Popping and crackling sounds during playback

[khaleeq96]

Hi everyone,

I need help with my Audition CS6. I use a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface with my HP Pavilion 15 (Core i7) PC which I'm sure is more than capable for adequate processing. I usually record with one mic which is the RODE NT1-A Condenser. Every time I record let's say at least a 1-minute piece of audio, I hear at least one crackle or pop. And it cannot be erased. Even after exporting the file, I still hear it. I have tried EVERYTHING to get this fixed. Before anyone offers any solutions, please note what experiments I conducted to try and find out the root of the issue:

1. I plugged the mic into a different input;

2. I used a different mic;

3; I used a different audio interface;

4; I used a different XLR cable;

5. I used a different PC with Adobe Audition CC 2015 installed;

6. I even changed the buffer size to the highest setting (500ms).

Still nothing. I have officially run out of ideas. I completely have no clue how to fix this issue. If anyone can help me with this, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.

Khaleeq

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

Can you send us a link to a short sample of this - in a wav file, not an MP3?

[khaleeq96]

Hi,

Here's a link:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=18JWVChfeyYEt_pS0EKFUh38feAsscCvO

[ryclark]

That's a bit odd because in the posted clip the click/dropout seems to be just in the right channel. Normally with any error in the audio data stream both channels would be affected equally. In amongst your various tests above did you include trying a different USB port on the HP?

[khaleeq96]

Oh yeah I forgot to mention, I also switched USB ports.

[ryclark]

Are you using the supplied Focusrite ASIO drivers? Check for updates to these (especially if you are on Win 10) and that they are selected in Audition's Audio Hardware set up panel.

[khaleeq96]

I did also update to the latest drivers. From Audition's preferences, I always have it set to MME. Here is a screenshot of my audio preferences if it helps.

[ryclark]

No, no, no. With any good external USB interface whose manufacturer provides ASIO always go with those. MME drivers are basic Windows ones and as such cause the audio to go via the OS with any unwanted glitches/alterations/effects that Windows may deem fit to apply. So you should be much better off with selecting and using the Focusrite ASIO driver. These completely bypass the OS and will give you a full quality digital audio data stream directly into Audition, hopefully without any of the clicks and pops that you have been getting

[khaleeq96]

Oh right I see. I'll give it a test tomorrow. Reason why I have it on MME is because I have the option to switch between inputs and outputs. But when ASIO is selected, it doesn't give me an option to change input or output when I need to.

[ryclark]

Yes, that is the whole point of ASIO drivers. They don't let the operating change anything either when you don't want it to.

[khaleeq96]

I'm afraid the popping still occurs. I even altered the sample rates and buffer sizes. This is the one I'm using currently. Please see image.

[khaleeq96]

So do you think there is a way around this?

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

Well now I've been able to have a better look at your sample, I can tell you that it's not a playback issue - it's on the recording, so this is happening on the way in, not out.

What you need to do at this point is to connect nothing to your computer, and set it to record silence - we need to know whether this happens with nothing connected...

[khaleeq96]

So basically, no interface connected, I'll record using the on-board microphone and record silence.

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

Actually, you should try both - with no interface, and with the interface but nothing connected to it.

[khaleeq96]

So I recorded with absolutely nothing connected to the Scarlett 2i2 and there was no sound whatsoever. But with the in-built mic, I did capture a pop. Please listen.... TEST.wav - Google Drive

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

It's not about listening to it, it's about analysing it! The clicks in your original post are different from the one in the post above. Whilst most of it was in the right channel, the click in the second one was in both, and has a different spectral makeup. Taken along with the evidence that nothing happens when you have nothing connected to the Scarlett, I'd say that this is likely to be low level external electrical interference of some sort - something that is more likely to be picked up at mic signal levels.

One of the prime culprits in this area is fridges...

[khaleeq96]

Wow. Well I can assure you there is no fridge in the same room as my setup.

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

Doesn't have to be in the same room - or in the case of something with a serious switching fault, even in the same building. Just being on the same main supply is enough...

[khaleeq96]

So an external electrical interference could be what is affecting an audio signal from an interface which is not at all powered or plugged in to the main supply?

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

Oh yes, if it's severe enough. You might want to try this at different times of day and see if it's any different. You have to bear in mind that because apparently it doesn't happen when nothing's connected to the machine, that it has to be something external. Also it's not the same each time it happens (there could be a lot of reasons for that), which pretty much rules out any systematic issue. But without actually being there to investigate, that's about as far as we can go with this.

[khaleeq96]

Could you please analyse this very small piece of audio where the clicking occurs?

TEST AUDIO.wav - Google Drive

[khaleeq96]

Another thing to note is that I do record at different times of the day. I just did a recording in the night and still the issue persists.

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

The spikes in this latest recording are different again - they're full-spectrum spikes. Something somewhere (could even be inside your machine, but I doubt it) is causing this to happen, and without being there when it happens, we simply can't tell you exactly what's causing it.

If you want a bit more of a clue, can you try recording somewhere else completely (another building) and see if it still happens?

[ryclark]

What version of Windows are you running? It could possibly be something the the OS is doing either trying to power save on USB ports or possibly CPU speed ramping up and down perhaps. it would need a good look into how Windows is set up for either for being power efficient or for maximum speed. Take a look at Focusrite's recommendations.

Optimising your PC for Audio on Windows 10 – Focusrite Audio Engineering