I am using Sonar Platinum with the MOTU 1248 audio interface.  I am getting crackling when I record audio.  It doesn't matter if the source is MIDI, a live instrument or voice.  The crackling is getting recorded, I attached jpg of the wave, if you examine it zoomed in you can see there are little triangle waves randomly occurring throughout the audio.  They should not be there.

I am using a fast i7 chip with SSD drives, both for the main drive (OS and programs) and the data drive.   I have 16GB of RAM and there's nothing that I know of running in the background that might be causing this.  My latency measurements are excellent, when I measure latency for 30 seconds, my latency reporting software is showing a maximum of 165 microseconds.   I am running Windows 7 service pack 1 with recent updates.

I was having this problem with an older MOTU driver.  I downloaded and installed the newest driver, and the first time I recorded with the new driver, the problem was gone, but then it returned, sometimes I record and it's fine, another time and the crackling is back.  I have confirmed it's not clipping. It may be a Sonar problem, but I am not sure.

Any help is much appreciated!

Download and run the free Resplendence Latency Mon - just on the basic PC, not with the recording interface connected and see what it tells you.  I suspect there is a PC system issue causing that.  May even be just that its on-line.  I once had your problem and disabling the Ethernet NIC when recording fixed the problem.  
 
http://www.resplendence.com/latencymon

Do you have "Remove DC offset during recording" option turned on?
 
This old thread might apply:
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Sonar-IpswichLexington-Users-Remove-DC-Offset-During-Record-Heads-Up-m3337455.aspx#3377929
 
I would hope this bug has been fixed, but who knows....
 

fireberd
Download and run the free Resplendence Latency Mon - just on the basic PC, not with the recording interface connected and see what it tells you.  I suspect there is a PC system issue causing that.  May even be just that its on-line.  I once had your problem and disabling the Ethernet NIC when recording fixed the problem.  
 
http://www.resplendence.com/latencymon

Not sure you read my entire post.  I have already tested latency using similar software, max latency is 164 microseconds, well within spec for digital audio...

fireberd
Download and run the free Resplendence Latency Mon - just on the basic PC, not with the recording interface connected and see what it tells you.  I suspect there is a PC system issue causing that.  May even be just that its on-line.  I once had your problem and disabling the Ethernet NIC when recording fixed the problem.  
 
http://www.resplendence.com/latencymon

 
 

WalkerTalker
Do you have "Remove DC offset during recording" option turned on?
 
This old thread might apply:
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Sonar-IpswichLexington-Users-Remove-DC-Offset-During-Record-Heads-Up-m3337455.aspx#3377929
 
I would hope this bug has been fixed, but who knows....
 

Thanks, I'll try turning it off as soon as I get into the studio,  I know it is on, didn't know there might be an issue with it...
 

I took your post as you ran a latency program for your recording setup and not the basic PC, which is what I was referring to with latency mon program.  Could be your problem is somewhere in the PC rather than with the recording equipment setup.  

Have you tried swapping out all cables involved, both audio and USB? 
 
To trouble shoot these issues you have to try swapping things out until you find the culprit Using alternate hardware including if you can all cables first, then a different interface. Go borrow one from someone or your local dealer. 
 
I test my computers background noise by recording silence into Wave Lab. I once had an issue with my wireless mouse creating static in the monitors. It didn't get recorded and that's how I tested it. 
You should see what you get if you try this with some Laptops and onboard audio, a huge noise floor happening.  
 

Cactus Music
Have you tried swapping out all cables involved, both audio and USB? 
 
To trouble shoot these issues you have to try swapping things out until you find the culprit Using alternate hardware including if you can all cables first, then a different interface. Go borrow one from someone or your local dealer. 

+1
 
Good advise Johnny