Running system sound through audio interface?

[matthewordie]

I'm on Windows 10, using a Focusrite 18i8. I've been using it for my system audio as well as ableton audio out. I get a few weird things sometimes. The sound might glitch out, slow down and be come distorted or sound like the bit depth suddenly dropped.

This will usually crash ableton. I have to turn the 18i8 off and on again. System sounds will come back right away, but I'll have to restart ableton for it to come back.

It varies when it happens. Sometimes constantly sometimes I can go a day with out it happening.

[miyaru]

Disable your system sounds, this will avoid the problem, at least it did it for me with my Focusrite Saffire Pro 40.

[chrk]

Do your samplerate and bit depth in your Live audio preferences and Windows playback device settings match?

[matthewordie]

Do your samplerate and bit depth in your Live audio preferences and Windows playback device settings match?

They do yeah. Sometimes though it will "lock" it and I can't change it in Ableton because it's set in Windows. Other times I can though.

[chrk]

They do yeah.

There goes a possible solution.

Sometimes though it will "lock" it and I can't change it in Ableton because it's set in Windows. Other times I can though.

The interface will lock the sample rate to the driver that is actively accessing it. You can only change the sample rate while the device is idle.

The sound might glitch out, slow down and be come distorted or sound like the bit depth suddenly dropped.

That definitely sound like a sync problem.

Is your 18i8 a 1st or 2nd generation model, latest drivers? Have you talked to Focusrite's support yet?

And are you running any other software that uses ASIO drivers?

[matthewordie]

Is your 18i8 a 1st or 2nd generation model, latest drivers? Have you talked to Focusrite's support yet?

And are you running any other software that uses ASIO drivers?

It's a 1st gen, the drivers are up to date. Unfortunately they haven't updated them in a while. I've also tried with Asio4All as well. Similar issues. I am not running any software that uses Asio that I'm aware of.

Mostly what I'm doing is playing in Ableton and on my other monitor I have youtube tutorials up and such. I tried running my computers speaker out into an input on my audio interface. This actually works BUT I get that weird issue where there's no bass or vocals in stuff. Any idea what causes that?

[fishmonkey]

I tried running my computers speaker out into an input on my audio interface. This actually works BUT I get that weird issue where there's no bass or vocals in stuff. Any idea what causes that?

sounds like you have one of the channels out of phase, which is cancelling out the mono parts of the sound.

[chrk]

I tried running my computers speaker out into an input on my audio interface. This actually works BUT I get that weird issue where there's no bass or vocals in stuff. Any idea what causes that?

Are you using a stereo adapter (3.5 to 6.5 mm TRS) for that? Then you'd be sending a stereo signal to a balanced mono input. Channel identical information cancels out, and vox and bass are typically in the centre.

[matthewordie]

I tried running my computers speaker out into an input on my audio interface. This actually works BUT I get that weird issue where there's no bass or vocals in stuff. Any idea what causes that?

Are you using a stereo adapter (3.5 to 6.5 mm TRS) for that? Then you'd be sending a stereo signal to a balanced mono input. Channel identical information cancels out, and vox and bass are typically in the centre.

I am, is there a better way of doing that? A specific type of cable or adapter?

[chrk]

The Scarlett's input are mono, so you need to feed your stereo singal into two of them: stereo 3.5 to two TS 6.5

Like these: Cordial CFY 0,9 WPP - Thomann UK - They come in other lengths, you need to see which suits your setup. Since it's an unbalanced connection shorter cable runs are better.

[matthewordie]

The Scarlett's input are mono, so you need to feed your stereo singal into two of them: stereo 3.5 to two TS 6.5

Like these: Cordial CFY 0,9 WPP - Thomann UK - They come in other lengths, you need to see which suits your setup. Since it's an unbalanced connection shorter cable runs are better.

That makes sense, thanks for the link!