Clipping issues (Tascam US-122L, Ableton Live 8)

[lunamay27]

I'm attempting to record audio into Ableton Live 8 with the following set-up:

2 Shure SM-57's
Tascam US-122L
Some HP laptop, recent within a few years
ASIO (w ASIO4ALLv2), DirectX

I'm experiencing a lot of clipping that I can't seem to get rid of. I have Ableton set up to work with either ASIO or DirectX, but switching between the two drivers doesn't seem to have a significant impact on eliminating the clipping. When using ASIO, I can set my buffers as high as they'll go and it will still be there.

I don't think it's a problem with Ableton. If I select my laptop microphone instead of the TASCAM device as the audio input in Ableton, there's no clipping at all. And VSTs and stuff work just fine. I don't think it's a problem with the signal level, either. The clipping is present even when the signal i'm attempting to record is very quiet.

The clipping only seems to occur when I'm attempting to use the TASCAM US-122L. That's where my main concern is: I don't want to have to invest in a new device. I'm not sure how to tell if that's the problem. I don't have another DAW to test recording in. I was thinking of seeing what happens when I use Audacity or something, but I don't have it on my computer at the moment.

Any comments/suggestions? I'm in the middle of recording a demo right now, and just the 57s shipped in for christmas. It's a total buzzkill to have to spend most of my time bug squashing.

 

[CoolCat]

i would start by making sure everything is turned off and unplugged.
printers, USB ...everything. This got rid of my "clicking " issues. in the old days it was discipline to not even have the pc on the internet, have it separate for recording. I dont do that, but I do shutdown everything even the internet connection if seriously recording. turn off all running firewalls and virus software too.

I wonder if that would help.

the sm57 is needing some extra gain too....i have one of those, and a sm7 and it needs a lot of gain going to the US 122.

122 seemed to have enough though, and no clipping seen here anymore.

 

[bluesd0g]

I used to have to same problem (PC + Tascam us428) It was fixed when i did a audio codec install of some sort and/or an xp-update from microsoft, for the codec i just searched "stuttering audio" and found it.
But this was a long time ago, since then I'm sure PC's already had the correct updates installed.

Edit: check this: https://homerecording.com/bbs/gener...ers/problems-clicking-popping-laptops-318538/