Skipping Recording Problem

[billelder]

A friend of mine uses a PreSonus Firepod into his Dell Dual Core 2.? processor laptop. He's recording only 4 channels at a time but it is skipping in places. Now, I already see a problem with the Dell in that it is bloated with software on the boot using Windows XP. The PreSonus page comments to lower the CPU setting which is set on Medium now. It's not skipping like there's silence. Its not stuttering as in "repeating a section twice. A section is being dropped but the recording has no silence it it. Almost like a record skip.

I've suggested to disable or turn of any programs that may be running like wi-fi and norton anti-virus.

Anyone have any suggestions? Mine was to format the drive and load an operating system from scratch to get all that bloatware off the computer.

[ScottLarson]

I would delete programs that are not being used or are ever going to be used (Dell likes to give you stuff you'll never need or use),Then I would defrag the harddrive, and only initiate the program that is required to produce the audio. They might also check the connections of their chain, it may not be a software problem.
Scott

[Grant Holmes]

Another likely issue is spy-ware running on the PC. Have them go to LavaSoft.com OR go here to download Ad-Aware and run it on the computer. I just worked on a ladies PC a couple weeks ago. Over 160 pieces of spy-ware were running on her computer.

This gal was a very "innocent" computer user and downloaded stuff as did her kids. "Well it said to download XX". Even things like Google toolbars, Spy-ware programs that run live and other crap will slow your PC down bad.

Depending on their level of PC understanding they can always go to the Task Manager and look at what's running when this is happening.

[billelder]

Thanks Grant and Scott. Great ideas. I'll pass them along. The problem is that most operating systems are made to automatically run things, find a hot spot etc. But they are not made for audio multi-tracking with all the extra software. What he should do is format the drive and reload only the software he needs. That's what I did with my Dell that came from Overstocked.com with NO operating system. Works like a champ. You an also download all the drivers from Dell's support site.

[Colin Campbell]

Yes, "blowing it up" as IT people call it and loading a fresh OS is a good idea. Short of that you can go to CONTROL PANEL - ADMINISTRATIVE TOOLS - SERVICES and research what all those services are and disable the ones you don't need. There are plenty. In radio automation systems they disable a bunch of them. A little Google will tell you what they are and whether you really need them.

[jsgilbert]

Skipping in this case might be cuased by any or all of the following

1. having the computer on an internet or network connection while recording or playback.

2. having any virus checker on while recording or playback

3. Any number of items that the start menu invokes

4. Out of date drivers

5. a very slow and/or fragmented hard drive or using the system drive for scratch disk. You might see better preformance by simply using an external firewire or USB2.0 drive.

Good Luck,

j.s.

[billelder]

As it turned out, his "Wi-Fi" was the problem. It kept trying to find hot spots while he was recording. He turns it off while recording and it works fine. Eight channels on separate tracks with no problem. Thought I'd pass this along for the record.

[jsgilbert]

I think that was #1 on my list of potential problems.

It also occured to me that a lot of people probably are usingle single hard drive systems and things will get much better if you have a seperate drive for your programs drive and another for recording and/or scratch. Get as fast a drive as you can and make sure to optimize it regularly.

[billelder]

I am very sorry. I wasn't trying to take credit away from you.Thank you for your very helpful comment. I thought some might benefit from knowing what worked for this particular setup.