Latency Issue

Hi, I'm just in the process of producing my first track using reaper .Though I've noticed some significant Latency ,in comparison to the last D.A.W I was using.After I've added several tracks the 'monitoring' audio latency becomes quite noticeable . I experimented freezing the 7 or so tracks and got the CPU down to approx 12% use.But still their is quite a noticeable lag coming back from the monitored audio channel . If I lower the Audio cards buffer I get crackling. Though If I open up a new project and have only 1 Audio track the latency becomes far less. Since the other DAW I came from does not have this much noticeable lag with using the equivalent Audio card settings, I'm wondering is their some settings within reaper that need tweaking. Using a Laptop Dual Pen1.46GHz 1.99GB RAM Winxp Tascam US-122l audio Card Hope I can resolve this as reaper is a Great D.A.W

How many milliseconds(ms) of input and output latency do you have? Make sure you have your audio device set as 'ASIO'. Other settings like 'Direct Sound' have really high latency. If your interface device has an option, you could lower the buffer size slightly above the point where the audio distorts. Also make sure you have the multi-processing/threading options enabled, especially if your computer has dual core processor of higher.

Hi, ( skip to Edit) 3.9/18ms using ASIO set to "normal latency" .On low latency I still get quite a large latency on audio monitoring and on my cards setting called lowest latency I get pops and click etc AND CPU USE SKY ROCKETS . "make sure you have the multi-processing/threading options enabled" Yes this is enabled .Though I have noticed that it says 'Live Monitoring is not multiprocessor ) Maybe that's why the other DAW gives lower latency on monitoring after several tracks have been added ? It's wierd as I'm not using much CPU . EDIT:I Had a ReaFir (FTT EQ+Dynamics processor)(Cockos) on the master track.When I turned it off the Audible amount of Latency was much lower. Surely this is a Bug in this FX , it was set to EQ Mode?Also on further investigation the more I increase FFT Size on this plugin the greater the amount of delay I can hear .So it would seem that for some reason when I play my instrument the sound sent to >> sound card >>Reaper monitoring>>sound Card>> Headphones] gets significantly delayed by the ReaFir Plugin .

I get the same exact lag with Reafir. It's even worse with ReaVerb. Those have to be inactive when record monitoring. If they're on the master track disable the whole master track's fx when record monitoring. Another idea to consider: Zero latency monitoring. You need an interface with 2 inputs, that offers zero latency (signal bypasses computer, goes right to output). Split the incoming signal, one gets recorded as a clean D.I.(muted in headphones), other you can use fx pedals to get a useable monitoring sound. Now you can set the audio buffers as high as you want, no lagging any more. Run this as well: Sorry, you didn't mention what instrument you are recording.... the above scenario works well for guitar and bass.

Thanks the info on that link is very useful "The second step to do is tell REAPER what size the fixed latency delay is, on your system. REAPER can then make automatic corrections by time shifting each new recorded item so recordings are in exact sync with previously recorded tracks" I'll give that DOC a in-depth read when time permits . The instrument I'm recording is a Roland Handsonic 10 Virtual Drum . I do have a Dial <<Input/computer>> on my external sound interface so I can monitor the zero latency Analogue output from my instrument without it going via the computer . Thanks to all whom have helped

Convolution reverbs like Reaverb, phase linear EQs and read-ahead dynamics processors like ReaFIR add latency and shouldn't be used while tracking, especially not on the master bus. That's not a malfunction but an inherent property of this type of plug-ins in general.