MOTU 2408 popping with Sonar

[dixiechoir]

I am trying to download 16 tracks from my 2 ADAT's to my SONAR 2 XL software using a MOTU 2408 II. I keep getting a steady flow of pops on all the tracks as if it is recorded underwater. I have matched the speeds at 48k and changed about every option I can find and nothing seems to work. Any ideas?
I am using a P4 1.6ghz processsor, with dual hard drives and running Windows XP Pro

[DeComposer]

Hey Dan,


MOTU would likely tell you that you have a WordClock issue, and that linking the ADATs and the PCI-324/424 with sync cables aand setting the 2408 clock source to PCI-324/424: ADAT should resolve any clock issues.

I'm betting that you've already tried that and that it still doesn't work, because I have a similar issue with a 24i on my 2.4GHz P4. Except, of course, that the 24i is all analog inputs.

Unless I set obscenely huge buffer sizes (which makes for unworkable latency times), I get a steady stream of clicks/pops on all tracks.

Oddly, Cubase works flawlessly with near-zero latency.

Maybe we have some sort of input-monitoring configuration problem. Other than that, I'm kind of running out of ideas (and running out of patience with Sonar!)

[dixiechoir]

Oddly enough, after 2 days in the studio it just started working. I have no idea what finally was the secret. It seems that the main thing was to disable to Soundblaster in the outputs. My next problem was converting the 48k sampling that comes out of ADAT into usable 44.1k. Sonar is apparently the only program that can't do this. I wrote to them and they have no interest in resolving the issue, even though 15 million ADATS are still in use. My guess is I will look for other software--I just hate to start the learning curve all over again. Someone suggested Wavelab--any thoughts.

I too am getting tired of Sonar

[DeComposer]

Damn. I still can't get Sonar to play nicely with my 24i; everything sounds like it's being pumped through a noise generator unless I set 1024 sample DMA buffer sizes.

Even though Sonar claims that I can still achieve 10 ms latency with those buffer settings, the audible latency is easly closer to 500 msec.

And yet Cubase latency is imperceptible.

None of which would bother me so much if all of my existing work wasn't in Cakewalk format...
__________________
P4 2.4GHz
1GB RAM
360GB RAID-5
MOTU 24i

[qpgmr]

I'm with ya brother. I have been struggling with latency too with almost the same configuration as you. Thinking about making the jump to Cubase. A shame really. I like Sonar.

Have you tried using the ASIO driver? Made a big difference for me. Make sure the enable read AND write caching boxes are unchecked and turn off Play Effect Tails After Stopping.

I'm getting 10.0msec latency now from a buffer size of 512 which is on the edge of tolerable for input monitoring, but at least now the software and my Mackie Control control surface are more than acceptably responsive with beautifully clean audio.

(update)
BTW... I'm recording at 24 bit, using the ASIO driver, with a Sampling Rate of 48000Hz. I just read another post on another web site that boasted 3.2msec latency with our configuration using 44100Hz. Think I'll try backing down from 48000 to 44100 when I get home tonight and see what that does. Might be worth it if the latency problem is resolved.
__________________
P4 2.4GHz
1GB RAM
40 GB Program Drive
80GB Audio Drive
MOTU 24i
MOTU 1224

[Vajeeta]

Well I hate to be the barer of bad news but I too had the 24i, 2408mk2 and Sonar XL on an older machine tho. I eventually sold both motu's because I couldn't not get the popping to stop or the latency issues under control. Decomposer was dead on with what motu would say and the out come. So I gave up. I know atleast 5 other people with similar set ups that let go of their motu's. So not sure if you'll be able resolve these issues. Motu seems to work ok with Logic. But it works best on digital performer.

[qpgmr]

Originally posted by qpgmr
I'm with ya brother. I have been struggling with latency too with almost the same configuration as you. Thinking about making the jump to Cubase. A shame really. I like Sonar.

Have you tried using the ASIO driver? Made a big difference for me. Make sure the enable read AND write caching boxes are unchecked and turn off Play Effect Tails After Stopping.

I'm getting 10.0msec latency now from a buffer size of 512 which is on the edge of tolerable for input monitoring, but at least now the software and my Mackie Control control surface are more than acceptably responsive with beautifully clean audio.

(update)
BTW... I'm recording at 24 bit, using the ASIO driver, with a Sampling Rate of 48000Hz. I just read another post on another web site that boasted 3.2msec latency with our configuration using 44100Hz. Think I'll try backing down from 48000 to 44100 when I get home tonight and see what that does. Might be worth it if the latency problem is resolved.
__________________
P4 2.4GHz
1GB RAM
40 GB Program Drive
80GB Audio Drive
MOTU 24i
MOTU 1224

Using the Sonar XL 2.2 ASIO driver at 24 bit and 48000Hz and using a buffer size of 256 on the MOTU 324 PCI card is working for me in most cases. New recordings seem to be okay... especially during the recording of the basic rhthym tracks.

The older recordings made with the wdm wave driver still have popping in the bass track. Tried re-recording the bass track, but it's not much better. So I just play them back at the 512 buffer size. This is a latency of 10.0msec and that is quite acceptable for playback.

I only need the faster latency of 3.2msec during input monitoring while recording... and this seems to be working now with the ASIO driver.

But you're right Vajeeta... I'm sure I'm only getting this far because I have a pretty fast computer and I've tuned it for DAW performance (see www.blkviper.com/WinXP/supertweaks.htm).