How to resolve latency issues, imported WAV files

[RBLevin]

Hi,

I have a Yamaha P255 digital piano. It outputs WAV files directly, 16-bit, 44.1kHz.

I recorded a rhythm track on the P2155 and imported the WAV into Audition, Multitrack. Then I played that track back on the PC while I recorded an overdub on the P255. Next, I imported that WAV into Audition as a new stereo track.

The two tracks are perfectly aligned in terms of the start time. But when I play them back, the second track starts to drift after a few bars.

How do I synchronize these tracks? And why aren't they synchronized in the first place? They're the same sample rate, recorded on the same device.

Thanks.

Rich

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

RBLevin  wrote

They're the same sample rate, recorded on the same device.

Well you may think that, but unfortunately it's not that simple. Unless it's a crystal-controlled clock (very unlikely in a piano), it's going to drift over time. So when you make your first recording, it's running at one clock rate, and when you make the second one, it will have drifted a bit, and clearly it's never going to be possible to sync this. They don't mention this in the specification, obviously, but it's quite normal to allow +/- 1% drift on that sort of clock.

[ryclark]

You'd be much better off recording it straight into Audition from the output of the keyboard and overdubbing in Audition's Multitrack view I would have thought.

[RBLevin]

Thank you both for your input. Makes sense. I'll just record directly into Audition.

The last time I did this (years ago), I was recording to a Sony Mini-Disc. I didn't have any sync problems with that. Guess it had a clock.

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

Yes, they have incredibly stable ceramic resonators - virtually no drift. Would you like to see one?

It's the little white block at the bottom - the one that says 4.19M. To give you an idea of its real size, it measures 6mm in length.