Jul 28, 2005 12:43 pm are you using a demo software synth? sometimes the demo's will have stuff like that.
also, you're way past due for a new computer...if ya wanna do audio.
Midi Crackle driving me mad!!!
Posted on Jul 28, 2005 12:38 pm
FunkyPaul
Member Since: Jul 28, 2005
Hello there,
I wondered if anyone could help with a really annoying problem. I have a Yamaha p-60 digital piano linked up via a yamaha UX16 (midi to USB) cable to my computer. I've managed after a lot of effort to get midi to work in terms of playing notes on my piano which activates different sounds through the computer software (pro-tools free). The only problem is that I'm getting a REALLY annoying crackle which just intermittently comes and goes- it doesn't feel like it's 'stuttering' in the sense of the computer struggling to process fast enough, it is much more of a crackle. I've obviously checked all loose wire, faulty headphone options etc...etc.. but I can confidently say that this isn't the cause of the problem. I'm using a PC which is running windows 98 with a Pentium II processor, 320MB ram and a soundblaster sound card. Any suggestions will be gratefully received,
thanks a lot,
Paul
[ Back to Top ]
Jul 28, 2005 12:43 pm are you using a demo software synth? sometimes the demo's will have stuff like that.
also, you're way past due for a new computer...if ya wanna do audio.
Jul 28, 2005 01:03 pm are ya too loud somewhere in the chain and clipping?
Jul 29, 2005 07:31 am I presume I am using a demo software synth because I'm only using what seems to be installed in Pro-Tools....I don't have a very good understanding of synths or much of this to be honest, but that sounds like quite a plausible explanation. Agreed on the out-of-date computer thing whosyourdaddy...might be time to take the plunge.
Little guy, I have considered clipping but I don't think that's the cause because still make the crackling noise at low volumes, or when all levels are set low. I'm starting to think that this might all be symptomatic of having a cack computer..but I'm a bit confused because weren't people recording music on computers years ago? Surely even my pretty rubbish PC would dump on something some big shot music producers would have used back in the day? or am I horribly confused? (again)
Jul 29, 2005 07:35 am Quote:
and a soundblaster sound card
Wave big red flag right there...
On another note, make sure you have the latest drivers for all devices concerned, the synth, the USB port and the software you are running thru.
Windows ME I would expect more crackle from, as ME had some bezarre crackling issue on a couple ME boxes I had, I don't recall the prob so much with 98 though...however, it has admittedly been a while since I have worked on Windows 98.
Audible crackle on various platforms/software is a sign of a imperfect driver, it's likely there are updates to it as they discover the problems. This could be especially the case with Windows 98 as they target more the WDM spec for XP and 2000 now more than the older types...at least for the audio cards...for the USB/MIDI drivers for your synth, well, it never hurts to check in there as well for updated drivers.
Jul 29, 2005 12:17 pm Thanks a lot dB Masters, all helpful ideas...I might see if I can find an updated driver for the Yamaha UX16 cable because I think that looks like the main suspect, cheers
Jul 29, 2005 12:44 pm what may be happening too, is that the pci buss is taking some of the cycles for video, and other stuff, and making the SB card stutter on it's digital data. Those older PCs weren't as robust when it comes to sharing internal busses. I've done recording in the past on a 333 cyrix, plus a pII 450, and a pIII 450. They can run simple tracks of audio (i've gotten 8 or 10) but running synths are much more processor / buss intensive. I'd guess 1 or 2 would cripple an older PC.
Probably not the fix you wanted, but it may help you out on what your next step may be =)
Jul 30, 2005 09:52 am Check the specs for ProTools Free. You are very "borderline-minimum" in all aspects. You might find a shareware/freeware solution that's not quite so resource intensive as PTFree.
Sep 18, 2005 12:25 am Not to rain on your parade, but you are at a very minimum spec for running a soft synth as well. That said, I would think the distortion is really a combination of PC power as well as partly the sound card not co-operating.
As dB said, the driver is probably partly to blame on the sound card side. Midi itself cannot cause the distortion, that is only to be blamed on the audio portion whether it be the sound card or the driver talking to the software.
|
Related Forum Topics: |
If you would like to participate in the forum discussions, feel free to register for your free membership.