Clicks

ThomasT · Post by **ThomasT** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 7:40 am

Hallo!

Setup:
pulsar II, pulsar I, pulsar I SRB
large project with 2448 and dynamic mixer

Sometimes I got some pseudoperiodical (means periodical but not exactly) clicks in intervall von ca. 10s. It came from the analog inputs of the pulsarII. I routed those inputs into the aux-returns of the 2448 and the bus level meter shows these clicks. If I mute this bus there are no clicks to hear.

So this cannot be a sync problem.

I connected a external Multi-FX
pII-analog outs -> FX -> pII-analog ins
So these clicks are only on the analog inputs of the pulsar II, the level meter of the FX do not show any clicks. I doubt they come from the FX itself, becaous they also appeared when I switched it off.

8-Bit · Post by **8-Bit** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 8:46 am

sounds like its broke, you can dontate your card to me if you want... I'll take care of it *grin*.

Honestly, i'm just bored and I have no idea why it would be doing that. Maybe the connetion has dirt in it? Thats the only thing i can think of. OR, maybe samplerates are differing... I have no idea.

I"M BORED!
8

snoopy4ever · Post by **snoopy4ever** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 10:19 am

Hello Thomas..

Can you tell me what do you have plugged intot he analog inputs??...
and..., Are you using any sort of external clock?

Snoopy.

On 2005-03-24 07:40, ThomasT wrote:
Hallo!

Setup:
pulsar II, pulsar I, pulsar I SRB
large project with 2448 and dynamic mixer

Sometimes I got some pseudoperiodical (means periodical but not exactly) clicks in intervall von ca. 10s. It came from the analog inputs of the pulsarII. I routed those inputs into the aux-returns of the 2448 and the bus level meter shows these clicks. If I mute this bus there are no clicks to hear.

So this cannot be a sync problem.

I connected a external Multi-FX
pII-analog outs -> FX -> pII-analog ins
So these clicks are only on the analog inputs of the pulsar II, the level meter of the FX do not show any clicks. I doubt they come from the FX itself, becaous they also appeared when I switched it off.

ThomasT · Post by **ThomasT** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 11:21 am

On the analog outputs I connected a digitec studioquad FX. Simply Stereo/2channels in and Stereo-Out into pulsarII analog input.

On the ADAT I/Os of the pulsarII are an
RME ADI-8 DS ADC-DAC which is master in the setup (pulsar sync to ADAT A)

On the other ADAT I/O I connected my selfbuild ADAT->4xSPDIF/4xSPDIF->ADAT converter.
I use this to insert other digital gear (e.g. Lexicon MPX500, M-One etc.). This converter is a little bit tricky. Since I want to keep the circuit simple the SPDIF->ADAT part derives it sync from the first SPDIF input.
Means it needs a correct insync SPDIF on input one. This is normally the only clicking error source. But in this case it's the analog inputs of the pulsar.

snoopy4ever · Post by **snoopy4ever** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 9:46 am

Very interesting Thomas..

I see you have good knowledge of digital audio and electronics. My experience is having clicks only if my digital I/O is not properly set.

Does the clicks on the analog input is caused only when the Digitech is connected.. does it happen when you have nothing connected to it.. (I mean not even a cable).

You could try that.. and later connect other thing such as a CD/Casette player or something..., if it continue you should check your analog cable (which I suppouse is a regular RCA one).

I use to have that behaviour once.. and allmost got crazy.., at the end (Who knows why) I had to change the card from one PCI slot to another and VOILA NO MORE CLICKS.

Hope this helps.

Snoopy.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: snoopy4ever on 2005-03-25 09:46 ]</font>

ThomasT · Post by **ThomasT** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 6:50 am

I see you have good knowledge of digital audio and electronics.

Yes, a little bit.
Its not that difficult, the most intelligence are in the ICs. You only have to connect them ...

My experience is having clicks only if my digital I/O is not properly set.

That was my first guess.
But it was.

Does the clicks on the analog input is caused only when the Digitech is connected.. does it happen when you have nothing connected to it.. (I mean not even a cable).

Yes. Thats why I know its the input not the digitec or the output.

I had this click only on the cold days after powering up the cold computer. Cold means 5 degrees celsius or something like that. When it is cold outside an I'm not in the studio for some days it becomes very cool. Isolation of that formerly garage is not that good.
So I assume its a contact problem.

Post by **hubird** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 9:20 am

fast temperature falls also generate condensing...

ThomasT · Post by **ThomasT** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 11:11 am

I noticed the temperatur dependece because I had no problems last week anymore[1]...

[1] I hope...I will check it later.

valis · Post by **valis** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 9:34 pm

Condensation was a thought of mine too. Similar to a mic, you might want to let everything come up to 'room temperature' before turning it all on. Either that or let the computer heat the room and not a heater

ThomasT · Post by **ThomasT** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 9:40 am

Just an update:

The periodical clicks are still there.
All I can say its not(!) the analog inputs!

It was only as I checked the problem. Indeed the click source can be any device.
So it was the additional dynamic mixer for submix (main mixer is the 2448), an external FX device, a input device like the analog ins or adat in.

Assuming the main 2448 including all inserts are calculated on one board. And since all other devices I mentioned are outside the 2448 I assume its a data transport problem between my three cards.

The problem can sometimes be solved after realoding the scope app or changed the sample rate or pressing the "phase align" button (in case of the dynamic mixer as click source).