Reaper is popping

ijonty

Hi all

I'm recording into Reaper via Focusrite 6i6 and starting to get popping noise.

I thought it was a bad guitar lead connection, but I've realised it's on both the vocal and the guitar tracks that were recorded live simultaneously (at the same spots). Any ideas what could cause this? Examples below of the solo'd guitar and vocal to show that it's on both tracks:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_3MSL8RWeGR-KXVLj25MeN7RoaTEw5Sq

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1DMll4qaS6hsBviZ6OM4eqK7xybqUan5u

Thanks!

J

Musicwolf

Hard to be sure from the clips but I suggest to increase the buffer size (which will in turn increase latency).  Are you directly monitoring or via Reaper.  If the latter then you are always going to be battling with pops vs longer latency.  If direct monitoring then crank that buffer up.

fastonebaz

Yea usually a sample size issue. 

If your pc can't handle thre number of fx used when recording or mixing,  increase thre sample rate and it will be fine.   I tend to record at a low sample rate and mix at a larger rate when all thr tracks and fx are going on.  

ijonty

Thanks @Musicwolf and @fastonebaz I'm not doing anything complex in Reaper but my Mac has got very slow generally so maybe it's struggling. I'm not sure what you mean by monitoring via Reaper. So one thing I could do is mute all the effects while recording?

rico

If it’s an older Mac, quit all other applications apart from reaper and and guitar sims you’re using etc. Mute tracks that aren’t relevant for what you’re recording and disable all plugins you don’t need for tracking. 

Do you have your monitors/headphones connected to the Scarlett or Mac? 

Keefy

When I moved from a Roland interface to a 6i6 I found I was able to massively reduce my buffer size. This was fine when recording one track at a time but when at some point I tried recording 2 at a time, I got popping. I took the buffer size back up a bit (still much smaller than previously) and all was well.

Fwiw this was running Reaper on a low-spec iMac.

rico

I'm running Reaper on a 2009 base model Macbook Pro with a 2i2 and recording two tracks each time (57 and C1000) and it's running well.

For the demos i'm making, I have Ezdrummer, DI bass with Bias Amp and four or six guitar tracks with minimal plugins. Actually, each doubled track is bussed to a further channel with simple EQ and compression.

ijonty

Thanks all. I'm a bit unsure what's going on in that case. I've hardly got any tracks or effects running, and this is a reasonably powered mac (I think, I'm not an expert). Can someone tell me if this spec should be fine?

rico

That should be absolutely fine mate. That spec makes my machine look like a toy. Can you give a basic overview of your workflow?

LastMantra

The only time I've heard that is when I've stuck a couple of parts together without "blending" (can't think of the correct term?) them.

rico

LastMantra said:

The only time I've heard that is when I've stuck a couple of parts together without "blending" (can't think of the correct term?) them.

do you mean glueing? at least in reaper i'm pretty sure thats what you mean 

LastMantra

No it's more like slightly overlapping them so there isn't a sudden stop/start.

Sorry not used it (or any daw) for years! 

rico

LastMantra said:

No it's more like slightly overlapping them so there isn't a sudden stop/start.

Sorry not used it (or any daw) for years! 

Oh - crossfading?

ijonty

Hmmm, on a recent test, I only had one guitar track and one vocal track, recording to both, no effects. It must be a problem with the Mac itself do you think?

octatonic

Have you tried contacting Focusrite Support?
They are pretty good and will be able to help.

I found this solution for a 2i2 that was clicking on Gearslutz.
It might work:

Steps to do this:
1. Unplug the Scarlett 2i2 (in your case the 6i6) from the usb port
2. go to Mac HD > System > Library > Extensions and delete FocusriteUsb2Audio.kext
3. Empty your trash can
4. Shut down your computer
5. Plug in the Scarlett 2i2 (in your case the 6i6)
6. Boot your computer

LastMantra

rico said:

LastMantra said:

No it's more like slightly overlapping them so there isn't a sudden stop/start.

Sorry not used it (or any daw) for years! 

Oh - crossfading?

Sounds more like the thing. If there's no joins at the pops though it won't be that so not much help 

stratman3142

I've done the following things in the past when I've have issues on previous computers/laptops, but this is for a Window OS so I'm not sure how applicable it would be for a Mac.

1) Temporarily disable wireless while running Reaper

2) Check the System processes (is there and equivalent for a Mac?). On a previous old computer I once found a process that was occasionally using significant CPU which coincided with drop outs. So, after checking it was safe to do so, I disabled that process.

3) Set my system to Adjust for best performance, rather than let Window choose. Is there an equivalent for a Mac?

4) Run a utility to check my systems ability to handle audio. But before downloading and running anything I always do a significant amount of Googling to check it isn't dodgy. In the past, on an older systems, I've used DPC Latency Checker and, more recently, Resplendence Latencymon. I think they only work for Windows, but you might be able to Google to find a Mac alternative. 

Perhaps it's worth Googling to see how to optimise a Mac for best audio performance.

ijonty

stratman3142 said:

I've done the following things in the past when I've have issues on previous computers/laptops, but this is for a Window OS so I'm not sure how applicable it would be for a Mac.

1) Temporarily disable wireless while running Reaper

2) Check the System processes (is there and equivalent for a Mac?). On a previous old computer I once found a process that was occasionally using significant CPU which coincided with drop outs. So, after checking it was safe to do so, I disabled that process.

3) Set my system to Adjust for best performance, rather than let Window choose. Is there an equivalent for a Mac?

4) Run a utility to check my systems ability to handle audio. But before downloading and running anything I always do a significant amount of Googling to check it isn't dodgy. In the past, on an older systems, I've used DPC Latency Checker and, more recently, Resplendence Latencymon. I think they only work for Windows, but you might be able to Google to find a Mac alternative. 

Perhaps it's worth Googling to see how to optimise a Mac for best audio performance.

Great thanks, will give it a go. I'm also going to make sure all the operating systems are bang up to date.

rico

@ijonty also make sure that any cpu heavy apps are closed (some webpages make my Mac go reeeaaalll slow). I use istat menus for keeping an eye on things. 

 What method of monitoring are you using? Through reaper or through the focusrite?