Why can't EXT handle ANY audio without crackling?

[ModuLR]

Here are my specs...
1.7 Pentium-M
1450x1050 resolution (16bit / 32bit, it deosn't matter)
Echo Indigo @ 512-1024 samples (I never try to run the lowest latencies, except the test detailed below).
No weird machine state here ... I'm pretty well versed in stripping XP to bone (even got XP to load in 34Megs, tho I've gone back to a more normal setting).

I was only concluding that it's GUI related only because the symptoms are the same as they were before priority was shifted to the audio thread. The difference being, it's simply occurs less often... but the times at which it occurs are identical. Little crackles when moving about the interface, or windows poping up. Zip the interface a few times... buzzzzzz... Press the button to close a VST, buzzzzzz... Switch to the desktop.. buzzz

actually.. this pushed me in a new direction.. I set my audio card latency really low... and now it buzzes everytime I press the mouse button (could it be mouse related?). Indentical setup in T and Podium is flawless playabck.. not a pop (and Podium is pretty graphic intensive). They pop only if the cpu is getting hammered which makes a bit more sense. In both cases tho, there is only a single audio loop playing. It's odd that everything else.. (forgot to include Fruity Loops, and Mulch as well) don't pop unless they cpu is getting taxed.

could it be mouse related? I tried resizing the interface while the loop was playing.. more buzzing with every move of the mouse... the other hosts are clean...

[Mikael Adle]

Have you tried disabling the midi out in options? That cured alot of crackles (and other GUI related issues) for me.

[ModuLR]

Have you tried disabling the midi out in options? That cured alot of crackles (and other GUI related issues) for me.

yeah.. all my midi ins and outs are currently disabled.

[jorgen]

What if you load the file into the audio part instead of the sequencer? doest it make any difference?

It almost sounds like some kind of thread blocking issue, like the audio thread or something is waiting for something else to finish...

does setting the priority in task manager have any effect?

did you try another mouse?

does closing the VST windows with Esc instead of mouse cause the same crackles?

cheers
jorgen

[jens]

I get crackles o' plenty in Tracktion, but never in energyXT. I was assuming that it was a graphics driver thing because when there's less being redrawn, the crackling goes away.

yes, Jorgen - indeed, I've read it as well but it's obvious that Pough is in the minority here - personally I'm quiet satisfied at the moment because the asio4all-driver works good for me and I've got no big problems performancewise - apart from this problem...

but tbh I still can't use the native drivers for my Echo Mia reliably though the problem has become much better after you've improved eXT's performance...

I can believe that you're pissed a bit about people still always moaning (heck I would be if I was you) but that doesn't help at all - I am quite sure that you still can do further performance tweaks that will improve eXT greatly and so make it an even more successful application...

[jens]

What if you load the file into the audio part instead of the sequencer? doest it make any difference?

It almost sounds like some kind of thread blocking issue, like the audio thread or something is waiting for something else to finish...

does setting the priority in task manager have any effect?

this definetely helps making it better for me if I use the Echo-drivers - but I am quite sure it's a drawing-issue... - the worst plugin for me is GCO-1 - as soon as I open its gui a hell of crackles gets loose which only stops as soon as I close the gui-window. Now GCO-1 has got three different big meters which are all bouncing up and down all the time and I bet these meters are part of the reason for the crackling.

And even if I use the asio4all-driver it takes forever until GCO-1's gui opens (which I bet is related as well...)

edit: stupid me - I wortze asio4all when I meant Echo...

[jens]

eXT is haunted!!!

I wanted to record a short demonstation of the crackles using TapeIt....

...however the crackles aren't on the .wav although they were clearly there during playback!

[pysj]

eXT is haunted!!!

I wanted to record a short demonstation of the crackles using TapeIt....

...however the crackles aren't on the .wav although they were clearly there during playback!

Is that unusual then?
I mean, when your vst host crackles it also lags, meaning that it wont 'run away' just because it cant prosess it realtime. It will play it back slower.

I think atleast...

[plastique]

eXT is haunted!!!

I wanted to record a short demonstation of the crackles using TapeIt....

...however the crackles aren't on the .wav although they were clearly there during playback!

Is that unusual then?
I mean, when your vst host crackles it also lags, meaning that it wont 'run away' just because it cant prosess it realtime. It will play it back slower.

I think atleast...

i think so too ...
tapeit uses a different buffer and so probably manages to capture more audio events than the playback engine .

[jens]

I dunno - I am confused now - I always thought that TapeIt records exactly what is heard...

[plastique]

it records what is feed into it ...

[jorgen]

Since tapeit is a vst, it will receive all audio data, even if the playback lags.

Its interesting to know if using the audio part solves it, cause it gives me some ideas on what to try out.

jorgen

[jens]

Its interesting to know if using the audio part solves it, cause it gives me some ideas on what to try out.

I don't understand what you mean with this...

[jorgen]

I mean loading wavs into the audio part comp instead of the sequencer comp, and then see if mouse/gui interrupts still causes the same level of crackles.

jorgen

[jorgen]

Also check if your soundcard is sharing IRQ with you graphics card or something...

see start -> programs -> ascessories ->system tools -> sytem information

then -> hardware resouces -> IRQs

jorgen