Strange latency problem

[IRON RAIN]

Using Sonar with a Focusrite Scarlett Solo. When recording audio I get serious delay (latency). Changing the buffer/sampling rate settings in both Focusrite panel and Sonar Prefs. have no effect. But if I start a new project there seems to be NO latency problem. Am using the Focusrite/ASIO driver for in/out. Any ideas are greatly appreciated!

[Bristol_Jonesey]

Try globally bypassing any Fx before recording. There is a dedicated button for this in the Control Bar

It has become common practice for many of us to bypass Fx when recording, then switch back on again when finished

[IRON RAIN]

EDIT: WORKED! Thankyou. I re-read what you said and realized 'Globally' nixxing the effects was the trick.

Thank you!

I wish I understood why this is suddenly happening, but at least I can work around it now.

 

Edited Thursday at 04:32 PM by IRON RAIN

[Wookiee]

@IRON RAIN have you run the free Resplendent LatencyMon to see if there is something dragging your machine down?

What Anti virus and/or anti malware program do you use?

Are you on a laptop with only one disk and a WiFi network connection. Whilst you can use WiFi for networking, it is not advisable as it can under certain circumstances have a very negative effect on performance.

[David Baay]

1 hour ago, IRON RAIN said:

I wish I understood why this is suddenly happening, but at least I can work around it now.

Read up on Plugin Delay Compensation. There's a PDC [Override] button in the Mix Module that will allow you to temporarily eliminate delay compensation on Input-monitored tracks while rehearsing/recording so long as the offending plugin isn't on the track in question or in its path to Main Outs. If it is, disabling it is the only option. It's best to simply avoid using plugins that use lookahead buffers that make PDC necessary until you're done tracking.

Edited Thursday at 06:18 PM by David Baay

[IRON RAIN]

Thanks for that. Will read up on it. It would appear that having an effect on another audio track will cause this latency on the new track I am recording to.  I am wonding why that may be, but the main thing is I did get the solution here in a matter of hours, and am back to work!

Pretty cool.

[David Baay]

2 hours ago, IRON RAIN said:

It would appear that having an effect on another audio track will cause this latency on the new track I am recording to.  I am wonding why that may be

In short, if a plugin adds delay to  track or bus, other tracks/buses need to have a compensating delay added to remain in sync, and this delay necessarily affects live input being echoed through a track as well. But if the live signal is all there is on a track and the performer is playing along with the delayed output of other tracks, that delay can be overriden on the input-monitored track by the PDC button.

[IRON RAIN]

Thank you for explaining that!

[User 905133]

On 7/24/2025 at 1:32 AM, IRON RAIN said:

When recording audio I get serious delay (latency). . . .  Any ideas are greatly appreciated!

On 7/24/2025 at 2:07 AM, Bristol_Jonesey said:

Try globally bypassing any Fx before recording. There is a dedicated button for this in the Control Bar

It has become common practice for many of us to bypass Fx when recording, then switch back on again when finished

21 hours ago, IRON RAIN said:

WORKED! Thankyou. I re-read what you said and realized 'Globally' nixxing the effects was the trick.

19 hours ago, David Baay said:

Read up on Plugin Delay Compensation.

13 hours ago, David Baay said:

In short, if a plugin adds delay to  track or bus, other tracks/buses need to have a compensating delay added to remain in sync, and this delay necessarily affects live input being echoed through a track as well. But if the live signal is all there is on a track and the performer is playing along with the delayed output of other tracks, that delay can be overriden on the input-monitored track by the PDC button.

Thanks for raising this issue and to others for chiming with the solution and explanations.

I almost never use certain plugins because they introduce unwanted delays that impact the real time recording of additional layers. So last week, I tested older LP-64 plugins on a project-in-progress, forgot about them, and when I returned I had a delay with a live soft synth. While I successfully got rid of the delay by toggling the FX Bin Off, I now have a good feel for using the PDC button. Very handy tip!!!