Will making inessential tracks inactive help reduce latency while recording?

[Pete Rickards]

Thanks for taking the time to answer my question, I really appreciate it!

[Darryl Ramm]

It won't reduce latency dirctly, but it may reduce errors or allow you to run with a lower IO buffer size... that would reduce latency. If you want help with latency, what exact problem are you trying to solve, and provide a clear description of your hardware/software setup.

[Pete Rickards]

There's not really a specific latency problem I'm trying to solve. I've been getting some latency but I can usually solve the problem by using Slip Mode to align the clip with the correct timing. This question about inactivating tracks was more of a curiosity than a musically debilitating problem, but thanks for the response!

[Darryl Ramm]

You have a latency or delay compensation issue? Have a play with/read about delay compensation if you are not using it/aware of it.

Darryl

[Dism]

Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm

You have a latency or delay compensation issue? Have a play with/read about delay compensation if you are not using it/aware of it.

Darryl

^ What he said.

Recording latency tends to have more to do with your interface and how it is connected to your computer (ie, firewire, usb, etc) rather than which plugins you use. Disabling plugins can help you if you are having trouble recording at a lower buffer size (use as low as possible while recording!), but generally won't directly affect input latency.

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by Dism

^ What he said.

Recording latency tends to have more to do with your interface and how it is connected to your computer (ie, firewire, usb, etc) rather than which plugins you use. Disabling plugins can help you if you are having trouble recording at a lower buffer size (use as low as possible while recording!), but generally won't directly affect input latency.

All true, but wait! There's MORE(have your credit card ready). Just to expound a bit more, running the lowest buffer will usually solve input latency, but there's a bit more to it as high-latency plugins can still back things up. The solution can be to enable ADC and look at the numbers across the bottom of the MIX window(set MIX window to show delay compensation). Look for orange numbers higher than 64 samples. Those will indicate tracks with plugins that have some latency. By making those plugins inactive(right-click>Make Inactive) you will eliminate the worst plugin latency(and you don't lose plugin settings or automation). That's usually enough to record some overdubs after a mix is "built", but if you have a computer that is not a real powerhouse, making some tracks inactive might give you back enough horsepower to actually USE the lowest buffer setting