Clicks are killing me...

Racsodia · Post by **Racsodia** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 2:06 pm

I know it was a lot of topics about the subject, but. I did try almost all sugestions from the forum, and nothing works.
Diferent projects, and in random order, I get clicks and a phaser-like sound, but not all the time. I can play the tracks once and runs ok, next time clicks or clicks in different parts of the somg. I dont know what to do. I did not try an external clock like someone sugest, because I dont know how to use it.
I just got a new machine G5 2.7 2.5 ram. running Tiger.
Can anyboby help me, I'm desperate.

Timeline · Post by **Timeline** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 2:51 pm

Increase buffers in Hardware setup under "buffer size" Until clicks decrease

Racsodia · Post by **Racsodia** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 2:23 am

I did try:

Increasing buffers. (working on 1024)
Work priority Low, medium, high.
Host bufers 1 to 4.

I have to try with an external clock, but I dont know how.

boonier · Post by **boonier** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 2:41 am

Have you turned off all background processing like automatic beat detection? By default it is on. Turn anything like that off. Also using multiple interfaces makes pops and clicks for some reason.

If its not that then it doesnt matter how fast your computer is - its MAS and/or DP in severe need of optimizing/fixing.

If you havent already done so, get over to the "Optimize MAS petition" topic and get you name on it!

PJ · Post by PJ » Wed Nov 30, 2005 8:27 am

I've noticed that when I have a single click, after that I will have definitely more until I restart DP. But I have clicks only when using high track counts with many plugins. Surely your computer should work withouts clicks.. even with "not optimized" DP.

Does your system click/pop while using Built-in audio?

croyal · Post by **croyal** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 9:29 am

If you're using ANY outboard digtal gear it must be synced to one clock. It doesn't matter if your have the best or worst clock going for you, everything must resolve to one clock.

Such as:

if you have an external AD and it outputs AES or SPDIF or ADAt to connect to an internal card, you need to make sure that one external is set to Internal clock and the other is set to External. A good rule of thumb is to have any source digital device as the clock (set to internal clock) and all other devices set to external clock.

Further, during playback, the Mac is the source and sometimes things work better to switch the clock source for Mac to internal and all others set to external. The clock source is where ever the digital signal originates. Some dedicated AD units can send but not receive clocking info; and therefore must be used as main clock or not at all.

A dedicated clock makes this all moot as that Clock device is always set to internal and everyhting else is always set to external- and hopefully using wordclock connections. (the dedicated AD I mentioned still must be the clock when in use, even with an external clock present, unfortunately) Wordclock sends sync on a dedicated cable separately from the audio, so the clock doesn't have to actually have any audio running through it. The sound is often clearer just because the clock is a higher quality and doesn't spend any of its power processing audio per se.

Lastly, if you are using digital sync of any sort, you should invest in digital cables. XLR mic cables look like AES but are not. Home stereo RCA look like SPDIF, but they are not. Incorrect cables and assorted clocking issues are two main sources of clicks and pops in digital audio.

boonier · Post by **boonier** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 9:39 am

PJ wrote:I've noticed that when I have a single click, after that I will have definitely more until I restart DP. But I have clicks only when using high track counts with many plugins. Surely your computer should work withouts clicks.. even with "not optimized" DP.

Does your system click/pop while using Built-in audio?

sorry are you using digital wordclock etc ? then the previous post would be more relevant to you.

I meant that there have been alot of clicks and pops cause by many different reasons. Personally I get it when ReWire devices reach about 25ish% (actually that is a completely abitrary numebr because i've had crackles on alot less and higher cpu readings).

i sometimes recon its to do with clock syncing with Core audio and DP (I'm no techy but it seems logical)

slybass3000 · Post by **slybass3000** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:34 am

Clock issue?

SB

PJ · Post by PJ » Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:01 am

PJ wrote:I've noticed that when I have a single click, after that I will have definitely more until I restart DP. But I have clicks only when using high track counts with many plugins.

Just to clarify my post, clicks in my system are those "cpu meter goes red clicks" =pops. Mayby Racsodia has some other type of clicks. But again, Built-in audio test can tell us more.

Racsodia · Post by **Racsodia** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:30 pm

I will be more concret:

I didnt have this problem with my old G4 500MHZ 1GB RAM.
I have 12 songs to mix.
I dont have any external digital source, the 24I/0 is connected direct to the mixer via the tape-in/tape-out multicable. Analog Soundtracs Solitaire 32 chanels.
The CPU usage is about 20-30%.
I didnt test build-in audio. I will do it.
I will remove all plugins from the project and see what happens.

Thanks for your help. I will be back to you...

aismussen · Post by **aismussen** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:58 pm

Hi, this is my first message. Sorry about my english.
I have the same problem, not the phasing one, the other. sudenly I have some peaks on the CPU audio performance and an advise pop`s up saying that i have to increase the MAS buffer size, i do that but the problem goes on, then i start to change the buffer size until it works good and i notice that with the buffer at 512 the problem was solved. i dont know what it can be, that is my experience, i hope it can help you.
I have an iBook G4 1Ghz with 1.2G RAM and DP 4.61 too.
bye
.Aismussen.
(from Argentina)

Racsodia · Post by **Racsodia** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 2:29 pm

I made a test with build-in audio and no clicks.
I did remove all plugins from the project and clicks still there.
I did try the Grage Band software and no clicks.

I don't know what to do.

PJ · Post by PJ » Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:28 pm

Racsodia wrote:I made a test with build-in audio and no clicks.
I did remove all plugins from the project and clicks still there.
I did try the Grage Band software and no clicks.

I don't know what to do.

At least mail your findings to Motu. Maybe they can help you out. Remember to include detailed system settings + all information you can imagine of your setup. All serial numbers of your Motu products. That's how you'll get answered to your mail.

Racsodia · Post by **Racsodia** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 5:12 am

Hi, congratulations I fixed the problem.
Some times the solution is just there, but you can't se it.
I did insert the cable to another location on the PCI card and WORKS, no more clicks and pops.
I did change the location before, but now is working.

Thanks for you help...