My Line 6 USB audio interface is having problems (audio dropouts, loud noise bursts, etc…). What could be causing this and how can I fix it?
Most of the time USB audio problems are caused by data transfer interrupts on the USB stream that is feeding audio to the Line 6 driver for output to the Line 6 hardware. If your computer should fail to meet the system specifications required, the result can be a white noise burst from the Line 6 device. These interrupts generally do not affect most USB devices like printers, keybords, mice, cameras, etc… This is because these devices use a USB bulk mode of transfer and do not produce noticeable problems if data is interrupted.
– NOTE: there is no one-size-fits-all resolution to ensure proper performance of all Line 6 products (or all USB audio interfaces) on all computers.
Most USB interrupts can be resolved by one or more of these actions:
– Purchase a PCI-based USB card (for a desktop computer) or PCMCIA USB card (for a laptop). These cards often solve the problem of white noise bursts because the USB implementation on these cards overrides the USB built in to your computer. For more information on PCI, check out the following link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_card
– Adjust the Buffer Size in your Line 6 product’s Driver Console, which can be located in your Control Panel (PC…for Mac users, you can find your buffer settings in the recording software you are using, usually under your Preferences menu or window). The rule is: the lower the latency/buffer settings, the more CPU usage the software takes up and the more likely you are to experience noise. The newest version of the driver console will display a Buffer Size slider than you can adjust towards “Extra Small,” “Medium,” or “Large.” Try the “Medium” or “Large” setting first and see if that improves the problem. With the old driver console, you’ll see that your latency is defaulted at 2. Start by backing up your buffer to 20 and then work your way down to the lowest setting you can get to before the noise/static re-occur. Your objective is to have little or no latency while eliminating the noise.
– If you’re using a laptop, you’ll want to check the Power Schemes (PC) or Energy Saver preferences (Mac). To do this in Windows XP, go to Start>Control Panel>Power Options. Under the “Power Schemes” tab, change the power scheme to “Always On.” Make sure that “Turn off hard disks” and “System standby” are set to “Never,” then go to the “Hibernation” tab and make sure that Hibernation is NOT enabled.
On Mac, go to Apple Menu>System Preferences>Energy Saver and make sure that the slider for “Put the computer to sleep….” is set all the way to the right for “Never.” Also make sure that the checkbox for “Put the hard disk(s) to sleep when possible” is NOT checked.
– USB hubs can sometimes cause noise bursts, audio interrupts, and other odd behavior. If you are using a USB hub and experiencing these kinds of problems, disconnect the hub and plug your cable directly into a USB port on your computer. This problem seems to occur especially with Mac users. Make sure you are connecting directly to your computer and not to your keyboard or other device, as this acts essentially like a USB hub.
– On some CPU configurations, actively using wireless networking/connectivity while streaming (recording/playing) computer audio via Line 6 USB devices can sometimes impact the fidelity of the audio streams (ie, noise or artifacts are heard in the audio while using wireless connectivity). For best results, disable and do not use wireless connectivity while recording and playing audio over the USB bus.
As noted above, there is no one solution that will work for everyone. However, there are many steps that can be taken to eliminate or avoid these kinds of problems (the steps above are a perfect example). We have compiled a collection of potential solutions into one document, the PC Optimization Guide for Windows XP. If you haven’t already, we reccomend you read and follow the PC Optimization Guide to ensure that your system is streamlined and optimized for audio performance (and if you’re a Pro Tools user, make sure you also follow the Pro Tools addendum to the guide).
You can find the PC Optimization Guide here:
– https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/ts/detail.php?Index=30058
(Knowledge Base Article 30058)
You can find the Pro Tools addendum here:
– https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/ts/detail.php?Index=30083
(Knowledge Base Article 30083)
When you need help, Sweetwater has the answers!
Our knowledge base contains over 28,000 expertly written tech articles that will give you answers and help you get the most out of your gear. Our pro musicians and gear experts update content daily to keep you informed and on your way. Best of all, it’s totally FREE, and it’s just another reason that you get more at Sweetwater.com.
Offer applies only to single-receipt qualifying purchases. Select manufacturers may require that only the manufacturer’s products qualify towards the minimum purchase amount needed to be eligible for promotional financing. Otherwise, an invoice that meets the minimum purchase amount and contains at least one qualifying manufacturer product is eligible for promotional financing. No interest will be charged on promo purchase balance, and equal monthly payments are required on promo purchase until it is paid in full. The payments equal the amount financed divided by the number of months in the promo period, rounded up to the next whole dollar. These payments may be higher than the payments that would be required if this purchase was a non-promo purchase. During the last month(s) of the promo period the required monthly payment may be reduced due to the prior months’ rounding. Regular account terms apply to non-promo purchases. New Accounts as of 07/31/2025: Purchase APR is 34.99%. Penalty APR is 39.99%. Min Interest Charge is $2. Existing cardholders: See your credit card agreement terms. Subject to credit approval.
Offer applies only to single-receipt qualifying purchases. No interest will be charged on the promo balance if you pay it off, in full, within the promo period. If you do not, interest will be charged on the promo balance from the purchase date. The required minimum monthly payments may or may not pay off the promo balance before the end of the promo period, depending on purchase amount, promo length and payment allocation. Regular account terms apply to non-promo purchases and, after promo period ends, to the promo balance. New Accounts as of 07/31/2025: Purchase APR is 34.99%. Penalty APR is 39.99%. Min Interest Charge is $2. Existing cardholders: See your credit card agreement terms. Subject to credit approval.
The estimated required monthly payment shown which excludes taxes and delivery equals the amount financed divided by the number of months in the promo period, rounded up to the next cent. During the last month(s) of the promo period the required monthly payment may be reduced due to this rounding. These payments apply only with the financing offer shown. If you make these payments by the due date each month, you should pay off this amount financed within the promo period, if it is the only balance you are paying off. If you have other balances on your account, this payment will be added to any other minimum monthly payments.
Applies only to select items from this manufacturer. Ask your Sweetwater Sales Engineer for more details.