Initial Setup of UltraLITE

[DJ BIS]

Hello folks!

Just got the UltraLITE and read the manual (WINDOWS).
I went to the UltraLITE page to download any new drivers, etc and found the new version of the setup file.

So I did as described in the manual:

••• Installed the files first.
••• Connected the interface.

The new setup file installed fine, I did not even try to run the CD-ROM. Yet, when I hooked up the interface Windows wanted to install drivers again! I guess it did not see the new drivers I had just installed?

I had no other option then so I just popped the CD-ROM and followed Windows' request for each required driver.

I have yet to hook up any audio devices to the Interface but before I do... Should I retry to install the newer drivers I downloaded AGAIN? Is there a special removal procedure I have to follow for the CD-ROM drivers that I installed?

Should I disable my stadard Audigy PCI Card in the back? I plan to use the UltraLITE exclusively now, so I might even remove the Audigy from the PCI slot.

Any tips you can offer for a noob would be appreciated. Can't wait to get this thing cranckin'.

[DJ BIS]

The more I get into it the more confused/worried I get.
I plugged my crappy monitors to the "Main Out" and I got pristine sound from windows and from programs like iTunes but I get a glitching/chirping/crackling sound that comes through quite loud when I deal with other software (IE, etc).

I have external HD's running on 1 of 2 Built-In Firewire ports and the Ultralite is not good when data is being transfered. Crackling and dead air happens when data requests occur. I have tried to use both Firewire power and external power for the Ultralite without positive results.

I turned off all external discs and have changed settings in the UltraLite software to see what makes a difference but I am not finding anything in particular. I am currently using 44 as the sample rate and that is what I want to test with since I will be using it most of the time.

I also tried this: bumped the Samples per Buffer to 2048 for the hell of it and the sound got really choppy, but looking at RAM and processor usage through the Task Manager did not show heavy tasking of either the processor nor the RAM which was my biggest worry. Then I went the other way, I lowered the number as much as I could and crancked up the iTunes while browsing. The processor saw a much more pronounced amount of work and the music and crackling was way more frequent but without the continuous chopping. This made me pick the 768 SPB setting as the best compromise of no chopping and least amount of crackling.

I hope this helps in some way, I am clueless.

Right now I am thinking that its probably a crappy built-in Firewire setup, I am just not sure... I rather not spend the extra cash on a aftermarket Firewire piece.

XP users, throw me a bone please, its cold outhere and I am scared!

Specs:

Dell precision 670
3GB Factory Ram
2.8 Xeon processor
a mess of internal hard drives (1TB+)

[DJ BIS]

I have to start a project this monday and I have until that day to have this thing fixed! Please help!

[project]

it sounds like a possible incompatible FW card.
use a belkin F5U501 or F5U503.
for PCIE use the one i have in my sig.

[DJ BIS]

THANKS! I am going to look into that then. I'll report my findings.
Everytime an internet explorer page refreshes/loads you get the clicking/popping/crackling, specially when there is lots of content in the page.

Some people said something about it being a hard disk problem... I wonder what are the chances of that in my case...?

I have:

••• 1 SCSI (main drive) plugged into the SCSI channel.
••• 2 IDE drives with SATA to IDE adaptors plugged into the 2 built-in SATA channels.
••• 1 IDE drive with a SCSI to IDE adaptor plugged into the second SCSI channel.
••• 2 IDE Optical drives plugged into the first primary and secondary IDE ports.

Its a crazy mess in there!

I did not want to shell-out thousands to occupy my 4 SCSI ports, and I had quite a few IDE HD's, so I've got what I've got and I hope is not the culprit.

Thanks again!

[arth]

Removing the Audigy might not be a bad idea. From my experience with Creative cards, they set themselves to steal twice the amount of interrupt time as what is recommended (64 clocks instead of 32), leaving less time for other timing sensitive tasks.

As for your CPU use and problems when refreshing pages -- you wouldn't happen to run Norton or MacAffee antivirus and/or firewall software, by any chance? Then every single element on a page is scanned up to three times -- both when arriving over the net, when saved to browser cache cache, and when read from browser cache. If that's the issue, I can recommend replacing the firewall with a NAT router, and configure your virus killer to only scan on either writes or reads. Or better yet, get a virus killer that is more efficient, like NOD32.

Also, make sure that the browser cache isn't on the slowest drive, in your case the one that's on an ATA->SCSI adapter.

[DJ BIS]

Thats some good advice Arth, I run PC-Cillin for my antivirus/firewall. Of course I could let windows do the firewalling, it could be more efficient maybe?

The cache is on the C:/ (SCSI 15,000 RPM drive)

I want to start troubleshooting from the most likely to the least likely, that way I know what ONE element made the difference.

I thought that removing the Audigy PCI interface would probably be my best bet, but then some people say that they keep two Audio devices in their computers and they are OK with that (one for general computer work and the MOTU for recording, etc)

So I think I may try to remove it and see what it does.

[DJ BIS]

Just FYI, Winamp crashes as soon as it opens ever since the MOTU was installed.

Its starting to get old now.

[DJ BIS]

I spoke with tech support and their attempt at fixing the issue through Windows patches (KB885222 & KB904412) did not make any positive changes. Are there any other possible patches that could help?

The Belkin F5U503 its on its way, and if that doesn't do it I am going to be quite ready to return the whole thing and keep working with my humble little Audigy (to MOTU's embarrasment) until something else comes out.

Am I overlooking something?

[DJ BIS]

Arth, thank you again!!!

As for your CPU use and problems when refreshing pages -- you wouldn't happen to run Norton or MacAffee antivirus and/or firewall software, by any chance? Then every single element on a page is scanned up to three times -- both when arriving over the net, when saved to browser cache cache, and when read from browser cache. If that's the issue, I can recommend replacing the firewall with a NAT router, and configure your virus killer to only scan on either writes or reads. Or better yet, get a virus killer that is more efficient, like NOD32.

I finally remembered to shut down all Antivirus software to see if that had any possible involvement... IT DID!

With PC-Cillin (antivirus/firewall) and Spy-Bot shut down the crackling and overall noisy environment seemed to go away, even @ 256 samples per buffer. I tried it at 32 SPB but the crackling would still come up sometimes. This relieves me because now I know its not some seriously complicated Driver/Registry/Configiration issue.

I would still like to be able to run this software (even if its by a different developer) because I do use this computer as a back-up server and "all around work horse", so security IS important.

Whats the big improvement of a program like NOD32?

I will check to see if my Linksys WRT54G has "NAT" and see if PC-cillin can be a little bit less demanding...



THANK YOU!

[DJ BIS]

Well I am now using NOD32 and eventhough it has given me some problems with Outlook it has taken away the noise problems. In addition to that I got the Firewire card that MOTU recommends and we seem to be in the clear as far as glitching goes.

The trouble I am having now I trying to get some decent volume out of the UltraLite. I have tried analog channels, SPDIF, 44K, 48K... Its all giving me super QUIET results...

I have to drive the instrument too hard in order for it to register in my recording meters.

What now?