Clicking while input monitoring

tazio wrote on 3/21/2005, 3:39 PM

"If its clicking, like a set of discrete sliced up samples, or gapping, and you are using Vegas' input monitoring, well that is kinda par for the course."

Just found this quote on a previous post on the Vegas Audio forum. I am experiencing the same problem and was wondering if anyone knew how it can be fixed?

Whenever I am recording audio while input monitoring I get this clicking. I thought that it may be my sound card (M-Audio Delta 2496) but the above post seems to suggest a software problem.

My system is 2.8 Gig processor, 512 RAM

Thanks

Comments

Rednroll wrote on 3/21/2005, 4:18 PM

There's a few questions regarding this, it isn't a simple yes or no Vegas does this. First off, what driver are you using in Vegas, "Windows Classic Wave, ASIO, Sound Mapper?". Also, are you using any plugins on the track or bus that you are monitoring through, thus monitoring through a potential plugin which could cause this problem? In addition some plugins when in Demo mode make click or beep sounds. Have you tried adjusting buffer settings? If you're using an ASIO driver, with no plugins on the armed track you are trying to input monitor on, then try adjusting buffer settings to elliminate the problem.

Also fill out your system specifics under your user profile information, this will help Sony narrow down the problem.

tazio wrote on 3/21/2005, 4:28 PM

Using ASIO driver, one track recording, multitrack playback, no plugins.

I'm recording voice over for TV promos, so I am playing back multiple tracks for monitoring.

In Vegas I can only find Playback buffering under audio device, which is greyed out. Do you mean the DMA buffer on the M-Audio control panel (which is currently set to 256)

Thanks very much for this help.

Also you seem to be an expert on these matters - I currently have hardware set for 44.1K. If I want to run Vegas at a higher sample rate should I change the hardware as well?

Rednroll wrote on 3/21/2005, 5:30 PM

"Do you mean the DMA buffer on the M-Audio control panel (which is currently set to 256"

Yes, when using the ASIO driver Vegas will use the buffer settings in your sound cards control pannel. I don't know about your particular sound card, but when I click on the "Advanced" button when using ASIO with my Echo cards, Vegas will bring up my Sound Cards control panel displaying the available buffer setting options.

Another problem you could be experiencing. When you are recording through your sound card, are you recording from a Digital input? I think the M-audio cards might have an auto word clock switcher, so you might not have to do anything. But basically if you're recording from a digital in the word clock or sync it's sometimes called, on your sound card should be set to "External". If it's not when recording this can cause audio dropouts like you're describing. I would check to see where the word clock setting is which should also be located in your sound cards control panel. This is only if you're recording from a digital input. You didn't mention that this happens when just playing back the tracks so that is definately a possibility. If you are recording from tha Analog inputs on your sound card then you want to make sure that word clock is set to "Internal".

If you are experiencing this during normal playback without recording, then we need to check some hard drive settings in the Windows Control Panel. So are you using experiencing this during normal playback when you're not recording?

"If I want to run Vegas at a higher sample rate should I change the hardware as well? "

You shouldn't have to change anything on your sound card for this. This is what the word clock does. Basically when the word clock is set to internal in your soundcards control panel, Vegas will control the word clock being sent to your sound card. So as long as your sound card supports that particular sampling rate you should be fine. If it doesn't support it, Vegas will usually give you a warning message.

Another thing to check, because quite a few people have had problems with M-audio cards, be sure to check to see if you have the latest driver installed. This should probably be the first thing you do, before trying any buffer adjustments. I actually heard one time when installing the latest M-audio driver it caused similar problems that you're describing and users went back to using the previous driver to solve their problems. I think M-audio got that all figured out by now though with their latest.....latest driver releases. I could be wrong though, I don't use their cards, therefore I'm unfamiliar with their driver history outside of reading posts in these forums. Check the Sony knowledge base, I believe there's some answers in there regarding M-audio cards.

It's the first link located under the "support" button up on top of these pages or here's the direct link:
http://www.custcenter.com/cgi-bin/sonypictures.cfg/php/enduser/entry.php

Another thing to check is to make sure you have the latest Video card driver installed for your video card. It sounds strange, but you can get lots of audio problems due to a problem video card driver.

Rednroll wrote on 3/21/2005, 6:20 PM

Well, here's another thread I see is going in this forum also regarding the same issues you seem to be having. Probably good to read through that one also, it goes through a lot of the things I already mentioned and then some.

http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=371584&Replies=17&Page=0

Honestly, I've been reading about M-audio problems for years in this forum, some people highly recommend them, especially for their price range. I'ld go with an Echo card any day of the week over them. Then again, I've been flamed before in the Vegas audio forum, for mentioning similar things, so what do I know, I'll let the facts speak for themselves.

tazio wrote on 3/21/2005, 6:31 PM

Thankyou Rednroll - so much wisdom! I have more clues!

But just to let you know I'd already downloaded the latest M-Audio drivers last week. I'm currently using analog in and clock is set to internal. I have no problems with playback.

I have just realised what the real problem is!

The problem is only occurring when I am previewing on external monitor and frame recompressed is showing in my preview screen. When I checked the CPU usage it is running at 100%, so it's no wonder that recording will run into problems. So I'm having problems when it's a QT or WMV, but if I'm previewing normally, or it's a full .avi without any recompression, then the problem dissappears!

Thanks for all the help!

tazio wrote on 3/21/2005, 6:49 PM

Yeah I saw that thread as well. Apart from the problem I have been describing, I have had no trouble at all with my M-audio card.

Mind you I'm just trying to get the boss to buy me one of those SD Converters. Machine control as well - mmmmmmm!

At the moment I am hybridising with an existing system that machine controls the digi, and vegas is controlled via SMPTE - midi.

Apart from the problem everything is lovely