13 Mar
2011
13 Mar
'11
7:27 p.m.
Hi,
I just bought an Audiophile 2496. Unfortunately, it does not work as
well as I imagined. Here are the symptoms :
* Simple listening (no jack, just alsa):
- when I route PCM outs directly to HW outs, I here "cracks" on the
right side (I don't know the precise english word to describe the
noise, see below for example)
- if I switch the RCA cables, the cracks change side
- when I route the digital mix to HW out, I don't hear cracks
* Recording (jack, no xruns):
- I can record my guitar (I use the RCA analog in)
- I still hear the cracks while I play and in the recorded sound
(example :http://manu.mindslicer.com/export.wav). These cracks are
very similar to what I hear when I listen music without jack (with PCM
out -> HW out).
I tried with different sets of cables and headphones.
What do you think ? From what I heard, I doubt it is a
software-related problem. A lot of people use the Audiophile without
problem. Moreover, switching the RCAs switches the side of the cracks.
I just wanted to have your opinion before sending the card back. Could
it be a configuration issue ? Is it a problem with the
chair-to-keyboard interface ?
Thanks in advance for all the advices you can give me.
Cheers,
Manu
Conf:
-------
Arch Linux 64 bits (Intel Core i5, 4 Gb RAM)
M-Audio Audiophile 2496
alsa 1.0.24
envy24control 0.6.0
jack2 1.9.6
qjackctl 0.3.7
13 Mar
13 Mar
7:31 p.m.
On Sun, Mar 13, 2011 at 2:27 PM, Manu <manu(a)mindslicer.com> wrote:
I tried with different sets of cables and headphones.
What do you think ? From what I heard, I doubt it is a
software-related problem. A lot of people use the Audiophile without
problem. Moreover, switching the RCAs switches the side of the cracks.
I just wanted to have your opinion before sending the card back. Could
it be a configuration issue ? Is it a problem with the
chair-to-keyboard interface ?
What is your hardware configuration (RAM, CPU speed, sample rate on
the card), plus how is jack configured?
--
Brett W. McCoy -- http://www.electricminstrel.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"In the rhythm of music a secret is hidden; If I were to divulge it,
it would overturn the world."
-- Jelaleddin Rumi
7:39 p.m.
What is your hardware configuration (RAM, CPU speed,
sample rate on
the card), plus how is jack configured?
RAM: 4Gb
CPU: Core i5 2,80 GHz (quad core)
* jack:
- Real-Time checked (however I run a vanilla kernel; the "RT" light on
qjacktl is on)
- rtprio 70 (ulimit -r = 90)
- frames/period = 256
- sample rate = 44100
- periods/buffer = 2
I played with these last three params with no notable effects, so I
don't think latency is the problem. The card is supposed to support
both 48000 and 44100 Hz sample rate, these are the two value I tried.
Manu
8:22 p.m.
On Sun, 13 Mar 2011 19:39:48 +0100
Manu <manu(a)mindslicer.com> wrote:
What distro are you using?
Is pulseaudio running?
Does the BIOS have CPU scaling enabled?
--
Will J Godfrey
http://www.musically.me.uk
Say you have a poem and I have a tune.
Exchange them and we can both have a poem, a tune, and a song.
What is your
hardware configuration (RAM, CPU speed, sample rate on
the card), plus how is jack configured?
RAM: 4Gb
CPU: Core i5 2,80 GHz (quad core)
* jack:
- Real-Time checked (however I run a vanilla kernel; the "RT" light on
qjacktl is on)
- rtprio 70 (ulimit -r = 90)
- frames/period = 256
- sample rate = 44100
- periods/buffer = 2
I played with these last three params with no notable effects, so I
don't think latency is the problem. The card is supposed to support
both 48000 and 44100 Hz sample rate, these are the two value I tried.
Manu 
8:49 p.m.
I'm afraid this is on the hardware side.
I recently tried this card on Windows and encountered very similar symptoms.
Regards,
Artem Vakhitov
Manu wrote:
Hi,
I just bought an Audiophile 2496. Unfortunately, it does not work as
well as I imagined. Here are the symptoms :
* Simple listening (no jack, just alsa):
- when I route PCM outs directly to HW outs, I here "cracks" on the
right side (I don't know the precise english word to describe the
noise, see below for example)
- if I switch the RCA cables, the cracks change side
- when I route the digital mix to HW out, I don't hear cracks
* Recording (jack, no xruns):
- I can record my guitar (I use the RCA analog in)
- I still hear the cracks while I play and in the recorded sound
(example :http://manu.mindslicer.com/export.wav). These cracks are
very similar to what I hear when I listen music without jack (with PCM
out -> HW out).
I tried with different sets of cables and headphones.
What do you think ? From what I heard, I doubt it is a
software-related problem. A lot of people use the Audiophile without
problem. Moreover, switching the RCAs switches the side of the cracks.
I just wanted to have your opinion before sending the card back. Could
it be a configuration issue ? Is it a problem with the
chair-to-keyboard interface ?
Thanks in advance for all the advices you can give me.
Cheers,
Manu
Conf:
-------
Arch Linux 64 bits (Intel Core i5, 4 Gb RAM)
M-Audio Audiophile 2496
alsa 1.0.24
envy24control 0.6.0
jack2 1.9.6
qjackctl 0.3.7
_______________________________________________
Linux-audio-user mailing list
Linux-audio-user(a)lists.linuxaudio.org
http://lists.linuxaudio.org/listinfo/linux-audio-user
9:20 p.m.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [LAU] Cracks while using Audiophile 2496
From: Artem Vakhitov <temcat(a)mail.ru>
To: Linux-audio-user(a)lists.linuxaudio.org
Date: 03/13/2011 01:49 PM
I'm afraid this is on the hardware side.
I recently tried this card on Windows and encountered very similar
symptoms.
Regards,
Artem Vakhitov
Manu wrote:
Both my cards work fine
without cracks.
--
Christopher Cherrett
ccherrett(a)openoctave.org
http://www.openoctave.org
Hi,
I just bought an Audiophile 2496. Unfortunately, it does not work as
well as I imagined. Here are the symptoms :
* Simple listening (no jack, just alsa):
- when I route PCM outs directly to HW outs, I here "cracks" on the
right side (I don't know the precise english word to describe the
noise, see below for example)
- if I switch the RCA cables, the cracks change side
- when I route the digital mix to HW out, I don't hear cracks
* Recording (jack, no xruns):
- I can record my guitar (I use the RCA analog in)
- I still hear the cracks while I play and in the recorded sound
(example :http://manu.mindslicer.com/export.wav). These cracks are
very similar to what I hear when I listen music without jack (with PCM
out -> HW out).
I tried with different sets of cables and headphones.
What do you think ? From what I heard, I doubt it is a
software-related problem. A lot of people use the Audiophile without
problem. Moreover, switching the RCAs switches the side of the cracks.
I just wanted to have your opinion before sending the card back. Could
it be a configuration issue ? Is it a problem with the
chair-to-keyboard interface ?
Thanks in advance for all the advices you can give me.
Cheers,
Manu
Conf:
-------
Arch Linux 64 bits (Intel Core i5, 4 Gb RAM)
M-Audio Audiophile 2496
alsa 1.0.24
envy24control 0.6.0
jack2 1.9.6
qjackctl 0.3.7
_______________________________________________
Linux-audio-user mailing list
Linux-audio-user(a)lists.linuxaudio.org
http://lists.linuxaudio.org/listinfo/linux-audio-user
_______________________________________________
Linux-audio-user mailing list
Linux-audio-user(a)lists.linuxaudio.org
http://lists.linuxaudio.org/listinfo/linux-audio-user 
9:47 p.m.
On Sun, 13 Mar 2011 21:29:49 +0100
Emmanuel Gras <gras.emmanuel(a)gmail.com> wrote:
Sounds very much like you have a faulty card then :( I've been using a 2496
since late 2006 without any problems on several different machines with
different debian based distros - I've no experience with Archlinux but it
generally seems to get good reports.
--
Will J Godfrey
http://www.musically.me.uk
Say you have a poem and I have a tune.
Exchange them and we can both have a poem, a tune, and a song.
What distro
are you using?
I'm running Archlinux 64 bits.
Is pulseaudio running?
No pulseaudio.
Does the BIOS have CPU scaling enabled?
No CPU scaling. 
14 Mar
14 Mar
1:37 a.m.
Christopher Cherrett wrote:
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [LAU] Cracks while using Audiophile 2496
From: Artem Vakhitov <temcat(a)mail.ru>
To: Linux-audio-user(a)lists.linuxaudio.org
Date: 03/13/2011 01:49 PM
Mine, too. One on Aptosid's RT kernel, the other on a machine without RT
kernel.
The fact that the crackling switches sides when you change DIP switches
makes me think there's a hardware problem with the card itself.
--
David
gnome(a)hawaii.rr.com
authenticity, honesty, community
I'm afraid this is on the hardware side.
I recently tried this card on Windows and encountered very similar
symptoms.
Regards,
Artem Vakhitov
Manu wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I just bought an Audiophile 2496. Unfortunately, it does not work as
> well as I imagined. Here are the symptoms :
>
> * Simple listening (no jack, just alsa):
> - when I route PCM outs directly to HW outs, I here "cracks" on the
> right side (I don't know the precise english word to describe the
> noise, see below for example)
> - if I switch the RCA cables, the cracks change side
> - when I route the digital mix to HW out, I don't hear cracks
>
> * Recording (jack, no xruns):
> - I can record my guitar (I use the RCA analog in)
> - I still hear the cracks while I play and in the recorded sound
> (example :http://manu.mindslicer.com/export.wav). These cracks are
> very similar to what I hear when I listen music without jack (with PCM
> out -> HW out).
>
> I tried with different sets of cables and headphones.
>
> What do you think ? From what I heard, I doubt it is a
> software-related problem. A lot of people use the Audiophile without
> problem. Moreover, switching the RCAs switches the side of the cracks.
> I just wanted to have your opinion before sending the card back. Could
> it be a configuration issue ? Is it a problem with the
> chair-to-keyboard interface ?
>
> Thanks in advance for all the advices you can give me.
>
> Cheers,
> Manu
>
> Conf:
> -------
>
> Arch Linux 64 bits (Intel Core i5, 4 Gb RAM)
> M-Audio Audiophile 2496
> alsa 1.0.24
> envy24control 0.6.0
> jack2 1.9.6
> qjackctl 0.3.7
Both my cards work fine without cracks. 
8:56 a.m.
----- "Manu" <manu(a)mindslicer.com> wrote:
- I still hear the cracks while I play and in the
recorded sound
(example :http://manu.mindslicer.com/export.wav). These cracks are
I hear no "cracks" in this file, are there some? or is it that you
hear them when you play the file?
Anyway,
if you have a friend or another computer, try to plug your
card in it and make some tests. If you have another OS, try
it as well.
I guess you don't hear cracks if you play audio with other
soundcards on the same computer (your computer has a cheap
one in it maybe?).
Regards,
Cédric.
9:28 a.m.
Am 14.03.2011 08:56, schrieb Cedric Roux:
----- "Manu"<manu(a)mindslicer.com>
wrote:
I second that, I also fail to hear any crackles or whatever noises, that
I would considers undesirable ;-)
- I still hear the cracks while I play and in the
recorded sound
(example :http://manu.mindslicer.com/export.wav). These cracks are
I hear no "cracks" in this file, are there some? or is it that you
hear them when you play the file?
Anyway,
if you have a friend or another computer, try to plug your
card in it and make some tests. If you have another OS, try
it as well.
The ancestors of these cards (namely the Terratec EWX) had issues with
IRQ-sharing. You may want to try some voodoo: just stick the card in a
different PCI-Slot if available.
Ahhhh -- yeah: you have the input levels under control? Could be the
analogue electronics on the card are not comfortable with your settings....
best of luck
HZN
I guess you don't hear cracks if you play audio
with other
soundcards on the same computer (your computer has a cheap
one in it maybe?).
Regards,
Cédric.
_______________________________________________
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Linux-audio-user(a)lists.linuxaudio.org
http://lists.linuxaudio.org/listinfo/linux-audio-user
10:22 a.m.
2011/3/14 Hartmut Noack <zettberlin(a)linuxuse.de>de>:
I'll try to find a Windows PC and check if it works.
Am 14.03.2011 08:56, schrieb Cedric Roux:
Maybe I should have recorded a clean guitar ;-)
But I definitely hear high pitched crackle noises (e.g at the
beginning when the guitar starts playing).
----- "Manu"<manu(a)mindslicer.com> wrote:
I second that, I also fail to hear any crackles or whatever noises, that I
would considers undesirable ;-)
- I still hear the cracks while I play and in the recorded sound
(example :http://manu.mindslicer.com/export.wav). These cracks are
I hear no "cracks" in this file, are there some? or is it that you
hear them when you play the file?
Anyway,
if you have a friend or another computer, try to plug your
card in it and make some tests. If you have another OS, try
it as well.
The ancestors of these cards (namely the Terratec EWX)
had issues with
IRQ-sharing. You may want to try some voodoo: just stick the card in a
different PCI-Slot if available.
I'll try the voodoo ! Maybe sacrifice a goat too ;-)
> I guess you don't hear cracks if you play
audio with other
> soundcards on the same computer (your computer has a cheap
> one in it maybe?).
>
I only have one sound card. The one on the motherboard works just
fine. And the computer is not really cheap, and not that old (8
months).
Manu
10:37 a.m.
----- "Manu" <manu(a)mindslicer.com> wrote:
Maybe I should have recorded a clean guitar ;-)
yeah, the distortion does not help, even if you have
a nice sound.
But I definitely hear high pitched crackle noises (e.g
at the
beginning when the guitar starts playing).
Okay, by pushing the level I can hear them too. You're not crazy. :-)
If you plan to just record your guitar with distortion
no one will notice, not a big problem, especially if you're
in a grindcore/noise band. :-)
Sorry, no idea of what's going on. Just make more tests before sending
the card back IMHO... If it's not the card, another one will give you
the same results.
6:33 p.m.
Hi all,
2011/3/14 Cedric Roux <sed(a)free.fr>fr>:
----- "Manu" <manu(a)mindslicer.com>
wrote:
[...]
But I definitely hear high pitched crackle noises
(e.g at the
beginning when the guitar starts playing).
Okay, by pushing the level I can hear them too. You're not crazy. :-)
I hear them as well, and they're quite visible in
a sound editor (like ReZound) at 00:02.35 and 00:02.90 for instance.
I admit I was starting to think "did I really hear something ?"...
Thanks for confirming I'm not crazy !
If you plan to just record your guitar with
distortion
no one will notice, not a big problem, especially if you're
in a grindcore/noise band. :-)
More "Opeth-minded" I'd say. So crystal-clean sounds are equally as
important as heavily distorded guitars !
Sorry, no idea of what's going on. Just make more
tests before sending
the card back IMHO... If it's not the card, another one will give you
the same results.
I lost a few hours this afternoon to set up a Windows box.
\begin{troll}damn no-usb-install OS !! \end{troll}. I'll try the card
tomorrow.
Thanks for your feedback, I'll keep you posted.
Manu
11:17 a.m.
Quoting Manu <manu(a)mindslicer.com>om>:
2011/3/14 Hartmut Noack
<zettberlin(a)linuxuse.de>de>:
I hear them as well, and they're quite visible in a sound editor (like
ReZound) at 00:02.35 and 00:02.90 for instance.
Am 14.03.2011 08:56, schrieb Cedric Roux:
Maybe I should have recorded a clean guitar ;-)
But I definitely hear high pitched crackle noises (e.g at the
beginning when the guitar starts playing).
----- "Manu"<manu(a)mindslicer.com> wrote:
I second that, I also fail to hear any crackles or whatever noises, that I
would considers undesirable ;-)
- I still hear the cracks while I play and in the recorded sound
(example :http://manu.mindslicer.com/export.wav). These cracks are
I hear no "cracks" in this file, are there some? or is it that you
hear them when you play the file?
5005
days inactive
5006
days old
linux-audio-user@lists.linuxaudio.org
16 comments
11 participants
participants (11)
-
Artem Vakhitov -
Brett McCoy -
Cedric Roux -
Christopher Cherrett -
david -
Emmanuel Gras -
Folderol -
Hartmut Noack -
Manu -
Peder Hedlund -
Ross