constant static with focusrite PRO

  • Thread starter Thread starter woody777
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woody777

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Hi guys,

Here's my setup:

Dell Inspiron 1501 w/ Windows Vista 32-bit
SIIG FireWire 2-Port ExpressCard w/ TI chipset
Focusrite Saffire PRO 10 io
Western Digital My Book Premium 500GB HD
Reaper

I'm getting a constant static sound during both recording and playback. The static is only there if sound is going in or out of the Saffire. And Reaper doesn't need to be running. I can plug my guitar into the input of the Saffire and strum a chord and get static. And any playback creates static, but only when audio is actually playing. If there is a pause or break or if I mute the tracks, the static will drop out.

I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling all of the components several times. I'm using the most up-to-date drivers for everything. I ran the Windows Vista Optimization Guide found here: http://audioforums.com/windows-vista-optimization.php.

It seems like the issue is between the SIIG firewire card and the Saffire PRO. Sometimes the lights on the Saffire PRO will flash continually, as if it's losing and searching for the firewire connection. And when I first turn on the Saffire PRO, there is a very loud static sound as the connection is being made. It eventually fades out when the unit connects.

I've tried increasing and decreasing the latency - neither has any effect on the static. I've tried to disable my laptop soundcard and wireless card - no effect. I even downloaded a program to change the latency on drivers and decreased the latency on my video card (it's a CPU hog!) and that had no effect.

And my headphones are working fine... I tested them on my home stereo... no static. Both headphone jacks and the output jacks on the Saffire PRO all yield the same results.

I actually accidentally ended up with two SIIG cards. Both cards do the same thing. Although when I first plugged in the second card the unit functioned flawlessly for about an hour and then the static returned.

Could it be that I just got a bum Saffire PRO? Sorry for the long post... I'm frustrated!!!
 
Anybody?

I've gotten it to play clear audio twice, but only for a minute or two. And now it won't playback any sound at all and I didn't change any settings!
 
Can you play regular wav or mp3 files OK, or does the static affect everything?
 
I can't play anything at the moment... the unit won't connect. The LED light just keeps flashing. I tried to open an MP3 and Windows Media Player said there was an error opening the file.
 
UPDATE:

I'm 99% sure that this little guy is the culprit:

SIIG FireWire 2-Port ExpressCard w/ TI chipset

I didn't test this until now, but my external hard drive has both USB and firewire connections. I tried to copy files to the drive using the firewire - it didn't work. But the USB connection worked just fine. My guess is that it's a driver issue. I don't think the guy from SIIG tech support sent me the right thing.
 
UPDATE #2

I downloaded and installed ubCore 5.21 from the unibrain website: http://www.unibrain.com/download/download.asp

The tech support guy from SIIG sent me the same drivers, except an earlier version and it kept on crashing and locking up my system.

The drivers include a program that lets you switch between unibrain and Microsoft drivers. I'm using the Microsoft drivers. I believe these drivers are better/newer than the plug and play drivers that come with Vista.

With the new drivers, my external HD now works fine over firewire. And the Saffire PRO works better... the unit has no problem connecting and staying connected, but the static is still there.

And to Bulls Hit... even MP3 playback has static through the Focusrite.

This has got me completely stumped!!!
 
Worrying - I'm thinking of buying the Saffire Pro. It seems great value for money - or is it? Maybe you got a lemon. I know a lot of people have had issues with them, and it is usually attributed to dodgy firewire buses...
 
I really think (hope) I just got a lemon. I haven't heard much about issues with this unit... at least in comparison to similar costing units. I bought it from Sweetwater, I so I have no doubt they will take care of me... just a lot of phone time tomorrow.

If anybody has any other ideas... let me know!

I will be sure to post an update for anybody curious about the resolution.
 
UPDATE #3

Sound completely dropped out. The unit wouldn't play back any audio. A quick reboot and the unit works perfectly, no static. Another reboot and the static returns. Now the static kind of comes and goes. Does this point to a faulty Saffire PRO?
 
Have you checked your firewire (1394) controller is not sharing an IRQ with a usb hub or something?
 
Bulls Hit said:
Have you checked your firewire (1394) controller is not sharing an IRQ with a usb hub or something?
Click to expand...

Nothing in the device manager comes up with an error. Everything seems to be installed and working fine. The firewire card shows up and so does the Focusrite.
 
If they're sharing an IRQ, it won't show up as an error. I'm not sure about Vista but in XP you can go into Device Manager and change the View to list by Type. This show each IRQ and what devices are using it. You need to ensure the 1394 controller has an IRQ all to itself
 
Bulls Hit said:
If they're sharing an IRQ, it won't show up as an error. I'm not sure about Vista but in XP you can go into Device Manager and change the View to list by Type. This show each IRQ and what devices are using it. You need to ensure the 1394 controller has an IRQ all to itself
Click to expand...

Dude... if this fixes my problem I'll buy you a boat (not really, but in theory)...

It's sharing with two USB hosts controllers and my graphics card. How do I get it on it's own IRQ?
 
You need to probably turn off devices you don't need, like a floppy controller, or a parallel port for example. It might pay to set up a couple of hardware profiles and use one for general use, and the other for recording. On your recording profile, turn off everything you don't need - onboard sound, wireless, LAN controllers, extra usb hubs etc...see if that makes any difference.
 
I tried turning off all services and all devices... no change.

I did a bunch of research (after the fact) and it seems that a lot of people have the same issue with Dell laptops. I think I'm just out of luck :(
 
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