Odd stuff - recording delay - automatic channel Strip changes

Question

Recently I upgraded my interface from a MOTU 828MKII, to a Metric Halo 2882. I also upgraded from Logic 8 to 9. The problem is, I did this in the middle of a project. This project was/is just a test of a whole new upgrade to my home studio including some preamps/mics/interface/acoustic treatment/etc. Up to this point I mainly recorded my own stuff (5yrs), no big deal. But I'm thinking of moving this into a part time gig. So I asked a some friends if they'd be interested in free recording as guinea pigs.
The first day (Saturday) we tracked drums into the MOTU on Logic 8, as my Metric Halo interface hadn't arrived yet. Everything went good. That Monday, my Metric Halo arrived. I switched out the MOTU, and had the 2882 up and running by Wednesday. Thursday, I installed Logic 9 and updated to 9.1. I had all weekend to work though some of the new stuff, and it all sounded good.
By Monday I had the guitar/singer come by to lay down the rhythm guitar. When we recorded it, with the same settings as in the previous session, although with Logic 8 and a Motu interface, the guitar was around 246 samples late. I adjusted the Recording Delay ahead 246 samples, and it made it slower. I adjusted back 246, still not right. So we called the session.
I've scoured forums, and the only info I can find is plugin latency, and I/O buffer settings. I never had any issue with the MOTU as far as recording delay goes. I had latency issues, but nothing that actually recorded. It was my understanding that, the I/O buffer only affects the monitoring latency, everything "goes to tape" correctly though. I've spent the last 4-5 days trying to figure this out. If I start a new project with the 2882, everything syncs up great, no delay at all. But if I try to add to any project that was started with the MOTU, and Logic 8, I get a recorded delay.
The frustrating part of this is, last night, I updated Logic to 9.1.1, and recorded a loopback click. It worked fine. No delay at all. I tested a bass through the same recording chain I used before, and it was perfect too. I'm not sure if this was a fix in the new update, or I have some other instability thing going on. Any Ideas there?
Also, after updating last night I had a weird problem with plugins that were disabled, suddenly re-engaging. It seemed as though when I would do any changes in the MIO Console, I would come back to Logic, and random plugins would be re-enabled. I'll check tonight if this is repeatable, but last night it was a bother. I also had a Focusrite LiquiMix running at the same time. Maybe this was causing a problem. It did seem to only affect the channel strips that the LiquidMix inserts were on.
Thanks,
Erik

Answer 1

Thanks very much; I'm still perplexed though. You're right, the "mono->stereo" plug-ins yield stereo effects for the guitar; but I'm referring to the pre-assembled "sets" of plug-ins that are accessed by clicking on the word "inserts" (above the various slots for plug-ins). When you click on this word, all sorts of effects-sets are offered: for drums, vocals, pianos, guitars, etc. I'm referring to one for "electric guitar" (under "distorted guitar") called "Angus on SG + MS 1959" (though this is true of the other effects in this same category for electric guitar). Here's why things don't make sense to me: 1) since this effects-set ("Angus...") works just fine if it's applied AFTER I've recorded the guitar dry, why should it NOT work when I'm recording with the effect? I.e., I don't need a special double guitar plug for my Firepod for the effect to work on the signal it HAS recorded; so why should the special double plug be necessary WHILE recording? Meanwhile, 2) given that this is a GUITAR effect (Angus Young playing his Gibson SG through a 1959 Marshall Stack), and guitars always have mono output, then how can it be that Logic, by design, should require users to buy a special stereo plug when using effect-sets specifically designed for guitar? .... That's why I'm perplexed. I do think your two suggestions will work; but it just seems impossible to me that Logic is actually designed to work in this way -- at least not on purpose. On the other hand, I'm a newbie, and I may be missing something that's obvious. Sure would appreciate hearing whether it seems to people that there's a problem with my set-up (or with Logic), or whether the physical stereo-plug solution is actually a well-known practice that I am simply not familiar with. Many thanks!
You have recorded only one chanel on a stereo track.
Use a second input on your firepod or use mono ->
stereo plugins on a mono track to hear them in stereo.
dual g5 Mac OS X (10.4.4)