clicking and popping when using effects

Posted on

Member Since: Jun 30, 2005

I am rather new at recording on my own but have been trying to learn as much as possible. My problem is though that when I try to record on sonar and when I try to apply any effects then whenever I try to record I intermittently get a clicking that pegs out the meter on the track, sometimes it is only one click, other times it is 5 or 6, I have tried changeing my I/O buffer settings up as far as to 256 without it helping, for some reason though I am unable to adjust my latency in the audio settings. I have been pulling my hair out trying to figure this out, does anyone else have any idea what I may be doing wrong? my audio interface is a yamaha uw10 usb athlonXP 2400+ and have 768 MB DDR

[ Back to Top ]


jimmie neutron
Member
Since: Feb 14, 2005


Jun 30, 2005 06:50 am

Many possible causes, usually to do with the PC's audio performance. Check out:

www.homerecordingconnecti...=8290&frm=5

just a couple of threads down from here. Usually speaking, if you get clipping/skipping/crackles, etc. when applying effects, adding additional tracks, etc., you've got performance issues, even though you might have the most powerful computer known to man. The USB 1.1 interface is a resource hog and doesn't let much thru, so when you add in your VST effects "live", it's bringing your computer to its knees. Some VST effects are resource hogs, also. Are you using a "freeware" VST, or a built-in Sonar plug? If you have a choice, use the built-in ones. They are generally more efficient. If you're using a reverb plug, they are especially demanding of your computer. You could try to "optimize" your computer for audio, then try recording again with what you have, but you may have to record dry and just add your effects later.

As a side note on that, a "dry" signal is more flexible (if you will) than a "wet" signal. Say you record your guitar with a super-sounding reverb that just fits so well in your mind's eye of the finished song. 2 weeks later, you're adding the vocals and thinking about sharing your finished project when you realize that the guitar just sticks WAY out there because of all that neat sounding reverb. It distracts from the vocals. You want to change it but, you *can't change the reverb* 'cause it's part of the recorded track!!! It can be difficult at times to get that "inspired" performance without some effects on an instrument, but give it a go and add your effects later when you mix all the parts together.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Jun 30, 2005 07:28 am

Yeah, I would say record dry and try to add the effects later...also, when you are relatively happy with your effects, try track freezing if you are using Sonar 4 (feature new to that version) which can free up resources by temporarily bouncing tracks and applying effects, therefore being able to unload the effect from memory until you unfreeze to make further adjustments.

Member
Since: Jun 30, 2005


Jun 30, 2005 11:12 am

some other things I completely forgot to mention, not sure how much of a difference they make is that with my audio interface, which uses usb 2.0 not 1.1 has a problem that whenever I boot up my computer it gives a low crackling sound and does not work unless I disconnect it and reconnect it, I have tried updating my usb drivers for my motherboard and I have updated my drivers for my interface, it worked good for awhile until my computer shut down on me one day and went back to a restore point where I lost all my drivers and it was using the default drivers, so I had to reinstall them all. The other problem is that in sonar, with the latency buffer settings, they are set to 5.8 msec which is at the minimum and it will not allow me to change them, am I possibly doing something wrong there? Thanks for all the help so far, I'm going to try everything I can here

Member
Since: Jun 30, 2005


Jun 30, 2005 11:19 am

I also meant to add that the effects I am using are the ones that came with sonar4

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Jun 30, 2005 11:22 am

I might recommend actually completely uninstalling drivers for the sound device, remove all registry entries and seek and destroy on all related files, then trying a clean reinstall of the app.

Also, if it does have them, try DirectSOund and WDM drivers and see if they work better. The only info I can find about your device brags about ASIO, but no others.

Also, perhaps submit this to Cakewalk support and Yamaha support, see if either have had any other reports of this type of thing before.

Also, make sure your motherboard is USB2 as well, if the deivce is USB2 but the mobo is 1.1, well, you know...

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Jun 30, 2005 11:27 am

ok don't turn on/off your computer with your speakers already on, this could send a power surge to them and make their lifespan shorter.

the latency bar does not move when you use ASIO drivers, you can sometimes adjust it with your soundcard's control pannel

Member
Since: Jun 30, 2005


Jun 30, 2005 11:32 am

the motherboard is usb 2.0, and multiple times i have tried coimpletely uninstalling all the drivers for the interface and reinstalling them, the only info i can find on it is about the asio drivers and when I try to change it to wdm, sor says it doesn't support it or it is in use by another device. Been getting rather fed up with it lately and am very strongly thinking about trying a different interface such as an maudio delta44

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Jun 30, 2005 11:37 am

I don't blame ya for getting frustrated, it's a drag to experience, perhaps changing devices is an option...sometimes the only option...sadly...

Member
Since: Jun 30, 2005


Jun 30, 2005 11:43 am

I've tried sending an email to cakewalk and did some checking through their list of different interfaces and they don't even have any info about the uw10. I never even thought about trying it, but I could try reactivating my soundblaster 4.1 card and see if I have the same problems on it

Member
Since: Jun 30, 2005


Jul 01, 2005 02:21 am

I found something out today after playing with it some more, I came to find out that the clicking occurs whenever the audio engine button is depressed, any idea why this may be?

Member
Since: Jun 30, 2005


Jul 01, 2005 03:27 am

let me clarify that, sorry, I'm a newbie just learning, I have this problem whenever input monitoring is on

Member
Since: Jun 30, 2005


Jul 01, 2005 04:27 am

I think i figured it out, I tried an old soundblaster card and the problem completely went away, looks like its time to save money for a different interface

jimmie neutron
Member
Since: Feb 14, 2005


Jul 01, 2005 06:04 pm

Some cards "process" your monitoring so you can hear the effects being applied. Turn that off and either do "direct monitoring" (if it's available with your interface), or use a mixer to monitor thru (and using one of those opens all kinds of routing complexity & other kinds of "fun").

Member
Since: Aug 09, 2007


Aug 09, 2007 02:42 am

Hello

I was curious to find out the bit depth/resolution of the UW10. Does it offer 24-bit?

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Aug 09, 2007 11:05 pm

Judging from the fact their website has not mention of bit rate at all I would say no it does not support 24bit audio. It does mentionmp3 frequently so that kind of leads me to believe this is a very low budget card. I think I have seen them selling at a certain audio store for like $19.95. That to me tells the tale right there.

Related Forum Topics:



If you would like to participate in the forum discussions, feel free to register for your free membership.