popping and cracking

Hi, Sirena.
Are you using a software synthesizer for the vibes? If so, which one?
When mixing/mastering tracks or songs, it's sometimes a good idea to increase the latency so any problems with playback are lessened, such as pops and clicks, since the processor doesn't have to work so hard to play all the audio and synth tracks.
If using MME or WDM drivers, just increase the latency from the Options menu. If using ASIO drivers, open Options and click the ASIO Panel box to change the latency.
You may have to close and re-open MC for the changes to take effect.

 
i'm using the vibes that are within MC3.  i don't know how to use plug-ins yet.  (i've read some of the threads about this, but i have no clue of how to start.)  to be more specific when i open the MIDI track, i select the channel, the bank and the patch: vibraphone.  then i click ALT+7 and i insert the notes i want on the  STAFF VIEW.  in this specific song that's the only track so far, i have to add an AUDIO track for my voice.  (on another song i have three different MIDI tracks and then i added voice and it came out exactly like i wanted, not one single pop or crackle.)
 
i use the WDM driver, my computer went a little crazy when i tried ASIO, so i extracted it.  among the suggestions i read it included changing the latecy on the first window of AUDIO, which i did.  but it made it worse.  i also tweeked the I/O buffer size up and down (an MC suggestion) but it also made it worse.  i also changed the playback queue but nothing changed. 
 
the thing is that i managed to make two songs the same way with no particular negative effect.  i already sang my track and it came out beautiful.  the new mike brings the special qualities that my voice has naturally.  it seems that i'm going to have to enter those songs again.    aaaaahhhhhgggg! (high C).
 
Kalle:  i call the Lexicon Alpha a pre-amp because that's how i've seen it called before by others that i believe are more knowlegeable than i in this techie stuff.   if you want to call it a sound card that's good to me too, i don't care of its name but that it does what its supposed to do.  the Conexant card is in my computer but when i connect the Alpha through the USB port it renders it useless, ( i always check the control panel>sound and audio devices window and it always changes)  although i have the problem that sometimes the DRIVER PROFILE window will not stay on the Alpha.  when that happens usually i don't get any sound.  when i change it manually the sound comes back. 
 
sirena del mar

I probably did say that, and generally, it is true.

The pops and clicks in the music are usually caused by the processor not being able to process the music in real time to play it back flawlessly. As a result it drops the sections it has to, to keep up. You hear the dropped section as a pop. BUT, when it gets rendered to WAVE or bounced, the processor can take it's time and it should render the parts perfectly.

If not, perhaps the pops are on the track? Listen to the track soloed, and see if the pop occurs in the exact same place every time. If it does, it is in the track and will always be transferred when the bounce is done or the tracks are exported as a song.

If what you made late at night were just MIDI-tracks (you did not bounce them to audio) I don't think they can have pops or crackles, so the heating up of the PC could not be the cause. MIDI just basicly tells when to start, which note, when to stop. This info, AFAIK, can not have crackles or any other anomalies. You can hear such during the playback, caused by drivers or whatever, but there are no pops saved in the MIDI data.  It's either transmitted or not. The crackles come when you bounce.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Guess what?  the popping and crackling sounds have returned and getting worse.  the thing of it is that when i'm using the Conexant sound card, the one built in the computer, i don't hear the pops and cracks.  is when i attach the Lexicon Alpha that it pops.  but i cannot sing into the computer unless i attach the LA.  could there be something wrong with the LA?  how do i know that the LA is working properly?  the wave profile seems to be saying its working well, but what do i know?   only bought it in Nov!  how long does a sound card lives?  i have all the music ready and i cannot finish my proyect and i'm so frustrated!

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp!  (in high C, actually i can reach high Bb!)

sirena del mar

I would try a new interface. Something like one of the M-Audio models or the Focusrite interfaces. Buy it at a reputable store and you have a 30 to 45 day return policy.

Somewhere in the back recesses of my memory, I seem to recall that the Lexicon series are just a tad bit better than the factory cards but still not really up to specs needed for professional recording.

Just my thoughts.... I would explore a new card/interface that uses USB to try to resolve it.

yup... just checked the lexicon series includes the Lambda....which, as I recall, is a real pain for the people who use it.

I'd consider a switch to something else. Just my 2 centavos!

I'm not an expert by any means on drivers, but I think when you DL it, it should install automatically where it needs to.  Then with a restart of the computer, it should be recognized by the LA... you select the ASIO driver and adjust the settings as needed to get it to run smoothly.

Just a note.... It took me the better part of 2 weeks to finally get MY system figured out the first time I set it up. One week to get sound of any sort and then a few more days to iron out the kinks in the way it worked.

Once you get it there, it should run the same way every time.