Novice trying to get to grips with reaper

Wailin

Guys I downloaded Reaper recently to try out some recordings with acoustic guitar. At the moment I'm just using the built in mike on the laptop to mess around with. I'm trying to do layered recording, playing a rhythm section then a lead over the track. The problem im having is that when i play back the recording there is a delay in the lead over the rhythm part, its all out of synch. Fisrt off, im a complete novice with this so obviously the problem is the user not the program. Can anyone explain to me what im doing wrong? Im sure its nothing to do with the in built mic on the laptop, the sound is poor because of it but i dont think that would have any other affects.

Adyx

Assuming the rhythm is one track and the lead another, you can left click the wave form and drag it to adjust it's position. If you need to you can disable the snap to grid function by clicking the magnet icon and this should allow you to line up the lead with the rhythm part.

For more help, try youtube for tutorials. A user called SonicOrb has some basic getting started videos. The Cockos forums can be helpful too. Or just ask here.

Wailin

Cheers Adyx, just out of curiosity why is there a delay during playback, yet they are perfectly in synch when i record the lead over the rhythm?

manic mailman

I'm no pro but that sounds like you're having latency problems....which unless I'm mistaken is to do with your soundcard (which in this case is you're laptop's built-in soundcard).

There is a great audio driver that you can use called Asio4all - google that and download it and you'll save yourself having to rearrange the positioning of your tracks as the user above suggested. I use it within Reason but I assume it's able to be used in Reaper.

Adyx

I'd agree with manic mailman above. Download asio4all and after installation select it in Reaper in Options > Preferences > Audio > Device as you can see here in my settings (without my interface actually connected).


For inputs select your laptops mic and outputs should be Speakers or similar.

Here is a good article on latency and how to combat it using ASIO.

Wailin

Cheers for the help guys.