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Richard1949
Member
Thank you for your explanation. Much appreciated.
TalismanRich
Well-known member
What you are describing sounds like buffer overruns to me. As other said, a short recording that has the clicks would be helpful.
A bit more information ... what version of the Audiobox driver are you using? It looks like the current version is 4.5. I'm guessing you're on Win 10 or 11. You don't say what HP system you have. Processor and storage are important. What model do you have?
There are several things that can cause issues with real time recording. One that is quite common is using WiFi. Antivirus software can delay the processing of audio as it try to check to make sure it's not infected. Some programs are worse than others. Set system updates to be manually initiated, or turn them off when you are recording. Windows update can be horribly resource intensive.
Make sure you've got the power settings optimized so that it's not trying to throttle back to save energy. You want the system to stay at full throttle.
I try not to use USB drives for anything except backup. USB is a "polling" system. The computer will check each USB device on a regular basis, and if the device has requested service, then the computer will dump the data. It can't really do two USB operations at the same time. That's why USB devices will have a buffer. It stores bytes to be ready the next time the CPU gets to the device. If your audio fills the buffer and the CPU still hasn't gotten there to dump the data, the system will start to miss data. That's why people will recommend increasing the buffer. You're just giving it a bigger bucket to fill. Unfortunately, Increasing the buffer increases the latency (delay).
Both Presonus and Sweetwater have some information on optimizing Windows systems for audio.
https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/articles/pc-optimization-guide-for-windows-10/
support.presonus.com
A bit more information ... what version of the Audiobox driver are you using? It looks like the current version is 4.5. I'm guessing you're on Win 10 or 11. You don't say what HP system you have. Processor and storage are important. What model do you have?
There are several things that can cause issues with real time recording. One that is quite common is using WiFi. Antivirus software can delay the processing of audio as it try to check to make sure it's not infected. Some programs are worse than others. Set system updates to be manually initiated, or turn them off when you are recording. Windows update can be horribly resource intensive.
Make sure you've got the power settings optimized so that it's not trying to throttle back to save energy. You want the system to stay at full throttle.
I try not to use USB drives for anything except backup. USB is a "polling" system. The computer will check each USB device on a regular basis, and if the device has requested service, then the computer will dump the data. It can't really do two USB operations at the same time. That's why USB devices will have a buffer. It stores bytes to be ready the next time the CPU gets to the device. If your audio fills the buffer and the CPU still hasn't gotten there to dump the data, the system will start to miss data. That's why people will recommend increasing the buffer. You're just giving it a bigger bucket to fill. Unfortunately, Increasing the buffer increases the latency (delay).
Both Presonus and Sweetwater have some information on optimizing Windows systems for audio.
https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/articles/pc-optimization-guide-for-windows-10/
Optimizing Your Computer for Audio - Windows 10
Why would I need to optimize Windows 10? If your computer's audio has: Pops Clicks Audio Dropouts Distorted Audio Noise High CPU usage PC Optimization Guide for Windows 10 Welcome to the Window...
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Richard1949
Member
Thank you.
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Richard1949
Member
I just wanted to reiterate that the "clicks and pops" issue is NOT related to load on the CPU, as my average running load (displayed by the PreSonus software) is down around 10%. And concurrent with that statement, I can get "clicks and pops" on some of the very first tracks I record, as opposed to say, Track 23. So far, when I find them during review of a track, the solution is to just go back and re-record that particular passage.
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Richard1949
Member
And I've performed the "optimizing" procedure already.
JimmyS1969
MOODerator
Just a thought: Where is your interface plugged in? It should be in a direct to motherboard port used by a single USB controller that controls nothing else. No mouse, no keyboard, especially not an external drive, only the interface. You could try just installing the interface driver again using a different USB port.
I once had a PC build with mobo that wouldn't run smooth with interface. Adding a PCIe USB 3 card, the issue was resolved.
I once had a PC build with mobo that wouldn't run smooth with interface. Adding a PCIe USB 3 card, the issue was resolved.
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Richard1949
Member
The interface is connected just as you describe.
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Richard1949
Member
I thought I had posted this a little while ago, but I don't see it anywhere. The "clicks" are not relative to my CPU load, as that is normally running somewhere around 10% whenever I'm recording, AND they are not relative to the amount of data being processed during review, as I've found them on some of the very first tracks recorded (as opposed to say Track #23). My usual fix is to just re-record a particular passage and that normally does it.
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Deleted member 196982
Guest
It would be helpful if you posted a bounced/rendered mix (MP3) with the noise you are hearing, and even better if you’d put the non-lossy mix and stems in something like Dropbox so we could hear what you are hearing.
If it’s intermittent, it’s can be failing hardware, but more likely computer resources, often caused by contention for something, and not necessarily a lack of capacity, i.e. little hiccups while the OS decides “who” gets priority. Meanwhile, a couple bytes of data get dropped.
If it’s intermittent, it’s can be failing hardware, but more likely computer resources, often caused by contention for something, and not necessarily a lack of capacity, i.e. little hiccups while the OS decides “who” gets priority. Meanwhile, a couple bytes of data get dropped.
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Richard1949
Member
I didn't see an icon in the toolbar for uploading files, but I can create a shareable link to my pCloud storage. I'll get on that today. I don't currently have a Dropbox account. I'll work on that. So, you want the stems? What will that tell you?
Steenamaroo
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Quite a lot of info in this thread so sorry if I'm overlapping with anything.
The reason I asked if they were just audible or actually recorded down was to try to narrow down the source.
I don't recall ever having clicks and pops that were committed to the recording, with one exception (later).
I do get frequent audible clicks and pops in my playback but they are not on my recording.
They come from other electrical equipment switching in and out nearby,
such as heating boiler, fridge, dryer. It's common with AC in other parts of the world.
Noises like this I ignore because I know they're not getting recorded down.
The one exception, though... If I'm recording an electrical source then we could have a problem.
If I'm recording a guitar amp, for example, any local noise like that is going to be reproduced by the guitar amp speaker and, therefore, get recorded down.
It is, of course, possible to get clicks and pops as a result of software incompatibility (daw, effects, vsts) and also computer performance vs load.
I appreciate these things have been mentioned but some clever troubleshooting may help if you believe that to be the case.
For example, deliberately loading up a very heavy session with dozens of audio files but no VSTS/plugins,
or the reverse, loading up loads of virtual instruments but no audio tracks.
If your issues are any way performance related it should be reasonably easy to exaggerate in several directions to try to make it worse.
If they come from a particular plugin or instrument being incompatible it should be equally easy to determine that by selectively disabling and checking.
The reason I asked if they were just audible or actually recorded down was to try to narrow down the source.
I don't recall ever having clicks and pops that were committed to the recording, with one exception (later).
I do get frequent audible clicks and pops in my playback but they are not on my recording.
They come from other electrical equipment switching in and out nearby,
such as heating boiler, fridge, dryer. It's common with AC in other parts of the world.
Noises like this I ignore because I know they're not getting recorded down.
The one exception, though... If I'm recording an electrical source then we could have a problem.
If I'm recording a guitar amp, for example, any local noise like that is going to be reproduced by the guitar amp speaker and, therefore, get recorded down.
It is, of course, possible to get clicks and pops as a result of software incompatibility (daw, effects, vsts) and also computer performance vs load.
I appreciate these things have been mentioned but some clever troubleshooting may help if you believe that to be the case.
For example, deliberately loading up a very heavy session with dozens of audio files but no VSTS/plugins,
or the reverse, loading up loads of virtual instruments but no audio tracks.
If your issues are any way performance related it should be reasonably easy to exaggerate in several directions to try to make it worse.
If they come from a particular plugin or instrument being incompatible it should be equally easy to determine that by selectively disabling and checking.
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Richard1949
Member
Thank you for your suggestion(s) but I've already determined that the "size" of the recording had no relationship. They could appear in one of the very first tracks, let alone a track in a larger project.
Steenamaroo
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Fair enough. Hopefully something else in the post is useful. 
Papanate
Well-known member
Can you see if the click is on a specific track like this - this is a blown up wave form.:
If not recording Click or Pop - and it’s random to when it shows up - it could be ground problem like @Steenamaroo suggested - and a way to check it out is to turn off external applainces - Refrigerator, Fans, HVAC, Lighting Dimmers etc…- then turn them on one by one and play your file each time - you might find that’s it is cumulative or a single appliance - or the Lighting Dimmers are crap and you have to get rid of them - Refrigerators are well known as causes of electrical issues - another thing is to electrically isolate your studio - this can done with a TrippLite Isolation Box - I’m not advocating for this but you could buy one on Amazon to test your system then return it ** AHEM** - and if you wanted to get really serious - have an Electrician wire your studio with it’s own Circuit (s) and separate ground - these are some of the items I’ve done on my Studio.
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Deleted member 196982
Guest
If there’s noise in the printed mix and it’s not resource related, I’d expect it to be in one of the stems. Could still be external if it’s some kind of electrical noise, but I’ve never experienced that, myself. (Here I’d expect something more lengthy, like interference from lighting or maybe an old compressor.)
P.S. I had a line conditioner but it did not last (Carvin), but my “sine-wave” UPS seems to be sufficient. There are various types of line conditioning UPS units out there that may be worth considering if you don’t have a UPS already, and the problem is traced to your power, and not easily remedied.
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TalismanRich
Well-known member
Like Papanate, I've run into severely overdriven digital recordings. At a Govt Mule concert, I tried to use my phone to record a song. Listening to it later, it has completely unlistenable. If you look at the waveform, it's easy to see why. This is why you don't want to overdrive a digital recording.
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Richard1949
Member
Thank you again, gentlemen for your input. FWIW, all of my equipment (keyboards, amps, pedals, and computer) get their power from a Furman AR-1215 power conditioner.
Papanate
Well-known member
That won’t do anything if you have a grounding problem.
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Richard1949
Member
I will confer with our son, a master electrician (digital and analog). He'll have the definitive answer regarding grounding and the power supply.
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Richard1949
Member
Please see this review on an isolation transformer mentioned above: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ite-is250-review-isolation-transformer.32764/
It says,"Despite the name, please note that the safety earth ground is NOT isolated. Let me repeat: the safety ground pin in your outlet goes right through the device and comes out the same pin in the rear outlets. This is required for safety as otherwise, if the hot wire came loose, it would not trigger your breaker to trip. The isolation therefore is only for the hot and neutral conductors which are coupled magnetically through the transformer. Since unbalanced audio gear almost always connects signal ground and chassis/safety grounds together, this box provides no isolation at all, or any cure for mains/ground loops.
An isolation transformer can be useful in blocking common mode interference. In our scenario though, people buy these boxes with seemingly no audible mains noise so that can't be the reason for purchase. Instead, buyers think something is being isolated so all the bad is left behind the transformer. As I explained, devices like this are not isolating safety ground so whatever remains on that line, gets right through them. That aside, our testing shows that no performance improvement can be had. And you can actually subject your audio system to mains noise due to strong field that the transformer generates."
It says,"Despite the name, please note that the safety earth ground is NOT isolated. Let me repeat: the safety ground pin in your outlet goes right through the device and comes out the same pin in the rear outlets. This is required for safety as otherwise, if the hot wire came loose, it would not trigger your breaker to trip. The isolation therefore is only for the hot and neutral conductors which are coupled magnetically through the transformer. Since unbalanced audio gear almost always connects signal ground and chassis/safety grounds together, this box provides no isolation at all, or any cure for mains/ground loops.
An isolation transformer can be useful in blocking common mode interference. In our scenario though, people buy these boxes with seemingly no audible mains noise so that can't be the reason for purchase. Instead, buyers think something is being isolated so all the bad is left behind the transformer. As I explained, devices like this are not isolating safety ground so whatever remains on that line, gets right through them. That aside, our testing shows that no performance improvement can be had. And you can actually subject your audio system to mains noise due to strong field that the transformer generates."