A very stupid question about recording...

[chr35919]

So I'm using audacity on my laptop. I have a pod-xt which I'm running the guitar through to get to the computer. I have a nice pair of headphones to hear what it sounds through the pod. Anyway...when I'm recording I have to take off my headphones due to a delay from what I'm playing to when it gets onto the computer and into my ears. How do I record in real time if you know what I mean? This especially matters when I'm trying to record something new on top of something already done...any help? Nakedguy ya there?

[chr35919]

:hump come on I know some you know how to fix this in a second.

[tdowe99]

To eliminate the delay, get more RAM for your computer.
My laptop has 624 mb of RAM, and it records fine.
My friend's old computer, which we tried to record with, had 256 mb and it lagged.

[chr35919]

but it's not even that...I'm not listening through my computer...I'm hooked up either through my headphones into the pod or just out of my amp.

[rastawolf]

So I'm using audacity on my laptop. I have a pod-xt which I'm running the guitar through to get to the computer. I have a nice pair of headphones to hear what it sounds through the pod. Anyway...when I'm recording I have to take off my headphones due to a delay from what I'm playing to when it gets onto the computer and into my ears. How do I record in real time if you know what I mean? This especially matters when I'm trying to record something new on top of something already done...any help? Nakedguy ya there?

Well, if there's a delay, then you've got a latency problem. This could be due to a crappy soundcard or rather one that's not suited to recording. It could also be low RAM or an outdated computer. But then again, I record on a comp w/ only 128 MB of RAM and a stock soundcard and as long as the comp has enough memory to run the recording software, I don't have any problems at all.

I guess I'm not quite getting your question though. You're saying there's an delay of sorts b/w what you're playing and that same, recorded sound coming back through your headphones? What type of software are you using? There should be an option to uncheck realtime playback or something of that sort. All you really need to hear through the headphones are the tracks you've already laid down. Unless you're playing an electric guitar (which would be hard to hear, esp when using effects) you shouldn't need your headphones to listen to what you're currently playing/recording. Use one side of the phones to listen to the playback of prior tracks and your free ear to listen to what you're playing. That's probably not gonna solve your problem but it's all I can think of at the moment. Bust out some specifics of your setup/equip/software/etc.

[rastawolf]

I'm not listening through my computer...I'm hooked up either through my headphones into the pod or just out of my amp.


when I'm recording I have to take off my headphones due to a delay from what I'm playing to when it gets onto the computer and into my ears.

These statements kinda contradict each other. I'm confused now. If you're just listening through the POD, there should be no delay whatsoever unless it's just jacked up or you've got some setting out of whack.

[DaveHead36]

Four letters will probably help you out a bunch... RTFM. :thumbsup

DH36

[krbarrett77]

I had this problem with my Hit Kit (:lol ) software when i first got started. I got an Mbox and Pro Tools now and it's fast enough that there is no delay.

But like others have said, if you cant fix it because its a software/hardare/ RAM problem, why even listen to yourself in the headphones in the first place? There should never be a problem hearing what you have already recorded (unless you are running reaaaaallly slow), and you dont need to hear what you are currently recording in the headphones because you can hear it without them (unless you are playing electric and have it lined into the hardware, in which case i'd say just mic the amp because it will probably sound truer anyway).

I can understand sometimes it's tough to hear the acoustic sitting on your lap when you have headphones on and you dont like taking them off and on, but unless you have a pretty decent hardware/software package and a decent amount of space on your computer, it might continue to be a problem.