Before you start recording, it’s wise to do some tests and check your DAW is set up how you want it. There’s nothing worse than running into avoidable technical difficulties that interrupt your creative flow later on.
Once you’ve connected your audio interface to your computer, it’s a good idea to make sure things are functioning correctly. Most DAWs will have a ‘preferences’ tab where settings can be adjusting. If you’re just starting out these aspects may be a little confusing and take some degree of trial and error, depending on your set-up.
Latency is one of the most common problems. This is where there’s a slight delay in hearing the sound after it’s been made, as it’s processed by your system. Try adjusting your buffer sizes and other settings for optimum performance. Lowering the buffer size will reduce lag, but will use more of your machine’s processing power. Finding a balance between the two may vary. This won’t affect the sound quality of your recording. Here’s a handy guide explaining things in more detail:
Many audio interfaces allow you to directly monitor the signal being produced. This can be quite useful as it bypasses the issues mentioned above.
One of the advantages of monitoring via your DAW is the benefit of utilising the effect inserts. For example, you could apply a reverb when tracking a vocal, but not commit to that processed sound and adjust or remove the effect afterwards.
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