Recording "skipping" - Help Needed

  • Thread starter Thread starter Aidyn
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Aidyn

Aidyn

New member
I'm still a recording newbie and I've encountered a weird problem that I don't know how to fix. My recording has these little skipping noises in it.

Here is the mp3...
http://www.mediafire.com/?rmmxby0p4nl

The first one happens about :16 and the next after that is at about :32 and then there are a few more throughout the thing.

I'm using...

Reaper
Omega Lexicon Interface
Monster Cables
MXL 990 Mic

Anyone help would really be appreciated.

Thanks,
Aidyn
 
Sounds like a punch-in or like part of it was cut-out, did you do any editing?

What are the specs of your computer? Slower computers, or when there is a lot of other stuff running in the background can cause "lag spikes" which can cause skipping or pops/clicks...Poor interface drivers can also cause it. And some people have this problem with USB interfaces but usually not with just one or 2 tracks at the same time unless there is something wrong with it.
 
Nope, no editing was done other than the FX-Chain or whatever it was called. I think Firefox was running while I was recording it, maybe that caused it. My computer is kind of old too.

Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name CHRISTMAS2004
User Name a01111000

Motherboard:
CPU Type Intel Celeron D 320, 2400 MHz (18 x 133)
Motherboard Name Dell Dimension 3000
Motherboard Chipset Intel Morgan Hill i865GV
System Memory 512 MB (PC3200 DDR SDRAM)
BIOS Type Phoenix (08/24/04)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port ECP Printer Port (LPT1)

Display:
Video Adapter Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller (96 MB)
3D Accelerator Intel Extreme Graphics 2
Monitor Dell E773c [17" CRT] (641804AH02LU)

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter Intel 82801EB ICH5 - AC'97 Audio Controller [A-2/A-3]

Storage:
IDE Controller Intel(R) 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers
Disk Drive HDS722580VLAT20 (80 GB, 7200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/100)
Disk Drive HP photosmart 7900 USB Device
Optical Drive HL-DT-ST CD-RW GCE-8483B (48x/32x/48x CD-RW)
Optical Drive SAMSUNG DVD-ROM SD-616E (16x/48x DVD-ROM)
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 73414 MB (36631 MB free)

Input:
Keyboard Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse PS/2 Compatible Mouse

Network:
Network Adapter Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection (192.168.2.2)
Modem Conexant D850 56K V.9x DFVc Modem

Peripherals:
Printer Broderbund PDF Converter 2.10d
Printer Dell Photo Printer 720
Printer EPSON Stylus C80 Series
Printer hp photosmart 7900 series
USB1 Controller Intel 82801EB ICH5 - USB Controller [A-2/A-3]
USB1 Controller Intel 82801EB ICH5 - USB Controller [A-2/A-3]
USB1 Controller Intel 82801EB ICH5 - USB Controller [A-2/A-3]
USB2 Controller Intel 82801EB ICH5 - Enhanced USB2 Controller [A-2/A-3]
USB Device Lexicon Direct Device
USB Device Lexicon USB MIDI Device (Port 1)
USB Device Lexicon Win USB Audio 1-2
USB Device Lexicon Win USB Audio 3-4
USB Device photosmart 7900 series (DOT4USB)
USB Device USB Composite Device
USB Device USB Composite Device
USB Device USB Mass Storage Device
USB Device USB Printing Support
 
It looks like you could really use some more memory. Effects will eat it up like there is no tomorrow, usually. With a computer like that, you need to make sure no other programs are running and maybe shut down any virus protection stuff or other things running in the background. Also, make sure you have the most up to date drivers for your interface. This could be a lot of things, but I think it might be that your computer is having a tough time handling everything.
 
I'd second the extra memory. Also try increasing your buffer size, and try to avoid having any uneccessary applications or processes running.
 
Thanks for the help everyone. I'm actually about to get a Macbook Pro for college so could I just use that for recording? Here are the specs on that...

MacBook Pro 2.2 GHz (15")

* 15.4-inch widescreen display
* up to 1920x1200 resolution
* 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
* 2 GB (2x1GB) 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
* 120 GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive
* 8x SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
* NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT w/ 128 MB GDDR3 SDRAM
* One FireWire 400, one Firewire 800 and two USB 2.0 ports
 
4th for more memory. XP barely runs on 512Mb of ram.
 
Ok, so I see that 1 GB of RAM is only about $100 so I think I am going to buy that. Will that give me a good improvement or will it be one of those scenarios where I will have to upgrade something else to get the benefits of that and something else to get the benefits of that?

Also would 1GB plus the 512MB I have be enough for the recording I am doing right now (two track), or should I get 2GB? I will be getting my new computer in late September and I would like to be able to record up until then so I don't want to spend too much now if I'm going to get a new computer.

Thanks again for your help.
 
Aidyn said:
Also would 1GB plus the 512MB I have be enough for the recording I am doing right now (two track), or should I get 2GB? I will be getting my new computer in late September and I would like to be able to record up until then so I don't want to spend too much now if I'm going to get a new computer.

Thanks again for your help.
Click to expand...
You will have to check to see if you can use the 512 you have and add another 1gig. Some machines need to have the same type of chip in every slot, so you might only be able to add another 512 chip. (assuming you don't have two 256 chips)

This is really different from one motherboard to another, so you will need to look and see what you have and get a computer nerd involved...
 
Is Crucial a good brand for memory? I just did a scan on their website and they said what I could upgrade to and brought up a package of their product that they recommended.
 
Looks like you've only got one hard drive so your DAW is time-sharing with the O/S for read/write access. Use a second drive to save your audio files and it won't compete with the O/S. And that should be a second physical drive, not just another logical drive on your present one.

I'm curious if the Celeron is up to par for DAW work. Also, what's your sampling rate and bitdepth? If you're recording at 24/96k, you might be putting too much demand on the computer. I'm just throwing that out there as a possibility. Don't know if it really makes a difference or not.

Cheers,
 
Well, I've used this computer for recording before without problems. It's just recently that I've been having troubles like this.
 
Go to the Windows Task Manager (press control, alt, and delete simultaneously) and see how much stuff is running (processes) in the background. You will be surprised, I think. If you go online, and then sign out, many of those things keep running in the background (messenger, for instance).
 
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