Latency

[banzailoco]

Latency, a very important word in the DAW business. You do well to remember it.

A build in sound device, a MIDI controller, an old PC struggling to perform, using the wrong drivers and you still need to properly set up the audio buffer. All will give you L A T E N C Y

http://tweakheadz.com/latency/

v

[aj113]

Latency is only ever an issue if you're monitoring back off the DAW when recording. Monitor back off your soundcard/interface and latency will never be an issue.

[starise]

This works if playing hardware into efx. Using direct monitoring through the interface eliminates most of the issues.

Not so well playing vst instruments. If your latency is still high after you've done all you can with your computer/interface and drivers there are still work arounds. One work around is to track live audio from the keyboard and midi at the same time if playing keys. Don't use the soft synth until after the actual recording. Then route the midi track to the vsti of choice.
The reason you also record audio from the keyboard is so you can hear yourself playing while you track the midi.