I own a new G4 powerbook -- and I want to record on to it using the built-in soundcard. (only for a month or so until i can buy an external controller!). I have tried this out using Protools Free (booting up in OS 9), but I experienced a significant delay in monitoring the line in input. ex: I would play a note on my guitar, and then i would hear it a half-second later in my headphones.

so question 1: Is this latency due to the soundcard and is unchangeable? -- or can I reduce it by changing software settings?

also, I noticed OS 9 has an option to have the "line in" outputted -- so you can hear it in (almost!) real time when you snap your fingers. I can't find any option on OS X to send the input directly to the output in this way. So, thus i can't tell if there is a latency in OS X as well.

question 2: how can you monitor the line input in OS X?



Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am very anxious to know whether i need to immediately run and buy an external controller to work on my multi-tracking projects.

smiles,

BEN