Problems with the ASIO feature.

efiebke wrote on 5/2/2003, 2:31 AM

Here's the problem:

After pausing or stoping the video 3 or 4 times in a row (within a few seconds of each other), I get an error message whenever I restart the video for the 4th or 5th time. I am also unable to restart the video. What I then need to do is go into 'audio device', press advance to access my audio device's software, then reapply the pre-configured settings. All is fine afterward. It's just beginning to get annoying, though, having to repeat this over and over again whenever I encounter this problem. Note: it doesn't seem to happen if the time between pausing and restarting the video is more spread out. . . allowing greater length of play (or stop time).

Here's the 'audio device': MOTU's 2408 MKII. I've owned this unit for a few years now. It's given me both great pleasure and great grief. Especially since I've upgraded my OS to XP Pro, the 2408 has been very stable. This hasn't always been the case. I've spent many-an-hour problem-solving the sometimes instability of this device with Emagi'c Logic program (LAWP), especially when used with MOTU's MTPAV to synconize with my ADAT machine. One thing I've learned was to turn off lots of "stuff" like network cards, Windows programs (that work in the background), etc. Anyway, by in large, the 2408 is now running rather solidly. . . except with this rather new glitch with the Vegas 4.0 b program utilizing its new ASIO feature.

So. . . I can't tell if the problem is with the Vegas 4.0 program (I guess it's relatively new to the ASIO world) or with the MOTU 2408 device (it has a reputation of causing great anxiety). My suspicion is that it may be a combination of the two.

My computer set-up:
Dell Precision Workstation 420
Pentium III 733
1 GB DDRAM
2 internal HDD's (7200 rpm)
1 external HDD (7200 rpm) via firewire card
Window XP Pro SP1 (up to date)
Matrox G400 video card
MOTU 2408 MKII
MOTU MTPAV (usb version)
external SONY DVD burner
Plextor 12/10/32s CD burner (external scsi)
Sonic Foundry's Vegas 4.0b (and 3.0c) with DVDA

Anyone else experiencing a similar problem? Any insight on to how I can make the 2408 more stable with the Vegas program when I utilize its ASIO feature?

By the way, I have the 2408 buffer setting set to 512. This setting seems to work the best for my other midi/audio programs. It also works well with the Vegas program . . . most of the time.

Something else to throw into the mix:

I preview all video via the Panasonic AG-DV1000 (now, AG-DV2000. . . just got it today!). This, of course, is through the firewire card. I also have the external HDD connected to this card. Could this contribute to the problem?? Normally, it doesn't!!! Everything works fine. . . except when I start and stop and start and stop the video quickly.

Thank you in advance.

Regards,

Ted

Comments

mikkie wrote on 5/2/2003, 8:30 AM

Do you have the option of just using the Microsoft or windows mappers? Could always reset it to use ASIO when you're done editing to proof.

IMO, windows takes the long way around to get from software to hardware, hence all the direct x stuff to bypass some of this. ASIO works basically by bypassing more of windows' internals to my knowledge, and that is the source of most ASIO prob. - in essense it's a very well executed hack to get around windows' built-in driver model deficiencies, in a way not unlike opengl. Such are bound to give the ocassional hickup as windows evolves/changes - like changing the locks on your house but not giving out new keys.

efiebke wrote on 5/2/2003, 11:52 AM

Yep! I can used the windows mappers (or whatever they'r called). It's just that ASIO provides such low latency time in monitoring the audio.

Good idea, though. Working with the windows mappers during such editing times seems reasonable.

Ted

hugoharris wrote on 5/2/2003, 12:02 PM

I feel your pain...

A few of us have had a very similar problem (crashes after stopping or pausing) with ASIO and m-audio Delta cards; this may have been solved with a recent Delta driver update. What exactly happens when Vegas crashes? With the M-Audio cards, a very specific exception error is displayed with a stack dump. If the error message you receive is similar, it may point the way to a fix at SoFo's end (I hear MOTU is, like M-Audio, not always very helpful with these issues). SoFo responded very quickly to my initial post on this topic, but has not been receiving much cooperation from M-audio. In fairness, many Delta users cannot reproduce the bug, so the cause is likely multifactorial.

I use the Windows Classic (WDM) audio driver when I use Vegas, as I don't need the very low latency that ASIO provides (I use Cubase SX for audio recording). Is the MOTU unit solid when not using ASIO mode? Are you doing multi-track audio recording to Vegas where latency is an issue, or do you still use Logic (Windows version)?

Kevin.

way2slo wrote on 5/2/2003, 12:02 PM

do you have any irq sharing with the motu 2408? it is worth take a look.
i do use the asio driver for my echo gina 24, i have no problem at all, it runs smooth.

efiebke wrote on 5/2/2003, 2:05 PM

Posted by way2slo:
"do you have any irq sharing with the motu 2408? it is worth take a look."

Sadly, the MOTU 2408 shares th IRQ with the USB card. Simply put, I don't know how to change it. . .

I have Windows XP PRO SP1. Can anyone suggest a way to change the IRQ settings? I tried via the computer's bios. Doesn't seem to help (Dell Precision Workstation 420)

Ted

way2slo wrote on 5/2/2003, 2:25 PM

i dont usually see problem soundcard irq shares usb bus but i tried to avoid it.
what mobo do you have? some newer mobo support APIC, you will have up to 24 irqs under xp(my asus p4b533 does). how many pci cards do you have? i would swap the cards around to see if you can get 2408 its own irq.
but you didnt have problem running Logic, it is hard to say.
another thing you can try is install the os as standard pc mode, most older system running xp ACPI, usually pci devices will ended up going to irq 9.
take a look at this link www.musicxp.net
also if you dont need the com 1/2 and printer ports, disable them in the bios, you will free 2 irq right there.
let me know.

efiebke wrote on 5/2/2003, 3:06 PM

I asked that very question to a Dell service represenative once. He said that they make thier own mother boards. This computer is already abou 2 1/2 years old. Works great! Unfortunately, I see not plans for Dell to offer any further Bio upgrades for its mother board. What's interesting is that the bios says the MOTU 2408 and USB share IRQ 5. Windows XP is telling me that they share IRQ 19. I went into the Windows device management in attempts to change the IRQ setting from the XP operating system. The system is checked so that IRQ assignment & sharing is done automatically. Don't know how to "uncheck" this option.

I'll try disabling COM 1 & 2 and the printer ports because I don't use either one of them. I'll also check out www.musicxp.net. I've been there before, but it's been a while.

Unfortunately, I don't have any spare PCI slots left! Although I took out the phone modem card and the Dell computer's own 1394 card (currently use a 3 port SIIG 1394 card), I've used all available PCI slots for the 1394 card, USB 2.0 card and the MOTU card. I've tried rearranging the cards around. The computer didn't like that for some reason, so I'm a bit skidish to attempt that again.

Thanks for your input!

Ted