Pulsar II - clicks and noise...

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bassdude
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Post by bassdude »

On 2003-10-08 09:19, Badger wrote:

Could the lack of wave dest modules in the scope project/ASIO MM testing have been the problem?
The cause of the failing ASIO MM test? Yes. The wave dest is the wave inputs for cubase when using the ASIO MM driver.
For me, if the ASIO MM test did not pass then cubase would not work properly when using the ASIO scope driver.
Seems very weird to me, especially as I'm using ASIO Scope and not the ASIO Multimedia driver in SX devices - but hey, I'm happy if it solves the problem...
Yes it is weird!

In my projects I've always had at least one wave dest whether I used it or not. Mainly for sending to Cool Edit Pro though.
I might try removing the wave dest and see if it affects anything in Nuendo. I'm pretty sure it won't though.
Badger
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Post by Badger »

On 2003-10-08 19:47, bassdude wrote:
I might try removing the wave dest and see if it affects anything in Nuendo. I'm pretty sure it won't though.
I agree that it does seem unlikely, but it would be interesting to hear the results of your test nonetheless...
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interloper
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Post by interloper »

On 2003-10-08 19:47, bassdude wrote:

For me, if the ASIO MM test did not pass then cubase would not work properly when using the ASIO scope driver.
That's always been the case for me as well, since using Cubase from 2000 until now.
Micha
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Post by Micha »

busmastering is disabled for Matrox 550?
Badger
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Post by Badger »

OK folks, after being lulled into a false sense of security, a while later the problem reared it's crackly head again! So it appears that the crackles weren't caused by the wave source/dest modules issue.

Thanks Micha - bus-mastering WAS enabled, so I have now disabled it (along with "hardware draws color cursors" or whatever), but that made no difference - the crackles returned.

However, have just downloaded the latest driver for the Matrox G550, so will give that a go...

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Badger on 2003-10-11 19:48 ]</font>
Badger
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Post by Badger »

Well, I've now downloaded and installed the latest driver from Matrox for my G550 card and it has, unfortunately, made no difference - still getting the crackles/noise.

Also, I've still had no reply from Creamware support after sending two emails requesting help for the problem (the first one sent 6 Oct).

I'm afraid that none of this exactly makes me want to invest any more money in Creamware products.

I'm now tempted to just go out and buy an RME card for my main machine (I've heard that they're pretty tolerant of different computer setups and that they're reliable), and move the Pulsar to my other machine to use as a stand-alone module. Shame, but I need it to work reliably, and I now feel that I (and some of you, too!) have already spent far too much time in troubleshooting this stuff...

Anyway, many thanks to all those that replied with your efforts to help out.
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interloper
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Post by interloper »

Well, it's certainly difficult for us to determine what the exact nature of the problem is without having the same setup.

CreamWare will have the same problem localizing your exact issue for the same reason. Also, it's been only a week or so since you sent an email to support. Be patient.

I used to work in software development, and the same piece of software might run on one PC and not on the other for no apparent reason.

But the problem does not seem to be CreamWare related, as your card was working fine in the other PC.

I generally work at 13 ms latency most of the time, is this too inconvenient for you?

You might be able to work around this issue by using 13 ms for the time being, until your problem can be localized.

All things considered, you'll only have to go through this process one time. Once your up and running, you'll know what you need to do to the Carillon to make it work with the card whenever you reformat and reinstall.

I don't think you should give up yet. Yes, you might be able to slap a RME card in there and go, but you would be missing out on a world of possibilities. I went through the same growing pains, but now those problems seem far away.

btw. I never saw that you posted the memory on your Matrox video card?
Nebukadneser
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Post by Nebukadneser »

Just a guess:

Cound the noise be generated by a feedback slope that you have made in your project? Does the noise occur when using default project or only when you use your own projects?

Just a guess

Neb
Badger
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Post by Badger »

"...it's been only a week or so since you sent an email to support. Be patient."

I'm sorry, but my feeling is that it's unreasonable to expect to have to wait more than a week for a response.

Besides, I've had excellent email responses from Creamware support in the past (my original Pulsar card was faulty, and they were extremely helpful and prompt in diagnosing the problem and arranging a replacement extremely quickly).

My suspicion is that Creamware are now in some sort of financial/business trouble - no software updates for ages, no significant new developments (not counting Noah and Minimax), lack of email responses etc.

Also, the latency setting in the ULLI dialog is not an issue - I've now tried every setting and I STILL get crackles regardless of this.

My Matrox G550 card has 32Mb of memory.

You say I shouldn't give up (and I'd like not to have to), but I've now run out of things to try to solve the problem. Also, I've now spent roughly a total of six hours troubleshooting to no avail. At a hourly rate of £30, that's £180 worth of my own time I've wasted. A new RME card is just under £200, so troubleshooting the Pulsar is just not worth my spending any more time on.

BTW. Neb - I'm not sure quite what you mean by a feedback "slope", but yes, the problem happens in the default and template projects as well as in my own projects. I don't have any feedback "loops" set up, just in case that's what you mean.
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interloper
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Post by interloper »

On 2003-10-16 06:56, Badger wrote:
I'm sorry, but my feeling is that it's unreasonable to expect to have to wait more than a week for a response.

Besides, I've had excellent email responses from Creamware support in the past (my original Pulsar card was faulty, and they were extremely helpful and prompt in diagnosing the problem and arranging a replacement extremely quickly).

My suspicion is that Creamware are now in some sort of financial/business trouble - no software updates for ages, no significant new developments (not counting Noah and Minimax), lack of email responses etc.
Allright, we are all entitled to our opinions. But do you really believe that they are not getting back in touch with you for the reasons above? I'm going to have to disagree with you, because that does not make any sense. They are not going to just blow you off and pretend you went away.

I get the impression that you think they have been sitting on their duffs. To me Noah and the Minimax are probably their most significant achievements of late. I think you underestimate the value of the two products.

You say you have been emailing them. Maybe it's time to pick up a phone to elevate the issue. It's a complicated one, and it probably involves that Carillon. After all, it worked on your other PC.
Also, the latency setting in the ULLI dialog is not an issue - I've now tried every setting and I STILL get crackles regardless of this.

My Matrox G550 card has 32Mb of memory.

You say I shouldn't give up (and I'd like not to have to), but I've now run out of things to try to solve the problem. Also, I've now spent roughly a total of six hours troubleshooting to no avail. At a hourly rate of £30, that's £180 worth of my own time I've wasted. A new RME card is just under £200, so troubleshooting the Pulsar is just not worth my spending any more time on.
I wish I could pay myself that hourly rate for troubleshooting my own machine. :smile: In my experience, 32 MB of video memory is not sufficient on some machines. What kind of hard disk is in the Carillon? Something seems to be interfering with the audio stream, and I've had a video card do that before.

Go to Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information > Hardware Resources > Conflicts/Sharing.

See if there are any conflicts with the Pulsar II. After a fresh install, usually my AGP Video card and one of the CW cards shares an IRQ. If it's trying to stream audio and refresh video at the same time, that can be a problem. If you have a conflict, try to change the IRQ's via the BIOS.

Don't give up just yet. I'd suggest calling them. Also, it might be worth posting a new thread to see if another user has a setup like yours with a Carillon machine with a CW card.

Also, last I recall, that RME card does I/O and that's about it. No routing, effects, synths, etc. You would essentially give all that up.

Best of Luck.
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