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#451481 01/16/18 06:38 AM
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Been using BIAB for years, this just started. When I play any backing track it sounds like there's a loose wire on the speaker, that scratchy staticy noise, and it's coming out of each of the 4 speakers. But it only happens with BIAB. Any other app the sound is fine (youtube, software piano, etc). I'm not aware of any changes to any software. I'm at a loss, any thoughts where to start?

BIAB 2016 (438), Windows 7, audiophile 2496 connected to Sony amp and stereo system.

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Could be one of several causes. Because the sound is OK on other apps, my first thought is sound card buffer size. You may think if your DAW or other music program is OK then BIAB should be also, but BIAB requires more CPU power than most programs.

Is this an older M-Audio 2496 card? Running on ASIO? Increase the buffer size.

Otherwise please provide more info. What is your single-core Geekbench (free) score?

Does DPC Latency Checker (also free) show red spikes?

How much free space by % is on your hard drive (more than 15, I hope)?

Are all your audio and video drivers up to date?

You say it just started. What could have just changed such as a Windows update?


BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Originally Posted By: MarkL
Been using BIAB for years, this just started. When I play any backing track it sounds like there's a loose wire on the speaker, that scratchy staticy noise, and it's coming out of each of the 4 speakers. But it only happens with BIAB. Any other app the sound is fine (youtube, software piano, etc). I'm not aware of any changes to any software. I'm at a loss, any thoughts where to start?

BIAB 2016 (438), Windows 7, audiophile 2496 connected to Sony amp and stereo system.



Interesting. I got static today as well, seemingly after I upgraded to BIAB 2018.

But if you are at 2016 with the problem, perhaps it is something in a recent Windows update and sound handling.

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Mark,

Have a listen to Glenn's below static and see if yours is similar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpL3CJW5byA&feature=youtu.be

As you can hear from the video clip, Glenn's static occurs in short bursts at regular intervals.

Regards,
Noel


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Originally Posted By: Noel96
Mark,
Have a listen to Glenn's below static and see if yours is similar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpL3CJW5byA&feature=youtu.be
As you can hear from the video clip, Glenn's static occurs in short bursts at regular intervals.

Mine's nothing like that. Mine is not regular, it's not a hiss, and isn't nearly as loud.

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Thanks for the added information.

Try this, it might help...

1. On the very top menu bar, under "Audio | Audio Drivers/Settings", change the audio driver to MME. It's probably set to WAS or ASIO at the moment.

2. Exit BIAB.

3. Restart the computer just to make sure that all memories are cleared (a simple log off does not do this).

4. When the computer has fully booted, start BIAB and see if the problem persists.

Regards,
Noel


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Haven't had time to follow up on all your suggestions but here's where I'm at:

Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
Is this an older M-Audio 2496 card? Running on ASIO? Increase the buffer size.

Card is from 2008. It's running ASIO, sample rate 44.1kHz, buffer size 64. Haven't had a chance to try with larger buffer. I do notice that if I just play my piano on the thru channel but without the backing track playing, there's far less static than if I just play the backing track.

Quote:
Otherwise please provide more info. What is your single-core Geekbench (free) score?

1835/4770

Quote:
Does DPC Latency Checker (also free) show red spikes?

Haven't run it

Quote:
How much free space by % is on your hard drive (more than 15, I hope)?

50%

Quote:
Are all your audio and video drivers up to date?

Audiophile has latest updates, video driver I'm not sure.

Quote:
You say it just started. What could have just changed such as a Windows update?

I checked the windows update log, it's all antivirus, MSE security stuff. The last non security update was .NET framework a week ago.

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Geekbench score is adequate but not great. By audio driver, I mean the driver for your 2496, not the BIAB update (however, that just went to 509 today).

However:

The buffer size of 64 sounds like the problem to me. Jack that up to 500 or thereabouts.


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Originally Posted By: Matt Finley

Is this an older M-Audio 2496 card? Running on ASIO? Increase the buffer size.

I increased the buffer size and it solved the problem. It was 64, went to 256 and problem gone. Tried 128 and it was better than 64 but still noticeable. I have no idea what caused this to show up, but I'm happy it's solved.
tnx

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I'll add this just in case it helps someone else searching the forum to solve a static noise issue.

I had random quiet crackling going on similar to a bad speaker cable or speaker jack but rather quiet.

Solution for me was to put my wireless keyboard and mouse receiver (a square USB gadget about the size of my thumb nail) on a little 6 inch USB extension. I guess it was too close to the computer (laptop) itself and too close to the other USB connections. Moving it farther away solved the problem.

The nearby USB connections have my BIAB hardrive and my Audio Interface connected.


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That's interesting, Tobias, and very useful information. It's something that would never have crossed my mind.


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Oh yes, RFI is one of the more fun challenges. But MarkL’s problem turned out to be buffer size, my first guess.


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Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
Oh yes, RFI is one of the more fun challenges. But MarkL’s problem turned out to be buffer size, my first guess.
Well, i begin to doubt the relation between static and buffersize: ASIO, 512 samples, USB soundmodule set to 44.1kHz. Rarely i work with the audio track in BIAB (510), but for an arrangement job imported a 16 bi6 44,1 kHz mono file. Graphics look OK, but seemingly at different places i get static for about 2 secconds, very loud. AND THEN THE WEIRD THING: when you solo the audio track with the editor open: NO STATIC, muting the Audio track, still bursts of static. Erasing the audiotrack, stilil static, reloading the song, still static. (other songs that never had audio, no static).


UPDATE: reloaded after a 2nd reboot, and then there was NO STATIC. Wonder if it has to do with windows ... - F

ideas welcome anyway.... PS, i'll be off-line a few days from 31- Jan.

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2 seconds of loud static might be a plugin telling you it is not registered.


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That's a good on Matt !: i have tried out a few trials recently, like ozone 8 ... i'll check if the .dlls are gone.

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Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
2 seconds of loud static might be a plugin telling you it is not registered.
Well, finally got the time to suss things out. REMOVED all DX and VST pluggies (none' selected), but the static (2sec) bursts are there as soon as a mono 44.1 kHz 16bit mono audio file is loaded (the static is not visible on the Audiotrack edit page). Always at the same bar, unless you quit BIAB, reloading the lot ... static still there, different spots.

Muting Audio, static still there. Killing Audio ... still there, but seemingly less frequent.

Loading a song without Audio, (no reboot of BIAB necessary) no static. Saved the song MGU without audio, reloaded it, imported the Audio ... still static, other place, and less bursts .... beats me ..

PS, ASIO, WAS, MME all behave the same.

Q: In what folders does BIAB search for pluggies? Is there a txt or lst file to manually edit the plugins listed? In the dialog DX/VST where one selects plugins manually there's none present that might be suspicious. - F

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I don't know about BIAB handling plugins; I use my DAW for that. Others here do use them in BIAB, though, and perhaps they will help.

Another wild guess: did you recently buy a new wireless router, or wireless keyboard or mouse? Or move a router next to your PC?

Can you record this sound and post it? Maybe Dropbox?


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Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
Another wild guess: did you recently buy a new wireless router, or wireless keyboard or mouse? Or move a router next to your PC?
nope, no blueutooth, no wireless, USB can be the culprit, doubtful though ...

Well i am updating my sound module, new firmware available, and once i figure out were BIAB looks for the plugins, AND if you're right, there might be a stray one ... My guess is now that it might be related to audio frequencies, and maybe i should create the file from another source, or test all in Realband first. All in due time, later thus, busy week ahead ... F

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USB noise, unlikely. You could try swapping cables, though.

Wireless can cause RFI.

Can you record this sound and post it?


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Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
Can you record this sound and post it?
here ya' go: static
... ps there is a left-right unbalance too, right is louder ..

Surprise ... in REALBAND the static is on a RT, not the audiotrack; i'll have to re-install that file i guess:

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