S4 on PC - AUDIO DROPOUT FIX

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S4 on PC - AUDIO DROPOUT FIX
Posted on: 29.11.2010 by Tari Ambers
Hi,

I was experiencing major regular audio dropouts when i connected and tried to use my S4, I was extremely dissapointed, and even went "almost" as far as believeing about buying a mac! LOL... anyway, I fixed the problem (for me anyway) I have an HP Pavilion DV6 with intel i7, running windows 7 64bit.

What i did is take out the battery and run my computer straight off power while im using the S4, if you still get dropouts after this, try a different USB port, and increase buffer size (latency)... Worked for me, No dropouts, No crackles... Goodluck!


Magintz
Alan Bayter
09.01.2011
Originally Posted by Nicky H
And there ya go - everyone was quick to jump on NI about this and suprise suprise it's cos they don't have all there Windows updates on
I've tried this and it does improve things but it doesn't take the drop-outs away completely. They still occur occasionally but it's a lot less noticeable.

I'd like note to others that it's not a fully tested and reliable solution to this problem.
Moira Derstine
09.01.2011
Thing is, I did have my updates on. This is a pain in the bum to install, need to download a passworded file etc.

But it DEFINITELY works. I've still got all my wireless and everything on (using s4 now), and latency down to second from lowest setting.

Originally Posted by Nicky H
And there ya go - everyone was quick to jump on NI about this and suprise suprise it's cos they don't have all there Windows updates on
Alan Bayter
08.12.2010
Originally Posted by NickGadget
Tried Gamebooster - didn't help.
Tried LatencyMon and disabled a few things it suggested - didn't help.
Tried removing the battery - didn't help.
Tried removing all antivirus software - didn't help.
I know exactly why you're having these problems. Poorly tested and written audio drivers!

I've used the novation nio and the Indigo express card that came with high quality drivers. I've never seen so many problems with latency as I have with the S4 audio card.

NI should really hire an windows 7 64 bit developer and fix their drivers ASAP so that everyone can stop wasting their time performing meaningless tweaks to there operating system.

Has anyone used ASIO4ALL driver with the S4 audio?
nayit ruiz jaramillo
02.12.2010
Originally Posted by dannybyrne29
It's gone... i've put norton trial on for 30 days... i'll see how it runs tommorow.

any recommendations for the best AV..!
Just turn Norton OFF completely when running Traktor.
All AV interfere with real time audio.

Got McAfee on my home PC but im Mac for DJing so i dont bother with AV:eek:
Francina Decosse
02.12.2010
Originally Posted by RunningManDJ
I can't comment on the $4 on a PC (as I switched to Mac a few months ago) but I've had Traktor products on many PCs over the last 10 years (since Final Scratch). You really should optimize it for DJing. No network, virus, or other background programs. Run msconfig and disable anything not necessary to boot.
I wouldn't recommend running windows without AV protection. Traktor runs fine with nod32, based on my experience.
Alan Bayter
09.01.2011
Originally Posted by Nicky H
And there ya go - everyone was quick to jump on NI about this and suprise suprise it's cos they don't have all there Windows updates on
I've tried this and it does improve things but it doesn't take the drop-outs away completely. They still occur occasionally but it's a lot less noticeable.

I'd like note to others that it's not a fully tested and reliable solution to this problem.
Janyce Henningson
09.01.2011
Glad it's sorted for ya mate - it was only meant tongue-in-cheek
Moira Derstine
09.01.2011
Thing is, I did have my updates on. This is a pain in the bum to install, need to download a passworded file etc.

But it DEFINITELY works. I've still got all my wireless and everything on (using s4 now), and latency down to second from lowest setting.

Originally Posted by Nicky H
And there ya go - everyone was quick to jump on NI about this and suprise suprise it's cos they don't have all there Windows updates on
Janyce Henningson
09.01.2011
And there ya go - everyone was quick to jump on NI about this and suprise suprise it's cos they don't have all there Windows updates on
Moira Derstine
09.01.2011
I was having the same trouble exactly and did this (from NI site).

12. Microsoft hotfix for USB spikes
There is a known issue regarding the functionality of external high-speed USB audio interfaces under Windows 7 or Windows Vista Systems. You can find further info and a hotfix from Microsoft here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/981214

!00% worked for me, went from crackly piece of s*** to CPU meter stays below half with all samples running, a loop, 6 x effects and two tracks running.
Alan Bayter
08.12.2010
Originally Posted by NickGadget
Tried Gamebooster - didn't help.
Tried LatencyMon and disabled a few things it suggested - didn't help.
Tried removing the battery - didn't help.
Tried removing all antivirus software - didn't help.
I know exactly why you're having these problems. Poorly tested and written audio drivers!

I've used the novation nio and the Indigo express card that came with high quality drivers. I've never seen so many problems with latency as I have with the S4 audio card.

NI should really hire an windows 7 64 bit developer and fix their drivers ASAP so that everyone can stop wasting their time performing meaningless tweaks to there operating system.

Has anyone used ASIO4ALL driver with the S4 audio?
Hilary Grown
03.12.2010
Man oh man.

I'm having a lot of problems, right now there are more snaps, crackles and pops than in a thousand boxes of Rice Krispies...

Tried Gamebooster - didn't help.
Tried LatencyMon and disabled a few things it suggested - didn't help.
Tried removing the battery - didn't help.
Tried removing all antivirus software - didn't help.

Quite often it won't load a track, no matter how I select it. Also, when loading a track the program freezes up for 10-15 seconds.
Hitting the browse button creates a really nice freeze.

To me the entire software seems to be filled with bugs, but since everyone doesn't have these problems it has to be something else...
Kristian Buneta
02.12.2010
My good friend knaumov has come to save the day! hahahah
Francina Decosse
02.12.2010
Did a search on the net and found few success reports with DV6 books. Also found few unsuccessful, but I bet it's just that these guys didn't set something properly and were not stubborn enough.

It definitely works and you'll probably manage to do it. i7 is supported, as the new MBPs have it. Nvidia 320 too. All the hardware is supported - either with the OS X stock components or the custom hacks (= kext = kernel extensions).


You can give it a shot using this distro (pre-hacked OS X 10.6.3 installation):
http://www.osx86install.com/support/...intel-dvd.html
http://www.osx86install.com/support/...s3-readme.html

Have in mind few important things, which may help a lot:
1) Have a 2nd computer around. Use it for internet access to support you through the process. Google if you don't know what something is or what to do next.
2) Be prepared and plan to repeat the process few times (say 2-3 or so ...) before considering it done.
3) Experiment. Don't be afraid and don't regret if something is not going well. You can always repeat it. You HAVE to repeat it in order to learn it.
4) Try different settings. Be agressive. if it brakes badly or don't know what to do, redo it.
5) Don't waste too much time in troubleshooting if you don't have a clue where to touch or look for the thing. Not before you learn the process and start to understand how it works.
6) Update the OS X to 10.6.5 post installation. See if it brakes. Find a way to fix it (success reports are there). You have to know if and how you can update it.
7) Dual Boot is doable. Be prepared that it may not work immediately. Also you may have to sacrifice a Windows installation if something goes wrong. Redo's your friend again.


LOL, sorry 'bout this stupid redoing but that's how the learning works. every next time you're more knowledgable and more careful. Of course, being less of a perfectionist would also speed the things. It may appear that it'll even be perfect from the very first time ... you have to try ...


Here's a video demonstrating the beginning of the setup process and the exact selection of settings/drivers. The guy claims it's optimal - not optimal IMO, but very likely they'll work for you too (only i7 to be considered):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XW6bvGig0s


I can only wish you good luck!

P.S. I'm believeing to try it out over the weekend on some office comp. it won't be a DV6 but I'd like to test it too ... mrs will kill me, but anyway
Naoma Rohlik
02.12.2010
Hi Loop... yeah i've got a HP Pav DV6 i7 and i does'nt like the S4 at all....
It takes forever to turn stuff off and tweak other stuff if i wanna use it so i'm starting to lose interest to tell you the truth.... !

I would'nt know how to Hackintosh my machine but how sure are you that it'll work coz i might give it a go..!
Francina Decosse
02.12.2010
danny, I'm watching your posts for long (i'm loopbg on the NI community s) and I feel your pain dude

have you thought of trying the hackintosh path? You had some HP if I'm not wrong ... I can see if I could pave your way a little ....
Naoma Rohlik
02.12.2010
Cheers guys.... I also tried rolling back my Nvidia drivers to the standard VGA drivers but that caused alsorts of issues including loose the ability to have a seperate monitor duplicating my laptop screen..... but the pops and crackles seemed to clear a little.... any ideas on an alternative driver for the Nvidia Geforce 320 that would still get the best from my card..!
nayit ruiz jaramillo
02.12.2010
Originally Posted by dannybyrne29
It's gone... i've put norton trial on for 30 days... i'll see how it runs tommorow.

any recommendations for the best AV..!
Just turn Norton OFF completely when running Traktor.
All AV interfere with real time audio.

Got McAfee on my home PC but im Mac for DJing so i dont bother with AV:eek:
Mac Fly
02.12.2010
The guys suggestion actually works. Instead of taking out your battery you can go to device manager and dissable anything related to your computers battery...Microsoft AC adapter etc.

The CPU meter stays out of the red even when I scratch and I here no clicks in browse mode. However I do still get some glitches in the software and crackles from time to time, but it seems it tends to happen in the first 15 mins or so the controller and sofware are running. It seems to stablize over time.

I will try out the S4 in the club on Saturday and note if I have any problems.
Francina Decosse
02.12.2010
Originally Posted by RunningManDJ
I can't comment on the $4 on a PC (as I switched to Mac a few months ago) but I've had Traktor products on many PCs over the last 10 years (since Final Scratch). You really should optimize it for DJing. No network, virus, or other background programs. Run msconfig and disable anything not necessary to boot.
I wouldn't recommend running windows without AV protection. Traktor runs fine with nod32, based on my experience.
Francina Decosse
02.12.2010
nod32 is a light one and generally adequate with catching viruses.

don't know how it would perform with the S4 though, but you could give it a shot ...

EDIT: the link i posted above is to the edition with Firewall & Anti Spam, which is good. The basic one is http://www.eset.com/home/nod32-antivirus
Clinton Kordell
02.12.2010
I can't comment on the $4 on a PC (as I switched to Mac a few months ago) but I've had Traktor products on many PCs over the last 10 years (since Final Scratch). You really should optimize it for DJing. No network, virus, or other background programs. Run msconfig and disable anything not necessary to boot.
Naoma Rohlik
01.12.2010
Originally Posted by Karlos Santos
WHAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

Pleas tell me you havent...

AVG is a curse on any laptop that runs real time audio.

Bin It dude.
It's gone... i've put norton trial on for 30 days... i'll see how it runs tommorow.

any recommendations for the best AV..!
nayit ruiz jaramillo
01.12.2010
Originally Posted by dannybyrne29
believe it might be the crap AVG anti virus i've got running..!
WHAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

Pleas tell me you havent...

AVG is a curse on any laptop that runs real time audio.

Bin It dude.
Naoma Rohlik
01.12.2010
latency 512... just tried it but still very poor..... gonna flatten my laptop this weekend and start from scratch i believe...!!
Tari Ambers
30.11.2010
What r ur latency settings on?
Naoma Rohlik
30.11.2010
yeah...still got a few pops when in browser mode... believe it might be the crap AVG anti virus i've got running..!
Tari Ambers
30.11.2010
Please read my previous post... Have you tried what I mentioned? Explain...?
Naoma Rohlik
30.11.2010
what else have you turned off coz i got the same lappy as you..!
Tari Ambers
30.11.2010
The only changes I have made are the ones I mentioned. Anti-virus running norton, all other stuff u mentioned is still running, I am using the usb port on the left... Just take the damn battery out...
Naoma Rohlik
30.11.2010
I've got the same lappy as you....

Do you also disable all the other crap as recommended such as the network adapter/webcam/ACPI etc or is removing the battery totally cleared your crackles...?

which USB port are you using...?

what have you done to yours and what Anti virus are you running...?

cheers

Danny

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