Little cracks in Audio

[User 905133]

6 minutes ago, Ælleden said:

@User 905133
Yep I'm forcing updates off since 2017 . . . .

Long story short the issue was happening with me because of my ASUS motherboard, when the issue happened I wasn't the only one having this and it was then found the issue was due to some ASUS motherboards being poorly designed.

Maybe the issue is coming from that but as of now I'm unable to test it, will update this thread in a few years after I changed my mothermoard.

2 minutes ago, Ælleden said:

. . . my Audio Interface should be arriving today, I bought an M-Audio M-Track solo.
Can't wait to install it and have all my audio problems disappear in one go ahah

Thanks for the reply re: Windows Update.  I understand!  (I'll spare the details.)  I hope the new audio interface solves the issues.  

[John Vere]

Ok so looks like you bought an Audio interface, Good. You should also watch any videos they have on their website and follow installation instructions carefully. 

Edit after reading what is below this.. And regarding the USB mike that is for Podcasting. You need a proper mike with an XLR cable. 

USB mikes rarely work with any DAW. Millions of threads on that topic. 

Now here's my Video on setting up audio interfaces. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2pnDOC7HEk

 

Edited August 10, 2022 by Cactus Music

[Ælleden]

I received my Audio Interface but..
- it's not working.
- doesn't detect my new microphone.
- I can't register it because it says the ID is invalid..

Such a pleasure
I will keep you updated on that when supports responds

[57Gregy]

16 hours ago, Ælleden said:

doesn't detect my new microphone.

An audio interface won't 'detect' anything plugged into it; they will work or not. If it's some type of USB or Bluetooth mic that is plugged into the computer, it won't 'detect' that either. You should only use microphones that plug into the interface with 1/4 inch plugs or XLR plugs. When working with your recording program, all audio should go in and out of the interface. That is part of the simplicity of using an audio interface; one device, no complications.
I'm sorry you're having trouble registering your device. Did it come with a CD or DVD of utilities and drivers? Perhaps with a software mixer?
Or directions to log into their web site to download these things?

[Ælleden]

Hey, sorry for the late update, I kinda gave up on everything about this issue because the drivers of the interface make my PC crash (and actually ruined it now cause now my PC crashes even with the drivers uninstalled and with the interface unplugged, it probably messed up something internally idk what's going on, M-Audio is going deaf with my requests since the last 4 months.)

I will need to update my PC and change my system so that's why I didn't report feedback earlier, I'm stuck with MME and my default monitor speakers at the moment (yikes)

Will come back here when I get a new PC with drivers of the audio interface that work on it. (Will never buy anything from M-Audio ever again)

 

Edited November 29, 2022 by Ælleden

[Ælleden]

Ok so here is an update about my problem.

I ignored this issue for a long time since I was suggested to get an audio interface to solve the issue but the one I had had a driver that literally killed my PC.
I eventually got forced to update my system. I'm now on the latest version of Windows 11, with my M-Audio M-Track Solo, the proper driver installed.
My project settings are in WASAPI Exclusive, I also tried WASAPI Shared but it doesn't solve anything.
At some point i thought it was maybe because my project was too heavy with a bunch of tests and tries stored inside, so I started  a brand new.
I'm forced to realize that I still have massive cracks in the audio after a few seconds of the project playing back what I made, there are only 3 tracks going on, each from Serum.
I don't understand why it's happening and it's literally impossible to work like that, I tried using Speakers or Headphones aswell, still have the cracks, I'm using 48000 MHz which seem to be the recommended setting for my driver.

Thank you

Aelleden

[Ælleden]

These are all the screenshots I can provide to show how my stuff is setup, let me know what else I can share.
Also on the last screenshot, I noticed that if I toggle ON or OFF the Audio Engine, it makes a crack sound every time, not sure that helps but at least it's easy to redo.

[John Vere]

Holy cow your running at like max buffers. Try using 256 ms buffer.  And it seems you are using ASIO which is defiantly what you use. That seems a good safe setting for any interface I've ever owned. I still have an old M Audio fast track pro that works just fine on W10. Even though they are more a Mac oriented company they still seem to have solid drivers for windows.   I guess you never watched my audio set up video. My playlist is in my signature.  

[57Gregy]

Is that Shure SM7B a USB mic and are you using that to record? I'm pretty sure that's what "enregistrement" means, right?

[Ælleden]

@John VereI did watch your tutorial on how to setup stuff, it was a very good video and I did all what you said.
Yes I'm using ASIO in cakewalk as it's what seems to be working the best, and using the latest specific ASIO drivers for my product.
I was using 256 at the beginning and had the same issue, so i tried higher buffers to see if it would change anything, it didn't I reverted back to 256 after the screenshot.
@57Gregy Yes Shure SM7B for recording audio, going through M-Audio M-track solo and outputting to both BeyerDynamics DT700 Pro X and IK Multimedia iLoud Micro monitors.
I'm aware this is not the best speakers for music producing but it seemed like a good compromise between space and sound quality.
Also I notice more cracks from listening to the Speakers than when listening through the Headphones.
 

[John Vere]

Ok huge progress and it seems you have all correct equipment now as well as your settings seem fine as well.  Only weird thing I see is I was to understand there is no such thing as 32 bit audio interfaces yet?  They are normally 24. But I guess this is new. 
I assume you still are using the same computer so possibly something in the USB bus is creating this crackle. Bad cable, or ports.
I had to install a PCIe USB 3 card in my old computer to use my Motu interface and I do believe it was cracking as well. So big possibly especially if that interface is bus powered. 

Edited February 27, 2023 by John Vere

[Ælleden]

@John VereMmh, the inferface is powered by USB which is plugged into an USB Hub (self powered) maybe issue could come from that, I haven't tried plugging it directly on the motherboard since new setup cause the cable is too short lol.

No the PC is almost new I changed the motherboard and the CPU, I believe 32 bit audio is new cause it was default thing when I got these things, I tried to go to 24 watching some tutorials but everytime it returns to 32bit in Windows.

Cables are almost new for all my equipement, nothing is older than 7 months or even more recent for the speakers and headphones.

I can't check now if the HUB is plugged on USB 2.0 or 3.0, I'll try later and see if that makes a diff aswell.

Also I noticed that using one specific sound design seemed to cause WAYYYYYYY more crackling in audio than other sounds I'm making, so maybe Serum is not helping, maybe I'm doing something wrong somewhere in the sound design aswell.

[John Vere]

A test of that would be to export the project as aMidi file.  
First go to preferences Midi and uncheck all midi outputs.  

Open the Midi file Don’t import. Open. 
That will give you a clean project with Just midi and the TTS-1. 
See if there’s any issues. Now midi track by midi track swap out the TTS-1 for the VST’ instruments you were using one by one. 
See at which point you get crackles.  
If all is still good Then start adding any VST effects and see what happens. 

 I think using a USB hub is not recommended by most manufacturers. It says that in my Focusrite manual. It could well be the problem but seems strange you had same issues with old system too. Might just be aVST all along. 

Edited February 27, 2023 by John Vere