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audio-in breaking up at 30% CPU load

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:49 am
by staplesyrup
hello

i'm using a powerbook 1.25ghz, M-Audio Firewire audiophile, OS X 10.4.10, Live 6.07

I'm triggering an external analogue synth form Live, then recording the audio through my soundcard into Live. I'm getting alot of clicks, pops, and digital breakup of the audio in. the rest of Live's channels are playing fine. the CPU is at around 30 -40 percent.
I don't get this breakup with audio in using other programs such as Max MSP, at a similar CPU usage.
furthermore, it only happens some of the time, usually only if the CPU is above about 20 percent (but not much higher), suddenly seems to get worse for no obvious reason, so i may have to restart my computer , which seems to cure it. my audio buffer is set to 512 samples.

Any ideas what is going on?

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 7:30 am
by DJ VAKIS
Could be the RAM or try higher buffer size.

Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 12:54 am
by staplesyrup
the problem dissappears if i raise the buffer to 2048 samples, or use the mini jack in. i have 1gb RAM. i dont think thats a problem. Ableton suggest my M Audio soundcard is th eproblem. (i have the latest drivers) . should i buy a new sound card? this seems like an expensive solution

Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 3:48 am
by DJ VAKIS
staplesyrup wrote:the problem dissappears if i raise the buffer to 2048 samples, or use the mini jack in. i have 1gb RAM. i dont think thats a problem. Ableton suggest my M Audio soundcard is th eproblem. (i have the latest drivers) . should i buy a new sound card? this seems like an expensive solution

If the problem dissappears because of the buffer size then you don't need a new sound card.Basicly is always good to have a good sound card,but.............

Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 9:47 am
by staplesyrup
the distortion dissapears only at below 40% perecnt CPU with a 2048 sample buffer. above 40% CPU the problem is still there. 2048 seems very high. i don' t see why it is only the audio in is affected, the rest of lives tracks are fine at low buffer sizes , even 64 samples.