VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

dhouston67 · Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 11:07 am Post subject: Not having a good day

Got tired of filtering out noise from the onboard PC sound. Picked up the M-Audio Delta 44, installed it. Also got the Behringer UB802 to use as a preamp since the Delta doesn't provide one. After two hours of Windows Hardware Wizard locking up my 900 mHz processor by trying to install the NT drivers for the Delta (I'm using Win2K but it turns out the XP drivers work), I'm finally able to record...but my input gain is low, and my recordings are dropping bits of audio, or "skipping" as if it pauses for milliseconds while recording. I'm now told by my local PC geeks that my CPU can't be upgraded even to, say, a 1.8 Ghz chip because the motherboard can't handle the voltage.

Oh, and I've got jobs due today. This is not good.
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donrandall · Guest

Frank F · Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 11:38 am Post subject:

Dave,

There are a few things that will help, but first - I suggest you get a new MB and upgrade to a 2.8 gHz as soon as possible... and they are not expensive.

Now, you need to optimize your PC, as much as possible, take everything you hve in the Startup are and turn it off.

Second, do you have an external drive? I can delve deeper into this area, but that is something I would need to know first.

Third, turn off any and all anti-virus software, and internal firewalls.

Fourth, how much drive space do you have left on your main drive, assuming you only have the main drive?

Re-boot and you should be good to go.

Frank F
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dhouston67 · Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 1:05 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Don & Frank. I uninstalled the Delta, as it was the only way to restore the default Windows sound device. Back to my old setup for the time being...jobs done.

I had the firewall and AV off, and I've had all startup items removed for a while. I think the PC just isn't up to snuff, even though I've upped the RAM to 512 MB. No external drive, 10 GB of space on the main HD.

The Delta box is pure simplicity, but I'm not crazy about its "mixer" interface. I'm no luddite, but it's not terribly intuitive or user-friendly.
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Frank F · Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 1:11 pm Post subject:

Well, I can see several things which might preclude you from 'having a good day' with your PC.

But for less than $500.00 you could buy a new one and put the things on which you want, and have a second PC for the internet.

Good luck,

Toodles

Frank F
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marko · Guest

What Frank said, Dave.

Also, I learned the hard way not to EVER do a major system change/upgrade when I have jobs pending. I always wait until afterward when I can screw things up without fear.

dhouston67 · Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 4:36 pm Post subject:

Frank F · Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 5:26 pm Post subject:

Shhhh, that is what you get for listening to me...

I had an old 400 mHz PC when I first started my "home studio" and used a Gadget Labs card... and it sung...

The process you described sounds more like 'resource problems", and that is why the suggestion to clean the 'start-up' files. Another problem you described is the low amount of HD space left. IF you can get buy an external HD - do so, then, make sure the 'temp' files directories and ALL data from the program are recorded or played back from the external HD.

I have a nine page list of things to do to optimize a PC for audio/video - - somewhere. If I find it I will share it via a .pdf.

Upgrading from Win 2k, or any other derivitave would beneficial... XP (either variation) will take care of some of the minor inconviences.

One thing you forgot to mention (or I blanked out - yes I do that) or ask is: "What Recording Software you are using"?

Toodles,

Frank F
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dhouston67 · Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 7:18 pm Post subject:

Frank ---

Thanks for following up. Running Adobe Audition 1.5, will happily upgrade to 2.0 after XP is installed. The 10 GB of free space is on an 80 GB second physical drive (not a partition), which should be more than enough... or so I thought. There are no actual resource conflicts, and the Delta found an IRQ right away. An external drive has also been high on my list.
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allensco · Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 8:49 pm Post subject: