Old 01-15-2020, 05:29 PM   #1
murrayof
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Default fuzzy sound

Hi. I am re-establishing a home recording setup. I used to run pro-tools, but I allowed that setup to go extinct. I bought a Focusrite Scarlet, and I'm running Reaper v6.03/63 Evaluation License on a 2012 Mac Mini with 2.5Ghz dual processors and 16GB of RAM. I just got it going last night.

Here's my issue: The tracks sound fuzzy. I used the focusrite and mic setup with apple voicememo, and that recorded clearly, so it seems to have something to do with Reaper. I experimented with the sample rates and the various sound setting preferences, but I have not figured it out. Does anyone have any ideas about what might be going wrong?

Thank you very much.

Last edited by murrayof; 01-15-2020 at 06:56 PM.
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Old 01-16-2020, 06:22 PM   #2
murrayof
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Is there more information I could provide in order to get some direction on this. I guess I conclude that the likely problem is not very obvious? Thank you.
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Old 01-16-2020, 06:31 PM   #3
jerome_oneil
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A sample of the "fuzzy" sound will go a long way figuring out what is wrong.
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Old 01-16-2020, 06:33 PM   #4
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"fuzzy" is kind of vague - maybe you could post a link to an audio example?
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Old 01-16-2020, 06:49 PM   #5
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and general things to check would be -
input level of your interface
any FX on in Reaper? especially in the input FX or Monitor FX chains
sample rate in Reaper matches the sample rate of your computer
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Old 01-16-2020, 06:50 PM   #6
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How do you have your Audio/Midi set up on your Mac?
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Old 01-16-2020, 06:53 PM   #7
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and do you know whether it's a recording or playback issue? try playing a known non-fuzzy file in Reaper to see if that's ok
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Old 01-18-2020, 07:16 PM   #8
murrayof
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diagnostic progress on fuzziness:

Thank you for your help everyone. It did help me think through the problem.

I had been routing the audio playback back out through the focusrite Scarlett. So, I played the recorded audio out through the headphone jack on the mac mini, and it wasn't fuzzy anymore.

It does appear that Reaper prefers that you use the same device for input and output. Any more suggestions? Is this more of a focusrite issue perhaps?
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Old 01-18-2020, 08:18 PM   #9
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further diagnostic progress: I don't have monitors setup here yet, but I plugged my headphones into one of the jacks in the back of the unit intended for monitors. No fuzz. Maybe there is just something wrong with the headphone out on my Scarlett Solo.
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Old 01-19-2020, 06:42 AM   #10
murrayof
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Problem located! And yes, it is something stupid of course, and it has nothing to do with Reaper. I want to thank you all for your helpful questions and suggestions, they really did help me locate the problem.

In case you're at all curious, here is what the problem was: I was using a mono-to-stereo 1/8-to-1/4 adapter for my headphones coming out of the Scarlett! I have no idea how or why I acquired that audio doo-dad into my collection at some point, but that was it. I replaces with a stereo-to-stereo adapter and the fuzz is of course gone.

Thanks again.
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