Frequent Audio Dropouts with MOTU M6 and Asus TUF A16 on Windows 11

[imau]

Hello,

I’m experiencing some issues when using my MOTU M6 audio interface with my Asus TUF A16 laptop.
I’ll try to describe my setup and problems in detail, as I’ve seen many mentions of MOTU and the M6 on forums, but none of the suggested solutions have worked for me.

Configuration:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 - 7845HX
RAM: 32GB
OS: Windows 11
GPU: Nvidia RTX 4070
External SSD: Samsung T7 for large sound libraries
Display: Second monitor via HDMI
Audio Interface: MOTU M6 via USB-C
Software: Reaper, KONTAKT, and various VST instruments

The issues:

When using Reaper with a 256 buffer size in a light session (e.g., 5-6 VST instruments), everything works fine.

However, once I load more VSTs, even though neither RAM nor disk usage are close to 100%, the sound cuts out for half a second at regular intervals (every 30-60 seconds). Occasionally, I also get minor crackling sounds. It’s still usable but increasingly disruptive.

When playing audio from YouTube, a browser page (Firefox), or any other audio source in Windows with the MOTU set as the default output device, the sound cuts out every 10-20 seconds for nearly a full second. If I switch back to Reaper after this, the software either crashes or takes 30 seconds to recover and play sound normally again.

What I’ve tried:

Without the MOTU, using the built-in Realtek sound card, I don’t have these issues at all.
The problem persists even outside of Reaper, just with YouTube or other browser-based audio using the MOTU.

I’ve already attempted almost everything I could think of in Windows audio settings and the MOTU control panel:

Changing sample rate and buffer size
Switching the default audio device
Upgrading/downgrading MOTU drivers and M6 firmware
Using a different USB-C cable
Enabling High Performance mode in Windows
Testing 24-bit and 16-bit audio formats
Switching browsers

Additionally, I tried using Asio Link Pro Tool, which improved browser audio playback slightly with fewer bugs, but the software is outdated and frequently crashes, making it unreliable.

With a MacBook Pro i9, I had some performance limitations, but none of these stability issues when switching between different applications using the same audio interface. The MOTU M6 itself is an excellent device otherwise.

Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance for your help!

[BONES]

How well does MOTU stuff work with Windows? They are very Mac-focused so it might just be poor drivers.

[lfm]

Laptop and I think directly on wlan adapter for network.
- known for having occupying busses for a long time enough to cause audio issues

Try and turn off internet connection when doing Reaper and see how it goes.
- I have Asus Vivobook for internet, and manual says that putting adapter in Flight Mode even current is turned off to adapter

Otherwise if still not close to a solution the Latency Monitor is the route to take.
https://resplendence.com/latencymon

But a bit vague your description what you mean by more VSTs and how much load we are talking about.
- most computers I had start to act up at 45-50% cpu on system

[Pictus]

To complement what lfm said, try some tweaks
viewtopic.php?p=8820694#p8820694

[Lerian]

1. Try changing the usb port. Some go to the chipset, and some to the cpu - better.
2. If you are using a USB hub, stop using it. Connect directly to your computer.
3. If nothing works, completely uninstall the driver, then download the latest driver and reinstall.

PS:If you really want trouble free recording/mixing/producing get a RME card. Since I switched to RME, i simply forgot about interface issues. Everything works with whatever I throw at it, no matter if win or mac.

[BONES]

Seriously? Spend $1000 to get nothing you can't have from a $100 device? Don't make me laugh. I can run my Zoom U-24 with a 64 sample buffer all day and all night without any problems at all and that cost me Au$169, which is about US$110. Thinking that spending more money will solve your problems is idiotic. RME had a well deserved reputation 20-odd years ago, when computers were slow and fragile, but today you simply don't have to waste money like that to get great performance and pristine sound quality.

[Lerian]

Seriously?

Agree and disagree at the same time. Its all a matter of priorities.

[mjolnir]

In the past, around 2005, DAW Audio "tweaking" and optimizing forums and pages would say "Don't use NVIDIA" because there was some kind of NVIDIA hardware issue most of the time, maybe IRQs? I can't remember. But that's maybe not relevant anymore. But maybe try an AMD GPU if you can switch to one. Or is that impossible? AMD with AMD I assume wouldn't have issues. I used to always use AMD stuff. But now I only have Intel motherboard GPU since on a laptop.

Either way, I hope you find a solution. If nothing else works, sell the MOTU while using the Realtek built in and buy whatever audio gear you like with the money. Yeah, I know, not ideal, but that's what I'd do if in your predicament. If it's a modern system, the Realtek hardware of 2024 is probably going to be of higher quality than the Realtek hardwardware of earlier decades in my opinion. Ever since we, as a culture, got to 24-bit 48 kHz it's been smoother sailing.

[imau]

Thanks for your replies !

Try and turn off internet connection when doing Reaper and see how it goes.

I tried Flight Mode, LAN on/off and Wif-Fi on/off, but I have some cuts when I play a file with Media player through the Motu M6.

Otherwise if still not close to a solution the Latency Monitor is the route to take.

I tried LatencyMon, but sometimes I experience sound dropouts even though LatencyMon indicates that "Your system appears to be suitable for handling real-time audio and other tasks without dropouts."
And sometimes, using LatencyMon causes Windows to crash after a few minutes.
Here is a report from LatencyMon when sound dropouts.

Capture d'écran 2024-11-30 110716.png

1. Try changing the usb port. Some go to the chipset, and some to the cpu - better.
2. If you are using a USB hub, stop using it. Connect directly to your computer.
3. If nothing works, completely uninstall the driver, then download the latest driver and reinstall.
PS:If you really want trouble free recording/mixing/producing get a RME card. Since I switched to RME, i simply forgot about interface issues. Everything works with whatever I throw at it, no matter if win or mac.

I tried this too. And I know RME would be a good choice, I like BabyFace, but it's expensive and M6 is a better choice for me...if it works .Maybe I will switch if I don't find any solution.

[Lerian]

A friend recently bought a Babyface Pro in mint condition for 500 euros. That's 100 euros more than the MOTU (which you can return if its new). Even now you can get one at the same price, if in europe - https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/ ... 23-74-3659

[BONES]

f**k me! That's a ridiculous price for anyone, let alone a hobbyist. Go and buy a Zoom U-24 for US$129. You can always return it if you don't think it's the cleanest sounding audio I/O device you have ever heard.

Its all a matter of priorities.

No it's not, that's just a lame excuse. It's about not feeling like you may have been conned into spending more than you needed to.

[THE INTRANCER]

I think it's to do with thermal throttling, so when the CPU is momentary reduced, this affects the ability to use additional VST's properly. Check your power-saving options, and because you are using high end components, use some proper cooling pad unit with fans.

[Lerian]

f**k me! That's a ridiculous price for anyone, let alone a hobbyist. Go and buy a Zoom U-24 for US$129. You can always return it if you don't think it's the cleanest sounding audio I/O device you have ever heard.

Its all a matter of priorities.

No it's not, that's just a lame excuse. It's about not feeling like you may have been conned into spending more than you needed to.

You missed the point quite successfully.

But yes, there is a wide range of options when it comes to the interface. Also the presonus quantum stuff is quite good, and the latency is slightly lower than the Babyface. The problem with that is - you need presonus account to use it, which to me is totally wrong and unacceptable.

And yes, power could be an issue, but you can check for throttling quite easy. Maybe check for CPU temp when idle, the cooler could be mounted wrong. I don't think is the throttling though. Something is indeed weird. I suspect a broken interface unit. Maybe check/replace its usb cable before returning it. Also you can get the interface and try it on another computer - this way you will know for sure.

[BONES]

No, I didn't miss anything, it was all self-justification which, in this context, was dangerous.

[imau]

Hello !

I tested several cables and all the available ports, with or without WiFi/bluetooth/LAN, with no change.

I tried several configurations with MSI Utility, modifying the properties, etc... but no change either. I went back to a standard configuration when I had one or two blue screens for no reason (which I never usually have).
I also changed affinity to choose different cores for different processes, but I don't really know which process need to be modified.

I've also tried the same sound card on another, less powerful laptop PC on Win 11, and I don't have these problems with the sound cutting out on Youtube or an audio player. With the same PC and without connecting the Motu, no problem either.

I checked carefully and when the sound cuts out, on Youtube for example, the video also cuts out. So the graphics card and the card connected to the USB port clearly have a problem working together.