Computer can't keep time?

[asdf]

I have tried multiple recording programs including but not limited to ACID music studio 6, Audacity, and Mixcraft. It appears that the first track usually lays down fine (in mixcraft it is out of time with the metronome), but the track that is recorded after that one seems to slow down ever so slightly. What I did to test this was record a song played by my computer and make it track 1. track 1 was then recorded to track two, and at the end of a 7 minute song was often 7 or 8 seconds behind track 1. This obviously makes recording impossible.
My recording setup is:
Source > Microphone > Mixer > Soundcard. I generally use an SM57 or a pair of Senhieser 935s, an analog Peavey mixer, and a Soundblaster X-Fi audio card.

Any help would be appriciated.

[trevorus]

Sounds like computer latency to me. My computer is a bit old, and it does the same thing.

[Steve Conner]

You need a faster computer and/or a better soundcard. Look for a card that supports ASIO.

[Brad1]

In the meantime, download the free "ASIO4all" and see if that helps.

Brad1

[tubeswell]

Also, Firewire interfaces have less latency than USB - which are you using?

[Brad1]

Originally Posted by tubeswell

Also, Firewire interfaces have less latency than USB - which are you using?

A Soundblaster X-Fi, he says. Which is much of his problem. A FireWire interface will give you better results...but that even depends on the FireWire chipset. Research before you buy. Know what's in your computer, and what you need to make sure it plays together nicely.

Brad1

[asdf]

So latency doesn't make the sound reach the computer a milisecond late, it actually gets slower and slower throughout the song?

Would it be better to record with another card I have? Its a Soundblaster Live 24-bit. If these two cards (live and x-fi) are not adequate, what card(s) would be recommended? The friend who lent me the senhieser mics also has a presonus firewire setup, but I dont want to ask him to lend me even more expensive equiptment. I don't think that my computer is the issue although it is about four years old. It was built with some quality components for the time but I dont know how that compares to today's standards with all the PCI-E and such. My budget is really only about $20 at the moment but any advice on what parts would be the critical would be appriciated. I am going to try the ASIO driver that came with the card, and if that fails I will try ASIO4All.
THanks for the help.

[Capacitordeath]

I use my stock soundcard with ASIO4ALL on my laptop, and keep the latency issues down to a minimum by only playing one or two tracks at a time, and only monitor if I'm worried about subtle tonal inflection on the guitar. Also, just make a click track and play to that, while watching the other tracks roll by. Time yourself to that.

I noticed, at least with my computer, that ASIO works very low latency, Directsound "slows down", and the Conexant sound input thingy breaks up.

[olemuso]

Bin the Soundblaster, I did and it was only a week old.
I suggest an M-Audio card. I have the M-Audio 2496 (PCI). Also, I don`t like USB for audio (or video) interfaces as I`ve had too much trouble wih them in the past.
As long as you get a card that is compatible with ASIO drivers your latency problems should be a thing of the past.
Goo luck.

[wadehavens]

I use the X-fi card with cubase and tons of plugins and tracks with no problems at all. It is ASIO compatible. While I don't recommend the card simply because creative drivers suck, I wouldn't throw it away until you've tried to change the buffering settings. Latency at 5ms with the Creative driver is about the best you're going to get, and the ASIO4ALL driver should be no lower than 128 samples. 288 samples seems to be more reliable for me though. If you use the standard Creative drivers for your X-fi you should make sure your audio console settings are set to "Audio Creation Mode". If it's not then you will have problems.

I hope this helps.

Wade