Music Maker Premium 2020-Crackly and skipping sounds.

ImSean wrote on 4/24/2020, 12:43 PM

Brand new PC and updated to Music maker premium 2020. Same issue as I had with the 2016 version...doesn't matter if I have 10 tracks or 1. Program either freezes or the sound becomes crackly and skips until the program finally freezes and I have to force quit through task manager. I had HP help me but all they did was check to see I had updated drivers. I use headphones and I've tried both my mixer interface USB audio codec as well as the Audio jack on the PC which is the Realtec audio. No improvement.

I have tried different drivers. The wave driver 16 bit and 24 bit works fine for playback only but I cant use my music keyboard. The wasapi and asiov2/magix low latency driver all did the same thing. I am on a new PC with a fresh install of MMM2020 and these are the same issues I had with the 2016 version on my old PC which is new from 2017. I only have one music keyboard plugged in. I have tried new cords, two other different keyboards with no improvement. So now this makes me believe it is a driver issue. The Magix Latency has not been updated since 2016, The ASIO has not been updated since May 23 2017 Windows 10 has had some upsetting updates which may have caused these drivers to fail. It feels like the drivers are having a asio surge which needs to be updated.

Cubase has had such an update however the ASIO v2 driver in cubase does the same thing. The ASIO V2 needs to be updated or Magix just needs to update their program to 64 bit. You cant run a "VW engine in a tesla"

I have been using Magix since they first started if I can remember....I've had my issues but always found an easy solution but this has me stumped and frustrated! I cant work on any songs!

I've been waiting to hear back from Magix support but no response so far. It's been two weeks. I tried emailing the guy who made the ASIO v2 driver but no response. I know everyone is under lock down and this would have been the perfect time to sit and write music but it sucks that I paid for a program that doesn't work. If anyone else has an idea or solution...you will be my new best friend if it gets resolved!

At this point in time, to learn a whole new DAW is not an option, I tried Cubase and it was way too much to handle. MMM allows me more creative writing than to mess with all the technological bits and pieces. Besides I can almost work on MMM with my eyes closed. If I did change, I would lose more than 1000 songs over the course of the years since 2006? 😔

Here are my PC specs:

Operating system

Windows 10 Home 64-bit

Microprocessor

Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-9700 CPU @ 3.00GHz

System memory

32 GB

Memory slot 1

16GB Micron 3200MHz

Memory slot 2

16GB Micron 3200MHz

System board

8653 A (SMVB)

System BIOS

F.11

Video

Graphic device 1

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti

Current resolution

1920 x 1080

Refresh rate

60 Hz

Version

26.21.14.4587 (4/3/2020)

Aero status

Enabled

Audio

Device 1

RtkA2dp

Status

Enabled

Driver

RtkA2dp.sys

Version

1.1.137.3

Device 2

NVIDIA High Definition Audio

Status

Enabled

Driver

nvhda64v.sys

Version

1.3.38.26

Device 3

NVIDIA Virtual Audio Device (Wave Extensible) (WDM)

Status

Enabled

Driver

nvvad64v.sys

Version

4.13.0.0

Device 4

USB Audio Device

Status

Enabled

Driver

USBAUDIO.sys

Version

10.0.18362.1

Device 5

Realtek High Definition Audio

Status

Enabled

Driver

RTKVHD64.sys

Version

6.0.8838.1

Comments

SP. wrote on 4/24/2020, 1:17 PM

If you have such a big library of songs I would suggest to never change a running system and always keep a working pc configuration for old versions of Music Maker and your songs. This is veryimportant!

The crackling and skipping can be fixed by using an audio interface. Which one do you have or use?

emmrecs wrote on 4/24/2020, 1:59 PM

@ImSean

The first thing to check is the settings area highlighted on this screenshot:

Try increasing first the audio buffers. Crackling and skipping is often an indication that those buffers are set to low/small and so cannot cope with the necessary data throughput..

If your mixer interface USB Audio Codec has a dedicated ASIO driver, is it installed? Again, this can make a lot of difference.

HTH

Jeff

ImSean wrote on 4/24/2020, 2:46 PM

If you have such a big library of songs I would suggest to never change a running system and always keep a working pc configuration for old versions of Music Maker and your songs. This is veryimportant!

The crackling and skipping can be fixed by using an audio interface. Which one do you have or use?

The Behringer XENYX302 USB uses the generic audio Driver I dont believe they have one. I have been using this for a few years now with no issue.Whatever Windows 10 update did, needs to be addressed by Magix. As far as keeping an older system...a person should not have to do this. The only thing that should change in a DAW other than the interface is the driver support for updated Computer systems.

ImSean wrote on 4/24/2020, 2:49 PM

@ImSean

The first thing to check is the settings area highlighted on this screenshot:

Try increasing first the audio buffers. Crackling and skipping is often an indication that those buffers are set to low/small and so cannot cope with the necessary data throughput..

If your mixer interface USB Audio Codec has a dedicated ASIO driver, is it installed? Again, this can make a lot of difference.

HTH

Jeff

I know what you mean and I have tried different buffer amounts but it does nothing to change the effect. The Behringer XENYX 302USB interface has no dedicated other than the Generic USB audio Codec used by windows.

SP. wrote on 4/24/2020, 4:10 PM

You need an audio interface with an ASIO driver. Your current hardware alone can't keep up with the computations necessary to output a clean audio signal.

ImSean wrote on 4/24/2020, 6:07 PM

You need an audio interface with an ASIO driver. Your current hardware alone can't keep up with the computations necessary to output a clean audio signal.

I have never had an issue using an interface without one...I dont think that is the problem. But, I will look for one and give it a go.

UPDATE the only driver they have is the ASIO4all v2 which needs an update.

SP. wrote on 4/24/2020, 7:10 PM

The problem is your Realtek audio chipset. It was not made for real-time audio production.

ImSean wrote on 4/24/2020, 7:20 PM

Oh, I understand that that's why I've always used the Generic Audio codecs and never had an issue, until Windows updated. I'm also using a 64 bit PC with the 32 bit Magix program and outdated ASIO drivers :-0

SP. wrote on 4/24/2020, 7:41 PM

Manufacturers of audio interfaces publish regularly updated ASIO drivers for their products.

ImSean wrote on 4/24/2020, 8:05 PM

If you can find it please link it here. I've searched but turned up with nothing other than a website claiming they had one but didnt sound like an actual.

emmrecs wrote on 4/25/2020, 4:07 AM

@ImSean

ALL the downloads for the Behringer unit are listed here. I note they do include the ASIO4All driver. Why did you say earlier that it needs an update? I checked the link on that Downloads page and it directs straight to the actual ASIO4All website! The latest version (2.14) is there. Have you actually downloaded and tested it?

Jeff
Forum Moderator

ImSean wrote on 4/25/2020, 11:03 AM

@ImSean

ALL the downloads for the Behringer unit are listed here. I note they do include the ASIO4All driver. Why did you say earlier that it needs an update? I checked the link on that Downloads page and it directs straight to the actual ASIO4All website! The latest version (2.14) is there. Have you actually downloaded and tested it?

Jeff
Forum Moderator

Hi Jeff,

The latest ASIO driver 2.14 was created 2017. Windows had a huge update recently that messed up a lot of things (when have their updates not messed things up :-p )

I have always used the ASIO4all driver since the beginning and it was all good. I tried using the 2.14 version and the 2.13. I've tried Rolling back my MMM2020 to the 2016 version doing a clean install, different compatibility settings etc....long story short, I tried many many configurations and it all leads back to the driver. Cubase has recently updated their ASIO driver...if I can remember that it was due to an overflow of the asio driver. It could also be the 64 bit PC im on is too powerful for the Asio driver? If there is anyone who has The MMM premium 2020 and it's works perfectly, I would love to hear how they are set up. If it's a Computer issue such as "HP" then I would be happy to return this new one for the one that works :-) When I switch to the Wave driver 16 bit, the music plays flawlessly but again, Cant record or play anything from the music keyboard. So when I believe it's the asio driver, Im thinking an update might help...

emmrecs wrote on 4/25/2020, 1:19 PM

@ImSean

Can you show a screenshot of the screen that opens when you click on the Advanced button on the Audio/MIDI tab of Program Settings?

Yes, I have MMM Premium 2020 working without problem using ASIO, albeit the dedicated ASIO driver for my MOTU interface. I also have ASIO4All v2.14 installed, and can use that without problem. That driver/program has not been updated since about 2017 because no update has been needed; it still functions exactly as it always did!

It is possible that a recent Windows update has changed some permission settings for access to your audio but and ASIO driver basically "punches through" standard Windows Audio settings so this should not be an issue, I think.

Jeff

ImSean wrote on 4/25/2020, 3:52 PM

@ImSean

Can you show a screenshot of the screen that opens when you click on the Advanced button on the Audio/MIDI tab of Program Settings?

Yes, I have MMM Premium 2020 working without problem using ASIO, albeit the dedicated ASIO driver for my MOTU interface. I also have ASIO4All v2.14 installed, and can use that without problem. That driver/program has not been updated since about 2017 because no update has been needed; it still functions exactly as it always did!

It is possible that a recent Windows update has changed some permission settings for access to your audio but and ASIO driver basically "punches through" standard Windows Audio settings so this should not be an issue, I think.

Jeff

Hi Jeff, It wouldn't let me save a screen shot here so I've provided a link hope this helps https://imgur.com/a/ZE774uK

SP. wrote on 4/25/2020, 5:00 PM

Maybe another idea. Is there some power saving in your Windows 10 computer enabled?

ImSean wrote on 4/25/2020, 5:17 PM

Maybe another idea. Is there some power saving in your Windows 10 computer enabled?

I disabled those awhile back...I'm actually trying right now to reset my pc to factory default, Install the program before anything else goes in other than the default programs and try from that point. Then I will slowly and painfully reinstall everything else to see if there is a file that tampers with Magix...One way or another, if the program works for others than there has to be an issue on my end but finding it....is painful! 😕😏😠😵💀

emmrecs wrote on 4/26/2020, 4:02 AM

@ImSean

This suggestion may have come too late for you (if you have already started the process of resetting and reinstalling) but have you tried increasing the buffer size in that ASIO4All control panel, currently 512 samples? Doing so may introduce some latency (delay) which can be a problem if you are overdubbing but could at least show you where exactly the problem is coming from.

HTH

Jeff

ImSean wrote on 4/27/2020, 12:40 AM

@emmrecs

So.....Pc is reset to factory default, installed Magix as the first program besides the defaults. Started a different song and played....Got crackle sounds, it freezes and I get this error: (See Pic)

This is so delightfully annoying!

SP. wrote on 4/27/2020, 1:00 AM

You are using multiple tracks with MIDI and VSTs. Some even with activated effects.

ASIO4ALL is a wrapper hack and not a real ASIO driver. If Microsoft changed something in its Windows audio system, maybe it's not working correctly anymore.

Some years ago my crackling problems went away, when I bought a Focusrite Scarlet 2i4.

ImSean wrote on 4/27/2020, 1:12 AM

Here are some more pics

I can play HIGH end videos games with full power, Full spectrum sounds and extreme graphic details and My CPU runs at half...If I run Magix with only one track or more the CPU runs at 100% very high.....what am I missing here???? Still no reply back from Magix...

ImSean wrote on 4/27/2020, 1:19 AM

I found this article..dont know if it will help but finding those DLL\s files would be the challenge

https://windowstechies.com/-/en/filename-gen/?file=Runtime%20Error&gclid=CjwKCAjw4pT1BRBUEiwAm5QuR9p3mDzXDV2DiUCfma21nKFYYNEthDrCG7RhrU9zRxK-Jd1kK_ZN9BoCuHcQAvD_BwE

ImSean wrote on 4/27/2020, 1:24 AM

You are using multiple tracks with MIDI and VSTs. Some even with activated effects.

ASIO4ALL is a wrapper hack and not a real ASIO driver. If Microsoft changed something in its Windows audio system, maybe it's not working correctly anymore.

Some years ago my crackling problems went away, when I bought a Focusrite Scarlet 2i4.

OK...I just bought a focusrite...Lets see if it makes a difference 😏😉

SP. wrote on 4/27/2020, 1:49 AM

For example, games are using their own dedicated engines that avoid the standard windows graphic and audio routines because they are too slow. They maybe use the keyboard input libraries of Windows.

johnebaker wrote on 4/27/2020, 4:33 AM

@ImSean

. . . . the sound becomes crackly and skips until the program finally freezes . . . .

I could finally get the crackling to appear after about 20 mins of swapping in/out and playing various projects, from simple 6 track Soundpool based to 13 track MIDI with various effects on all tracks - buffer settings were set to the defaults.

The fix it for me was to increase the number of buffers - 8 worked for most of the time- with only a small hint of a crackle after on the most complex MIDI project with one instrument - crackled disappeared when it was muted (?), however 16 buffers worked best.

How this would affect latency I do not know as I do not have a MIDI keyboard at the moment to test, however I would not expect the latency to increase as much as it does increasing the buffer. I suspect the buffers run in parallel.

Increasing the buffer size appeared just delay the onset of crackling.

Using Magix Low Latency Driver 2016, Realtek onboard audio chipset.

HTH

John EB