UltraLite-mk3 + Win7 + WinAmp = cutouts, pops and clicks?

[mrbungle]

I just changed my EMU 1820M soundcard to MOTU UltraLite-mk3, since there was no driver or support for 1820M and I've heard MOTU has good drivers for Win7. But it's the same, I had this problem on EMU, maybe a little bit less! So what's this, is there something wrong with my system? It's an Intel Core2 Quad Processor with 4Gb memory, I think it should be enough fast to play mp3s without audio cutouts, pops and clicks...
I have the latest Winamp Pro (v5.61 x86), but I tried playing songs with iTunes and there are also pops and clicks.
I have the same problem in Sonar v8.5, too, when eg. playing on a simple VSTi, sometimes there are also cutouts.
I use firewire, I tilted the onboard soundcard in BIOS, I have no more idea. Is there a test, or something that can help to find out what's the problem with my system?

[mrbungle]

No one can help?
I just made a 2min mp3 (3,8Mb) so you can hear those pops/clicks:
http://www.funpic.hu/upload/clicks.mp3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
(it is also in wav format, but that's 32Mb: http://www.funpic.hu/upload/clicks.wav" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; )
It happens in everything I play music or sounds: WinAmp, iTunes, browser (simple youtube or just demo mp3s in flash players), Sonar, etc. and it happens more frequently when I work in the background (PS, browsing, pic viewing, etc.)

[torrentg]

In the device manager, install the "legacy" version of the driver for the firewire (1394). The driver is already on the system, so you can find it that way while installing.

Let us know how it goes and/or if you need any more help.

Good luck and enjoy.

[mrbungle]

How should I properly do it?
I have 3 MOTU drivers under "sound, video and game controllers":
MOTU Audio
MOTU Audio MIDI for 64 bit
MOTU Audio Wave for 64 bit
http://i.imgur.com/khsAs.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I tried this: uninstalled them, and then Action > Add legacy hardware
MOTU Audio installed, however when I tried to add MIDI or Wave for 64 bit, Win7 crashed (it doesn't happen too frequently), blue screen. I try to take a pic about the blue screen, there was something about a driver.
However it was almost a fatal action, later I couldn't even install the drivers, once it was blue screen, another time the (while turning off and removing every MOTU driver and trying to reinstall them from the disk) it couldn't install them, so I had to make a system restore from yesterday.

[torrentg]

Lucky for you, I'm an expert in crash dump analysis. So, I can take a look at the crash(es) for you and tell you what to do to fix the system.

Navigate to C:\Windows\Minidump folder. Copy the files in there to any other folder on the system, then zip or rar them. Upload the zip or rar to Megaupload.com or Multiupload.com and I will have a look, and reply with procedures to stabilize the system completely.

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

But as for the clicks and pops, what I'd like you to do is install the latest MOTU driver if you have not done so already.

Then forget about that.

Go into the device manager. Double click on "IEEE 1394 Bus host controllers".

Right click the entry that now shows, in that section. Choose "update driver software".

Then click "Browse my computer for driver software".

Then click "Let me pick...."

Click on the entry with "Legacy" in its name. Then click next...

Continue installing this until done.

Now test out your audio in various apps.

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

Good luck and like I said, I can analyze those crash dumps for ya very easily and tell you what to do to fix the system completely.

I'll be checking back soon.

[mrbungle]

Thanks torrentg, you are great!
Now I've done that update:
http://i.imgur.com/tlez4.gif" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Now I'm testing and will be back if I hear those clicks and pops. I've almost reinstalled the whole system (Win7) and thinking about change to Apple. Unfortunately I'm a Sonar fan and I know Logic is great but I should learn that and I think that's a lot of time...

Anyway I also sent you those minidump files in PM, thanks for that, too!

[mrbungle]

Well, unfortunately it still does it.
Maybe I should try to connect it with USB instead of Firewire, or if it doesn't help (I think it won't since my old E-MU PCI card did the same), install Win7 on another drive and try that. Any opinion?

[torrentg]

Your Creative hardware is causing major issues. It is responsible for BSODing the system and also, most likely for the audio issues too.

The culprit is the following:

"2: kd> lmvm ha10kx2k
start end module name
fffff880`05c98000 fffff880`05dff000 ha10kx2k T (no symbols)
Loaded symbol image file: ha10kx2k.sys
Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\ha10kx2k.sys
Image name: ha10kx2k.sys
Timestamp: Thu Mar 20 04:18:06 2008 (47E21DBE)
CheckSum: 001032E2
ImageSize: 00167000
Translations: 0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4
"

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

What you need to do is use Driver Sweeper from Guru3d.com, in safe mode, to clear all Creative software.

Then reboot and install the latest driver for your hardware from Creative's website.

Reboot after and test the MOTU with and without the legacy IEEE 1394 driver.

Good luck.

[torrentg]

Install the latest TrueCrypt also, to update this oldie:


"truecrypt truecrypt.sys Sun Mar 16 15:35:39 2008"

and finally for now,

install this latest Realtek lan driver to update this oldie:

"Rt64win7 Rt64win7.sys Thu Feb 26 04:04:13 2009"

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/dow ... Down=false" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


-----

You're welcome.

[mrbungle]

All I had from Creative was the E-MU card, however I uninstalled it before the MOTU installation (and of course there was no card in my PC that time). Maybe Win7 didn't uninstall it properly (I can still E-MU stuff in registry with regedit).
I tried to downlod Driver Sweeper from http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.ph ... 5#download" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; however it says:
Guru3D Driver Sweeper has been discontinued as such you will not find any download links here any longer.
I've found it with Google, now I will try to sweep all that E-MU stuff.
I'll write later.

[mrbungle]

I uninstalled Creative drivers in Safe Mode with Driver Sweeper and even updated lan driver and TrueCrypt but didn't help.
Now I'm using USB (I even took out the Firewire card from the PC, because I don't use other Firewire stuff) and I still experience some clicks and pops, but I thinks now not too frequently. Anyway I'm still testing different programs playing audio...
What do you suggest next, re-install Win7 and test with only the few programs that need for music? And it's the same, I think I should check hardware parts (memory, video card, etc.)?

[mrbungle]

I also updated my video card driver and it became better, since then I haven't noticed audio drop outs and rarely I hear clicks.
Anyway thanks for the help, torrentg! I will continue testing...

[torrentg]

Hey, yeah, you're welcome.

Drivers, all of them on the system even when not directly related or even in use at any given time, play an important role in stabilizing a system.

Seems that you've made some very positive steps.

I don't have your crash dumps handy at the moment, but if there is a wireless nic involved, make sure that driver is updated to the absolute latest too.

Other than that, how has the system been behaving?

[mrbungle]

Now I've put back the firewire card and tried the firewire connection and it's doing again audio drop outs. Maybe is there a problem with the Firewire card? It would have been better for me since with Firewire I don't need an extra DC Power supply and it turns off automatically when I shuw down Win7.

[torrentg]

If you are no longer receiving BSODs, then that's already a positive step.

To proceed from here, I would update the motherboard bios to the latest. Then to test too if necessary, temporarily disable the CPU throttling in the BIOS settings. It is commonly called EIST, Speedstep or other, depending on the manufacturer.

And to answer your question, yes the actual firewire adapter card in use could not be working so well with the MOTU, which could possibly be the source of issues too. They recommend a card based on the Texas Instruments chipset.

Of course, I would also make sure that the MOTU has the latest firmware installed that they offer, too.

Reference: http://www.motu.com/techsupport/technot ... mcia-cards" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;