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USB Drop Outs Dell Inspiron 1525
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USB Drop Outs Dell Inspiron 1525

Product
Scratch Live
Version
-
Hardware
Ortofon | Serato S-120
Computer
-
OS
Platform
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djrhouse 11:08 PM - 8 September, 2008
I just bought a new PC specs as follows:

Manufacturer: Dell
Model: Inspiron 1525
Processor Type: Intel Core 2 DUO 2.0GHZ
RAM: 4GB RAM
Operating System: Windows Vista SP1 32 Bit
Hard Drive: 250GB

My DJ setup with Serato is as follows:

Denon DN-HS5500CD (2)
Denon DN-X1500S (1)

I had all the preinstalled junk software removed and the camera disabled prior to installing SSL. Once I loaded SSL and built overviews for all songs I loaded a track. My settings in SSL are as follows:

USB Buffer: 4
Max Screen Updates per second: 60
Audio Cache: 15

Before I even start with a song on SSL I checked Windows Task Manager to see how much processing power is being used and it fluctuates from 1% - 10%. The USB light all of a sudden just flashes on its own without me touching anything for about 5 seconds then goes out. I checked the system resources and it goes up to maybe 30% when this occurs if I am using Serato and sometimes it is only at 10% and the USB light flashes. This happens about every two minutes on its own without even starting the music. I set my system is set up for optimal settings and still the USB light comes on and it doesn't seem like the processor is being overworked at all.

I would like some help to resolve this issue if at all possible.

Note; even if I raise the USB buffer size higher the USB light still comes on by itself regardless of what version of SSL I use 1.8 or higher, I have tried them all.
Rane, Support
Zach S 11:14 PM - 8 September, 2008
Hello again:)

Ok.. so dropout issues on your new Vista machine.

First things first..

Do you have any internet connections disabled?
Have you turned off any anti virus software?
Are you plugging the SL1 directly into a hard wired usb port on your machine? (No hubs).
Have you tried all usb ports on your computer?
If you move your usb audio buffer up a bit do the drop outs stop?
Do you have any other usb devices plugged into your computer?
If so, try unplugging everything except the SL1 and see if it runs any better.

Let us know and we'll go from there;)
djrhouse 11:24 PM - 8 September, 2008
1-Internet Connection Disabled
2-Antivirus Off
3-SSL is connected directly to a USB port on laptop
4-I tried all ports no difference
5-Moved USB audio buffer up to 10 from 4 and it still drops out (note no scrackling sounds when light appears that you normally get when the USB buffer setting is too low for the system used)
6-No USB devices hooked except SSL
Rane, Support
Zach S 11:37 PM - 8 September, 2008
Some computers come with poor usb cards.. hopefully this is not the case with your computer but you might want to try using an external power supply to power the SL1 and see if that helps with your dropout issue.

Just to clarify.. are you seeing the green usb light pop on or the red/yellow/orange light?

Do you hear any audible dropouts or glitches even with the buffer at 4?
djrhouse 11:49 PM - 8 September, 2008
The light that pops up is orange. I have a powersupply and it is connected
Serato
Josh 4:04 AM - 9 September, 2008
can you stop the dropouts by increasing your buffer size?
victor_M 2:26 PM - 11 September, 2008
are you sure you disabled all communication (wifi and network) by device manager?. I was having a similar issue on that laptop and I had to go device manager and actually disable it. Also if you have widget and funky things running it robs cpu cycles. also have you optimized it take a look at the link below.

www.scratchlive.net
djrhouse 3:36 AM - 13 September, 2008
Sorry for the delay, I was out for a few days. Zach; No audible drop outs at a buffer size of 4, just the orange light comes on and the processor percentage is low when it lights.

Josh; increasing the buffer size doesnt stop the light from coming on. I took it up to 10 which is unsat and the light still comes on.

Victor M; I am going into device manager and disable all communications and I will report back what happens.
With my XP machine I can keep wireless on and antivirus and the USB light never flashes no matter how low I set the latency at. No widgets or extras are running on my desktop. I have it setup for maximum performance.
djrhouse 1:50 AM - 14 September, 2008
I disabled all communications in device manager and now the USB light only comes on once every 40 min or so unlike every two minutes like it was before. Disabling Antivirus doesn't seem to have any effect but I did disable check for updates and scheduled drive scans.
Serato
Josh 2:15 AM - 15 September, 2008
it sounds like you're doing quite well now... are the dropouts audible? or just the light?
victor_M 2:38 PM - 15 September, 2008
DJrhouse

Looks like your pinning it down. Also make sure your windows defender is turned off or even better uninstalled. It try's to go out for updates and scan. Also go into Start-->Run-->MSconfig and see if extra stuff is starting in the background.

I personally didn't like the way visa felt with SSL so I downgraded to XP.
djrhouse 1:08 AM - 18 September, 2008
I took that laptop back and got a Dell Studio 15 here are the specs;

Dell Studio 15
2.16GHZ Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
800 MHZ front side buss
3MB Cache
4GB RAM
320GB HD
256MB Video
Vista SP1

Initial tweeks

auto updates turned off
camera disabled
bluetooth off
wireless off


It is worst that the other laptop and I paid a 15% restocking fee. I figured if I spent a little more money on a better laptop it wouldnt have the same issues. Now I know its definitely Vista without a doubt. Even when I build overviews the USB light comes on, how crazy is that.

It's back to the optimization page so I can tweek this one.

I will post my findings after I get past the tweeks
djrhouse 1:41 AM - 18 September, 2008
Oh, left this part out, this machine is 64 Bit
Serato
Josh 1:46 AM - 18 September, 2008
have you thought about installing XP?
victor_M 2:53 AM - 18 September, 2008
it's your choice. The 1525 is an excellent machine and has done me well. the machine you have now isn't bad.
djrhouse 8:40 PM - 18 September, 2008
The Studio series is actually a better laptop placed between the Inspiron and the XPS series.
I think I got it to a point where it works but I have to test for one more day.
victor_M 9:44 PM - 18 September, 2008
agreed, but..I don't believe you can downgrade it to XP.
djrhouse 10:57 PM - 18 September, 2008
I don't think its backwards compatible either. Vista is microsofts future and they are building the new machines so you can't go back to XP, some you can but most you can't. Good news is, I set everything to the optimal settings recommended and I have been playing for a few hours and no USB light whatsoever. I have the latency set on 6. When I had it on 4 I would get breakups in the songs when I mix but no USB light. Once I moved it to 6 and the crackling stopped and everything seems fine now. I have to use this laptop for a wedding this Saturday so I will definitely know if it works or not. Tonight and Friday night are my last two testing days then I will post all my setting here so hopefully it can help someone else that may get the same laptop and experience issues.

Thanks for all your help Zach, Josh and Victor.
Rane, Support
Zach S 11:13 PM - 18 September, 2008
Ya.. some Vista machines simply can't run the usb audio buffer lower than a certain point without getting dropouts.
Regardless of how beefy the machine might be.
Its a bummer, I know, but that is Vista for you:(
Rane, Support
Zach S 11:13 PM - 18 September, 2008
I'm going to close this thread for now. If you'd like to open it up again just re-post;)