Getting Started
I’ve had n-track for awhile but have barely even tried it. I just updated to version 5, and I can’t get any sound signal in. When I go to my older version, I can get a signal, but it has a delay, i.e. I strum my guitar but the sound does not come into my headphone until a second later…in the new version I don’t even get that. I’m using Line 6 Gearbox-Toneport. Anyhelp to fix this would be greatly appreciated as I’m about to bang my head against the wall. Thanks.
USB interface?
could be the root of the problem.
Whoever said USB was a good medium for introducing live music into a computer should be drawn and quartered. 
I would go back to the older version of N, not that that will definitely solve the problem but it is better to deal with one problem at a time.
A simple solution would be to monitor your sound by either a mixer or the device your using as an interface.
You should determine if there is any lag being recorded, because if not the lag may only be in the processing of the signal for monitoring.
To do this use a click track, either generate one or use the on board one in the metronome.
Then record two tracks separately.
See if either are in time with the click track.
If they are try a third…and fourth.
IF any of the tracks are not in sync than you may have a lag issue or an out of sync clock either on the motherboard, soundcard ( or whatever your using to process the live input).
I suggest going into preferences and setting Ntrack at “highest” priority and synchronizing the clocks if nec.
Along with making sure your snap to settings are at zero.
Other than that without knowing further information about your gear it’s shots in the dark.
The device manual says you should be using Pentium 4 or better.
IT would be helpful if we knew what your specks were, often problems that are similar arise on similar systems.
Operating system, processor speed, soundcard and whatever else you thing is relevant to the setup.
From their site:
Quote:
ToneDirectâ„¢ monitoring, gives you fully processed audio in real time while you track! Better than recording through plug-ins, it avoids the latency from your recording program and operating system. ToneDirectâ„¢ also easily beats analog direct monitoring options that force you to record guitar without hearing the amp model and effects, or struggle to get an inspired vocal with no reverb!
Using the analog outs from the UX will add latency to your system. The whole concept of ToneDirectâ„¢ is that it does the modeling at the driver level to reduce latency to the absolute minimum.
Try running small buffer sizes and make sure that you are monitoring through the UX1 and not using the software monitoring feature of your program like Cubase for instance. Line 6’s driver latency is extremely low if you use the ToneDirectâ„¢ monitoring. Host latency for software monitoring is always an issue.
More on Toneport
keep shinin’
jerm
Yes, the delay you are hearing is latency from n-Track, I’d bet a donut - you need to monitor at the recording input (the toneport thingie) and not through n-Track. As to getting the sound to come out in v5, check the coinfiguration you have for the earlier version and set up v5 the same way.
I use a UX2 Toneport with Ntrack 5 and have never had any latency issues. Do you have The Toneport ASIO drivers selected under your input and output Audio Devices? If so, maybe you can post up what settings you have on the TonePort control panel. This is a screen shot of the settings I was using a while back 
Please note that I use 24 bit depth now as I have the 24 bit version of nTrack. Let us know how you get on.
Martin
Thanks for your responses guys. I’ve made a little progress, I switched to monitoring through the Toneport hardware and that helped. But in the old version I still have latency, for now I hear the live sound of my guitar (I’m assuming direct from the hardware) and I hear the delay (I’m assuming from the n-track), it’s like a built in echo machine. The better news is I’m now getting sound in the new version 5 of N-track. I had to select ASIO in one of the preference setting spots. So I tried to record, made sure my level didn’t go into the red, but when I play back, it’s all buzzing and loud and distorted, you can’t even hear the chords it’s so bad. The sound I’m hearing as I’m recording is perfect, no buzz, but obviously something is wrong, so again I’ve hit a wall. Any more suggestions would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
Quote: (jeremysdemo @ Jan. 20 2008, 9:14 AM)
Other than that without knowing further information about your gear it's shots in the dark.
IT would be helpful if we knew what your specks were, often problems that are similar arise on similar systems.
Operating system, processor speed, soundcard and whatever else you thing is relevant to the setup.
keep shinin'
jerm
....
Oye Vay,
USB is bad? NO WAY.
USB will not be your problem…but quirks in the different drivers from asio, mme, etc can be.
This sounds like a setup in your soundcard driver as your problem. Have you gone into windows (right-click the volume icon and set it up to be what you have plugged in?)This is typically where people get in trouble…usually intuitive here, click on what seems appropriate, turn up the volume, etc.
Also, on your playback issue, have you gone into N-track preferences,(file,settings, preferences,audio-devices, advanced, ) and made sure the setting for “keep devices open” is not checked? This can cause problems with playback on some audio drivers.
Scott
Hi Myron
Following on from Chiller’s suggestion. Can you go into Sound and Audio Device Properties in Windows (Start -> Control Panel -> Sounds and Audio Devices) and on the Audio tab select the TonePort as the default recording device (if it is not already selected).
As I said before (and it sounds like you’ve done) select the TonePort ASIO drivers for recording and playback.
If you open the recording vu meter in nTrack you should see two sets of meters (both for the TonePort), one is for Record 1-2 (Processed sound with all effects added by TonePort) and one for Record 3 - 4) for unprocessed sound (with no or only some effects). Try recording from only record 1 - 2 and disabling 3 - 4 and let us know what happens.
If you still have a problem, could you (as Jerm has suggested) post up your system details -
What is your processor? How much RAM do you have? as this may be part of the problem.
Good Luck
Quote: (plumbum @ Jan. 28 2008, 7:19 AM)
Thanks for all your help and suggestions. I was actually able to do some recording last night, it seems like mine will only function selecting 16 bit recording, what do is take to move up to 24 bit? I have a Realtek soundcard, could that be the problem, i.e. it doesn't support 24 bit? Also, during the playback, I noticed I'm getting a few spots on my track, where I get this sudden, temporary spike in sound, kind of like fingernails on a chalkboard, has anyone encountered that? I'm wondering if it was a matter of my mic not having a good connection. Finally, I tried ussing the metronome, but it winds up recording on the track, plus I can't get it very loud, any suggestions?
ANy suggestions?..
Record the click track first onto it’s own track (or generate one at the BPM desired)…turn metronome off when recording the other tracks.
Hi Myron
Glad you got to record successfully. Not sure about those signal spikes but maybe it is something in your signal chain (mic, leads etc.) Try different recording sources, vocals, guitar etc to try to narrow it down.
As far as 24 bit recording goes. If you go into the help menu and click on ‘about…’ does it show 16 or 24 bit? If you’er using the Toneport Asio drivers (or any asio drivers) Ntrack will be using the bit depth specified for those drivers. Click on the hammer icon on the recording vu-meters, then click the Asio settings button, then Asio control panel and you’ll see the Toneport control panel. This is where you set the bit depth you’ll use. I guess if you have the 16 bit version of N then you’ll need to set the Toneport to 16 bit too.
I always use the metronome and ndrums for a click track and have never had a problem with it recording (although I know most people on here don’t do it this way).
I open the metronome, unselect PC Speaker, select MIDI, select new intrument -> Ntrack drums as the output (click on the green writing to the right of “MIDI ->” choose something like 38 for first beat and 37 for other beats. Click the ‘On’ button, so it doesn’t show the blue edging (its off when it’s blue) and then test. If you select it for recording or playback you’ll here it when recording or playing in N. Once you get the hang of it it’s less faff than recording a separate track for each project.
Cheers
Martin
Hi Myron
Glad you got to record successfully. Not sure about those signal spikes but maybe it is something in your signal chain (mic, leads etc.) Try different recording sources, vocals, guitar etc to try to narrow it down.
As far as 24 bit recording goes. If you go into the help menu and click on ‘about…’ does it show 16 or 24 bit? If you’er using the Toneport Asio drivers (or any asio drivers) Ntrack will be using the bit depth specified for those drivers. Click on the hammer icon on the recording vu-meters, then click the Asio settings button, then Asio control panel and you’ll see the Toneport control panel. This is where you set the bit depth you’ll use. I guess if you have the 16 bit version of N then you’ll need to set the Toneport to 16 bit too.
I always use the metronome and ndrums for a click track and have never had a problem with it recording (although I know most people on here don’t do it this way).
I open the metronome, unselect PC Speaker, select MIDI, select new intrument -> Ntrack drums as the output (click on the green writing to the right of “MIDI ->”). Choose something like 38 for first beat and 37 for other beats. Click the ‘On’ button, so it doesn’t show the blue edging (its off when it’s blue) and then test. If you select it for recording or playback you’ll here it when recording or playing in N. Once you get the hang of it it’s less faff than recording a separate track for each project.
Cheers
Martin