Random "spitting" on all outputs

SusanG · Post by **SusanG** » Thu May 08, 2008 8:37 pm

Hi-

Ultralite/SONAR PE 7.0.2 (also encountered in FLS8)

There might be some posts about this, but I'm not sure what to search for!

I occasionally get a random "spitting" noise on all outputs, including SPDIF. The meters fly all over the place and when it eventually stops I have no audio output. I need to close SONAR, and restart the Ultralite.

I don't need to be playing or recording when this happens. I haven't done much to troubleshoot it, since I can't reproduce it at will. I suspect it has something to do with the fact that I usually have an internet connection active, but I wonder if anyone has experienced this and can confirm that's [probably] what it is?

I can go offline, but it's sometimes literally days between instances of the problem, so I wanted to check here first.

TIA-

-Susan

briandeeley · Post by **briandeeley** » Fri May 09, 2008 2:07 am

Exact same problem here, running Sonar PE 7.0.2 + Ultralite (latest drivers using ASIO) on a Vista laptop. Laptop has a onboard firewire and a TI chipset ExpressCard firewire. Same behavior on both.

Tried disabling all network components, alternating firewire ports, updating video drivers and all of it has made no difference. The behavior cannot be made to occur, so I'm at a bit of a loss where to go now. Also happens in WMP11 & SoundForge + Vegas.

Might try building an XP partition and give that a whirl, but that may be clutching at straws a little.

Anyone else have any ideas?

TIA

SB

SusanG · Post by **SusanG** » Fri May 09, 2008 8:22 am

Hi SB-

Ugh, that's not good! I was hoping it was a "known" issue with an easy fix.

Do you use the external power adapter? I haven't been, might try that.

BTW, I usually use WDM, so it's not an ASIO/WDM thing. Oh, and I'm on XP, so it's not an OS thing, either.

Halp!

-Susan

SusanG · Post by **SusanG** » Fri May 09, 2008 11:19 am

Nope, I still get it with the external power adapter, not that I thought that would make a difference...

Do the two of us just have faulty units? I'm not seeing much response to this thread.

It makes me nervous to try any "serious" live recording, since I don't know when this problem might raise its ugly head again.

Thanks-

-Susan

blaze · Post by **blaze** » Fri May 09, 2008 8:30 pm

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=OG7QwcveAH8

also its worth checking the comment on:

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=PLQCy6sdd1g

I havent fixed it yet but when I use it with my mac... no problems.

I think the problems on windows are:

- WDM Drivers? - Try uninstalling the MOTU windows WDM drivers and just using the ASIO drivers in your DAW?

- Bad firewire card. I'm using my included card i got with my ASUS p5b Deluxe Wifi AP --- it doesnt appear to run too bad most of the time but sometimes i get the crackle etc on all channels.

SusanG · Post by **SusanG** » Sat May 10, 2008 5:03 am

Hi blaze-

Thanks for those links. Interesting that it might be just having the WDM drivers installed even if not "in use". There must be some other variable, though, since I've only seen this reported here and a couple of other places -- not a lot of response anywhere.

I just installed SP3 for XP last night. If the problem occurs again, I'll re-install my MOTU drivers without WDM, see how it goes, and post back.

Thanks again-

-Susan

briandeeley · Post by **briandeeley** » Sun May 11, 2008 1:49 am

Hi Blaze

How do you install the drivers without WDM? I have the latest ones from MOTU website and don't remember seeing any options one which driver components to install.

TIA

SB

SusanG · Post by **SusanG** » Sun May 11, 2008 1:28 pm

It's been a while, but IIRC there are check boxes presented during the install. I just always left ASIO & WDM checked.

-Susan

SusanG · Post by **SusanG** » Sun May 11, 2008 9:27 pm

I don't want to jinx it, but so far I haven't had this problem after installing XP SP3.

Hush...!

-Susan

briandeeley · Post by **briandeeley** » Mon May 12, 2008 12:11 am

Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 8:27 pm Post subject: "Tentative" good news?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't want to jinx it, but so far I haven't had this problem after installing XP SP3.

Hush...!

Really????

Got a free morning today so gonna install an XP. Fingers crossed....

SusanG · Post by **SusanG** » Tue May 13, 2008 8:20 pm

Got a free morning today so gonna install an XP. Fingers crossed....

How'd it go, Brian? Still problem-free here, all digits crossed! My DAW builder thinks it might have been a Firewire update that resolved the issue.

-Susan

briandeeley · Post by **briandeeley** » Tue May 13, 2008 11:57 pm

Hi SusanG

Not quite there with XP yet. I'm using an HP laptop which came preinstalled with Vista. Getting drivers for basic stuff is proving difficult and I believe will ultimately scupper the idea.

I've got XP loaded on a seperate partition with the Ultralite installed and you're right, it seems fine so far. However without drivers for things like video card, keyboard (work that one out!) it's there, but not usable for anything other than basic testing.

Glad to hear all is well under XP for you, I'll keep searching for drivers.

SB

briandeeley · Post by **briandeeley** » Wed May 14, 2008 12:42 pm

Well, after a few days I've managed to get enough "generic" drivers for my HP laptop to function. It's a mixed blessing really because I can't get drivers for anything that is not required for audio so my XP partition is absolutely clean. Managed to get SP3 down + a few Microsoft drivers (video card + keyboard).

Good news is that my Ultralite perfoms as designed with no crackles!!!! I'm so happy, 1.5ms latency means I can use Amplitube in real time and with no posibility of getting any other XP drivers, the partition wil always be ready for audio only work.

What a result after weeks of troubles.

Many thanks to SusanG for the post about XP SP3 which inspired the last few days of surfing for drivers.

Now for a well earned beer, and some glitch free music.

All the best.

SB

SusanG · Post by **SusanG** » Wed May 14, 2008 9:33 pm

Hi Brian-

Many thanks to SusanG for the post about XP SP3 which inspired the last few days of surfing for drivers.

You're more than welcome! I'm still running XP SP3 glitch-free here.

I have to say I'm surprised you're having problems finding XP drivers, but I guess that makes sense with a new Vista machine. I usually hear the opposite -- that it's hard to find Vista drivers for installed hardware (esp. soundcards).

Thanks for the update, and I hope it goes smoothly for you from here on!

-Susan