Playback start latency

[Jukka Riitaluoma 0]

I'm having problems with Cakewalk since the latest update. I click 'Play' and it takes like 2 secs to start rolling. I even re-installed CW to see if it helps. It didn't. I downloaded Reaper for comparison and it works just fine.

I use CW with Apollo Solo USB.

Anyone else experiencing the same problems?

[reginaldStjohn 205]

I have had this problem in the past but not experienced it recently.  If I recall the only fix I found was to re-install my audio interface drivers. 

[David Baay 833]

Affects all projects? Does it matter where you are in the timeline? Using ASIO driver mode? Have you verified that rollback fixes it?

EDIT: If it's affecting all projects, and rollback doesn't fix it (likely not), you might try executing 'Reset Config to Defaults'  in Preferences> Audio > Configuration File.

Edited February 22 by David Baay

[Anders Madsen 57]

I have also seen this from time to time. Also during recording; The recorded track is then behind the rest of the project when this happens.

[John Vere 1,487]

When this happens to me it’s always a background CPU issue. 
Run Latency Monitor and see what it says. Turn of your internet etc. 
Also certain look ahead plug ins can cause this so try global  bypassing  all effects and see. 
It should have nothing to do with Audio interfaces. 
https://www.resplendence.com/latencymon

Edited March 8 by John Vere

[bitflipper 2,303]

Using very large buffers can also be a contributing factor. The buffer has to fill before playback can start. But this delay is usually half a second or less. Still long enough to notice.

And it's not only your I/O buffers that do this. A large Kontakt project can do it if you specify large preload buffers. I imagine even effects could do it, too, if they use large buffers internally (e.g. a convolution reverb).

A clue would be if you experience this 2-second lag on a new project with minimal data in it. 

[Kevin Perry 824]

Also check there isn't a highly latent plugin in the affected projects.