Audio crackling with new i7 build.

ian_halsall · Post by **ian_halsall** » Tue Sep 24, 2013 9:31 am

I get this but it doesn't bother me because for me it only happens when I use an app outside of Live. If I start browsing while Live is playing then there may be some crackling.

It doesn't bother me because I probably won't be browsing while I am recording or playing in earnest.

I seem to remember it first started to happen after I installed NI Razor but I am sure this is just coincidence.

Most likely the usb 3 interface I put on the pci express bus or something like that.

eyeknow · Post by **eyeknow** » Wed Sep 25, 2013 4:00 am

I don't get that though. So there has to be a hardware conflict somewhere. I don't have core parking disabled, but it's worth a try.

Coupe70 · Post by **Coupe70** » Wed Sep 25, 2013 10:24 am

And it's always a good idea to use
http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml
and
http://www.resplendence.com/latencymon
to see what's going on with your system when you work.
Good tools to find a troublemaker.

anra · Post by **anra** » Fri Sep 27, 2013 8:08 pm

FireWire PCI card was moved to different slot and I've tried all the tweaks probably now. Different bios settings and combinations. From Windows, HPET settings from command prompt (ASUS bios does not have HPET enable/disable), Core Parking disabling etc. Nothing seems to give it better performance. Always when moving graphics are involved things are crackling (disbling aero and using basic settings did not help) (Integrated Intel HD 4600 with latest drivers). I can play guitar with VST effects on low latency without crackling only if I am seeing only desktop (no moving graphics on sight). When V/U meters are moving or mouse is moving or scrolling different mixer channels things get crackly. Alt+tab changing to different windows provides a crackle. Resizing DAW window gives crackles etc.

I haven't yet found locally a proper PCIe FW card to try.

Coupe70 · Post by **Coupe70** » Fri Sep 27, 2013 8:26 pm

Try the tools I posted above without and with provoking crackles.

anra · Post by **anra** » Fri Sep 27, 2013 9:38 pm

New BIOS updated just now, latest one recently uploaded. Without anything on, while on desktop its 20-50. Live playing with small project, 20-90. When pushing it a bit and when small crackles appear, DPC latency does not get much higher. More moving graphics gets more crackle. When I tried without FW interface, when browsing like maps.google and using graphics, DPC goes higher. So the issue seems to be when graphics are in use. But afterI run PassMark Performance test which uses also graphics test, DPC latency checker says that shnould be fine with real time audio.

Coupe70 wrote:Try the tools I posted above without and with provoking crackles.

eyeknow · Post by **eyeknow** » Sat Sep 28, 2013 5:45 am

(shrug)

I'll say it again, onboard graphics are not ideal. You should consider a 512mb or higher VGA and run that way. If that doesn't work, then I've got nothing. You're specs are better than mine.

Sional · Post by **Sional** » Sat Sep 28, 2013 9:07 am

anra wrote:I'll say it again, onboard graphics are not ideal.

Why? What is so demanding about displaying Live or any VSTs GUI that requires an external graphics card (particularly with an i5/i7 CPU installed).

Coupe70 · Post by **Coupe70** » Sat Sep 28, 2013 9:09 am

I just remembered I had a similar problem: Crackling whenever I moved the mouse.
Turned out that it was the activated shadow of the mouse pointer! Deactivated
it in the Windows preferences and the problem was gone. But that was years ago,
I guess on Windows 98 and on a Pentium 3.
So yes, onboard graphics are not ideal and will still reduce your machines
performance, but it should not ruin it on a modern i7 like you are experienceing
it...strange...

Coupe70 · Post by **Coupe70** » Sat Sep 28, 2013 9:23 am

So did you try the second tool I posted (Latencymon) ?
It's an addition to the first one, not an alternative.
DPC Latency checker just gives you an overview, Latencymon
goes into detail. Just run it, work with Live, make it crackle
and then look the the Processes and Drivers tabs. Sort the lists
and you will find cpu hungry tasks and drivers.

Just to be sure: Do you have Multiprocessor support turned on
in Live ?

anra · Post by **anra** » Sat Sep 28, 2013 2:51 pm

iusb3xhc.sys and wdf01000.sys has the highest dpc routine execution times. When I disabled xhc from bios, then the usb1.1-2.sys(or something like that) replaced it, having same high time. Only USB I have are basic Logitech mouse and keyboard. Highest ISR comes from wdf01000.sys. With different BIOS setting combinations and Widnows tweaks, those two are always highest.

All the drivers are latest from Motherboard manufacturer's site and Intel HD 4600 graphics drivers is latest from Intel site.

Multicore is enabled in Live. No change in crackles whether its on or off.

Coupe70 · Post by **Coupe70** » Sat Sep 28, 2013 3:23 pm

Does it also happen with your internal soundcard ?
With disconnected Saffire ? With deactivated firewire ?
With disconnected mouse ? With deactivated USB ?
If yes I would try to borrow a graphic card somewhere...

eyeknow · Post by **eyeknow** » Sat Sep 28, 2013 11:45 pm

Sional wrote:
anra wrote:I'll say it again, onboard graphics are not ideal.
Why? What is so demanding about displaying Live or any VSTs GUI that requires an external graphics card (particularly with an i5/i7 CPU installed).

Because computers are flaky and things like onboard graphics have been known to cause stuff like this?

Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever is left, no matter how improbable must be it. The op said they still had crackles with the usb AUDIO card, so I don't think that is it. In all my years, I don't ever remember people not having a graphics card. It's a basic component of a PC build.

Sional · Post by **Sional** » Sun Sep 29, 2013 9:59 am

Coupe70 wrote: I don't ever remember people not having a graphics card. It's a basic component of a PC build.

I have a self built PC solely for music. I purposely did not fit a graphics card because it is totally unnecessary and would only add to the unwanted heat/noise generated by the computer. I have a USB audio interface and my windows 7, 64 bit system can successfully run a Live 9 project with many VSTs (including Maschine and Monark) with no audio problems. I think that, if anything, one is more likely to have problems with a graphics card rather than just using the inbuilt graphics on the i5/7 cpus (please note that I am not talking about old motherboard based graphics). Obviously if a computer is to be used for more than just music (e.g. gaming) then a graphics card could indeed be necessary.
Out of interest, I did briefly install my son's high end graphics card into my computer to see if there was any improvement to be had from Live's performance. The only thing I could detect was an increase in system temperature and a consequent increase in fan noise.

Coupe70 · Post by **Coupe70** » Sun Sep 29, 2013 1:22 pm

Sional wrote:
Coupe70 wrote: I don't ever remember people not having a graphics card. It's a basic component of a PC build.

I didn't say that.
But interesting that you tested if it makes a difference.

Audio crackling with new i7 build.

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