More Pops and Clicks on a 2011 dell N5110...Help!

[irregulardan]

bought a 2011 dell N5110, intel i5 thinking the specs would enable me to just record music without problems. DOH!

i am using analogue condenser mic though tube pre amp into the computer through an XLR to USB cable. i record directly to the in build 5400rpm hard drive.

i have to record at 38000Hz and 8 x 3000 samples, i can't get latency lower than 600ms without bad pops and clicks! i am using the built in IDT software and drivers.

i don't understand the techie suff - i'm a musician! i just need someone to explain the easiest way for me to lose these pops and clicks at higher quality and lower latency...drivers or maybe its the hard drive?

[Johnnny-5]

Hey, I believe you need this: www.asio4all.com
it's a Special driver for your pc to allow higher quality
and much much lower latency... I have a Dell Studio 1737
and it uses the IDT HD sound as well and I use ASIO4All, I can get to about
5ms.. and sounds great... SO

1. Goto the ASIO4ALL website and download that
2. just double click to install it..
3. you will need to go into the Audio Prefs of Reaper and switch it to the ASIO for all driver. you should have NO trouble recording at 24bit 48KHZ

Hope this helps..

-John

[bitterkitten]

bought a 2011 dell N5110, intel i5

mic though tube pre amp into the computer through an XLR to USB cable.

5400rpm hard drive.

i have to record at 38000Hz and 8 x 3000 samples, i can't get latency lower than 600ms without bad pops and clicks! i am using the built in IDT software and drivers.

pops and clicks at higher quality and lower latency...drivers or maybe its the hard drive?

Dan - Unfortunately, there could be several things causing your problems here (assuming that there is nothing wrong with your hardware, which is always a possibility).

1. the type of interface you use can certainly have an effect on latency, as can the 2. audio drivers you are using for the device (i.e., you can try Johnny's suggestion). Personally, I have found the biggest difference in my recording 'pop/click' scenario to have been fixed by

3. increasing cpu horsepower, but this is not the case for everyone. I was recording fine on a core2duo, as long as I used few virtual effects, and did have more than 1 or 2 virtual instruments running.

4. Amount of memory. I don't know what the optimal amount is these days but too much is never going to hurt you, and I'd use at least 4gb if not 8gb. NOTE: if you are not using a 64bit operating system, 4gb of ram is the most your system will see, even if you stuck 200000gb in there. So, if you have 32bit Windows 7, for example, 4 gb is all the operating system will use.

5. The hard disk you have is certainly way slower than that suggested for recording. Even around 10? years ago, people told me I ought to use a 10k rpm hard drive for recording, although it is clear to me now that you can indeed use a slower hard disk and be ok to a certain extent. If you are going to record bunches and bunches of tracks, I woudn't recommend it. Currently I use 7200 rpm drives and they are fine, although they are not as good as a 10k or a solid state disk.

6. Make sure all your power saving (except maybe for just the monitor, if you want) is completely disabled.

Since you recently bought the system and probably don't want to buy another as a troubleshooting method, I'd start with considering a better audio interface and at least a 7200 rpm hard disk if using ASIO4ALL doesn't help. Unfortunately there's no 100% guarantee that that will fix your problem, but it's a place to start.

[kgarello]

Since you recently bought the system and probably don't want to buy another as a troubleshooting method, I'd start with considering a better audio interface and at least a 7200 rpm hard disk if using ASIO4ALL doesn't help. Unfortunately there's no 100% guarantee that that will fix your problem, but it's a place to start.


IMO the drive will not effect the system at lower track counts. I would put that last in your troubleshooting process. I am easily able to record 16 channels concurrently with a 5400rpm drive in my laptop.

More than likely it has to do with the wireless, bios, and/or power consumption settings, some of which are not configurable.

http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml

This will give you a start on troubleshooting.

Unfortunately, you are entering the non-musician arena - no way out of it (except get a known workable laptop).

Ken

[philait]

My Experience with Dell laptops is they spike badly giving audio glitches and this has in all models I've tried been down to the battery charging circuit. The only way I've been able to get glitch free on a Dell was to remove the battery, disable ACPI Battery in Device manager and run from the mains. Not much use for a Portable.

I've made the hard decision to go Apple for my portable needs, it's expensive but at least the hardware is a closed system which gives -I assume they have to design this in due to their owning of Logic and bundling Garageband with every device- glitch free audio performance (At a cost!)

[Hugo]

IMO the drive will not effect the system at lower track counts. I would put that last in your troubleshooting process. I am easily able to record 16 channels concurrently with a 5400rpm drive in my laptop.

More than likely it has to do with the wireless, bios, and/or power consumption settings, some of which are not configurable.

http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml

This will give you a start on troubleshooting.

Unfortunately, you are entering the non-musician arena - no way out of it (except get a known workable laptop).

Ken

+1

Hugo

[Johnnny-5]

Lappies I Have..

Dell Studio 1737 - C2D 2.53ghz - 4gig - 32bit OS (Win7) IDT HD Audio with ASIO4ALL @ 7ms zero pops and clicks.. (pretty sizable projects)

Dell Latitude E6400 - C2D 2.8ghz - 2gig - 32bit OS (Win7) IDT HD Audio with ASIO4ALL @ 7ms Zero pops and clicks (pretty sizable projects)

Dell Latitude D610 - Centreno 2.0ghz single core - 2gig - 32bit (WinXP)
Sigmatel C Major audio with ASIO4ALL around 10ms tested a 18trk file with about 8 Effects will handle more if I limit the use of time stretch or glue the files to project settings. I did reach the limit of CPU untill I Made those steps..

Dell Latitude D410 - Centreno 1.73ghz pretty much the same as the D610

ACER Travelmate #1 Uses the Conexant audio (SUCK with ASIO4ALL Tried 50ms and higher could no stop the pops and clicks

HP Compaq NC4200 uses the Soundmax audio tried ASIO4ALL No way not even close un-usabe for audio or music...

Mind you I do not record live instruments so this is stuff all in the box..

I'm having zero trouble with Dell battery charger or power settings etc. I never disable my wireless on any machine that I'm working on... SO a Dell whatever it is up there a core i5 can't handle what I'm doing ???

My bro just bought a Dell Vostro something with a core i5 quad and a Roland USB buss powered interface more than double my top laptop and runs Perfect with the i5 he records live instruments as he is a guitar/bass/singer.. he loves his Dell portable setup...

Just sayin'

-J5-

[philait]

Lappies I Have..

Dell Studio 1737 - C2D 2.53ghz - 4gig - 32bit OS (Win7) IDT HD Audio with ASIO4ALL @ 7ms zero pops and clicks.. (pretty sizable projects)

Dell Latitude E6400 - C2D 2.8ghz - 2gig - 32bit OS (Win7) IDT HD Audio with ASIO4ALL @ 7ms Zero pops and clicks (pretty sizable projects)

Dell Latitude D610 - Centreno 2.0ghz single core - 2gig - 32bit (WinXP)
Sigmatel C Major audio with ASIO4ALL around 10ms tested a 18trk file with about 8 Effects will handle more if I limit the use of time stretch or glue the files to project settings. I did reach the limit of CPU untill I Made those steps..

Dell Latitude D410 - Centreno 1.73ghz pretty much the same as the D610

ACER Travelmate #1 Uses the Conexant audio (SUCK with ASIO4ALL Tried 50ms and higher could no stop the pops and clicks

HP Compaq NC4200 uses the Soundmax audio tried ASIO4ALL No way not even close un-usabe for audio or music...

Mind you I do not record live instruments so this is stuff all in the box..

I'm having zero trouble with Dell battery charger or power settings etc. I never disable my wireless on any machine that I'm working on... SO a Dell whatever it is up there a core i5 can't handle what I'm doing ???

My bro just bought a Dell Vostro something with a core i5 quad and a Roland USB buss powered interface more than double my top laptop and runs Perfect with the i5 he records live instruments as he is a guitar/bass/singer.. he loves his Dell portable setup...

Just sayin'

-J5-

But Herein lies the problem, It's very random with laptops in PC hardware land. I'm pleased you've had Dells that work. I'm sad that I haven't (Much money wasted!).

Here's an example (Not Dell admittedly, we don't buy Dell at work but HP, Samsung and Toshiba, and a lot of current models I've tested for Audio work, HP seemed most consistent) I can set-up 5 laptops side by side all with the same hardware and OS image and have wildly different DPC results on 2 out of 5 it's a crap shoot.
If you want a Guarantee buy from SXS, Apple or one of the other dedicated hardware specialists. If you wish to take a chance buy what takes your fancy, it may work. However if it doesn't the chances of taking it back and getting refund due to DPC spiking is small.

I'm sick of the Crapshoot so this Time it's Apple, however Desktops are a different ball game and with those I'll stick to generic windows boxes with decent components.

[Johnnny-5]

@philait, Yeah I've been pretty lucky with the Dells (knock on wood) :-) I will have to say that I am very interested in giving a macbook a shot sometime in the future, I just keep hearing great things about them for music production. BUT learning a new operating system and file system has me a little un-settled LOL...

Sorry you couldn't get the Dell to work for you, that kinda sucks..
and good luck with whatever portable solution you decide on...

-J5-

[TimOBrien]

Budget laptops = crapshoot at best.

I've heard the Dell and Toshiba professional line is a lot less of a crapshoot.

My ancient - but highly stable- laptop listed below has done me well but it was $1200 when I bought it years ago and I think if you at anything laptop below the $1000 mark you're asking for trouble UNLESS you can get solid reporting that a unit works glitch-free. The sweet-spot seems to be in the $1500-2500 range on PC or Mac.

(My next DAW will be an iMac and I'll carry around a netbook or lower-end Win laptop for other stuff but then I've owned and worked professionally on both systems since 1984...)

[Johnnny-5]

Budget laptops = crapshoot at best.

I've heard the Dell and Toshiba professional line is a lot less of a crapshoot.

My ancient - but highly stable- laptop listed below has done me well but it was $1200 when I bought it years ago and I think if you at anything laptop below the $1000 mark you're asking for trouble UNLESS you can get solid reporting that a unit works glitch-free. The sweet-spot seems to be in the $1500-2500 range on PC or Mac.

(My next DAW will be an iMac and I'll carry around a netbook or lower-end Win laptop for other stuff but then I've owned and worked professionally on both systems since 1984...)

Oh Wow !!! Nice to be able to get use out of a older laptop.. I have also an old Dell Latitude 100L that has the same specs P4 2.8ghz I haven't fired it up in quite sometime and never tried any music software with it...

Yes I paid a very high price for the Studio 1737 round 1500.00 almost 3 years ago.. The C2D 2.53 was top of the line at that time..

I would have to agree with you, You get what you pay for.. I would have to say any newer high end Laptop with a good portable interface would do Very well....

-J5-

[Hugo]

Budget laptops = crapshoot at best.

I've heard the Dell and Toshiba professional line is a lot less of a crapshoot.

My ancient - but highly stable- laptop listed below has done me well but it was $1200 when I bought it years ago and I think if you at anything laptop below the $1000 mark you're asking for trouble UNLESS you can get solid reporting that a unit works glitch-free. The sweet-spot seems to be in the $1500-2500 range on PC or Mac.

(My next DAW will be an iMac and I'll carry around a netbook or lower-end Win laptop for other stuff but then I've owned and worked professionally on both systems since 1984...)

I do not agree.

Although I am working on a Mac right now I went shopping for a laptop January 2011. I found a shop where I was allowed to stick a USB stick with DPC latency checker on it in very laptop on display in the shop.

I really wanted a sony vayo or HP or toshiba...

I tested them all, only one with good DPC results (at that time with THAT model): Cheap Acer.

Cheap and expensive HP: DPC spikes, the cheapest were the least prone to spikes (no spikes until windows moved).
Expensive Vayo: a model of about 1400 euros with full HD screen: CRAP...
Cheap ACER, I3 processor, only 3gig ram, 320 gb HD: really great DPC latency readings...

I used the cheap acer (600 Eur) for a while (some months). No probs, but I had to try a Mac for once in my life...Otherwise the Acer (dull, that is a fact) would have been ok.

It is of course true that the more expensive machines are "better" in general. Sturdier, better trackpads, better specs, better video card etc...But DPC latency- wise more money doesn't guarantee you better results.

This is of course not the case with audio purpose built machines from a manufacturer like ADK...

Hugo

[kgarello]

I started this process out on Sonar 2.0 about 2005.

I had a Dell Latitude (forgot the model - mid priced business model) 4200 RPM Drive with a Layla cardbus adapter.

Everything worked in testing, went to record my band at the time - 8 tracks. Dropout every 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Managed to get one song recorded somehow (band was not impressed).

Otherwise the laptop ran like a dream.

Spent weeks trying to get it to work consistantly with no luck, even considered buying a super expensive 7200 rpm drive.

Just before I pulled the trigger on the new drive I decided to set up a new partition with a second install of Windoze XP. All problems disappeared. Rock Solid recording and playback with 8 tracks simultaneous recording.

Not sure that it proves anything except troubleshooting an old (or sales bloated) installation can be a nightmare. I don't think that any single experience can be used to determine any brands suitability to recording.

Even the DPC latency checker is only telling you that something is causing latency, not what.

Ken

PS - with that same laptop, I could absolutly not plug it into any mixer using the stock power supply without lifting the ground. It had awful noises.