Topic: Static on transfer

[busknuckle]

  I bought an M-Audio card from a fellow board member (thanks again). I'd like to get this set going so that I can do DAT>PC transfers when that time comes. I had some issues with speed difference between the tape and what was transferred to PC, but I got those issues resolved by clearing up driver issues (it wasn't a mismatched sample rate DAT vs. recording software/soundcard sample rate setting).
So last night I got a successful test transfer with this setup:

M1>Pro-digital 7 pin (coax)>dio 2448>cdwave

The speed was good but I had some static on playback of the file. It isn't a ton of static, but it is noticeable at higher volumes. What is the most likely culprit?

-resource issue?
-cable issue?
-etc?

I'm running Windows ME. I have 256mb RAM. A 933 mHz processor. The 2448 is the ONLY soundcard I have installed. Should I consider using it only for transfers and use another card for playback?

[busknuckle]

any feedback at all would be welcome...

[F.O.Bean]

never used cdwave for recording, but that may be it!!!!PM me for another program!!

[Brian Skalinder]

I'm betting either a cable, or...when's the last time you cleaned your DAT heads and/or had your heads aligned?

[nic]

Ive experienced this in the past with my Audiophile 2496...dropped back to a earlier driver version and the static went away.

cant remember exactly, but version x.26 or x.27 was rock stable

[Chris K]

I'm betting either a cable, or...when's the last time you cleaned your DAT heads and/or had your heads aligned?

agree with brian, clean your heads with a new cleaning tape or with some tape head cleaner and a soft cotton swab stick. if it doesn't help, i bet your heads are out of alignment.

I had a similar problem a while back...racked by brain trying different settings on the m-audio driver panel, dat, cleaned heads etc... in the end i took it to paul at pro-digital. he said the heads were out of alignment.

[Joe w.]

if you don't hear the static on the tapes when listening from the dat player it was recorded on....it may be a cable issue.

and a soft cotton swab stick

I'm not sure if a cotton swab is good for your heads. I would use a non-abrasive cleaning cloth.

[busknuckle]

thanks all...

I don't think it's the DAT deck...I just had it serviced at pro-dig about a month ago. The static isn't on the tape itself. It's only on playback of the recorded WAV file. I suppose it could be the cable...but I've used it for M1>DA20-MKII transfers without issues.

It seems more and more like a resource issue or a driver issue. Thanks guys.

[phishn]

I just had this happen when i tried to use a piece of crap c-media AOpen card thats supposed to be bit perfect.  First transfer...entire right channel had static/noise.  Second transfer..sounded fine through computer and headphones..put it in a high end system..blaaahhh..sounds like crap.  Added some kind of diginoise/brickwalling effect.  Went back to the old soundcard...transferred fine.  I'm willing to bet its the soundcard or a driver issue.

[dklein]

I just had this happen when i tried to use a piece of crap c-media AOpen card thats supposed to be bit perfect.  First transfer...entire right channel had static/noise.  Second transfer..sounded fine through computer and headphones..put it in a high end system..blaaahhh..sounds like crap.  Added some kind of diginoise/brickwalling effect.  Went back to the old soundcard...transferred fine.  I'm willing to bet its the soundcard or a driver issue.

he he he....trivia time:

What do the DIO 2448, Aopen mentioned above, Zoltrix Nightingale and a few other inexpensive 'bit perfect' cards all have in common?
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They're different implementations of the CMedia 8738 chip.  Capable of bit perfect s/pdif transfers when properly setup.  The problems you describe are common and fixed by changing drivers, and if you're having dropouts, by lowering the graphics card acceleration setting in Windows.  The soundcard is sensitive to the extra bus traffic that occurs when the acceleration is maxed out.  The location of this setting depends on your OS and I don't know ME.  Probably under display properties, settings, advanced.  Back off on the slider.

I also found it best to leave your computer alone while transferring with this card and turn off all apps.

[Kevin]

i know im a little late but figure id respond anyway.  I agree with skalinder, its probably a cable issue, I had the same problem and I unplugged everything and blew on the cables , reconnected and the static went away.  Let us know when you fix it and what the problem was

[busknuckle]

just thought I'd bring this up to date...

I recalled reading somewhere that the Dio cards sometimes had issues locking on to the signals coming from Sony portables. I decided to change 2 things...

I dumped Pro Tools (free edition from manufacturer) and re-installed an old (less than savory) copy of Soundforge. I also moved my DA20-MKII over to the computer and used that. Results: no more issues.

So I guess it could have been either the deck, the cable, or "other" but I got it working.

[zhianosatch]

Good.