if my computer skips one more time...

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samich17

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ok ok, so i depend on my computer to work with my recordings...i even pet it and talk to it on occasion to make it feel loved...BUT IT KEEPS SKIPPING WHEN I RECORD!
i have a Gateway. AMD Athlon Processor (1 GHz)...7,200 RPM hard drive (not sure what it means, but it was designed for digital recording)...256 MB RAM...40 Gigs of space, reduced to 20 from wav. files...EEK!
i plug all instruments into a Fostex 4 track then go into my Sound Blaster Live! sound card....then i use Cool Edit 2000 to record and mix. the problem i am having lately is that when i go to record my second track, the computer jolts every once in a while. . i couldn't imagine a more frustrating problem...if it doesn't flow/it doesn't work...why is it freezing on me...it keeps recording, but that single quarter second hault screws the whole thing.... it didn't used to happen. i thought it might be RAM, so i upgraded to 256...nope!....so now i'm thinking it could be space on hard drive....but why would this be the case? i still have half left...if this is it, then i could simply reduce all my @#$@ and start fresh.. AHHH!!!! not being able to record has taken my breath away. i might passs soon, please respond!
 
is this new, or has it been doing it all along? when was the last defrag?
 
Is this new?

it has been happening for a while, but it is getting worse.. i've had the computer about 8 months and i haven't degragged yet? i hope you aren't rolling on the floor with laughter...i will do it tonite...i hope it works.... i've been hearing that Cool Edit 2000 doesn't have "real-time" features...it is pretty damn close, i just figured it was my PC, but when i heard this, i was reading about the Cool Edit Pro 2.0, due sometime early this year and it has the "real-time" features...could this be it?
 
hope so :)

yea, do a defrag, mine gets flaky after about 10 hours recording if I don't defrag..
 
Two points:

1 - If you do digital recording on a PC you should defrag your drive at least once a week or two (depends on how big your disk is, really... defrag smaller disks more often to maintain performance.)

2 - 7200 RPM drive is nice, but if it's an option (you have the budget, and the room in your PC) you should really have 2 disks, one for your O.S. and applications, and one exclusively for digital audio files. If you are using 2 disks, you don't need a higher cost (and shorter life) 7200 RPM disk.

-Shaz
 
samich17
I have you're exact computer. Yes, defrag often, get the Windows me update from their site, run disk clean up often, and after all that restart before you do any serious recording or editing. I use Sound Forge 5.0 and it's pretty hungry at 24 bits. Also, it would be a good idea to double up on your ram to 512.

In addition there's a free program out there somewhere called 'End It All' that will get rid of all that stuff on your toolbar thats bogging everything down till you start up again. I think PC magazine might have it.
 
thank you for everything

wanted to say that i am humbled and grateful for all the feedback so far...i have and will further take all these option into consideration...i have just degragged, took about 2.5 hours and i already feel that it has been worth it, like getting an oil change. any other further information is greatly appreciated...


i am using a sound blaster live! sound card...will it make a great difference to get a cound card with 1/4" inputs? i mainly go in with acoustic (mic'd), vocals and bass guitar with A/V cables...

thanks again
 
First get rid of your antivirous program, then control alt delite get rid of everything but explorer, systray,and your recording program.

Its the stuff running in the background thats causing the skipps and pops.
 
Also, you said that you just upgraded to 256 MB of ram. Did you add another 128 MB DIMM? What brand did you get? Many brands of RAM conflict with things. For example. I had 128 MB running in my Pentium 3 , 733mhz system, 30 gig. I use an ADAT for recording then dump to the PC via optical cables. During transfer from the ADAT with the stock 128MB it ran fine with no stutters, cracks etc. during payback. I upgraded to the 512MB (PNY which is one of the better manufacturers). Transfered another song, actually same song, just transferred it again. Pops and stutters. So I downgrade to 384 (256Mb in slot 1 and 128MB in slot 2). Works like a charm. What the @#$%? I ran a system scan program by Norton with various combos:

256 + 256
256 + 128
256
128

For some reason the 256 + 128 ran almost 30% faster than the 512MB. Sometimes machines (mine is about 1 year old) have problems cache=ing the memory.

All that said, a defrag and a beer (or 7) is order, cause with 20 GIG of .wavs and a never before defrag, it is gonna take a while.

Also, that "END IT ALL" program is cool. I used to have it on my old PC, and now I can't freaking find it again. If I do, I will post the link.

Fangar
 
Shazukura wrote:
2 - 7200 RPM drive is nice, but if it's an option (you have the budget, and the room in your PC) you should really have 2 disks, one for your O.S. and applications, and one exclusively for digital audio files. If you are using 2 disks, you don't need a higher cost (and shorter life) 7200 RPM disk.>

Though I've never tried to max it out, I was surprised to find I could record quite well (16-20 tracks at least) on the 5400 rpm back-up drive.
 
defrag

honestly, i haven't had the time to check it...i plan on doing some recording today, i will definitely post a response to whether or not it has helped after i find out.. :) thanks for wondering.
 
may i point your attention to the two words : Soundblaster Live

You need to reduce your wave cache in cooledit.. that'll be in options - settings - system :)
 
soundblaster live!?

what is wrong with having a soundblaster live! sound card? everything sounds pretty good...is there a great difference in sound if i upgrade to a different card? i just it to be real time, no delays...i'm trying to nail one thing at a time, but if getting better soundcard means killing two birds with one stone, then i'll have to look into it
 
well, the thing that grabbed my eyeballs was the fact that it worked fine, then started crapping out....I'd start with the defrag, then suspect the new memory...I'd be real surprised if the defrag doesn't straighten it out...8 months and 10 gigs worth of recording without a defrag is pretty wild man, I don't know how you haven't had problems before now :)

the SBlive is just fine for home brew stuff that knows it's home brew stuff. I wouldn't worry too much over it...mebbe if you get to the point where you wanna start recording other folks fer money or recording for serious distribution you should look at a 24 bit rig...but fer demos and such it's fine. My opinion and a heap of other folks too.
 
The new SB audigy is a 24/96 card. Computer musician has it beating the Audiophile, and the value version is only 68.00.

You can also plug your cd player into it.
 
word is that card won't actually record at 24 bit, though, you might wanna read up on it..
 
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