audiophile 2496 mastering

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Member Since: May 27, 2006

Hi Im a newbie t the forum so hi everyone:)

I have a 3GHZ pc with 1gig of Ram.
I have a song finished with virtual synths, audio, midi and external hardware synths. The outputs are put through a 16 channel desk. All sound fine until I try to mixdown

I am using tape returns to record the complete mix back into my audiophile for mixdown on a spare stereo track in cubase SX. I am getting glicks and pops when I record. They seem totally random. The system performance indicator is at about 1 fifth in cubase so I didnt think I was driving the system too much.

I was was wonderng if getting another 2496 card for mixdown only may solve the problems.

Any help appreciated

regards
Alan

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edit0r
Member
Since: Aug 17, 2004


May 27, 2006 07:31 am

You might just need to increase the latency a bit when you're mixing.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 27, 2006 04:18 pm

I should ask as well if it pops and clicks when you are running playback only? Or is it only when running playback and record at the same time.

You may also be inducing digital clipping of the track going to the stereo mixdown. Try pulling the main fader down a tiny bit on the master out of Cubase and see if that helps at all.

Member
Since: May 27, 2006


May 29, 2006 04:26 am

hi all - I dropped the levels down a tad with no differece. It seems to be a problem with recording and playing at the same time. I have checked there are no IRQ conflicts - although the device is on IRQ 16 (virtual I believe)

Actually I also get some problems when recording vocals while other audio & midi are playing, so I guess its not only mixdown..

I take it its normal to have several tracks of audio with the 2496?

thanks for all the help



Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


May 29, 2006 09:09 am

this could be a number of things, buffer settings, how much background programs you have running (this is usually the culprit for premature cpu taxing), and even a full duplex issue (although i highly doubt that)....do you use your computer online alot aswell as for recording?

Member
Since: May 27, 2006


May 29, 2006 03:04 pm

hi - the buffer setting does not seem to make any noticable differece on the clicks.

I do use the computer a lot for internet etc. I tried disabling tthe network adaptors but again no resolution of problems.

I tried the full duplex driver as well but didnt change anything. And checked physical audio leads to make sure they were making good contact.

I have no other cards on the PCI bus, my mobo is Nforce2 - AN78x delux.


Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 29, 2006 04:49 pm

Do you have the 2496 card in a PCI slot next to the AGP video slot? That can cause some problems as well. If you have a choice move it to the slot furthest from the AGP slot on the mobo.

Your PC should be more then fast enough to be able to do full duplex with the 2496. Have you tried using the ASIO drivers yet?

Member
Since: May 27, 2006


May 30, 2006 12:56 pm

hi

I have ttried it in several slots. Its now next to the end - as far away from the AGP. I have used the M-audio ASIO drivers and the other drivers included with cubase - Asio direct X works but I have the same cracks and clicks. The multimedia driver is not really working for me.

I have just tried recording audio alon with a midi drum track. they overlaying a new audio track. Still the problems.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 31, 2006 06:02 pm

Does it always seem to assign it to IRQ 16? An audio interface card really should not run, but can on a virtual port.

So you have the option to hard assign it to a differant open IRQ?

Member
Since: May 27, 2006


Jun 01, 2006 02:48 pm

yep 16 - I cant seem to get it any lower & I have turned off onboard modem, etc.

The bios has the option to reserve IRQ's but I cant seem to actively steer the card to a particular IRQ. I suppose I caould make the PC non APIC but last time I tried this the computer ran like a dog


Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jun 01, 2006 10:03 pm

Well you dont want it running badly then either. I am stumped as your system seems to be up to par to run the card.

Have you done the usual thing with trying other cables and such as well? Not sure if that is the problem though as it really does sound like the card or the settings are to blame.

Member
Since: May 27, 2006


Jun 03, 2006 12:01 pm

hi

I just got hold of a USB transit audio device and it is better - no clicks or pops. I cant monitor though with this. So it seems to be a hardware problem with the delta or IRQ.

Is there a better card than the delta - I dont mind paying a bit more for something that will take the weight off my system and maybe has more on board processing power. I just need 2 analogue outs and ins

many thanks for all your time & help overkill BTW:)

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jun 03, 2006 02:59 pm

Would you prefer to go with the USB type set up or stick with a PCI card type unit. There are several choices out there, some I would not recomend but most will work well for what you need.

Can you describe a little of the type of music and what instruments you will be recording, software used and what ever? That might help narrow a choice down a little.

Member
Since: May 27, 2006


Jun 03, 2006 03:45 pm

hi

I think PCI is going to give me a headache. I dont think my 2496 is at fault but some other combo of FSB/PCI IRQ -lol so I might go with USB or firewire. Maybe firewire as there seems to be a bit more overhead and maybe lower latency. The firewire version of the audiophile looks not bad?

I run cubase SX with a load of analogue synths (pro 5, juno 106) plus soft synths. I mainly use the audio channels for vocals and some guitar work. And to master to. I used to use a DAT recorder. I tend to be into all kinds of music but mostly progressive electronic and stuff like Air etc.

I used to use a Gina 20 which was great in win 98 but the drivers performed poorly in Xp so got the 2496

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jun 03, 2006 04:54 pm

I guess taht might solve the problem for you, so that might be the route to go. As for firewire verse USB, the USB is actually a more stable unit at the moment. Firewire can be a bit of a pain at times. If you have onboard firewire on your mobo you might be allright, but if you need to use an adapter card the firewire will only be as fast as the PCI buss its plugged into.

As for speed, USB is actually a bit faster, and latency with ASIO is comparable between the two types of interface, so that isnt really a key to look for.

I think either would suite the job for you, and M-Audio has both a firewire and USB audiophile interface.

Member
Since: Nov 23, 2005


Jun 03, 2006 07:20 pm

I had a similar problem with Cubase SX3 earlier this year while using a firewire card + a MOTU 896. Some of you may remember the post... It became a lengthy conversation between me, DB, and a few others. My problem was fixed when, after adding a video card, I was able to unlock the PCI Bus latency by using the Double Dawg PCI latency Tool (a free download BTW) and I typed 128 into the form field, hit save config... then exit. ShaaaZam. www.mark-knutson.com/t3/downloadbuy.html

Member
Since: May 27, 2006


Jun 05, 2006 03:37 pm

hi - tried that program and also adjusting the latency in the BIOS - no difference with the noise - its so strange why this is so bad. I do suspect the video card - a 256mb XT9600 radeon. Anyways im going to try and get a Edirol 25 USB interface - and se if that helps. The 2496 is just too much hassle in my PC

Master of the Obvious?
Member
Since: Jun 29, 2004


Jun 24, 2006 08:34 am

Are you listening to the individual tracks, as well as the mixdown? If so, try (just for fun) mixing down to a tape or just listening to the output on a home stereo and see if the problem is the output or the input. Might help, anyway :)

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