Subject:LOUD "mechanical" clicking from computer case while recording

Posted by: marcos

Date:1/12/2002 1:02:53 AM

I purchased SF 5.0 mainly to do final editing and mastering from files recorded in Cakewalk Pro Audio. Both programs are installed on the same computer. When I export a project from Cakewalk into SF I have no problems. Recently I decided to record a voice-over narrative directly into SF...Mic into preamp...pre into soundcard (Midiman Delta 66). When I push the record button in SF I get a very loud clicking sound coming from my computer case. It is very steady...almost like a metronome! It is so loud, my mic picks it up standing 15 feet away. I have no such problems when recording into Cakewalk and as I mentioned both programs are loaded into the same machine. Both programs use the same card etc. Anyone have a clue what this noise is or what is causing it? It is NOT what many refer to as "pops and clicks" in the audio. Thanks.

Subject:RE: LOUD

Reply by: pup

Date:1/14/2002 8:11:56 AM

Just to put you at ease, I get that noise too -- on two work stations. I thought it was a normal "I'm-a-computer-that's-very-busy-right-now" noise. Don't think it's anything to worry about.

- pup

Subject:RE: LOUD

Reply by: vanblah

Date:1/14/2002 9:49:24 AM

I'm not sure without actually hearing it, but it sounds like your hard drive.

Subject:RE: LOUD

Reply by: marcos

Date:1/14/2002 10:53:47 PM

If it's the hard drive, why doesn't it "click" when using Cakewalk Pro Audio? It has to be some setting in SF that isn't correct...wouldn't you think?

Subject:RE: LOUD

Reply by: marcos

Date:1/14/2002 10:58:01 PM

Pup,
I'm recording when it's clicking. The mic picks it up even from across the room. That can't be a normal noise... how do you record anything with that racket?

Mark

Subject:RE: LOUD

Reply by: pup

Date:1/15/2002 8:12:12 AM

Well I have the mic in a separate sealed room. (Just dumb luck for me -- not a solution.)

However...


I *did* notice that my AudioMedia III sound card is almost whisper quiet while recording, while the station with my SoundBlaster Live card is the one that makes all the racket! What sound card are ya using?

- pup

Subject:RE: LOUD

Reply by: vanblah

Date:1/15/2002 9:43:41 AM

Not necesarily. I'm not sure how Cakewalk uses the disk R/W heads, nor am I sure how Sound Forge uses them. It could be that Cakewalk records more to RAM before writing to disk, and Sound Forge writes in shorter intervals. You should really try to isolate where the sound is coming from though. Have you tried removing the case cover and listening inside?

Subject:RE: LOUD

Reply by: BrentA

Date:1/15/2002 5:28:14 PM

Do you have more than one drive? If so, it could be that Cakewalk is writing to your quieter drive while SoundForge is writing (its temp file) to the noisier one?

Subject:This should fix it

Reply by: kevrlill

Date:1/15/2002 10:07:52 PM

The text below is from the SF 5.0 Help section. Hope it helps! -Kevin

Sound Forge implements a forced write-through during recording to prevent drop-outs and gapping under Windows 98 and Me. However, this process increases hard drive activity and can produce noise.

To override forced write-through, clear the Enable forced write-through on Record check box on the General tab of the Preferences dialog. This is not recommend, however, as gapping during record may occur.

PS - I had a hard that recorded with the same noise as you describe (loud as a printer). My newer ones are silent. Good luck :-)

Subject:RE: LOUD

Reply by: marcos

Date:1/16/2002 12:28:12 AM

I haven't opened the case yet but that might be worth a try. Thanks for your help.

Subject:RE: LOUD

Reply by: marcos

Date:1/16/2002 12:33:08 AM

No. Just one drive...Ultra ATA 14.4GB 7200RPM.

Subject:RE: LOUD

Reply by: marcos

Date:1/16/2002 12:36:27 AM

I have an M-Audio (Midiman) Delta 66 with an Omni i/o. Works and sounds great with Cakewalk.

Subject:RE: This should fix it

Reply by: marcos

Date:1/16/2002 12:41:52 AM

Kevin,

Thanks for that info. I'll play with that and see what happens. BTW What's the "silent" hard drive you're using?

Subject:RE: This should fix it

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:1/16/2002 7:31:27 AM

I've used a variety of the recent 7200 RPM IDE drives from Western
Digital, Maxtor, Seagate, and IBM. They are all acceptably quiet. My
personal preference is WD; even with my ear pressed against the PC
case i can't hear it at all. The Maxtor ones are probably the loudest; in
a completely quiet room i can make out just the faintest ticking sound
once in a while.

Subject:RE: This should fix it

Reply by: CalmSaxon

Date:1/16/2002 7:52:35 AM

All I do is spoken voice, so I've noticed this problem as well...and it DESTROYS an otherwise-decent voice track!

The excerpt you mention from the SF5 manual seems to make sense. Do you know if that option (to turn off the overwriting) is also available in SF4.5?

-Mike

Subject:RE: This should fix it

Reply by: Rednroll

Date:1/16/2002 9:03:54 AM

It's probably the hampster working overtime and the wheel cage spinning excessively fast. Buy a new hard drive with a quiter hampster.

As far as you people who get clicking noise while recording voices. You probably also get fan noises also. All recording with a microphone should be done in a seperate room away from noisy equipment like computer fans, air conditioning etc. That's why in a recording studio they have a seperate recording booth seperate from all the electronic equipment.

I have recorded on Seagate and IBM drives with much success. My 10K rpm seagate, usually has a spin up noise, but has never been recorded into my recordings because my microphone is in a seperate room, where it is suppose to be. I don't have to worry about having to be excessively quiet during my recordings either, because when I tap my toe to the music, it is never picked up by my AKG condenser microphones, which are located in a sound proof isolation booth.

If you can't record correctly with an isolation booth, then buy a seperate cabinet to put your PC in. Make sure that it is large enough so there is air circular so you don't over heat yet is sound proof enough to keep the noise in.