clicks and pops in raw recording (USB Audio)

[o-ron]

I'm using the M-Audio USB Quattro.
I use N-Track studio using the ASIO drivers to get 4-channel audio recording with this device. The device recommends a 500mhz processor for full-out recording, and i've been using it on my 400mhz laptop. About every 2 minutes or so into a recording i get a reoccuring click or pop. so every two minutes it goes "pop.......pop.......pop......" for about 30 seconds then goes away. Then about 2 minutes later it comes back again. I've done 2 channel recording using Cool Edit Pro using the WDM drivers and have not discovered this problem in that situation.

At first, I assumed it was the lack of processing power. So I've set it all up on my 600mhz Athlon desktop (not the fastest, i know, but plenty more ram and hd space) and have discovered the same clicks or pops as when I was using my laptop.

Could it be that I still need a faster processor, or is it the ASIO drivers? Or is it just that N-Track ver. 3.0 is not very good??

Please help. I'm doing a major recording job in about a week and I'm *very* seriously considering purchasing a 1.0ghz+ laptop (since I need a new one anyway) for the job.

Suggestions?

THANKS!!!!

 

[brzilian]

Stop wasting your time and dump the laptop and USB interface.

First of all, laptops use slower spinning HD's (4000rpm versus 7200 on a desktop PC). Secondly, USB cannot really handle anything more than 2 24bit tracks RELIABLY. It does not have enough bandwidth to handle all the data streaming down the cable and if have even one additional USB device connceted, it will eat up your bandwidth because the 12Mbit/sec bandwith is shared by all USB devices in the chain/interface.

 

[o-ron]

well, i do mobile recording, and the 2 channel 24bit is better than the crap built-in 16 bit recording. and i don't have any other usb devices.
I'm trying to figure this out for now, but in the near future after I've purchased a newer laptop i'm going to get firewire based recording hardware.
Any help on my current configuration, however, would be much appreciated

Thanks!

 

[adam]

I have been using a laptop with audio for about 8 months now. No problem with the stock soundcard, though I just received a RME Multiface yesterday. Need to give this a try this weeked, though it installed with no problems.

I also was using a 700 piii desktop with no problems. Actually I felt like I was getting beetter use out of my laptop (750 ibm t20).

I have been able to playback 16-35 tracks with a few plugins in Sonar. I only was rcording 1 track at a time, but I think 2-4 should be fine too.

USB could be another story. Some on this site have used it with no problems, others have had nightmares.

processing speed may not be your problem. Other than USB, it could be various chipsets or things going on in the background, like a fan turning on. Check out www.rme-audio.com for info on laptops.

I am upgrading (work computer) from the t20 to likely a compaq or HP that is 1.5 or more. While it is an improvement i am worried that something freaky with the laptop architecture could cause problems. The IBM has worked GREAT.