Recording Issues (audio dropouts or skippin im not sure what to call it)
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Posted on Apr 28, 2010 07:46 pm
GripPConstrikta
Member Since: Apr 28, 2010
Hey everybody so im fairly new to the world of recording with half decent hardware/software considering i used to use a PS2 socom mic and audacity to make my first mixtape. however, i am now working with the following stuff....
Lenovo ThinkPad T61
Vista 32bit 64 capable
intel dual core 18ghz i think
2gb of RAM
and my music stuff is....
T.C. Electronic Desktop Konnekt 6 (firewire)
Audio Technica AT2020 (not the usb one)
and software-wise i have......
Adobe Audition 3
Sony Acid Pro 7
Cool Edit Pro 2.1
Note: i record hip hop vocals
so when recording (adobe or acid) i have this problem where it seems to be working fine but then the audio makes this weird noise and either stops recording and playing completely or stops for about a second and then continues recording and playin but then the alignment of the recording and instrumental are messed up. however, i am able to record fine in cool edit pro without any of these problems but it an old program and i want to be able to use acid or audition so i can just mix and edit right after recording with out having to transfer everything. im better then the average person with computers (but new to this music stuff) and ive tried TONs of different things like changing latency's and doin mono recording and stereo and using different input and output settings in the software for my hardware. ive tried recording in different bit rates like 32, 24 and 16, AT 41000. ive disconnected wireless cards and internet connections had all unneeded programs closed while recording. ive tried uninstalling and reinstalling ALL of the programs and nothing seems to fix this problem.
does anybody have any idea whats goin on? lemme know if you need any other info on my computer specs.
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Apr 29, 2010 09:08 am I am not sure how much I can add but the Levono T61 is the exact same laptop I have at work, and I don't think I'd ever record with it, it's a dog...but then, my employer put Windows 7 on it, so that could be part of the issue.
Do you keep your windows startup clean and your drive defraged? Turn off anti-virus scanners and all that crap as well? In Vista it can also help to revert to the "classic" theme that doesn't have all the transparent windows and other visual effects that use up unnecessary CPU power...
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Apr 29, 2010 11:57 am I would pick up an add-in firewire card and try that out. If it does not work then you can just return it.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Apr 29, 2010 05:03 pm Quote:
intel dual core 18ghz
Wow, that must have been expensive =).
Ok, I kid.
Anyway, as Cpt referred to, firewire can be a a problem. Having a TI (texas instruments) chipset in the firewire controller is pretty much a requirement, from what I've read around the net, and on here. Over on Reaper boards, there's a audio PC builder that says even plugging in a TI based install card will use the computers internal FIREWIRE bus, so you may not be benefiting much with a install card (please research that, as I'm only repeating inet posts).
You harddrive may be slower, like a 5400 rpm, which will make things more difficult. Getting a USB 2.0 HD, like 7200 or above, with 16mb cache will help greatly. Plus, getting your audio work away from the system drive, with it's swapping going on (ooo, sounds kinky) will keep any page swap / system memory swap from happening when you're tracking.
I think there's a webpage for tweaking audio for windows, but I can't remember atm. I know there was one for XP which a lot of people refer to. I'm assuming there's one for vista as well.
Also, be sure to be using the ASIO or WDM software interface, instead of MME or other stuff. ASIO and WDM are low latency drivers, so you'll have better tracking.
There's a program out there called PCILatency, that you can set the latency of the PCI bus, or, what devices are on it. Sometimes, or maybe most times, the video device on the PCI bus can be a real hog and take way more PCI cycles than it should. So running this program and turning down the cycles for that device may make your other devices play more nice. I know the FW and PCI shouldn't be affecting each other, but it's worth a shot, and basically free to try out.
At this point, you don't really know for sure what's causin' the pausin', so it's worth it to try free stuff.
