Topic: usbpre woes...{update, all better}

[larrysellers]

Ok, I have tweaked my laptop using every guide available (it sure feels like it) but I still get 4 or 5 consecutive clicks about every 3 minutes. The rest of the recording sounds fantastic, just about 4 seconds of clicks mixed in at the stated interval. I have disabled all non-critical windows functions, but you can almost set your watch by artifacts. I have updated the bios on the fujitsu and I am using the asio driver for the usbpre but nothing seems to help. The box runs xp pro and a celeron 500 with 256 mb of ram, which would seem sufficiant for 24/48, but I am out of ideas. At this point I am thinking it is the limitations imposed by the usb 1.1. Does this pattern sound familiar to anyone?

[poorlyconditioned]

Ok, I have tweaked my laptop using every guide available (it sure feels like it) but I still get 4 or 5 consecutive clicks about every 3 minutes. The rest of the recording sounds fantastic, just about 4 seconds of clicks mixed in at the stated interval. I have disabled all non-critical windows functions, but you can almost set your watch by artifacts. I have updated the bios on the fujitsu and I am using the aiso driver for the usbpre but nothing seems to help. The box runs xp pro and a  celeron 500 with 258 meg, which would seem sufficiant for 24/48, but I am out of ideas. At this point I am thinking it is the limitations imposed by the usb 1.1. Does this pattern sound familiar to anyone?

Are you using ASIO or WDM interface?

What program are you using to record?

I've got a Presonus Firepod (firewire).  I tried lots of programs (Adobe audition with WDM, Trackion with ASIO), and could not get reliable results until I went with Cubase and ASIO drivers.  I figure Cubase should work because they are the ones that developed the ASIO standard.  Now it seems solid, although I get problems if I do anything like move windows, or open/close the cover.  Then I get clicks/pops.  I find this very frustrating, and the only reason I use a laptop is if I need four or more tracks (eg., SBD + AUD matrix).

  Richard

[larrysellers]

Ok, I have tweaked my laptop using every guide available (it sure feels like it) but I still get 4 or 5 consecutive clicks about every 3 minutes. The rest of the recording sounds fantastic, just about 4 seconds of clicks mixed in at the stated interval. I have disabled all non-critical windows functions, but you can almost set your watch by artifacts. I have updated the bios on the fujitsu and I am using the aiso driver for the usbpre but nothing seems to help. The box runs xp pro and a  celeron 500 with 258 meg, which would seem sufficiant for 24/48, but I am out of ideas. At this point I am thinking it is the limitations imposed by the usb 1.1. Does this pattern sound familiar to anyone?

Are you using ASIO or WDM interface?

What program are you using to record?

I've got a Presonus Firepod (firewire).  I tried lots of programs (Adobe audition with WDM, Trackion with ASIO), and could not get reliable results until I went with Cubase and ASIO drivers.  I figure Cubase should work because they are the ones that developed the ASIO standard.  Now it seems solid, although I get problems if I do anything like move windows, or open/close the cover.  Then I get clicks/pops.  I find this very frustrating, and the only reason I use a laptop is if I need four or more tracks (eg., SBD + AUD matrix).

  Richard

I was switching between wavelab 5 & cdwav as recorders (asio) in an attempt to troubleshoot the problem. Cubase w/ asio sounds like a solid next step. I think I am just getting a little frustrated from putting to much effort in all at once. Thanks for the suggestion +T

[poorlyconditioned]

Ok, I have tweaked my laptop using every guide available (it sure feels like it) but I still get 4 or 5 consecutive clicks about every 3 minutes. The rest of the recording sounds fantastic, just about 4 seconds of clicks mixed in at the stated interval. I have disabled all non-critical windows functions, but you can almost set your watch by artifacts. I have updated the bios on the fujitsu and I am using the aiso driver for the usbpre but nothing seems to help. The box runs xp pro and a  celeron 500 with 258 meg, which would seem sufficiant for 24/48, but I am out of ideas. At this point I am thinking it is the limitations imposed by the usb 1.1. Does this pattern sound familiar to anyone?

Are you using ASIO or WDM interface?

What program are you using to record?

I've got a Presonus Firepod (firewire).  I tried lots of programs (Adobe audition with WDM, Trackion with ASIO), and could not get reliable results until I went with Cubase and ASIO drivers.  I figure Cubase should work because they are the ones that developed the ASIO standard.  Now it seems solid, although I get problems if I do anything like move windows, or open/close the cover.  Then I get clicks/pops.  I find this very frustrating, and the only reason I use a laptop is if I need four or more tracks (eg., SBD + AUD matrix).

  Richard

I was switching between wavelab 5 & cdwav as recorders (asio) in an attempt to troubleshoot the problem. Cubase w/ asio sounds like a solid next step. I think I am just getting a little frustrated from putting to much effort in all at once. Thanks for the suggestion +T

You're not the only one who is frustrated!  All this computer hassle just to record skip-free audio is crazy.  That is why I usually go with NJB3 or MD for two track stuff.  If I could afford it I would get a standalone (like Edirol R4) for four track too.  I just had a laptop already (for real work!) so I bought the Presonus Firebox.  The only positive thing about the laptop is you can sometimes run it right in the open without people asking questions

  Richard

[sygdwm]

fwiw, i ran a usbpre on a win2k machine w/ 667mhz & 128mb RAM. i used wavelab5 w/ windows drivers. i only had problems running xp, so i went w/ win2k, and had little or no problems.

[larrysellers]

fwiw, i ran a usbpre on a win2k machine w/ 667mhz & 128mb RAM. i used wavelab5 w/ windows drivers. i only had problems running xp, so i went w/ win2k, and had little or no problems.

Glad to here that this worked for you, +T. Win2k was the next logic step. Its a taping only laptop and I have a recent version here of that OS at my disposal, so I am seriously considering scrapping xp for this application.

[sygdwm]

id at least try win2k, just to rule the usbpre out of the mix. could also be a usb cable issue, have you tried a known good cable?

[larrysellers]

id at least try win2k, just to rule the usbpre out of the mix. could also be a usb cable issue, have you tried a known good cable?

You were right. I installed win2k this morning and just finished 2 glitch free, 2 hour 24bit recordings. I tweaked nothing on win2k, just installed wavelab and rolled. This will do for now but I think I will go with a dual boot setup when I have more time to play with it. For now, I am just happy it is making glitch free recordings. Thanks for the help. +T to all

[sygdwm]

glad it worked out for you.

[BC]

also, remember that the USBPre clicks and pops on playback. These are not on the original recording but introduced via the analog line/headphone outputs.

[tropova]

Great that you've got it working!  I just came through a similar trial by fire(wire) with my new Yamaha i88x, and finally have it working smoothly too.  A couple things I learned on XP--Firewire rather than USB, but some are useful generally (or later should you upgrade):

Don't forget to disable your wireless card if you have one!  Biggie.  They poll intermittently, I think, and that seems to stutter the CPU just enough to disrupt audio.  And I am running a 2.8 ghz Vaio laptop (!).

Do remember to disable other unneeded background devices such an IR port, modems, NICs, etc.

Do remember to disable all the XP fancies like animated menus, etc.  All eat CPU.

Kill your screen saver and go with a plain desktop background.

Be sure to be up to speed on all drivers.  One thing specific to Firewire on XP: Apparently SP2 downgraded the speed of the Firewire interface (thank you, Bill) so that you can't run it at 400.  There is a Microsoft patch for that specific issue.  MSFT is choking your bandwidth.

Like I say, some of these are XP or Firewire-specific, but I offer them in the general spirit of man-what-a-pain-in-the-ass-it-is-when-computers-meet-music....

Congrats again and happy tracking!!