Audio Dropout Issue

Well, it seems like your system might be powerful enough - I think some additional info from you could help.
 
1.  What is Driver Mode in Sonar?  ASIO/WDM?
2.  Do you have a Wi-Fi adapter on your desktop?  If so, these frequently cause laptop folks to have big DPC Latency spikes, and those folks usually end up where just prior to launching Sonar they temporarily Disable the adapter in Device Manager, then launch Sonar, then when through with Sonar go back in and Enable the adapter.
3.  Do the dropouts go away if you hit 'E' on your computer keyboard, which will toggle on/off 'bypass' of all loaded effects for a given project.  If the dropouts go away after you test this, by bypassing the effects, then that means that one or more plugins loaded in that project are causing DPC latency spikes, and you can go through and figure out which one(s) need to be swapped out for different plugins.  (hit 'E' again after testing the above out, to turn your effects back on).
 
Let's start with the above - I will keep an eye out for a reply from you with information on this subject.
 
Bob Bone
 

I bet those dropout happen whenever you get a big DPC spike.
Follow riojazz advice and post your readings.

If you do not think its a driver setting or an effect causing your latency issues, check and/or do these things:
 
1. Hard drive space for your audio drive and program drive
2. Defrag all your hard drives. (Use a defrag program other than the one that comes with windows) and back up before doing this.
3. Check for viruses
4. Do a PC cleaning and get rid of tracking cookies and other goodies
 
Good luck and keep us posted after you do these things
 
CJ

cpkoch
By the way  ...RioJazz
The HDD coincidentally crapped out soon after I installed and ran the DPC Latency Checker tool.  Have you ever heard of a bug that might cause issues?  

No, not in hundreds of posts about using this test.  It is only a diagnostic tool; it doesn't change anything.  I think you correctly said, it's coincidence.  Or, perhaps the extra exercise of your system caused what was about to fail to actually fail, in which case the test did you a favor since it didn't fail during an audio project.
 

Were there any effects loaded into the version of the project with the dropouts?  I ask because some of the effects can introduce LOTS of latency, and are really meant to be used during mixing/mastering, and not for tracking (recording).
 
For grins, load up the project that had the dropouts, then just prior to hitting Play - hit the letter 'E' on your computer keyboard.  This is a hot key to tell Sonar to toggle the bypassing of all effects either on or off.  So, IF you temporarily Bypass All Effects ('E') and your dropouts magically go away, then that tells you that one or more of your loaded plugins for the project are introducing a bunch of latency.  (hit 'E' again to turn effects back on).
 
Bob Bone
 

robert_e_bone
Were there any effects loaded into the version of the project with the dropouts?  I ask because some of the effects can introduce LOTS of latency, and are really meant to be used during mixing/mastering, and not for tracking (recording).
 
For grins, load up the project that had the dropouts, then just prior to hitting Play - hit the letter 'E' on your computer keyboard.  This is a hot key to tell Sonar to toggle the bypassing of all effects either on or off.  So, IF you temporarily Bypass All Effects ('E') and your dropouts magically go away, then that tells you that one or more of your loaded plugins for the project are introducing a bunch of latency.  (hit 'E' again to turn effects back on).
 
Bob Bone
 

Thanks Bob.  I appreciate your persistence.  It was several days ago, but; as I recall, when one launches a CWP in the safe mode (holding the shift key while opening the project) one is given the option to omit all FX ... I did this and still had the problem. Is there anything else  perhaps in a specific track that might cause the problem? By the way with the failure of my HDD I've managed to trash the original project (Bohemian Rhapsody) and am beginning to start anew.  I don't expect to see the issue come up again, but remain curious and also hopeful that others may benefit from the dialog.