audio dropouts and static

Well, there could be some settings causing this, or your system could maybe not have enough horsepower (or have a Wi-Fi adapter), or one or more plugins could be causing latency spikes.
 
It makes it easier for us to help you if you post your system specs in your forum profile's Signature section, as it gives us an instant snapshot of what you are running, which speeds up the debugging process (not always, but many times it does).
 
If you look at the bottom of my post, you will see my specs (as an example) - to post yours in all future posts, go to the top of the forum page and click User Control Panel, then click on Signature and Comment, then add your specs, check the box to 'always attach signature to post', then click Save Profile.
 
In any case, I would like you to post the following information:
 
Audio Interface: Sample Rate, ASIO Buffer Size
 
Sonar: Driver Mode, Sample Rate, Record Bit-Depth, Total Roundtrip Latency (All of the Sonar info is in Preferences)
 
The above will tell me if your settings are out of whack a bit, and if so, they can likely be set to where you don't have these dropouts.
 
It is also possible that one or more plugins are causing the latency.  You can quickly test this by hitting 'E' on your computer keyboard - this will temporarily 'Bypass All Effects'.  If your dropouts go away, then indeed one or more plugins are causing the problems.  (Hit 'E' again to turn effects back on when done).
 
Some plugins are not meant to be used in tracking (recording), but instead are meant for mixing/mastering.  These plugins, by their design, use either look-ahead processing or require high CPU cycles to do what they do.  If these are causing your dropouts, then swap them out for less demanding plugins - just while you are recording your tracks, then when ready for mixing, put those plugins back in and make your ASIO Buffer Size large enough to accommodate the extra demands of these plugins.  This is what most folks do, keep latency low for recording, then raise it and put in the plugins meant for mixing/mastering when you are ready to mix.
 
If you have a Wi-Fi adapter, this often causes big latency spikes, and turning it off or disabling it prior to firing up Sonar will often get rid of dropouts (common issue with laptops running Sonar. but some folks use wireless on desktops).
 
I hope the above helps.
 
Bob Bone
 

HI Westside Steve:
 
If you run the DPC Latency checker (http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml ) and get no spikes, you can narrow down the cause of the issues to something less serious than device drivers. If you are getting spikes when you run the DPC latency checker, you have to find the device/s with the bad driver/s. In that case, see the guide in the link above.
 
If you're not getting any spikes when you run DPC Latency checker, try tweaking the Record and Playback I/O buffer sizes using increments or decrements of 128. That's in Advanced View of the Unified Preferences View under Audio>Sync and Caching under the File System section.
 
I don't see any specific system specs listed from you, but I'll try to post some more helpful info.
 
Wireless network devices are known to be a culprit of dropouts, so it's recommended to disable them.
 
Also firewire adapters that are non-TI chipsets (non Texas Instrument chipset) have been reported, to cause drop outs pops and clicks. If you're using a firewire audio interface, using the legacy driver for IEEE 1394 firewire bus host controller (in Device Manager) has also been known to solve problems with dropouts, pops, and clicks during playback and recording. That's probably not the problem because you would experience dropouts, pops and clicks more often than just occasionally.
 
Lastly, you say you're only running 10 audio tracks, but how many VST/DX FX and VSTI/DXi are you running, could your audio interface's buffer size be too low for running a lot of effects and softsynths? Have you tried increasing the buffer size during playback?
 
Finally, if you're running Windows 7, disabling core-parking has resolved issues of dropouts, pops and clicks. I think this is a tweak everyone running a DAW should make.
 
CJay makes a good point about driver modes.
 
Hope that helps.

Nicely stated, Konrad.  :)
 
I agree - I cannot tell you how many times I have posted on this issue, but it is easily the most common issue I respond to.
 
I DO enjoy it when folks get their settings or environment to a good place, where the dropouts vanish, because they get so instantly happy with life.  :)
 
Bob Bone
 

OK processor is an Intel i7 4820 K running at 3.7 gigahertz. In preferences it says mixing latency buffers in playback 2. Buffer size all the way to the left, fast. 5.8 millisecond latency _ 256 samples. ASIO audio buffer size is set on 6.

Thanks
WSS

total round trip is 28.9 milliseconds 1274 samples. I do havea wifi adapter plugged in.
Will do latency mod.
WSS

Yea, your WIFI in your PC can cause Static burst.

We're still working somewhat in the dark, here. I don't see where the OP has lists important information:
 
1) What operating system he is running or what audio interface he is running (two very important system specs.)
 
2) The number of VST or softsynth he has loaded in the project. This info is needed to give us an idea of what kind of work load the OP is running in the SONAR project that exhibits the drop outs and static.  Playback and Record I/O buffer size. Or is it just this project or all projects that exhibit the drop outs and static? With a CPU as fast as 3.7 GHz, the ASIO latency can be set at 64 or 128 samples for playback and recording.
 
To Op: in the Unified Preferences View select Advanced at the bottom of this dialog. Under Audio>Sync and Caching look under File System on the right?  What is the Playback and Record I/O buffer sizes set at?
 
The wireless network adapter certainly should be disabled when running SONAR. Disable it, and run the project. Is the problem still there after you disable the wireless network adapter?
 
I don't have Windows 8 or 8.1, but it still may be a matter as little as disabling core-parking, if he is running Windows 7. 

@thomasabarnes - you are quite correct, the OP has not listed much in the way of system specs.  I had asked the OP to list his specs in his profile signature, but so far he has not done so.
 
Hopefully, he will supply that information, so that we can better assist him with issues.
 
Bob Bone
 

Hi Robert:
 
With CJay, you, and me helping him, he will most likely be OK.

Heh. in the late seventy's we got canned from a gig without pay because I launchetched into our omnipresent disco sucks routine. In those days, when there was actually a Musicians Union, we went before a board comprised of 5 old Italian guys who played music for a living since they got off the boat. They ask the club or what I said that was so offensive? He replied disco sucks! The old guy laughed out loud and said pay the boys!

but I've been using cakewalk since version 3 on floppy desk. I've just not had this problem before and quite honestly don't know very much about the computer end of things. Sorry and thanks for the help guys. And I have known of CJ for many years! Thanks again.
WSS

(Don't tell anyone, but I did too - specially the Bee Gees)
 
Ssshhh, 
 
To the original poster - I have now asked a couple of times, at least, and so has thomasabarnes, that you please provide your system specs, in detail.
 
This is SO WE CAN HELP YOU.  Even if YOU don't have a good awareness of the computer end of things, it matters, and if folks get tired of asking for information that you for whatever reason do not provide, then you will find yourself losing folks from the thread (the ones that could help you).
 
So, PLEASE re-read the posts for the info we requested, and post your information, actually, please add it to your forum profile's Signature section, as was originally asked.  The bottom of my posts contains an example of listing one's specs.
 
(@thomasbarnes - by the way, that ASIO button in Preferences only works for some audio interfaces, and for others you have to launch them from the Windows System Tray).
 
Bob Bone
 

You're OK - we're still here, trying to help you through this.
 
I look forward to your upcoming detailed post, 
 
Bob Bone
 

 
 
 @Robert
 
I suspect his issue will be resolved by disabling all and any wireless adapters, disabling  core-parking, having SONAR setup for a correct ThreadSchedulingModel of a 1 or 2 setting (the default being 1,) having reasonable playback and record I/O buffer settings typically 128 or 256 for non SSD drives, and an ASIO buffer size setting of 256 or lower.
 
Then, the important things are to find out how many hard drives, types and speed of the Hard drives, did he get any spikes running latency Monitor (as you say DPC Latency Checker doesn't work reliably in Win 8.1,) How many effects and softsynths are in the project and which ones are they.
 
I wonder: is disabling core-parking in Win 8.1 an acceptable and beneficial windows tweak anymore?

Your PC should be rocking that track. Sometimes I have had to re load a soft synth or two to get everything back to normal.

CJaysMusic
Disable your Wireless.
 
you never listed your ASIO buffers or WDM slider settings? Why? Also, you never listed your recording and playback I/O buffers? Why? what about your buffers in Que? This needs to be listened also. 
 
 
CJ

Sorry
it says here sample rate 44100
Mixing latency buffers in playback queue 2
buffer size all the way to the left 11.6 milliseconds
(the above two appear to be grayed out)
512 samples
this changes according to where I shut the slider in the ASIOpanel.
ASIO panel audio buffer size slider set at 7 which results in 512 asio buffer size.

I guess I'm not exactly sure where to find the recording and playback buffer information.
WSS