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Subject:Audio Clicks w/ASIO
Posted by: KevSca
Date:12/11/2003 4:58:58 PM

Hello everyone,
I had a post a few weeks back complaining about audio clicks on some projects with beatmapped synth tracks I imported from Reason 2.5. After some expermenting I thought it might be actually related to a volume enveloped track within the project becuase when I messed around with the envelope points, it "seemed" to resolve. Well... IT'S back! But this time I found out why, with some deductive expermenting. It seems to be happening whenever I use the ASIO driver under the Acid preferences. It ceases to occur when using the Windows Classic Wave Driver. Why do I have problems when utilizing ASIO in Acid? Audio clicks for one and the BIG doosey with the audio record crashing whenever I use ASIO. I was under the impression that Acid supports ASIO. Can anybody shed some light here? I emailed Sony support about this problem weeks ago but got no reply.Thanks in advance.
KEV

Subject:RE: Audio Clicks w/ASIO
Reply by: pwppch
Date:12/11/2003 5:28:15 PM

What audio hardware are you using?
What are the ASIO buffer size settings?

Peter

Subject:RE: Audio Clicks w/ASIO
Reply by: KevSca
Date:12/11/2003 7:36:29 PM

I am using the MiaMidi. The GSIF is set at 2,048 samples. Thanks for replying.
Kev

Subject:RE: Audio Clicks w/ASIO
Reply by: planders
Date:12/11/2003 9:33:25 PM

GSIF buffer size isn't the same as ASIO buffer size; it only affects GigaStudio. You set the ASIO buffer from within Acid:

Go to Options->Preferences. Click the Audio tab, then the 'Advanced...' button (which is only accessible with ASIO drivers active.) This will bring up the Advanced Audio Configuration window; click 'Configure...' and set the desired buffer size.

I generally leave it set at 256 samples, but if you're using higher sample rates you might want to increase it. When you click 'OK' to return to the Advanced Audio Configuration screen, you'll see the length of the buffer in milliseconds; the lower you go, the beefier your computer will need to be.

Play around with the settings, close any background programs (including antivirus, etc.) and you should find a combination that works consistently.

I use three different Echo cards in three different computers (Layla, Indigo IO, and Mia MIDI). The computers range in speed from 1.5 GHz to 3.0 GHz, but the same settings work in each.

Subject:RE: Audio Clicks w/ASIO
Reply by: ozzborn
Date:12/11/2003 9:58:13 PM

if its set to high (like 3ms) it might just be to much for your computer to handle.whenever i am rendering a big project that is alot for my comuter, i change to wave drivers to take the load off.

Subject:RE: Audio Clicks w/ASIO
Reply by: KevSca
Date:12/12/2003 5:33:41 AM

The buffer for the Echo miamidi was at 512. I now have set it at 1,024 to stop the clicking. My Classic Wave driver(when I use it) was set at MME. What sample rate is best for doing stuff in acid. You mentioned something about the buffer settings based on the amount of samples being used. Thanks.

Kev

Subject:RE: Audio Clicks w/ASIO
Reply by: planders
Date:12/12/2003 11:36:34 AM

Did setting it to 1024 eliminate the clicks? If so, you've found the minimum buffer you need.

Since the buffer size is set in terms of samples rather than time, the higher the sample rate the more samples you need to buffer to retain the same time length of audio. Doubling the rate halves the length of the buffer, essentially.

I don't think there's a single "best" sample rate to use; if your source sounds are all recorded at 44100 and you aren't using any effects, setting a higher project rate will likely simply lead to higher memory needs and reduced performance with no improvement in sound quality. If, on the other hand, you've got higher quality sounds and/or are using effects and other processing, the extra "headroom" will help the end result.

Subject:RE: Audio Clicks w/ASIO
Reply by: Iacobus
Date:12/12/2003 12:04:27 PM

Adding to what planders said, make sure you don't set your buffer size too high. Believe it or not, you have to find a sweet spot that works for your system when using the ASIO driver model.

I once had similar problems and come to find out it was because my buffer settings were set way too high.

HTH,
Iacobus
-------
RodelWorks - Original Music for the Unafraid
mD's ACIDplanet Page

Subject:RE: Audio Clicks w/ASIO
Reply by: KevSca
Date:12/12/2003 12:19:28 PM

Thanks for all your input guys! Yes setting it @ 1024 did eliminate the clicks and there is not much latency (if any at all) when I play my keys at that setting either. I'm still concerned about it crashing when I record audio with the ASIO driver though. It does well recording on the Classic wave driver so I guess I'll stick with that. Thanks again!
Kev

Subject:RE: Audio Clicks w/ASIO
Reply by: planders
Date:12/13/2003 4:38:19 PM

If you have better stability with the classic wave driver, have you tried running your Mia in PureWave mode? This mode should give you performance similar to ASIO, at the expense of DirectSound support. Set it up within the Echo console and see if it works.

Subject:RE: Audio Clicks w/ASIO
Reply by: KevSca
Date:12/13/2003 6:10:36 PM

The ASIO driver works well w/ CubaseSX (with audio recording) and Reason so I would hate to keep switching the Mia console settings(ASIO to Purewave) everytime I switch to acid. I'll probably do most of my audio recording in cubase now anyway, so I would have no issues with the ASIO in Acid. Thanks for all the help!
Kev

Subject:RE: Audio Clicks w/ASIO
Reply by: pwppch
Date:12/15/2003 5:45:21 AM

Setting the Echo cards for PureWave mode does not prevent you from using ASIO.

Peter

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