Topic: Question regarding weird "clipping sounds"

[moricle]

I just received a pair of Rode M5s and used them tonight to record a show.  I am pleased with the sound quality compared to the very basic setup I had been using previously.  My only concern is an occasional popping or clipping sound.  Audacity doesn't show these moments as actual clipping.  It almost sounds like some type of interference or feedback.  My current rig, although cringe worthy, is my Tascam US-1200 and laptop while running Audacity.  My interface was set to about 4.5/10 for each mic.  The entire show is now on archive if needed as a reference: https://archive.org/details/wl2015-06-11.flac

I was hoping to resolve what the actual sound is AND how to prevent this in the future!  I can try to provide more information if that is helpful.  Track 02 Sun Party, at 00:28 or 01:29 are two examples.

[bryonsos]

Hey Matt. Give a couple track numbers + time points during the tracks as examples.

[moricle]

Hey Matt. Give a couple track numbers + time points during the tracks as examples.

Oops.  Track 02 Sun Party, at 00:28 or 01:29 are two examples.

[hi and lo]

I hear them and it's not interference. It sounds more like digital latency or the word clock resycning. Since you're running USB into a laptop, that would be my best guess. You really shouldn't have to with USB 2.0, but can you adjust and increase the latency setting?

[Gene Poole]

It's "classic" diginoise.  Haven't seen any of this since DAT days though. 

[Gene Poole]

I just looked up the Tascam US-1200.  Are you using it via USB?  Did you record in 44100/16, or dither/resample?  44100 is the worst for USB since it is not an even multiple of the 1khz USB timing.  It may have something to do with that--especially recording with a laptop with all kinds of other things going on on the USB bus at the same time.

Is this just since the addition of the Rode mics?  What was your setup before this?

[moricle]

I hear them and it's not interference. It sounds more like digital latency or the word clock resycning. Since you're running USB into a laptop, that would be my best guess. You really shouldn't have to with USB 2.0, but can you adjust and increase the latency setting?

I should be able to adjust latency. I read in the manual that it is possible.

[moricle]

I just looked up the Tascam US-1200.  Are you using it via USB?  Did you record in 44100/16, or dither/resample?  44100 is the worst for USB since it is not an even multiple of the 1khz USB timing.  It may have something to do with that--especially recording with a laptop with all kinds of other things going on on the USB bus at the same time.

Is this just since the addition of the Rode mics?  What was your setup before this?

I am running this via USB.  I recorded it in 44100/24-bit.  My setup was still crude prior to this.  Cheap mic > Tascam US-125M > Laptop > Audacity.  I'm using the Tascam US-1200 since I don't have any other options at the present.