stevecase19
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Can Anybody Explain This?
Years ago I created many projects using ancient versions of Cakewalk Audio, and never had any real problems. A few weeks ago I purchased Sonar Artist and started to get to grips with the user interface which I find more complicated than in the old days, but I am getting there gradually. However I have encountered a problem that seems to defy explanation. It occurs when using Sonar on my laptop, and its built-in Realtek HD Audio - yes I understand the limitations of this, but please bear with me and read on.
I open Sonar, and load one of the demo projects, “Sophia Jane – Living For Now”, which has 12 Audio tracks. This plays without any detectable audio problems.
I now open a new blank project. I create a single audio track into which I import a stereo .wav file “Mysong”. When Sonar tries to play this, there is a constant loud crackle, and the movement of the vertical time line across the screen is quite jerky. There is nothing wrong with the .wav file itself – it plays fine using any other application, and I get exactly the same problem importing any other .wav file including the ones from the demo project. Now (this is the really strange bit) if I add an EMPTY instrument track (TTS-1 Synth, output set to the Realtek Audio), “My Song” now plays without any problem
I now open the demo project, and add a new audio track to the twelve already there. I select this track and import the same “Mysong” stereo.wav file. If I now set this track to “solo” it plays without any problems. But if I start deleting the existing demo project audio tracks one by one, the playback of “Mysong” starts to deteriorate, the more demo tracks I delete.
WHY?
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LunaTech
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Re: Can Anybody Explain This?
2017/12/11 02:44:43
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Hello,
Very odd. What are the parameters of the .wave file. (Sample and bit depth) in comparison to the same preferences in Sonar?
"Life could capture me with songs of innocence... And enrapture me with pleasures galore... Suddenly it could all quickly fade away... But I'm not surprised any more...." Sonar Platinum Pro- Win 10 64- I7 6800k - Asus - 32gb DDR4-SB ZX sound card (cd output to mixer)- Toshiba 960gb SSD (OS - Audio APPs)- 4TB Seagate (Storage/ App Content)- M-Audio Keystation 88 Pro - Akai MPD 232 - Zed R16 - PT 12 - A&H QU 24- Axiom 61 - XD 80usb "When He is all you have, He is everything you need"
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dnelson1971
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Re: Can Anybody Explain This?
2017/12/11 05:01:25
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Sounds like maybe sample rate is different on the imported wav's than what your default project is set to and your system is choking on the conversion. I had a similar problem in Ableton where I bounced some stereo mixes in 48k and some time later imported them for mastering into a new project which was defaulted to 44.1. I had exactly the same problem you are describing and it took me forever to figure out what was going on. When I set the new project to 48k to match the imported waves, everything was fine.
Edit- I missed the last paragraph and that is indeed strange. I can't think of any explanation as to why adding an instrument track would have any positive effect on your audio playback or why reducing the workload would have a detrimental effect.
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stevecase19
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Re: Can Anybody Explain This?
2017/12/12 09:29:18
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Thanks for your comments so far. My imported .wav file is 44.1 and 16-bit (same values as the default project is set to). I notice that the .wav files in the demo (which plays OK) are 24 bit. I am sure the Realtek HD Audio is involved somewhere in this problem because everything is OK when I use my Behringer USB interface, but I don't want the hassle of setting that up when I'm just experimenting rather than doing serious recording. Like dnelson1971 I am completely baffled why adding an empty instrument track makes it work. By the way I discovered that adding a midi-only track doesn't work - it has to be an actual instrument with the output assigned to the Realtek HD Audio, so I don't know if that provides any additional clues.
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tenfoot
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Re: Can Anybody Explain This?
2017/12/12 10:29:04
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What driver mode are you using with the reaktek? There are issues with wasapi/wasapi exclusive mode on certain systems that can cause the behaviour you describe.
Bruce. Sonar Platinum 2017-09, Studio One 3.5.3, Win 10 x64, Quad core i7, RME Fireface, Behringer X32 Producer, Behringer X32 Rack, Presonus Faderport, Lemure Software Controller (Android), Enttec DMXIS VST lighting controller, Xtempo POK.
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paul jenkins
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Re: Can Anybody Explain This?
2017/12/12 10:47:18
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Yeah, my laptop freaks out if I don't use my external sound card...it runs out of memory, tryin to process the crap realtek or something?..and plus I had that problem when I 1st started on cakewalk music creator 6 a few years ago, with havin the wrong sample rate etc, I cant remember what I had, but everything was in slow motion and crackled, and of course I blamed the software.......cakewalk customer service saved the day!!!
Windows 10, 64 bit, intel core i7-6500U CPU @ 2.50GHZ 2.59GHZ......12 gig ram ....Sonar lifetime updates, presonus audiobox 1818 interface, and beringer UFX1604 mixer interface/control surface...... All round musician, multi-instrumentalist/songwriter.....attempting to produce good music.....started on music creator 6 2014, bought sonar 2015....and now invested in lifetime updates......Learning always!!!!Thanx cakewalk and online forum
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pwalpwal
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Re: Can Anybody Explain This?
2017/12/12 10:55:54
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☄ Helpfulby stevecase19 2017/12/15 11:34:30
tenfoot
What driver mode are you using with the reaktek? There are issues with wasapi/wasapi exclusive mode on certain systems that can cause the behaviour you describe.
^^^this fwiw, i use the onboard realtek in the same situation as you (can't be arsed setting everything up) and use the asio4all driver without issue /hth
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stevecase19
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Re: Can Anybody Explain This?
2017/12/12 15:06:49
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Up to now I was using the WDM/KS driver. I believe I did try WASAPI exclusive, and it didn't work at all. However I've just tried WASAPI shared and now everything seems to be OK. I notice the effective latency has shot right down as well, so I'm even happier! If I get any more problems I may try ASIO4all as suggested, but I'll leave well alone for now. Thank you all for taking the time to comment.
PS I'd still like to know how adding an empty instrument track could make such a positive difference in WDM/KS driver mode!
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pwalpwal
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Re: Can Anybody Explain This?
2017/12/12 15:14:25
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stevecase19
PS I'd still like to know how adding an empty instrument track could make such a positive difference in WDM/KS driver mode!
seems like a bug?
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tenfoot
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Re: Can Anybody Explain This?
2017/12/12 16:28:10
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☄ Helpfulby stevecase19 2017/12/15 11:34:13
stevecase19
Up to now I was using the WDM/KS driver. I believe I did try WASAPI exclusive, and it didn't work at all. However I've just tried WASAPI shared and now everything seems to be OK. I notice the effective latency has shot right down as well, so I'm even happier! If I get any more problems I may try ASIO4all as suggested, but I'll leave well alone for now. Thank you all for taking the time to comment.
PS I'd still like to know how adding an empty instrument track could make such a positive difference in WDM/KS driver mode!
Wasapi shared is generally fine for playback, and also recording on some devices. If you run into trouble when tracks are armed for recording, pwalpwal's suggestion to try asio4all is a good one.
Bruce. Sonar Platinum 2017-09, Studio One 3.5.3, Win 10 x64, Quad core i7, RME Fireface, Behringer X32 Producer, Behringer X32 Rack, Presonus Faderport, Lemure Software Controller (Android), Enttec DMXIS VST lighting controller, Xtempo POK.
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Cactus Music
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Re: Can Anybody Explain This?
2017/12/12 20:34:41
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☄ Helpfulby stevecase19 2017/12/15 11:34:06
Even though it gets bashed around here, you cannot beat ASIO4all on a laptop using your on board audio. I've used it now on 2 different laptops and it defiantly out performs WASAPI.
And it does not interfere with your proper audio interface drivers. I tried both my Tascam and my Scarlet and had no problems switching between on board or using a proper interface. And it's free.
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robert_e_bone
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Re: Can Anybody Explain This?
2017/12/13 18:56:59
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I used to have ASIO4ALL installed, but it kept getting picked up by Sonar instead of my Presonus interface, because (I guess) it chose the first ASIO driver it came across, alphabetically, so I ended up getting rid of ASIO4ALL altogether.
I suppose I could have tried simply renaming ASIO4ALL to maybe 'ZASIO4ALL', but I didn't need it anymore anyways, so I just removed it.
Bob Bone
Wisdom is a giant accumulation of "DOH!" Sonar: Platinum (x64), X3 (x64) Audio Interfaces: AudioBox 1818VSL, Steinberg UR-22 Computers: 1) i7-2600 k, 32 GB RAM, Windows 8.1 Pro x64 & 2) AMD A-10 7850 32 GB RAM Windows 10 Pro x64 Soft Synths: NI Komplete 8 Ultimate, Arturia V Collection, many others MIDI Controllers: M-Audio Axiom Pro 61, Keystation 88es Settings: 24-Bit, Sample Rate 48k, ASIO Buffer Size 128, Total Round Trip Latency 9.7 ms
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msmcleod
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Re: Can Anybody Explain This?
2017/12/14 03:33:20
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☄ Helpfulby stevecase19 2017/12/15 11:33:52
I occasionally get this on my laptop. A couple things seem to fix it:
1. Stop & Start the audio engine (the left most icon under the time display) after Sonar has started up; or
2. Re-install your audio driver: Within Windows Explorer, right click on My PC -> Manage, then uninstall your audio driver and then Find New Hardware to re-install it again (I had to do this after the most recent W10 upgrade).
After doing option 2, I find I no longer need to do option 1 (until a windows update breaks it again).
The other thing that can cause this is if your file record bit depth/sample rate is different to the bit depth/sample rate of your project (Check Preferences->File->Audio Data and make sure it matches the bit depth/sample rate that is shown under the main time display).
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