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Whole program freezes briefly / USB Audio Dropouts?
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Whole program freezes briefly / USB Audio Dropouts?

Product
ITCH
Version
2.1
Hardware
Numark NS6
Computer
PC
OS
Platform
-
RickyWells 11:30 PM - 24 January, 2012
Ever since I have used ITCH I have had a problem with ITCH freezing up for a couple seconds (up to 5) during recordings/live performances/just practicing etc and then going back to normal and if I play long enough freezing again periodically every couple of Hours or so..

I have followed all of the ideas from Serato's "optimize your PC for audio" guide as well as even going to extremes such as WIPING my entire HD and Re-installing Windows, ITCH etc.. I thought that maybe it was a software issue and that the new 2.1 version of ITCH would take care of whatever glitch was happening but this has not been the case as even the 2.1 version has been having this problem (3 Program freezes at my last performance were really testing my patience and ruining what little rep I have as a competent DJ)..

I am running out of my capacity to find a solution for this problem through the forums and my own online research as I feel I have tried every possible solution I have seen posted yet (with the exception of the USB audio dropout phenomenon) to no avail..

I am running ITCH on a Toshiba Satellite A660 laptop with Intel Core i5 processor (M480 @ 2.67GHz) with 4GB of RAM (3.8 Usable).. and have been using different USB ports on my computer as recommended and upgraded to a faster/nicer USB cable (I thought) without any luck either..

I have run the DPC Trace tool (downloaded from the Serato website) hopefully following the instructions correctly and I have a report Doc ready to upload so that this possible solution can hopefully be resolved as soon as possible..

Thank you for any help you can provide in advance.. I'm lookin at you Matthew C :)

Jared
11:30 PM, 24 Jan 2012
RickyWells attached a file: ZERODEGREE-PC-dpcisr-report.txt
Download· Permalink
Serato, Forum Moderator
Mathew C 2:48 AM - 26 January, 2012
Hi Rickywells,

You have running high: (I've removed the ones I think you've already done)

1) ndis.sys

* Disable all network adapters

VISTA/7:
1) Go to Control Panel
2) Open Network and Sharing Center
3) Open 'Manage wireless networks'
4) Right click on your connections to disable the Wireless Network Connection and any wired connections.

2) USBPORT.SYS

* Go to your computer manufacturer's website and check if there you are using the most up-to-date drivers.
* Try using an external power supply for your hardware.


3) But running high ABOVE ALL is
ACPI.sys (Power management)

If you have USB dropouts and are having trouble finding a cause on a seemingly powerful machine, check if your computer is ACPI by opening the device manager:

1. Go to control panel
2. Click system
3. Click the hardware tab
4. Click device manager
5. Click the [+] next to Computer
6. If you see "ACPI uniprocessor PC" or similar, you have ACPI.

Quick method for disabling ACPI power management on some laptops

Try taking your battery out and just run off the power supply, this stops ACPI from trying to manage the battery on some model laptops.

Mathew
3:00 AM, 9 Feb 2012
This help request has been closed due to inactivity.
RickyWells 4:20 PM - 9 February, 2012
Okay, so after repeated performances (with all of these suggestions taken into action) I am still experiencing these total program freezes where ITCH will completely stop working for a second or two (very much like a skipping CD) and then continue where it left off. After careful observation this freeze/skip almost always occurs twice with the second occurance of skipping /freezing almost immediately following the first within 30 seconds. I do not know if that information is useful but I thought I would include it.

To reiterate, I definitely have the most up to date drivers for my USB drives on my computer, I have optimized my computer to run ITCH via the guide available in the Serato Help Forum, I definitely kill my WIFI prior to running ITCH and indeed have a ASPCI laptop and have tried running my laptop without the battery ALL of which has not solved this problem.

I would appreciate any further actions I could take to solve this issue.

Jared
Serato, Forum Moderator
Mathew C 10:17 PM - 9 February, 2012
Are you getting the limiter light come on at all? Make sure you don't run the unit into the red and get most of your volume from your amp and/or powered speakers.

Try plugging the NS6 straight into the wall as apposed to using a strip if you are doing this.

Is your computer overheating?

Try checking your computers power settings also - I'm not sure exactly here this is on Windows machines, but you'd want it on maximum performance as apposed to any power saving type option.

Mathew
RickyWells 9:49 PM - 14 February, 2012
1. No limiter light
2. Plugged NS6 straight into wall outlet
3. Computer is running on max performance settings

=

Same result, i.e... I am still experiencing total program freezes/glitches ^See above descriptions
Serato, Forum Moderator
Mathew C 3:48 AM - 15 February, 2012
can you please perform an updated DPC report so we can have a new reading please?

It might benefit us to have a new reading to go off.

Do you have any other items plugged into you laptop apart from the NS6?

Thanks,
Mathew
11:27 PM, 15 Feb 2012
RickyWells attached a file: ZERODEGREE-PC-dpcisr-report.txt
Download· Permalink
RickyWells 11:30 PM - 15 February, 2012
I have uploaded a new DPC report as I am still experiencing these freezes. I waited until after one had occurred before running the report this time.

To answer your last question: As per your previous instructions I never have anything plugged into my laptop when running Serato.

Thanks for your help Matt
Serato, Forum Moderator
Mathew C 1:40 AM - 16 February, 2012
I'm seeing a whole lot of progress here. Now the only thing that's registering high is USB Port.

Can you try and raise your buffer in the setup screen?

Can you check with your laptop manufacturer and see if there's a BIOS update available too?

Does it get worse when you touch the usb cord at all?
1:08 AM, 17 Feb 2012
RickyWells attached a file: ZERODEGREE-PC-dpcisr-report.txt
Download· Permalink
RickyWells 1:11 AM - 17 February, 2012
Matt,

So I talked to my laptop manufacturer about a BIOS update and I was informed of a few things.

First, was that the BIOS update would not change anything as far as my USB root-drivers are concerned as the only problem it was fixing was an overcharge on a 12 cell battery and I only have a 6 cell so it didn't pertain to my issue or my laptop setup.

Second, after speaking in detail about the issues I am experiencing with program freezes to Tech Support it was brought to my attention that the most likely cause of this type of error is actually a bad physical connection on the USB A port of my NS6. This theory was drawn from the fact that no other device I plug into my USB ports has an issue that resembles this one, the freezing of the program happens no matter what USB port I use on my computer and it occurs with a plethora of different USB cables (including some very nice ones).

I have attached another DPC report just in case you would like to see another one. This one as well was done after the program freezing/skipping.

In regards to your other suggestions, I have max buffer on in ITCH and physically touching the USB cord does not cause the program to freeze/skip.

Let me know what you think about all this.

Jared
Serato, Forum Moderator
Mathew C 1:36 AM - 20 February, 2012
thanks for informing me of what they said, it's good to hear different perspectives, and what you say in your second point would make sense to me. Does the controller/software have issues when you move the cable from side to side at the controller end?

USBPORT is the only thing on that last report showing any type of high reading - but it's not too high.

Perhaps contacting Numark is the best thing to do here:
NS6
Phone: +1 (401) 658 3131 ext. 1404
(Mon–Fri, 8:30am–4:30pm EST)
Email Support: www.numark.com
RickyWells 10:03 PM - 24 February, 2012
First, no there does not seem to be a direct physical connection between moving the cord at the Controller end and the software freezing, however, the Tech guys I have spoken too seem to think that even a few misplaced Microns on the surface of either connection can disrupt the whole system of continuous data transfer intermittently, or so they tell me anyway.

IF you have any other suggestions, please let me know.

I have submitted a report with Numark and will be sending my NS6 to them after the two upcoming shows I have next weekend so I have until then to try out any last ideas.

Thank you.