Cubase ai4 - noise

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hnia6

hnia6

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I'm working my way around AI4 and getting to know it. I figured out how to create a MIDI track (HALionOne) and record using my synth as a MIDI keyboard. I checked my levels and even though they appear to be ok, I'm getting "clipping" or whatever you call that static noise when I push down on the keys. There are times everything seems OK, then for brief moments, the noise comes in when I hit keys. There's no noise when the keyboard is idle. Sometimes, I'll lose the sound altogether for a few seconds, but it comes back. Doesn't matter if I'm recording or just using the keyboard without recording.

I have a USB going from my MM8 to the PC. Using W7 64. I know I have the right Yamaha driver (got the most updated one on their site).

Any ideas on the cause?
 
Check your buffer settings in the control panel of your interface:

Devices -> Device Setup -> VST Audiobay -> Control Panel

If it's too low, your processor may be struggling a little and it will introduce noise or dropouts. If it's too high, you will inherit latency and it will make it difficult to play. Find a happy medium setting.

Clipping should not introduce obvious distortion unless it is extremely severe.

Cheers :)
 
My interface is the M-Audio Fast-track pro. I went into the control panel. I take it you mean the latency. The range is 128 to 4096. I am at 128, but strangely, it's all shaded out and preventing me from manipulating the setting. Am I in the right place? Do you know how to "unshade" the settings so I can play with it?
 
AXB6 said:
My interface is the M-Audio Fast-track pro. I went into the control panel. I take it you mean the latency. The range is 128 to 4096. I am at 128, but strangely, it's all shaded out and preventing me from manipulating the setting. Am I in the right place? Do you know how to "unshade" the settings so I can play with it?
Click to expand...

I'm just guessing here, but have you downloaded the latest driver for the interface related to your system?

Get it here: M-AUDIO - Drivers and Software Search
 
AXB6 said:
My interface is the M-Audio Fast-track pro. I went into the control panel. I take it you mean the latency. The range is 128 to 4096. I am at 128, but strangely, it's all shaded out and preventing me from manipulating the setting. Am I in the right place? Do you know how to "unshade" the settings so I can play with it?
Click to expand...

Yes. System latency is a result of your buffer settings which is represented by samples/buffer. If the setting is too low and your system is straining (possibly compounded as a result of other processes running, depending on your installed programs), you will experience pops and clicks and dropouts.

Download the latest drivers. Uninstall the previous drivers and install the new ones, in that order.

Cheers :)
 
I know that I do have the latest driver for M-Audio and for Steinberg/Cubase. But I don't know how to get my latancy settings unshaded. I plan to get rid of any other unneeded programs, although i don't believe anything other than avast antivirus, malwarebytes and spybot runs in the background.

I remember the latancy setting was defaulted at something like 240 or 280 (second to lowest setting) and I did drop it down to 128 a week ago. But now, it's shaded out. How do I resolve that? (Are you saying I need to uninstall and reinsall the drivers to do that even if they are the current drivers?)
 
I personally have never heard of that particular issue. I have heard of cracked software having strange behavior so I certainly hope this is not your issue. If you are on a paid version and AI is anything like C4 and up, I would start by trashing your 'prefs'. If that doesn't work then reinstall Cubase. Good luck.
 
I'm praying a reinstall is not the solution. That whole process is hell. However, I have noticed some little issues. For example, when I work through the M-Audio sound card, I hear a low ringing noise; kind of like a sound when one's ears are ringing. It used to be much louder. When I have my MM8 set up as MIDI, I hear some of the came "clipping" or static noises when I press down some keys. then, they'll be times I press keys and hear nothing for a few seconds. Another thing I noticed is that when I record another track, the same clipping or cracking noises affect a prior track when they were not there during the original recording.
 
For the ringing noise, do you have a mic plugged in to the MBox? And speakers?

For the crackling sounds, it appears your computer is struggling. Lighten the load, disable all your AV, malware, etc. What kind of computer are you using?
 
No, it's the same with a mic or no mic. I did notice that when my VST Settings Control Panel has that Steinberg Direct ASIO driver selected, there's no ringing.... but of course, I can't record unless I use the M-Audio. The ringing is low volume; used to be much louder. I just reinstalled my M-Audio driver. No change. My computer is the HP Pavilion 6130Y. I'd be surprised if the computer was not strong enough. Here's the specs:

HP Pavilion p6130y Specs - Desktops - CNET Reviews

The only difference is that I beefed up the video card with the nVidia gForce GT-220.

Al the above being said, I just noticed that on far left of my transporter, the ASIO time usage / Time Overload indicator constantly shows red popping in and out, even when I'm not recording or using the MIDI. I can sit and just watch the red pop in and out constantly. I'm guessing that the ASIO time overload has a lot to do with my above noted latency setting issue???
 
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Anyone? I'm interested in feedback, particulalry on my transporter observation.
 
Your CPU is not able to keep up or something is messed up somewhere. Did you trash prefs?
 
Well, as for the M-Audio aspect, I learned that the latency and other control panel settings cannot be adjusted in Cubase. After scratching my head and messing around (with the equipment), I finally figured out that I have to go into W7's control panel/M-Audio and adjust there without Cubase being opened. I know, I'm a ditz.. But I'm a happy-go-lucky ditz!

I'll try some recording with my settings changed and see how that goes.
 
Can anyone give me some feedback on the last paragraph above concerning the ASIO Time Usage levels. I'm noting that there's a light blue bar on the left that's bouncing around at about 20% up vertically and it is on that side I note the red clipping indicator up top that pops in and out. This happens when a project is open and sitting idle without playing. ???

Also, I am still getting a lot of popping, clicking, crackling.. during playback only. I did go to the M-Audio control panel and adjusted my latency up to 256. On the bandwidth tab, the following are checked:

Outputs 1 & 2 (balanced and unbalanced)
Balanced input 1 (mono)
Balanced input 2 (mono)

the sample rate radio button is checked on 48. My options are 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96.

My sample depth (bits) is checked at 24. My only other option is 16.

What do you think?
 
That sucks you cant adjust latency settings from Cubase. That would be enough to make me buy a different unit for sure.

Anyway, record at 44.1 at 24-bit.

The light blue bar is you CPU usage. 20% should be usable. If you are getting spikes at idle then there is probably something running in windows that is causing this. Some service or something that needs to be disabled. Superfetch was one such thing in W7 that caused this for me. If you haven't already, you need Google 'optimize windows (insert OS) for recording performance'. If your computer is slow you will also want to disable any updates or internet altogether.

These steps should take care of your problem. :D
 
I pushed the latency up to 512. I don't know if that's bad, but I'll try recording there. I'm also at 44.1 bit now too. I uninstalled some programs; not a ton. I don't want to uninstall antivirus and Malwarebytes if I don't have to; we'll see. I never have anything else open while recording. I went into msconfig (I think) and set it up for "performance," which I belive shuts down some processes or prevents some from starting automatically.

A related question: When I hear the clicking/popping sounds during playback, are they "recorded" in that they are permanent? In other words, if I have my CPU running within range, will those noises go away during playback? Will I have to re-record?

What do you think about my CPU specs? It would appear that I have enough RAM and that the processor is strong enough, right? I've got 8gb of DDR2 RAM and my processor is an AMD (quad core) Phenom X4 9750 / 2.4 GHz. I think I read in the Cubase manual that the system requirements were well below what I have...
 
Clicks and pops are probably permanent. Minimum specs are just what is needed to run Cubase. Not run well. Even a powerfull PC with a bunch of crap services will run poorly. Did you do all of the steps for setting up PC for recording performance? Set priority to background services? It is truly advised not to run any internet stuff on a recording pc for a reason. They suck power.
 
Jimmy,

So far, it's looking like I got this one licked. I only followed some of the optimization steps so far and we're looking good. I killed Spybot and the Homegroup connection. I think that alone might have done it. For good measure, I disabled Superfetch too. I uninstalled a couple other things that were not running automatically; I just didn't need them. I have the CPU usage monitor going while in cubase. Sometimes I'll spike up to only about 40 or 50%, but it's momentary and otherwise, it stays around 25%, which seems great. Thanks so much, again!
 
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