Audible poping sound

[johnsonabq]

I'm a complete newbie to MachFive so pardon my ignorance but I'm getting a popping sound when playing sounds on MachFive. I've got a Win7 laptop with an i5 2.3ghz processor, 6Gb ram, through a Presonus Audiobox 22VSL. Is this from a setting in MachFive, the 22VSL, or the laptop? I'm not using with a DAW but rather as a stand alone sound generator for live performance.
Thanks!
Jeff

[wvandyck]

What's your buffer size in M5v3's Audio Device tab of the Audio and MIDI settings?

If it's low, try raising it.

[hugy]

Check that you're using the ASIO API as well.

[johnsonabq]

Thanks guys! I'll check into that as soon as I get home this evening.

[johnsonabq]

ASIO was selected and the buffer size for both the Audiobox and Machfive are at 2048 and I'm still getting a popping/crackling sound. Thoughts?

[wvandyck]

ASIO was selected and the buffer size for both the Audiobox and Machfive are at 2048 and I'm still getting a popping/crackling sound. Thoughts?

Are the M5 3 soundbanks on a separate hd? OS/apps on one drive; project files and sample libraries on their own separate hard drives reduces mechanical wear and tear on the drive read/write mechanism, resulting in smoother, more efficient playback performance.

What specific sounds are you triggering that result in the popping sound? Can you play some sounds without the popping? Or is it a matter of any and all sounds popping?

How many active M5 tracks does your project consist of?

Beyond this, you might want to contact MOTU tech support.

[johnsonabq]

This can happen on any sound. Sometimes it'll pop some and then stop and it works fine. It'll happen with only one program open. I have everything on the internal HDD. It's a laptop so the only way I have to connect another HDD would be through USB2.0 ports. Would that be a problem? Or do I need a faster connection? I'm using an Alessis Q49 controller connected through USB and not MIDI. One thing though, it seems that the samples I've created and imported don't pop. There've only been a few so it's hard to be certain.

Just a reminder, I'm using this in stand alone mode for live performance.

[corbo-billy]

ASIO was selected and the buffer size for both the Audiobox and Machfive are at 2048 and I'm still getting a popping/crackling sound. Thoughts?

Change the value of Buffer size: 512 or 256 _

[wvandyck]

Speed of your internal hard drive: 5400 or 7200 rpm?

USB is ok but you may need a powered USB hub to run both your keyboard controller and the external USB drive with the M5 sound banks.

Are you using M5 effects on your imported sounds? Reverb in particular is cpu-intensive.

The smaller buffer size suggested above is better for reducing latency (length of time from fingers pressing KB keys until the sound is played back...). Higher buffer settings decrease cpu stress (pops, clicks, etc) but increase latency...