Software help archive

A read-only archive of old serato.com help threads.

Pops, Crackles & distorted sound after a few hours

Product
ITCH
Version
2.0.1
Hardware
Numark V7 +
Computer
PC
OS
Platform
-
CJ DJ 8:30 PM - 12 September, 2011
Product: itch
Version: 2.0.1
Hardware: numark-v7||no-fx-controller
Computer: pc
OS Version: win764
---

Here is my problem, since I got this controllers sound gets distorted after a few hours. I noticed when I play sets of 2 hours and the longer you play the worse it gets. To test it differently the other day I did this: I loaded itch and left my computer idle for a couple hours, when I came back loaded a song and pressed play, the sound was very badly distorted, lots of pops and crackle sounds. To corect the problem I found out you can just to turn the V7's off and turn it on, at this point the problem is fixed. I tested this with BOTH v7's.

I have a Dell XPS 15 with I7 6MB ram, Itch Ver 20102, but this happens with previous versions (all the way back to 1.7 since thats the first version I installed when I bought the controllers)
CJ DJ 8:59 PM - 12 September, 2011
forgot to add I have Numark V7 USB Driver Version 2.9.13
DJ ForDeeTo 6:17 PM - 15 September, 2011
I've noticed the same issue! Please advise.
Serato, Forum Moderator
Samuel S 3:43 AM - 19 September, 2011
Hey CJ DJ,

Sorry to get to this thread so late. Can you please let me know if you have followed all the steps in our computer optimization guide for PC's? You can find this here:

serato.com

Can you also let me know if you have tried switching out the USB cable and tried connecting through your other USB ports?

Sam.
4:16 AM, 19 Sep 2011
CJ DJ attached a file: w7-dpcisr-report.txt -a dpcisr.zip
Download· Permalink
CJ DJ 4:21 AM - 19 September, 2011
I have tried everything short of re-installing windows, I changed cables, changed v7a to v7b as master(as I have 2 v7) and I hear the same results. I dont see any reason to re-install windows 7 because itch/v7 seems to be the only thing that has an issue. When I play a set, after a time which can be between 15 min to an hour I may start hearing pops, crackles and distorted delayed sounds. this can be augmented exponetially if I leave the computer idle for a long while after it starts sounding bad, lets say after a couple hours then when I come back and press play the sound is just terrible.

I ran the dpc trace a few minutes ago, I am attaching the results.
toasted 7:09 AM - 19 September, 2011
i havnt a clue what the problem is but does it also sound bad if you play a song after 2 hours on itch while monitoring from pc headphone jack without the v7`s switched on?
Serato, Forum Moderator
Samuel S 1:56 AM - 20 September, 2011
From your DPC trace report I can see a couple of things which are giving you some high DPC times and could be causing conflicts.

ndis.sys

- This is your networking devices. Can you please try disabling any network adaptors in the device manager? To do this, open the device manager in control panel and then right click on any network adaptors that show up and choose disable.

nvlddmkm.sys

- This is an NVIDIA driver which is probably related to your graphics card. Can you please check for any updated graphics card drivers for the graphics card you have installed? Can you install if available.

Let me know if any of these help you out?

Sam.
CJ DJ 3:36 AM - 24 September, 2011
Hello Sam,
Thank you for answering my request. My video card it is a Nvidia GEforce GT 435 M, and has driver ver 8.17.12.5939 dated 8/12/2010, I checked Dell Website and found they have an updated driver ver 8.17.12.6639 dated 3/8/2011 which I will be installing. I will disable all networking from the laptop and run a long session like I normally do and will see if this helps out. If I still get the same audio issue I will run dptrace again and upload my results.
CJ DJ 6:16 AM - 6 October, 2011
Here is what I found out: due to windows 7 design you cannot remove the hardware and all underlying services because it does not allow to have different hardware profiles like XP Did. It behaves the same way if I enable the wireless nic or the wired nic; it seems it is the services that those drivers need that are causing the issue. I am going to try my theory on a windows XP computer and will create a hardware profile with only a sound card and a USB port and will try that and see if that fixes the issue. I guess I will endup buying a 3rd pc after all since I will need one for the internet, one for ITCH and the V7's and one to for video... grr...
Dj Steve Mixx 1:38 PM - 6 October, 2011
I had the same problem and it turns out, i had to disable my internet and antivirus. antivirus is constantly updating. and this is what caused distortion in mine.TYhe distortion stopped but i still had issues with drop-outs. so I had to turn my output setting(headroom) to 12db. Had to turn up my amp output to makeup for the lower output, but this cleared up all my issues. Hope this helps
Steve Mixx
CJ DJ 2:48 AM - 7 October, 2011
I will try that.
CJ DJ 2:16 PM - 8 October, 2011
I think I found the correct solution for this issue.

Check this thread:

serato.com
CJ DJ 5:49 PM - 20 March, 2012
I have found the solution for my Dell XPS L501X 64bit. The solution also fixes this issue for other brand laptops. The ICH9M-E/M SATA AHCI Controller on the laptopn needs to be updated with Intel Rapid Storage Technology
Ver. 10.8.0.1003
Date 11/11/2011
FIlename:iata_enu_10.8.0.1003.exe

This fixed it, I did a 4 hours set last night and had not a snigle drop/noise/crackle on my V7's/ITCH

Here is the link for the Software:
downloadcenter.intel.com(64-bit)*&DownloadType=
CJ DJ 5:53 PM - 20 March, 2012
Here is the original thread where I found the solution to my particular Problem:

Link="en.community.dell.com
Serato, Forum Moderator
Samuel S 9:07 PM - 20 March, 2012
Thanks for the heads up on that one CJ DJ!

Glad too see your issue is resolved :)

Sam.