The .42 drivers are the latest for 98 SE. Unfortunately I can't help you much. I can't get the Audiophile to record without static/crackling in simultainous play record mode. Here's what I just sent Midiman about an hour ago.

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AMD Athlon 550 MHz
BCM QS 750 Motherboard / AMD 751 chipset
384 Mb PC 100 SDRAM
ATI Expert 2000 Video card
Audiophile 2496 Soundcard
Windows 98SE with all updates

I've had the card for 1 year now. This is the first time I've written to any tech. support, I'm usually on the other end, I thought I was going to solve the crackling issue many others have without having to send you an email. Well unfortunately I was wrong.

The card records with "static" when used in simultaneous play and record mode. It does it about every other take. This occurs with 2 tracks or 10. The result is the same at 16 or 24 bit and any sample rate and any buffer size using the .41 or .42 drivers. Disabling multi-client in the Delta Control panel and not allowing other apps. to use the mon/mixer has no affect.

The non-multi-client .27 drivers work without the static.

I've had the card in PCI slots 2 & 4. It's always been on it's own IRQ, 3,5 and 10, it's currently on 3.

The ATI has the latest drivers, hardware acceleration full or none has no affect on the "static".

The motherboard has the latest drivers, I just updated them yesterday, no affect on the "static". I keep all other software and hardware up to date but in the case of the motherboard since this PC runs flawlessly in all other regards I hesitated to update them until I was down to that as my last resort.

I've tried disabling modem & network adapter in Device manager, USB and Serial Ports are disabled in Bios. I've tested shutting down background processes one at a time testing after each until nothing is running except Explorer an Systray.

The .27 drivers record clean even while Norton A/V, and several other processes running in the background although this is not the normal procedure.

I've physically removed and uninstalled the drivers for the Creative Ensoniq (SoundBlaster) soundcard that came with the PC, still the Audiophile records "static" in full duplex.

I've tried reinstalling the SB and updated it's drivers, same results.

The SB records clean in full duplex or the Audiophile will record clean while the SB handles playback but the Audiophile will not record clean in full duplex unless I use the .27 drivers.

Anxiously,

MJ
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I don't know if the .27's are more efficient concerning streaming but they are the only drivers I can get clean takes with.

MJ

Thanks. So do you reckon it'd be better just to revert back to the .27 drivers if I'm not bothered about multiclient?

It seems XP is the answer in the long term as it looks like they no longer develop drivers for 98.

Ben

As I said I have no idea as to the .27 driver's efficiency streaming audio as opposed to the newer drivers. I get no performance gains or losses with any of the them.

All I can say is give them a try and be sure to use the uninstaller, remove the Audiophile in Device Manager, delete the Ma_delta.drv file and reboot as per M-Audio's instructions. If you gain nothing then I would reinstall the .42's.

Sorry I can't help, if M-Audio responds with anything pertinent to your gapping problem I'll post it. In the meantime you may want to increase the playback buffer size in VV.

MJ