Subject:crackles in Acid Pro 3.0

Posted by: Norman A

Date:4/26/2002 3:45:25 AM

I have the latest version of Acid. Computer is Athlon 900 with 256RAM. Soundcard is Midiman Audiophile 24/96. O.S. Win98SE

Acid used to record without a problem, but I am now plagued with crackles when I record live into the computer via Acid. There are no crackles when I record using other software such as Zero-X Beat Creator.

I have de-installed and reinstalled Acid. I have reinstalled win98SE. I have reinstalled Direct-x 8. I have the latest driver for my soundcard.

This has been a problem for some weeks now. Has anyone had a similar problem that can make any suggestions to cure this. I am only one track away from completing an album and this is driving me crazy.

Thanks for your attention.

Norman Austin.

Subject:RE: crackles in Acid Pro 3.0

Reply by: Erik_Nygaard

Date:4/26/2002 4:15:34 AM

1) Do you have a lot of tracks/loops (especially bitmapped) while you are recording?
Try rendering any backing tracks to a temporary backing track and mute everything else.

2) If you use FXs on several tracks individually, try setting up a separate bus with the FXs and route your tracks to this bus.

3) Try increasing the sample buffer for the 2496 in the control panel or increase the playback buffer in Acid a notch.

4)Defragment the harddisk(s)

Subject:RE: crackles in Acid Pro 3.0

Reply by: groovewerx

Date:4/26/2002 6:13:05 AM

DEFRAG!!

Subject:RE: crackles in Acid Pro 3.0

Reply by: catpeeler

Date:4/26/2002 10:01:48 PM

I am having the same problem with crackles, but they occur very evenly, about every half second. they only happen when i am recording in Acid straight into my soundcard . no problems with sound forge or anything else. this is really bumming me out, so any advise is greatly appreciated.
thanks!

Subject:RE: crackles in Acid Pro 3.0

Reply by: Maruuk

Date:4/27/2002 5:18:16 PM

I've always had pops and crackles on playback in 3.0 which improves some with defragging and upgrading hardware, but never fully goes away. Fortunately the rendered product is always clean. This proves that the clicking is caused by a stressed system (OS + hardware + config + maintenance) which can't handle the load of a given set of tracks/efx on playback performance. Once you play back the stereo mix it's fine again. At least Acid is together enough to protect the render process. It's be a coaster if it wasn't.

Subject:RE: crackles in Acid Pro 3.0

Reply by: groovewerx

Date:4/27/2002 8:21:02 PM

i think its just acid because with my system configuration, acid is the one that generates 90% of the fragments and it only gets used 20% of the time...so in my case, if it weren't for acid, i'd rarely have to defrag...

Subject:RE: crackles in Acid Pro 3.0

Reply by: robnsuzi

Date:4/30/2002 8:18:06 PM

OK - This crackle thing is absolutely the worst. I have tried everything. I have tweaked ME, I have defragged (a lot) I have bought a new mother board recently, I have bought a new video card with a lot more on-board RAM.

Sonic Foundary tells me its a video issue. They recommended decreasing the amount of taxing data on the screen and decrease your video acceleration. It didn't help yet.

I am going to try this render thing... I don't know that it will help. I work with some HUGE sets - 80 + tracks, and if it's recorded live it seems to crackle these days. Otherwise, no problem. I have PLENTY of processor, BUS, and RAM yet the stupid thing crackles - Boys upstairs have any input besides what you gave me? A lot of us are suffering here! :)

Thanks 0- robnsuzi

Subject:RE: crackles in Acid Pro 3.0

Reply by: groovewerx

Date:5/1/2002 1:25:06 PM

i see you are using win/me...that is probably the worst os you can use for an audio machine but i don't think its the culpret here.

if you use ANY norton sw you must disable it when running audio. the same applies to anti-virus sw.

i posted a win/me tweak guide from blueaudio here a while ago...http://www.sonicfoundry.com/Forums/ShowMessage.asp?Forum=1&MessageID=96792
also see the install guide...http://www.sonicfoundry.com/Forums/ShowMessage.asp?Forum=1&MessageID=96794

Subject:RE: crackles in Acid Pro 3.0

Reply by: Maruuk

Date:5/1/2002 4:10:49 PM

I've heard many so-called experts claim that ME, since it is just a mildly tweaked 98SE, is harmless and about as robust and workable as 98SE. Is there some new revelation about ME that singles it out as such an audio disaster zone?

Subject:RE: crackles in Acid Pro 3.0

Reply by: groovewerx

Date:5/1/2002 10:18:15 PM

i'm no expert but i do have my own personal experience and have witnessed many friends' troubles with it. m/e does not do well as a digital audio workstation. its better suited as an office machine and web tool.

Subject:RE: crackles in Acid Pro 3.0

Reply by: Maruuk

Date:5/2/2002 1:52:53 PM

I followed all your advice on optimizing for it, and still get playback glitches with just a few tracks, and I've got half-decent hardware. But then 3.0 is infamous for playback glitches, so where's the chicken and which is the egg.

Subject:RE: crackles in Acid Pro 3.0

Reply by: Jdodge

Date:5/3/2002 1:46:56 PM

Have you tried recording through a different sound card?

Subject:RE: crackles in Acid Pro 3.0

Reply by: Maruuk

Date:5/3/2002 2:14:31 PM

Yeah, I started with a Celeron and built-in Sony card, that was impossible, total pop-fest and sync-loss time with any audio tracks. Went up to an Athlon 1G with a USB Edirol UA-30, got sync back some and pops improved a lot. Then went straight Echo Mia PCI, latest drivers, etc tweaked system, optimized and things got a little better. But the pops and glitches never fully go away, though all my other audio apps run clean as a whistle.

Basically it's a shrug with 4.0 just around the corner. The renders sound ok so I and many others are hopeful the SF techs will evolve the engine to the state where an average rig like mine will playback clean without dramatic and constant maintenance that no other publisher requires of its users. We just need a little more performance headroom--a new audio algorithm at least as good as the competition.