

fragsta · Post by **fragsta** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 10:03 am

Apparently, it's not me. I found out how to correct recording drift and it now sounds great! This changes so much. Thank you!

GlennCase · Post by **GlennCase** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 10:05 am

Glad to be of service.

ROCK!

Glenn Case

Caravan Ray · Post by **Caravan Ray** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 12:44 am

fragsta wrote:Apparently, it's not me. I found out how to correct recording drift and it now sounds great! This changes so much. Thank you!

Heh! I had exactly the same problem when I first started trying to do recordings. I would listen back to my out-of-time guitar and vocals and think "Wow! am I really that incompetent?!?"

I was so happy when I found out it was a computer issue - although now I have nothing else to blame...

theCopilot · Post by **theCopilot** » Thu May 03, 2007 8:13 pm

I'm having the same issue on my recordings with Audition 1.5! it's driving me nuts!

How did you solve this problem? I haven't found the answer for that

HeuristicsInc · Post by **HeuristicsInc** » Thu May 03, 2007 10:29 pm

ASIO drivers is the short answer. Are you using these?
-bill

Hoblit · Post by **Hoblit** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:46 am

theCopilot wrote:I'm having the same issue on my recordings with Audition 1.5! it's driving me nuts!

How did you solve this problem? I haven't found the answer for that

fragsta wrote:Apparently, it's not me. I found out how to correct recording drift and it now sounds great! This changes so much. Thank you!

Maybe he can *explain* it a bit better, but you could google with keywords "Audition" and "audio drift". I'm guessing that 'audio drift' is the terminology associated with Audition as I've never heard latency issues called 'drift' before.

Sober · Post by **Sober** » Fri May 04, 2007 4:21 pm

From the description of the problem and his use of the term, I imagine audio drift is akin to tape stretch, something I had to deal with when doing reel conversions. Basically, there's a mismatch between the drive read/write speed when recording, so the finished recording is either compressed/stretched. The tempo of the take is effectively changed, which is why it seems to get worse by the measure.

A true latency problem means the whole track is x milliseconds off, but still in sync with the project tempo. It becomes maddening when working with a multitude of tracks, and gets compounded as you add more taxing fx (guitar rig, high-end reverbs).

Glad you fixed your problem. I imagine a new driver fixed it?

Märk · Post by **Märk** » Fri May 04, 2007 5:38 pm

I've had the exact same problem with Audition 1.5. The real bitch is, it happens out of the blue, after everything works perfectly for months. Frustrating as hell.

PS- Bill, ASIO drivers don't make a difference in Audition (at least not in 1.5) There's no support for ASIO until v.2.

theCopilot · Post by **theCopilot** » Fri May 04, 2007 8:45 pm

ok, i solved this.... a problem for me was i didn't know that problem is called audio drift (my natural language is not english and i didn't even know how to search it at google)

but now it's working by adjusting some parameters in the Multitrack options at Audition.

I'm using ASIO drivers, but i think this doesn't work in this version of Audition

thanks to everyone!

Kill Me Sarah · Post by **Kill Me Sarah** » Sat May 05, 2007 6:38 am

On a related latency note, I feel like I'm getting some latency issues playing my USB keyboard to FL Studio. If I were to switch to MIDI and use VSTs instead of "playing live" synths, would this eliminate latency issues? Or is there a better way around it with my existing set-up?

theCopilot · Post by **theCopilot** » Sat May 05, 2007 8:28 am

Kill Me Sarah wrote:On a related latency note, I feel like I'm getting some latency issues playing my USB keyboard to FL Studio. If I were to switch to MIDI and use VSTs instead of "playing live" synths, would this eliminate latency issues? Or is there a better way around it with my existing set-up?

I'm working also with an USB keyboard on FL, and the VSTs gets also some light latency issues. My soundcard doesn't support ASIO, but i'm using ASIO4ALL... and after opening my FL project I have to go to Audio Settings screen and open the ASIO Device Properties dialog. Just by opening and closing this dialog once, the latency problem is solved for me. so strange, but it works! you may try it too.

Kill Me Sarah · Post by **Kill Me Sarah** » Sat May 05, 2007 8:51 am

I may have to try the asio4all driver. I have a different ASIO in my "soundcard" (actually my TonePort).