Reaper and Focusrite 2i2

  • Thread starter Thread starter dhj
  • Start date Start date
D

dhj

New member
Hi, I hope somebody is able to help with this, I posted this to the reaper forum without success and it was suggested on another forum that I try here.

I am using a Focusrite 2i2 with Reaper. I am using the official ASIO driver from the Focusrite site and have had this problem for months. When starting Reaper, playback is distorted. After a period of trial and error, I have identified that when I go into Audio preferences and click 'request sample rate' and then 'request block size' the sound plays back perfectly. (I do not make any changes to the numbers)
When I start Reaper again the sound is distorted. I then go into Audio preferences and undo the changes I made the last time and the playback is perfect.
This cycle continues and has done for months. I have tried numerous combinations without success and have now learnt to live with this oddity but I have to say it drives me nuts.
If I turn off the ASIO driver, playback does not distort but then I get latency issues. I am now toying with ditching the 2i2 and purchasing something else but it would be nice if I could understand what is going on.

If anybody is able to help with this problem it would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks
 
It might be a USB bus problem- mine will do this on my laptop until I unplug and replug the USB cable.

You changing the setting might just be the software reinitializing the USB driver again which would have the same effect as unplugging.

I don't know how to fix it. Don't get rid of the 2i2 because my Yamaha will have to get rerecognized by windows also periodically- just like the 2i2. So I dont know if its just focusrite or all USB interfaces...

how about anyone else out there? You have trouble with USB audio cutting out or off or distorted once in awhile?
 
I had a thing where if I plugged my laptop into the same outlet with my fireplace, it would drop the interface any time the blower kicked on, but otherwise I've never had problems. There is almost certainly something weird in your hardware or drivers or OS. It's not Reaper, and it's probably not the interface itself, but it would be worth trying it on another machine if you had the chance.
 
Do you make sure the 2i2 is plugged in and fired up before clicking Reaper on? Do you have the 2i2 plugged in all the time and use it as your soundcard all the time (bypass internal soundcard)?
I've never had distortion issues, occasionally had my Tascam interface driver crash on me (loud buzz from the monitors).
 
When you first open Reaper, what sample rate/bit depth/buffer size does Reaper report in the upper right-hand corner of the tracking area?

What does it report after you click that "request block size" button?

If those numbers are different when Reaper is working as expected, write them down, and in the options menu under Device, you can check the box to request a specific sample rate and ASIO buffer size each time Reaper opens. It could be that some setting somewhere in your system is requesting too high of a sample rate or too small of an ASIO buffer size.
 
I had a similar problem with a 1394 interface (M-Audio Firewire Solo). So it's not even just USB interfaces...
 
Many thanks for the replies.

Unplugging the 2i2 then replugging it in seemed to work. There was an audible 'clunk' in my phones and the sound played back ok.

The figures in the top right of the screen are the same as those in the audio preferences (they are 'sample rate' 44100 and 'block size' 256)

The 2i2 is plugged in permanently but is not the default soundcard. I listen to everything via the laptop phone socket when not recording and change to the 2i2 phone socket when playing back through Reaper. (I have no idea why I do that it just happened that way!)

Many thanks again for the replies.
 
What sample rate is your default sound card set at? If it's different from 44.1 KHz, it might be that the switching back and forth is what is making Reaper or the 2i2 angry. I think that Windows defaults to 48 KHz (DVD quality) if possible, depending on your integrated audio device.

I'd recommend making the 2i2 your default audio device and listen to everything from it. If you continue to have issues, you can boot your computer into the BIOS setup screen and disable the integrated audio device altogether, just to make sure none of your software gets confused about which device it should be using.
 
I'll try setting it as the default and get back to you if there is still an issue.

Many thanks again for the input.
 
On laptops is there still the option to disable power save mode and keep your USB busses always on? Seems like that may be the cause - if your PC goes to sleep then it powers down your USB ports and can cause things like what you described to happen.
 
Tadpui said:
I'd recommend making the 2i2 your default audio device and listen to everything from it
Click to expand...

I endorse this highly. Keep things simple and take advantage of the 2i2s quality for recording, playback and general listening.
 
pikingrin said:
On laptops is there still the option to disable power save mode and keep your USB busses always on? Seems like that may be the cause - if your PC goes to sleep then it powers down your USB ports and can cause things like what you described to happen.
Click to expand...

Agree with this, except the USB setting is separate. Your computer does not have to go to sleep for the USB ports to power down. You find the settings in Control Panel>Device Manager Right click on USB Hub (there may be a few) Click on the Power tab and uncheck the box (if there is one). Some are self powered, but not usually on a laptop. If you look at the advanced tab it will tell you what devices (look for your 2i2) are hooked into the hub. Be aware that you will need to uncheck the box every time you reboot your computer unless you are willing to go into the Registry and change some Keys...
Also check Control Panel -> Power Options -> Change plan settings -> Change advanced power settings -> USB settings -> USB selective suspend setting. (disable if enabled)
 
Tentative 'thumbs-up'. I made the relevant changes to USB as recommended by BroKen_H and then made the 2i2 the default audio device. So far it has worked perfectly which, considering it went wrong every single time I used Reaper, is a definite improvement. I would like to say many thanks to all who responded with excellent advice. Often it is difficult to see a clear solution when something bugs you for so long and it is often that another view can supply the answer. I think you have definitely cracked it for me. Many, many thanks again to all.
 
Hooray for Windows! I had my Presonus interface set up just fine on my laptop, but then I unplugged it and my webcam for a couple days. When I plugged them back in, Windows decided to make the webcam mic its default input, which made the Presonus completely unavailable to Wirecast! Maybe I plugged them back into different USB holes than last time? Still, though, just fucking asinine!
 
dhj said:
Tentative 'thumbs-up'. I made the relevant changes to USB as recommended by BroKen_H and then made the 2i2 the default audio device. So far it has worked perfectly which, considering it went wrong every single time I used Reaper, is a definite improvement. I would like to say many thanks to all who responded with excellent advice. Often it is difficult to see a clear solution when something bugs you for so long and it is often that another view can supply the answer. I think you have definitely cracked it for me. Many, many thanks again to all.
Click to expand...

Glad to be of ser-vice! :)

ashcat_lt said:
Hooray for Windows! I had my Presonus interface set up just fine on my laptop, but then I unplugged it and my webcam for a couple days. When I plugged them back in, Windows decided to make the webcam mic its default input, which made the Presonus completely unavailable to Wirecast! Maybe I plugged them back into different USB holes than last time? Still, though, just fucking asinine!
Click to expand...

:laughings: Don't you just love it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top