Delta 1010/Cakewalk Distortion

  • Thread starter Thread starter dmowen
  • Start date Start date
D

dmowen

New member
I owe the person that can help me with this - big time.

Problem: Periodic intense clicking distortion (not mild pops and clicks) on playback - not while monitoring/recording. Usually doesn't occur on the first few recorded takes, but builds in intensity with more recording attempts - even if previous recorded track is deleted.

Over the past two months I've read every possible post regarding configuration of the Delta 1010 with Cakewalk Guitar Tracks Pro and Windows ME.

I've adjusted the buffer size, latency, samples, etc. to every possible configuration. Still the same problems.

My system is as follows (purpose built):

- Pentium IV 1.5 Ghz
- Motherboard - DFI WB72-SR
- NVidia GeForce II MX
- Windows ME
- Two hard drives - 7200 RPM, 1st for OS and partitioned
2nd for audio only - 40Gig
- 768 MB RAM
- NO IRQ sharing
- No internet (pulled out my NIC)
- No USB
- Disbled on-board sound
- Disabled COM 1,2

I have implemented every possible fix I've seen (that I thought was relevant) in this and other forums, as follows:

Downloaded latest drives for Delta 1010 and motherboard
Virtual Memory - Fixed swap file - partioned on the first hard drive.
Video - Set to High Color 16 bit
Disabled double buffering in Msdos.sys
Min/Max Cache size set at 16,384 in system.ini
Turned off write behind caching
I have also tried disabling virtual memory altogether (no effect)

I'm now out of ideas and sick over the whole ordeal

Many thanks to anyone who can help!
 
There are some valuable threads at this site.

Look at the "delta66 or 1010" or use their search engine.
amt7565 had the same problem.

http://audioforums.com/

Be patient.

Bighand
[:D]
 
Thanks, I appreciate the feedback.

Between my day job and teaching at night, my time is very limited at the moment. I probably won't get a chance to dig more through the posts until next week.

I keep thinking that there is something reasonably simple that I'm doing wrong with my setup. I've tried to implement each possible fix one at a time to isolate the solution - that is, once I find it.

The thing that drives me crazy is the fact that I can record the same exact passage using the same exact settings on the same exact track with no changes (record, delete, record, delete, etc.) and the system will work perfectly about 1/4 to 1/3 the time, but usually gets progressively worse with more takes. Inasmuch as I'm certainly no pro musician, it takes me more than one try to nail a track.

I appreciate any other ideas.
 
I had this exact same problem with Cakewalk 8 and Windows 98. It drove me crazy and I could never find a solution to it. So, I did two things, I bought Sonar and I upgraded to Windows 2000, and voila, problem gone. BTW - I use a Delta44. I believe it was the OS but I don't think I can prove it. I had to upgrade the software because Cakewalk 8 doesn't run on Win2K.

I know there's a version of guitar studio that runs on Win2k so you may consider the option of the new OS if you cannot find another solution.

Peace
 
Thanks!

I was toying with the idea of making these exact upgrades.

Any comments on Win2000 vs going to XP? Any driver issues?
 
I haven't looked into going down the XP route because of the hardware identification that it does. I am perpetually tinkering with my setup and I really don't want to have to deal with Microsoft everytime I decide to change a component in my box. As far as drivers, from what I've read, everyone is coming out with drivers for XP so it shouldn't be a problem to get them. For Win2K, I have not found any shortage of drivers, and I have not heard of any performance differences between the two OS's, i.e.; you'd be fine going with Win2K if you're in the same bracket as I am.

BTW - You will love the upgrade if you decide to do it. I love Win2K. It has the same stability as NT, and is really intelligent about handling multiple processes. One thing you should do if you go down this path is make sure that you change the ACPI Steering to Standard PC. You can do this in the device manager > Computer > Driver tab. This will let assign IRQ's for your hardware. I'd install the OS before adding any and make this change, and then add your cards in. You can add the cards and let the OS install its drivers for your cards that it finds but I think the former would cause less headaches in the end.

Good Luck
 
Sucess!!!!!!

Just completed the conversion to Win2k - Success!!!!

No distortion, pops, clicks or frustration - just clean recordings - each time, every time. I'm stoked! Now I can finally make music.

Thanks for the suggestion!!!!!
 
Right on!
Glad to hear you're on the road to creativity and off the road of fixivity.

Peace
 
I tried all the suggestions at the "pcoptimisation" site and couldn't get ME to work consistently.

Since the conversion to Win2k - Two straight days w/ no problems at all. Haven't even implemented all the tweaks yet. Still, not even the faintest pop or click. Yesssss!!!
 
dmowen-

Outa curiousity, what PCI slot was your Delta card in? I had a friend who had your same problem and he moved his Delta card off of the 4th PCI slot and to the 5th slot - took care of the problem. He said he read that the USB interface shares IRQs with PCI slots 4 and 6 with certain motherboards and that would result in data stream interruptions if the CPU had to tend to another device during your audio tracking - resulting in those clicks or dropouts. Maybe somebody here knows more about this. He is running ME with a Delta 66.

Anyway, going to Win2k is a better solution all around, IMHO.

rgds,
KarnEvil
 
The card was in slot 3.

The strange problem was that the distortion didn't come and go within an individual take. Rather, it would overwhealm an entire recorded take, but not others. You could hardly hear the recorded instrument or vocal in the background for all the intense distortion. Awful sound!! As I mentioned previously, this problem would come and go at what seemed to be random times (i.e., one good take, three bad ones, one good, and so on). The good ones sounded perfect - no pops or clicks or dropouts.

Drove me absolutely crazy!!!!

Hasn't recurred once in Win2k.

BTW, Cakewalk suggested that I perform a clean reinstall of GT Pro to see if that would help. Since I started completely over with new OS and clean hard drive, I can't say whether that would have helped. Just glad its working now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top