• SONAR
  • What is that scratchy, static noise?
2014/03/08 19:36:55
RobbieK
When I open X3 on my Win 8 laptop there is this scratchy, static type noise. When I open Preferences it completely goes away. I ran wave profiler but still there. When I start play it's still there until the music starts but I'm not sure if it's underneath it. Tried going offline, closing some prgms in Task Manager, etc. No go.
I've come to truly appreciate "Silence is Golden!"
Anyone else have this issue?
2014/03/08 20:33:27
robert_e_bone
Welcome to the forum, and if new to Sonar, welcome to Sonar as well.
 
It's a bit hard to tell what' going on, as you have not included any information on your audio settings, audio devices, and we could use more detail on your computer.
 
Lots of folks in the forums add information to their forum profile's Signature section, like you see at the bottom of my posts.
 
Listing this information helps folks when they are trying to help you, as it gives us a clear idea of your system and environment that are relevant to debugging system issues.
 
If you choose to add this info, you can look at the top of the forum page and click on User Control Panel, then click on Signature, add your info, check the box that says 'always attach signature to post', then click Save Profile.
 
OK, in any case, there is some additional info I would like you to post.  It sounds like you may either have some latency issues caused by either things like a Wi-Fi adapter being enabled and interfering with Sonar, or you may be using your laptop's internal sound chip and Windows WDM driver mode, rather than a dedicated audio interface.
 
So, please elaborate on the above, and respond with the following info:
 
1.  Are you using a dedicated audio interface, or are you using your laptop's on-board sound?
2.  In Sonar>Edit>Preferences>Audio>Playback and Recording, what Driver Mode are you running?
3.  IF using ASIO Driver Mode, in Sonar>Edit>Preferences>Audio>Driver Settings, what are the various ASIO-reported latency values?
 
IF you are trying to use your laptop's on-board sound, you will likely at some point need to pick up a dedicated audio interface of professional quality, to really get the most out of Sonar.
 
In the meantime, if this is how you are running, try disabling your Wi-Fi adapter - this may be done via a hardware switch, or you may have to go into Device Manager to disable it there.  You would essentially only disable your Wi-Fi just prior to starting Sonar up, and then when finished with your Sonar session, enable the Wi-Fi adapter again, to be able to get to the web.
 
The above MAY help with some latency issues, as Wi-Fi adapters can cause massive latency spikes, however the long-term solution is really to consider picking up some sort of dedicated audio interface, which can run from around $150 on up to a LOT, depending on features and inputs/outputs and that sort of thing.  Basic interfaces can still have really good sound quality - they may just be limited as to the number of other features they have, like maybe only 2 ins and outs instead of 8, and perhaps a lower grade of pre-amp or converters.
 
Anyways, I will look for your post back, and hope some of the above helps you out.  I will review your response and try to help, if I can.
 
Bob Bone
 
2014/03/08 21:15:46
RobbieK
Bingo! Wasn't using my interface. Plugged directly into the laptop.
Ahhhh...... the sound of silence.
 
Thanks for your help and fast response. There's a hell of a learning curve to work with the many tools of this software. Whew! a bit overwhelming at times. I had been using Sonar LE 4 for the past few years but only really understanding maybe 50% and not having a computer strong enough to utilize the latest tech - until I just got this one. I could get some decent mixes but there's so much more I could do..... 
2014/03/08 21:21:29
Cactus Music
Laptops can be especially problematic with Audio. They seem to use a lot more background processing and things like Battery management can interfere with audio streaming. Download the free DPCLAT test and make sure your running steady in the green, with or without your audio interface. You should be able to playback audio without an interface.  
 
http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml
2014/03/08 22:22:48
robert_e_bone
Glad you are sorted out.
 
Bob Bone
 
2014/03/08 23:01:27
RobbieK
Cactus Music
Laptops can be especially problematic with Audio. They seem to use a lot more background processing and things like Battery management can interfere with audio streaming. Download the free DPCLAT test and make sure your running steady in the green, with or without your audio interface. You should be able to playback audio without an interface.  
 



According to their website, this software is not compatible with Win 8.
2014/03/08 23:16:41
robert_e_bone
Yeah, for Windows 8, use LatencyMon, which you can get here:
 
http://www.resplendence.com/latencymon
 
Changes in the kernel between Win 7 and Win 8 make the time reported by DPC Latency Check invalid for Windows 8, but LatencyMon is quite good, and works fine with either Win 7 or 8.
 
Bob Bone
 
2014/03/09 01:32:37
bapu

What is that scratchy, static noise?

 
Most people in the songs forum say it's my singing.
 
 
I may have to agree with them.
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