Playback Noise / Clicks but they are Random

[Chopper]

I have updated to 10.3.3, have 32 gig of memory, 4 1 Tb hard drives.

Once in a while, I will get what seem to be little clicks during my playback. However, they are random. They do not follow tempo, beat, etc.

I have installed the latest waves, but do not have a problem with every song and have checked that the same plug-ins are working fine in other songs from the same session, so it doesn't seem to be a plug-in issue.

However since I have added the waves, my CPU activity is really high, and I have it set on 8 processors, 95% if I have a 5 or 6 song set loaded. The option to ignore errors(may cause pops and clicks) is checked, but if I don't check it, the CPU usage is slammed, even if the song is only loaded, not playing.

On some of the other sessions, I never hit more than a 49% CPU usage, but they are 1 song.

On a side note, I have been trying to get my Time Code to work between my Tascam DM-4800 and ProTools. Tried different options, but can't get it to work. Seems the clicking became apparent after trying to sync timecode, BUT I have rebooted and restart from off for both MAC, Console and PT.

I almost think it is digital clipping, but I have checked all the plug-ins, channels, busses and main to make sure nothing is hitting above -3db.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

[cwsand]

Originally Posted by Chopper

Once in a while, I will get what seem to be little clicks during my playback. However, they are random. They do not follow tempo, beat, etc.

What speed is your processor and what buffer setting are you using? You might try raising the buffer setting.

Originally Posted by Chopper

However since I have added the waves, my CPU activity is really high, and I have it set on 8 processors, 95% if I have a 5 or 6 song set loaded. The option to ignore errors(may cause pops and clicks) is checked, but if I don't check it, the CPU usage is slammed, even if the song is only loaded, not playing.

Have you tried setting it to 7 processors? This seems to help on pc's as it leaves one processor for the OS, so it's probably true for Macs as well.

Originally Posted by Chopper

On a side note, I have been trying to get my Time Code to work between my Tascam DM-4800 and ProTools. Tried different options, but can't get it to work. Seems the clicking became apparent after trying to sync timecode, BUT I have rebooted and restart from off for both MAC, Console and PT.

I had a DM-4800 working with timecode on my pc, but never hooked it up to my Mac. IIRC, you set ProTools to transmit MTC, and set the DM-4800 Automation to receive MTC. Then you have to setup the MIDI Routing correctly on the DM-4800. It was trial and error for me, but I did finally get it to work.

Originally Posted by Chopper

I almost think it is digital clipping, but I have checked all the plug-ins, channels, busses and main to make sure nothing is hitting above -3db.

If it's not a buffer setting or clipping issue, then it's most likely a clocking problem. You should have one Master clock in your system that all other devices are clocked to.

If your 4800 is set to its Internal clock, then you may have to change the MTC so that PT receives from the 4800. I think that would require you to enable Transport Online in the Synchronization section of the transport. Good luck!

[Chopper]

2-2.26GHz Dual Quad-Core Intel Xeon

I set it to 7 processors and it worked ok, but I was getting some CPU clip starting to happen on the system usage display. BUT at a certain point in the song, I was modifying some plugin settings and got what sounded just like a shorted guitar cable. It didn't stay on. It came in and out 2 or three times in about 30 seconds, then didn't do it the rest of the song.

[cwsand]

How is your clocking set up?

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by Chopper

2-2.26GHz Dual Quad-Core Intel Xeon

I set it to 7 processors and it worked ok, but I was getting some CPU clip starting to happen on the system usage display. BUT at a certain point in the song, I was modifying some plugin settings and got what sounded just like a shorted guitar cable. It didn't stay on. It came in and out 2 or three times in about 30 seconds, then didn't do it the rest of the song.

If you're talking about watching the usage panel and you're seeing activity on the line CPU clip that's not a problem. The way I understand that is it's just a measure of how much the computer is working on clips.

[Chopper]

Are you referring to clock setting on the DM-4800 or within Pro Tools?

[Chopper]

Originally Posted by musicman691

If you're talking about watching the usage panel and you're seeing activity on the line CPU clip that's not a problem. The way I understand that is it's just a measure of how much the computer is working on clips.

I am, but the CPU line once in a while turns red. The item is CPU(Native)
The item CPU(Clip) has never come on.

And disk activity is fairly low.

[cwsand]

Originally Posted by Chopper

Are you referring to clock setting on the DM-4800 or within Pro Tools?

Well it really depends on your interface and any attached devices. If you only have the 4800, then it should be set to Internal.

[Chopper]

Originally Posted by cwsand

Well it really depends on your interface and any attached devices. If you only have the 4800, then it should be set to Internal.

Yes, it is set to Internal on the 4800. I am using a FireWire 400 interface.

It is set to 88.2, locked and there hasn't been as much as a .0% variation.

[cwsand]

Originally Posted by Chopper

Yes, it is set to Internal on the 4800. I am using a FireWire 400 interface.

It is set to 88.2, locked and there hasn't been as much as a .0% variation.

Have you tried it at a lower rate like 48k or 44.1k? Could be that your computer can't keep up with the high sample rate.