DAW options for a very specific purpose (converting 4-track analog to digital)

  • Thread starter Thread starter dashofchutmeg
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dashofchutmeg

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I'm fed up with my Firepod's pops and clicks, and I'm ready to move into the USB realm.

I've done some research, and the Focusrite Scarlet 2i2 looks like the best option for my purpose, but since you guys know what you're talking about, I figured I'd ask:

What would the best DAW be for minimal digital tracking? I want to be able to import my cassette recordings to the computer for storage and sharing. I might do some overdubbing, but I wouldn't need more than 2 channels for that. I don't use MIDI. Given my needs, what's the best option w/r/t A/D and preamp quality?
 
If your firepod is clicking and popping, switching interfaces probably wont help. There'll be an underlying reason for it.

Admittedly, that problem could be your firewire chipset but still, I'd want to know for sure before buying more gear.

Things to think about:-
Is your computer capable?
Are you over working it?
Are you drivers up to date?
Have you looked at buffer size etc?
Is your FW chipset compatible?

Hope that's helpful.
 
I've got a nice year-old MOBO on a home-built PC with 8 gigs of ram. Drivers are up-to-date. Buffer size is appropriately set, and since I'm importing files instead of doing real-time tracking with plug-ins and automation, I set my latency very high to ensure max performance. As far as I know, my chipset is compatible.

Also, I've had the same problem with this Firepod and my laptop. Pops and clicks no matter what I do. I've heard great things about the Scarlett's compatibility, and I've heard that USB presents fewer problems -- don't know how true that is.

Thanks for the response!
 
Of course USB would be less problematic if you have a FW specific issue, but other than that, there shouldn't really be a difference.

Hmm. Perhaps there's a fault with your firepod. Is it under warranty?

Out of interest, could you unplug the firepod and use your build in audio to work at a session.
Even if you have to plug headphones straight into the computer, it might be revealing about your setup.
 
dashofchutmeg said:
What would the best DAW be for minimal digital tracking? I want to be able to import my cassette recordings to the computer for storage and sharing. I might do some overdubbing, but I wouldn't need more than 2 channels for that. I don't use MIDI. Given my needs, what's the best option w/r/t A/D and preamp quality?
Click to expand...

I am also interested in an answer to this question which no one has answered yet. I have a Tascam 244 and would also like to know the best way to transfer my 4-track cassettes to digital.
 
No popping problems when headphones are plugged in, but of course it's less than ideal to use my onboard sound card. If I track with the Firepod, the pops and clicks end up on the recorded track even during playback on another device. I think it's the Firepod, and it's about five years old now. Doubt it's covered.
 
dashofchutmeg said:
I've got a nice year-old MOBO on a home-built PC with 8 gigs of ram. Drivers are up-to-date. Buffer size is appropriately set, and since I'm importing files instead of doing real-time tracking with plug-ins and automation, I set my latency very high to ensure max performance. As far as I know, my chipset is compatible.

Also, I've had the same problem with this Firepod and my laptop. Pops and clicks no matter what I do. I've heard great things about the Scarlett's compatibility, and I've heard that USB presents fewer problems -- don't know how true that is.

Thanks for the response!
Click to expand...

"as far as I know" - Hey man - the onboard firewire chipsets in both my laptop and my desktop crackled with the presonus. Solution was dirt simple. Look up compatible cards. Buy one. $35 dollars for the desktop, $50 for the laptop.... You don't need to guess about this. The Scarlett is very nice, inexpensive and works well but it is not suited to the task of transferring 4tracks as it is a two input device. If you are going to all the trouble to transfer the stuff, you owe it to yourself to at least transfer all the tracks for each song, and mix on the computer.
 
Yehp. Problem is most likely the Firepod itself, or the firewire chipset.
Google is your friend.

If you choose to go with a new USB interface, at least you know it'll solve the problem now.
Good luck. :)
 
Well, I got the Scarlett and I still have clicks. Far less significant, but they're still there. LatencyMon says that I should be fine.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CONCLUSION
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Your system appears to be suitable for handling real-time audio and other tasks without dropouts.
LatencyMon has been analyzing your system for 0:00:38 (h:mm:ss) on all processors in the system.


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SYSTEM INFORMATION
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Computer name: CJ-PC
OS version: Windows 7 , 6.1, build: 7600 (x64)
CPU: AuthenticAMD AMD Phenom(tm) II X6 1055T Processor
Logical processors: 6
Processor groups: 1
RAM: 8189 MB total


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU SPEED
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Reported CPU speed: 2818.0 MHz
Measured CPU speed: 3944.0 MHz (approx.)

Note: reported execution times may be calculated based on a fixed reported CPU speed. Disable variable speed settings like Intel Speed Step and AMD Cool N Quiet in the BIOS setup for more accurate results.


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MEASURED KERNEL TIMER LATENCIES
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Highest measured kernel timer latency (µs): 50.857808


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MEASURED SMIs AND CPU STALLS
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Highest measured SMI, IPI or CPU stall (µs) 14.530802


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
REPORTED DPCs
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Highest DPC routine execution time (µs): 155.983676
Driver with highest DPC routine execution time: USBPORT.SYS - USB 1.1 & 2.0 Port Driver, Microsoft Corporation

Highest reported total DPC routine time (%): 0.114323
Driver with highest DPC total execution time: ataport.SYS - ATAPI Driver Extension, Microsoft Corporation

Total time spent in DPCs (%) 0.290643

DPC count (execution time <250 µs): 68008
DPC count (execution time 250-500 µs): 0
DPC count (execution time 500-999 µs): 0
DPC count (execution time 1000-1999 µs): 0
DPC count (execution time 2000-3999 µs): 0
DPC count (execution time >=4000 µs): 0


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
REPORTED ISRs
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Highest ISR routine execution time (µs): 66.328957
Driver with highest ISR routine execution time: ataport.SYS - ATAPI Driver Extension, Microsoft Corporation

Highest reported total ISR routine time (%): 0.025793
Driver with highest ISR total time: ataport.SYS - ATAPI Driver Extension, Microsoft Corporation

Total time spent in ISRs (%) 0.071272

ISR count (execution time <250 µs): 60339
ISR count (execution time 250-500 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time 500-999 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time 1000-1999 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time 2000-3999 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time >=4000 µs): 0


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
REPORTED HARD PAGEFAULTS
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Process with highest pagefault count: none

Total number of hard pagefaults 5
Hard pagefault count of hardest hit process: 4
Highest hard pagefault resolution time (µs): 94254.104329
Total time spent in hard pagefaults (%): 0.040720
Number of processes hit: 0


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PER CPU DATA
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 0 Interrupt cycle time (s): 0.372566
CPU 0 ISR highest execution time (µs): 46.163236
CPU 0 ISR total execution time (s): 0.058893
CPU 0 ISR count: 38544
CPU 0 DPC highest execution time (µs): 88.654010
CPU 0 DPC total execution time (s): 0.110543
CPU 0 DPC count: 26223
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 1 Interrupt cycle time (s): 0.198691
CPU 1 ISR highest execution time (µs): 24.443577
CPU 1 ISR total execution time (s): 0.000115
CPU 1 ISR count: 11
CPU 1 DPC highest execution time (µs): 99.881121
CPU 1 DPC total execution time (s): 0.003741
CPU 1 DPC count: 298
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 2 Interrupt cycle time (s): 0.119611
CPU 2 ISR highest execution time (µs): 25.297374
CPU 2 ISR total execution time (s): 0.003029
CPU 2 ISR count: 597
CPU 2 DPC highest execution time (µs): 97.807665
CPU 2 DPC total execution time (s): 0.023309
CPU 2 DPC count: 1952
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 3 Interrupt cycle time (s): 0.116325
CPU 3 ISR highest execution time (µs): 16.657559
CPU 3 ISR total execution time (s): 0.000286
CPU 3 ISR count: 52
CPU 3 DPC highest execution time (µs): 93.358410
CPU 3 DPC total execution time (s): 0.008691
CPU 3 DPC count: 701
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 4 Interrupt cycle time (s): 0.770223
CPU 4 ISR highest execution time (µs): 66.328957
CPU 4 ISR total execution time (s): 0.102665
CPU 4 ISR count: 21129
CPU 4 DPC highest execution time (µs): 155.983676
CPU 4 DPC total execution time (s): 0.521052
CPU 4 DPC count: 38368
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 5 Interrupt cycle time (s): 0.126451
CPU 5 ISR highest execution time (µs): 21.162881
CPU 5 ISR total execution time (s): 0.000051
CPU 5 ISR count: 6
CPU 5 DPC highest execution time (µs): 82.948190
CPU 5 DPC total execution time (s): 0.005688
CPU 5 DPC count: 466
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________


What's the problem, man!?!?!! Anyone know about this stuff?
 
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