Well - hoping some of our good Forum Bros and Broettes who are snowed in can maybe help.
 
Started a project and instantiated a track synth z3ta+1 Bank A [Program 000] - organish pad (mw)
I selected a Prochannel Preset (packaged with Cakewalk, I think) called "Synth - Warm Lead"
 
While listening I heard kind of a crackling noise in the synth, which is strange because I'm freaking half deaf.  But, it was there. Thought it was maybe my headphones, but checked with a pair of ear buds and heard the same thing.  So, I starting turning things on and off and isolated the source of the crackliness: was the ProChannel compressor.
 
So, I created a couple of exports (Track 5 and Track 6) and thought I'd hit you all up for some possible help.  All the applicable files (2 wav exports, a screen grab showing the compressor settings, and the preset itself) have been put into a dropbox folder.
 
Link here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bkzjyggqhjkvwv4/AACYshuN8gcgjd8fiK_QkXxxa?dl=0
 
Track 5  - Compressor is On - cracklely
Track 6  - Compressor is Off - much more smooth
 
Recording setting is 44.1 and 24bit
Any clue was to why the crackle-ish?  Didn't think a compressor would be so destructive to the sound. (I am mostly compressor ignant, BTW).
 
Thank you.
Jim
 
Computer is an i7-970 stand alone, Win 7, ASIO.  No issues with audio or latency.
 

Raise your buffers? Preferences > Audio > Driver Settings > Asio Panel

:Ditto - Raise your buffers....

Hi Jim I have download all the bits you put up and loaded them in to a X3e Producer project to test, big thanks this is the sort of input we need to be able to help.
 
I have played back the two tracks and I put Z3ta+1 up with you PC preset with some notes for it to play back..
 
I have also examined both of the wave files in Soundforge 9.
 
I can neither hear nor see any noise/crackling or anomalies in the wave forms that could indicate a source of noise/crackling.
 
Can I ask what Audio interface you are using?

Are you certain you put the correct files up? I don't hear any noise or crackling at all. So if you do hear it then either your ears are much more sensitive than mine or you have a problem at the sound card.
 

Jim:
 
I definitely hear it in the wave file that has the compression on.  It's very apparent when I listen to it with headphones.
 
It almost sounds like it's distortion due to way to much compression.  It's also spread across the stereo spectrum, not in one place.
 
I'd definitely try restarting everything.  Then I'd try playing with buffers.  I'd also see if turning off the chorus effect in the patch you are using makes a difference as it seems to me as though the distortion follows the chorus effect.
 
Sorry I don't have any definitive suggestions,
Paul

I have just listened very carefully on two different sets of headphones D100's and an old Hi Fi TripleTone Set that are open backed.  The noise you are hearing is within the Patch itself and the compressor is emphasising the underlying noise.  I noticed a distinct increase when the compressor pre set you included is engaged as I would expect because it will raise the noise floor. 

Wookiee
The noise you are hearing is within the Patch itself and the compressor is emphasising the underlying noise.  I noticed a distinct increase when the compressor pre set you included is engaged as I would expect because it will raise the noise floor. 

To add to that, a compressor is like putting a magnifying glass on a signal...and the more compression you use, the greater the amount of magnification.

This! This is why I love you guys!  Many thanks!  I lernt stuff!
 
Going to spend a bit of time in Youtube Compression tutorials.
 
Stay warm.
 
Jim

My apologies. When you said you were half deaf I was expecting something more dramatic so I just listened to the files through my desktop sound card and desktop speakers.
 
Now I have fired up my Focusrite Scarlett and my Makie HR824 monitors and turned up the volume. It's amazing what quality near-fields can do to reveal the truth. Yes, I hear it plain as day now but I don't have an answer for your dilemma other than to say that maybe you don't need compression on that synth. I think it sounds great as it is. Or perhaps a different compressor would do a better job.
 
I have learned a lesson here and will be much more careful in the future.