Crackling Then Distorted Audio, is it powercore or audiophile? Options

[backini]

When I play back a busy arrangement in Logic, after a while I start to get slight distortion, then crackling, then severe distortion over the audio. I suspect its some sort of conflict between my powercore element and my audiophile 2496 as this started to happen on my G4 just before I upgraded, now I have a G5 and I've started to get the same problem although the only thing in my machine that isn't new is the powercore pci card. I would put it down soley to the powercore were it not for the fact that when I switch the audio drivers to inbuilt audio, the problem disappears, pointing at the sound card as being the culprit. I have followed both TC and Maudio's advise (re-installing latest drivers, moving around to different pci slots) but had no luck. Any help would be much appreciated as I've spent days scanning forums for similar issues.

previous system: G4 dual 867, 1 gig ram, audiophile 2496, powercore element, Logic 7.1
Current system: G5 dual 2 gig (pci-x), 3.5 gig ram, new audiophile 2496, powercore element, UAD-1, logic 7

[lepetitmartien]

I was about to propose to switch between the pci slots but you tried it already…

When it's cracking it's 90% of the time something funky in the bit/KHz definition somewhere… Double check everywhere (logic, drivers, sound prefpanel, audio midi setup, everywhere)

I'd install the CHUD tools from the developers part of your OS X install DVD, then into the system preferences, I'd open Processor and uncheck "nap" to see if it happens still.

Still on the system side, trash the system audio cache as the preferences of audio midi setup (you'll have to reconfigure after restart), and check the RAM, in case it's fishy (CD apple hardware test).

How high is the CPU when it happens?

[ktomec]

I had the same problem, the answer I found somewhere (TC site I think):
Powercore and M-audio don't work together without problems.
Change the audio card and run the same project, you'll see.
It's unfair from them that they don't tell that, it's hidden somewhere at the site FAQ

[backini]

the cpu is usually around 70% when it starts. One thing I have noticed is that there is a box to tick to lock the clock at 44.1khz in the hardware page of the delta contol panel for the soundcard. I've noticed that the box gets unticked somehow. If there are issues between the powercore and the audiophile does anyone know who's at fault? I hope its Maudio as I still have my receipt, are there any issues with RME cards that anyones aware of? I've been told the converters are top notch.

[Dr. simonjbinks]

Please see my reply to seabass69:

Seabass069:

I had the Powercore #1. It was a peice of crap. It slowed down my G5 2x2 (Logic Pro -2.5 gig RAM, MOTU HD 192, latest updates and drivers, etc) and I got nothing but crackles and pops. I tried sorting it out with TC online but these guys are pricks - one in particular. It seems they have a company policy never to admit to a problem until they have a fix.

After months of hagggling, noise and slow computing, Sweetwater, from whom I purchased it, offered a complete refund. Note that Sweetwater did but TC didn't.

The effects aren't that great. I found myself using Space Designer more than either of the TC reverbs and after the M5000, the reverbs were why I bought the PowerCore in the first place.

Now that it's out of my system, my computer is much, much faster - more tracks, more effects - I can run 4 or 5 Space Designers and 30 or 40 tracks. Maybe more - I haven't reached a limit.

I'm not sure if they fixed the proglem with PowerCore 2 but I find it interesting that Sweetwater offered a complete refund, not a replacement with a P/C 2.

My advise? Don't even walk past the TC office. You're likely to catch something.

The PowerCore is a good idea poorly excecuted. The TC online help are a bad team due for execution.

Simon Binks

This post has been edited by Dr. simonjbinks: Tue 4 Apr 2006, 03:20