Whats wrong with my set up?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Roozter
  • Start date Start date
Well you can always try the standard M$ methodology and see if that helps. a) reboot, if that doesn't work, b) re-install, if that doesn't work, c) upgrade, if that doesn't work, d) .... .. . . . . . .
 
I was reading the Readme file and found this

"As of Vista SP1, WaveRT drivers for onboard audio devices do not work in Vista X64 while running the 32 bit version of SONAR. This is due to a problem with WOW64 in Windows Vista X64 that has been reported to Microsoft. This issue has been addressed by Microsoft Windows 7."

I use Vista 64 bit. my output, which is just going to the headphone jack on my computer (speaker1) is WaveRT.I run the 64 bit version of Sonar, that bit of information seems irrelavent, at least to me, because Sonar in 32 version shouldnt work on a 64 bit system.

But it is interesting to note. I doubt it applies to me, but could this be the source of the problem? With all the prior variables that ive ruled out taken in to account.

EDIT: Ive been doing some research. Could this whole thing really just come down to my sound card not being compatible with Sonar 8.5 on Vista 64? By the looks of it my sound card might be the issue. Or, simply that im using a headphone jack which runs on a WaveRT driver.

My sound card is a IDT high definition audio codec.
 
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Shadow_7 said:
If it came with your computer and it's fairly new, it's probably some form of hda-intel soundcard. Which is almost always quirky with it's drivers. Otherwise I've never heard of IDT, is that like DHL / UPS / ....

Integrated Device Technology. (i.e. CHEAP / per unit / aka integrated)

IDT - Integrated Device Technology - High Definition Audio
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I could run my headphones through the interface, instead of the computer. Do you think that will make the difference? and if not. Should I upgrade the soundcard?
 
In almost all cases, an external soundcard is always better. The inside of a computer is a noisy environment. Definitely not ideal for analog audio (microphone input). And a lot of integrated cards lack some very basic features like full duplex (separate input and outputs at the same time). Or adds unneeded extras like plug in power that adds noise to the signal. But needed for cheap electret mics that go with cheap integrated soundcards. If it works for you great. But if you're having a lot of headaches, moving outside of the box can solve a lot of those headaches. Which you'll probably do eventually anyway, so why put it off if you have the resources to NOT have to deal with it in the first place? The advantage is that non-integrated stuff moves WITH you to your NEXT computer.
 
At least until ISAPNP, USB, Firewire, Express/54, Parport/LPT1, Comm port/COM1, IDE/PATA, SATA, ... ... . . . . . isn't available on that NEXT computer.
 
Go into Sonar and look at the audio properties. The default buffer size, I believe, is 512k or 256k.

Increase it to 1024 or 2048. This should reduce stuttering at a cost to latency.

As for the mic, troubleshoot by using a different one with the same channel, effects, etc.

Hang in there, OP. We'll figure this out.
 
Supercreep said:
Go into Sonar and look at the audio properties. The default buffer size, I believe, is 512k or 256k.

Increase it to 1024 or 2048. This should reduce stuttering at a cost to latency.

As for the mic, troubleshoot by using a different one with the same channel, effects, etc.

Hang in there, OP. We'll figure this out.
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The problem with the audio happens with the echo, and with playback. I dont think its stuttering, or dropouts. Its more like a lot of static/fuzz. The sound is never actually broken up, it just has this kind of beep or something. I think the term might be motorboating?
 
I dont think its motorboating then. It happens regardless of phantom power. Its more of a crackling, which I guess is a good way to put it.

If I recorded one track, then turned it in to an MP3, it would probably sound exactly how I recorded it, no issues.
 
Hmmm. This makes me suspect a driver conflict. Do you have any plugins active during playback? If so, does removing them help?
 
Supercreep said:
Hmmm. This makes me suspect a driver conflict. Do you have any plugins active during playback? If so, does removing them help?
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It is probably a driver issue. It has to do with the internal soundcard. I think its WaveRT based. On windows vista 64, sonar has problems with WaveRT drivers apparently.

This seems to make sense for two reasons. First, there are no problems when using Audacity with the same interface/mic/cables/headphones. Second, I can record audio with no echo on, and there is no issue with the audio itself just looking at it (I have no way of hearing it currently without that nasty crackle because since my speakers and my headphones are connected to the soundcard/WaveRT). Its more or less a playback issue (echo, and the actual playback). So I have a hunch that if were to export a track of audio that I recorded, and listened to it on Windows Media Player as an MP3, It would sound perfectly fine.

I use a pair of headphones that are directly plugged in to a jack on my laptop. Which means they are going through my soundcard. The driver name for the headphone jack (on Sonars driver list) that I plug my headphones in to is actually called "speaker1[WaveRT]"

I have two solutions lined up for this. First I plan on getting a pair of headphones that plug in to the headphone jack on my interface. This way I can totally bypass my soundcard and have my output be the interface. If it comes in clean and clear, then ive pinpointed the issue. If that doesnt work, then it could just be Sonar doesnt work well with my soundcard. If it comes to that, ill buy a new soundcard and see where that goes. I think thats the best I can do because its not a latency issue, and the computer seems to handle Sonar no problem, I just get that crackling during the echo and playback. Since my output is being channeled through my soundcard , and this seems to be all centered around a playback/output issue I think Ive pinpointed the issue as of now. Even the speakers on my laptop produce the same crackling noise when I take out the headphones, and they to, run on the WaveRT driver.

I run Sonar on WMD/KS driver mode.

But this also could be wrong, because before, on my USB mic, I was able to record 3 different tracks, I was getting some crackling noises with the echo, but listening to it now, it all comes back clear. Which I find odd. The USB mic was still getting a decent amount of crackling with the echo as I got louder, or if I had a lot of effects going on while playing. But I just listened to that song going through my speakers, with effects on, and there isnt any crackling. But that could be due to me being able to keep the crackling to almost a nothing during the recording process.
 
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Can you play windows media files from your desktop, or are they distorting, too?
 
Also: Vista sucks. I have had similar problems in the past, and was able to resolve the issue with a OS reinstall/reformat. Sonar can be picky about the order in which you install drivers. Do not disable onboard sound in the BIOS at setup.

Sounds like you are on the right track, OP.
 
Supercreep said:
Also: Vista sucks. I have had similar problems in the past, and was able to resolve the issue with a OS reinstall/reformat. Sonar can be picky about the order in which you install drivers. Do not disable onboard sound in the BIOS at setup.

Sounds like you are on the right track, OP.
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Im on an extremely low budget. Ive pretty much exhausted it at this point. If I had it my way I would have gone with a 32-bit Windows 7 Laptop. Or a Mac. But this computer was given to me, so I had to build around it. Vista 64, to put it lightly, is probably the worst recording OS you could have, ever. Its a total bitch.
 
Ditch the WDM driver and switch over to the ASIO driver.

http://avaxhome.ws/software/softwar...For_Win_XP_Win_Vista_Win_7_32-bit_64-bit.html

Also, I don't see anywhere in this thread where you have explained the sample rate or bit depth you are using, and I don't think anybody else has mentioned it either. No need to record at higher than 48kHz sample rate. If you're trying at 96k that is gonna be a huge problem with the hardware you are using.

Record at 48kHz and 24-bit.
 
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c7sus said:
Ditch the WDM driver and switch over to the ASIO driver.

Ploytec USB ASIO (USB 2 Audio) Driver 2.8.40 For Win XP, Win Vista & Win 7 (32-bit & 64-bit) | AvaxHome

Also, I don't see anywhere in this thread where you have explained the sample rate or bit depth you are using, and I don't think anybody else has mentioned it either. No need to record at higher than 48kHz sample rate. If you're trying at 96k that is gonna be a huge problem with the hardware you are using.

Record at 48kHz and 24-bit.
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ASIO doesnt support my soundcards driver.
 
Yeah, the Tascam ships with ASIO drivers.

Unless you are using Wavetable synthesis the Tascam is your soundcard.

Go to Options > Audio > Advanced in Sonar and in the "playback and recording" section click on the menu and select ASIO.

Then go back to the "general" tab in Audio and open the ASIO panel. Select 512 for the buffer size.

Just try it.

Also, in that same Audio Options app select the "drivers" tab and deselect everything but the Tascam for inputs and outputs. This selection only affects Sonar and will direct Sonar to only route signals to and from the Tascam.

Forget about the onboard soundcard. It's a POS and you want everything you record or playback to go through the Tascam ONLY.

Get your monitors off the onboard POS and into the Tascam, and put your headphones on the Tascam too. That onboard thing is only for listening to MP3's or crappy gaming audio, not for what you are trying to do.
 
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Does anybody have suggestions on a pair of good studio headphones I can plug in to my interface for under 150?
 
Sennheiser HD-280.

$99 all day every day at GC and all over the interwebs.

So did the above fixes work out for you???
 
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