Focusrite crackling after playing audio for a few seconds

Discuss music production with Ableton Live.
79-Protons
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Joined: Wed Oct 02, 2019 5:41 am

Focusrite crackling after playing audio for a few seconds

Post by 79-Protons » Wed Oct 02, 2019 6:07 am

I open ableton and first there are crackles, but then it get's more and more distorted. And when I close Ableton the same affects the audio on chrome, spotify and everything else requiring audio. It never crackles when I just use the computers own jackstick. I have a Scarlett 2i2. Right drivers. No CPU problems. I've done maybe 20 guides on different websites both Abletons and Focusrites. All specs are good even above the requirments. Maybe it's some kind of feedback problem but how? The Focusrite works fine with my dekstop while having worse specs in everyway I think. I know this is a kind of chaotic post, but I hope someone can draw conclusions. Thank you very much

Mark Williams
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Location: Kent

Re: Focusrite crackling after playing audio for a few seconds

Post by Mark Williams » Wed Oct 02, 2019 6:30 am

Try a different usb port, Focusrite's can be picky with USB ports. Mine does the same if I try it in a usb hub, so I have mine plugged into its own usb 2 port.
Live 11, M1 Mac Mini, Push 2, Scarlett 18i20 & ADA8200, Softube Console 1 Mk2, Deepmind12, Hydrasynth, Cobalt 8M, Moog Subsequent 25, IK Uno Synth Pro, Plethora X3, Nord Drum 3P

79-Protons
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Joined: Wed Oct 02, 2019 5:41 am

Re: Focusrite crackling after playing audio for a few seconds

Post by 79-Protons » Wed Oct 02, 2019 7:34 am

Have tried all USB ports.

Da hand
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Location: Montreal, Canada

Re: Focusrite crackling after playing audio for a few seconds

Post by Da hand » Wed Oct 02, 2019 9:07 am

The first thing that comes to mind is to check your Focusrite card driver's buffer size on this particular computer. Most crackles come from the buffer being set too low.

Mark Williams
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Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2014 2:43 pm
Location: Kent

Re: Focusrite crackling after playing audio for a few seconds

Post by Mark Williams » Wed Oct 02, 2019 10:05 am

Also ensure you are using the correct focus rite drivers too
Live 11, M1 Mac Mini, Push 2, Scarlett 18i20 & ADA8200, Softube Console 1 Mk2, Deepmind12, Hydrasynth, Cobalt 8M, Moog Subsequent 25, IK Uno Synth Pro, Plethora X3, Nord Drum 3P

79-Protons
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Joined: Wed Oct 02, 2019 5:41 am

Re: Focusrite crackling after playing audio for a few seconds

Post by 79-Protons » Wed Oct 02, 2019 12:19 pm

Of those 20 methods there were plenty including buffer size and Asio Audio drivers

Mark Williams
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Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2014 2:43 pm
Location: Kent

Re: Focusrite crackling after playing audio for a few seconds

Post by Mark Williams » Wed Oct 02, 2019 7:32 pm

You HAVE to use the correct driver for your interface, this includes what generation of interface, (for example using a scarlett interface ensure use the correct driver for the correct generation of interface not just the model) and make adjustments to buffer or you will encounter these issues...
Live 11, M1 Mac Mini, Push 2, Scarlett 18i20 & ADA8200, Softube Console 1 Mk2, Deepmind12, Hydrasynth, Cobalt 8M, Moog Subsequent 25, IK Uno Synth Pro, Plethora X3, Nord Drum 3P

79-Protons
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Oct 02, 2019 5:41 am

Re: Focusrite crackling after playing audio for a few seconds

Post by 79-Protons » Wed Oct 02, 2019 8:15 pm

I use Scarlett 2i2 Second Generation. I have the correct driver. I have tried deleting every Focusrite software and installed from bottom. Same result

jestermgee
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Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 6:38 am

Re: Focusrite crackling after playing audio for a few seconds

Post by jestermgee » Wed Oct 02, 2019 10:09 pm

OS?
What are your sys specs?
Buffer settings?
If windows are you using asio drivers?
Etc.......

Dallon426
Posts: 94
Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2018 2:08 pm

Re: Focusrite crackling after playing audio for a few seconds

Post by Dallon426 » Wed Oct 02, 2019 11:13 pm

I hate to break it to you, but ableton is pretty unstable. I have a UAD Arrow and I have had lots of problems with crackling. I have no problems in cubase.
In Ableton I have to have my buffers at 256, in cubase I can run my buffers at 64-128 depending on the size of the project.
Basically, Ableton needs to step up their latency guard. The engine is not the best.
That being said, turn on delay compensation in your options, raise your buffers to at least 256 or more (unfortunately)
What is your CPU, system, ram, what percentage is Ableton running at? I am having issues when Ableton Live is at 35 percent(even though my CPU is at under 30 percent)

I am using i7 8700
16gb ram
NVME 1 tb drive
UAD Arrow (TB3)

79-Protons
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Joined: Wed Oct 02, 2019 5:41 am

Re: Focusrite crackling after playing audio for a few seconds

Post by 79-Protons » Thu Oct 03, 2019 6:47 am

Specs are as they should be and drivers are as well. CPU never comes above 30 %. Could it maybe be a ground loop or not enough power coming from the usb? I have no problems on my dekstop

TLW
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Re: Focusrite crackling after playing audio for a few seconds

Post by TLW » Thu Oct 03, 2019 6:42 pm

Have you tried downloading and running latencymon.exe? That might point to any issues with delays on the PCI bus caused by drivers making Deferred Procedure Calls (dpcs) which can cause problems getting anywhere near real-time audio and have almost nothing to do with the load on the cpu or RAM.

If dpcs are the problem quite often it’s because of the wi-fi driver - for some reason they’re often not very efficiently written. Try disabling the wi-fi driver in device manager and see if it makes a difference.
Live 10 Suite, 2020 27" iMac, 3.6 GHz i9, MacOS Catalina, RME UFX, assorted synths, guitars and stuff.

Mark Williams
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Location: Kent

Re: Focusrite crackling after playing audio for a few seconds

Post by Mark Williams » Thu Oct 03, 2019 7:04 pm

Dallon426 wrote:
Wed Oct 02, 2019 11:13 pm
I hate to break it to you, but ableton is pretty unstable. I have a UAD Arrow and I have had lots of problems with crackling. I have no problems in cubase.
In Ableton I have to have my buffers at 256, in cubase I can run my buffers at 64-128 depending on the size of the project.
Basically, Ableton needs to step up their latency guard. The engine is not the best.
That being said, turn on delay compensation in your options, raise your buffers to at least 256 or more (unfortunately)
What is your CPU, system, ram, what percentage is Ableton running at? I am having issues when Ableton Live is at 35 percent(even though my CPU is at under 30 percent)

I am using i7 8700
16gb ram
NVME 1 tb drive
UAD Arrow (TB3)
Hate to break it to you, But Ableton is perfectly stable, with no problems using my Scarlett 18i20 2nd gen, buffers at 64, no crackling, I can go as low as 16 without crackling, using a Ryzen 3600 16GB ram 1TB Nvme 4th gen drive. Im guessing your on PC, and the UAD on TB3 there are a lot of issues with TB3 on certain motherboards, I would check that out before blaming any software.
Live 11, M1 Mac Mini, Push 2, Scarlett 18i20 & ADA8200, Softube Console 1 Mk2, Deepmind12, Hydrasynth, Cobalt 8M, Moog Subsequent 25, IK Uno Synth Pro, Plethora X3, Nord Drum 3P

Dallon426
Posts: 94
Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2018 2:08 pm

Re: Focusrite crackling after playing audio for a few seconds

Post by Dallon426 » Thu Oct 03, 2019 10:27 pm

Did you read that I had no issues in cubase? Wy would I have zero issues in cubase, but in Ableton Live I have snap crackle pop unless my vuffers are at 256? Perhaps Ableton does not work well with UAD drivers? I do not know, maybe someone else can add to this. My motherboard is perfectly suited for TB3. MOBO is Asrock z370 Gaming ITX.

It is very curious because I can play the test tone and it plays perfectly fine when I bring my buffers down to 32 in Live.

idigmusictoo
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2022 11:30 am

Re: Focusrite crackling after playing audio for a few seconds

Post by idigmusictoo » Fri Aug 19, 2022 11:31 am

Please tell me you got a fix for this, this is happening to me now and I have tried absolutely EVERYTHING

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