davem.
re vista laptop. what sound device are you useing mate ??
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my general comment would be if you peruse any recording forum
you can see probs with any music software. whether mac or pc.
from the people ive tried to help over the years often its poorly chosen systems,
or poorly configged, poor sound device choice and/or driver probs etc etc.
in summary a whole range of issues. as well as not undrstanding set up etc etc.
ive had many folks swear up and down to me it was the music software
only to find it was a set up prob often or a poor configged system.
jazz hit nail on the head.,
ie in reality the more one understands the tech stuff and is willing to..
the easier it will be.
it was the same once when i owned a 2 inch tape machine.
i had to know my gear.
at the same time tho' spare a thought for the developers of various music software.
really given the fact that OS's change and the plethora of sound devices,
as well as given the fact that puters at the personal level werent designed from
the ground up in earlier times as audio pro centric machines...its really rather impressive
what devs have achieved as jazz said.
it could have been prolly lots easier for users and devs if puters had have been built specifically
for the pro audio market as mebe special purchase, mebe even with hi quality ada built into the systems so people wouldnt have to worry bout set up etc.
but this didnt happen, and some might argue they like the variety of market offerings.

retired puter engr....powertracks on amd......NICE !
"what is the black art of audio engineering ?"
my silly songs...motagator.com/bmanning
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