MBox 2 mini Static and then...freezeup

[pauliemac]

I recently crossgraded to RW standard so I could use my MBox2 mini USB interface when I run it with a phantom powered condensor mic (Studio Projects C1)

Well, its starts off OK but then about 2-3 mins some subtle static and clicking begins within the recorded track. This increases in intensity and until the playback abd instant drummer start warbling and finally the whole shebang freezeth over.

I have been running Line6 RW with a GuitarPort for prior to this and never had any problems of any sort

any feedback is appreciated.

thank you.

[gatorjj]

Hi Pauliemac, let me ask a few questions just to narrow it down a bit.

- When things start okay, does it record fine?
- Do you still have the GuitarPort? If you use that with RW Standard instead of the MBox2 does RiffWorks Standard have the same problem?
- Can you give an idea of how many layers/riffs are in your song? Are you using a lot of effects inside RiffWorks?
- What are the specs of your PC/Mac? Do you have the latest MBox drivers?

Hopefully we can figure this out and get you on your way to recording again!

J.J.

[pauliemac]

Hi Pauliemac, let me ask a few questions just to narrow it down a bit.

- When things start okay, does it record fine?
- Do you still have the GuitarPort? If you use that with RW Standard instead of the MBox2 does RiffWorks Standard have the same problem?
- Can you give an idea of how many layers/riffs are in your song? Are you using a lot of effects inside RiffWorks?
- What are the specs of your PC/Mac? Do you have the latest MBox drivers?

Hopefully we can figure this out and get you on your way to recording again!

J.J.

REPLIES IN CAPS


- When things start okay, does it record fine? YES
- Do you still have the GuitarPort? YES If you use that with RW Standard instead of the MBox2 does RiffWorks Standard have the same problem? NO. GTRPORT WORKS OK
- Can you give an idea of how many layers/riffs are in your song? Are you using a lot of effects inside RiffWorks? NO MORE THAN T 4 LAYERS, NO MORE THAT 1 EFX (REVERB) MAX,
- What are the specs of your PC/Mac?

ASUS P5VD2-X
Intel Core™2 / Pentium 4 /
CHIPSET: VIA PT890
2GB RAM
500MG HDD

Do you have the latest MBox drivers? CHECKING...I THINK SO, I JUST PURCHSED AND INSTALLED IT LAST MONTH

[gatorjj]

One last question...Vista or XP?

If you are on Vista, I'd have to lean to something around the MBox ASIO driver itself as the culprit. Looking at Digi's website they don't have a supported ASIO driver for Vista yet.

If you're on XP I'd still suspect something around the MBox drivers, given the PC you have has plenty of power and RiffWorks is working fine with the Line6 ASIO drivers. Audio drivers seem to be the problem child 80% of the time from what I've seen. Aside from making sure you have the latest MBox ASIO drivers from Digi I'm not sure what else I could offer in this case, hopefully someone else will chime in or the Sonoma folks might have some insight come Monday.

FWIW I'm running a Core2 Duo with a Focusrite Saffire and a Studio Projects T3 (which I think has the same capsule as the C1...and I love that mic!), and things have been fine for a long time. I hope you get yours up soon!

J.J.

[pauliemac]

thanks JJ...

running XP Pro

yes I do love the C1!

I wondered if it might have something to do with running 48v phantom power on a USB port which seems to me to be a pretty big power draw

[gatorjj]

I wondered if it might have something to do with running 48v phantom power on a USB port which seems to me to be a pretty big power draw

I wouldn't think so, but you never know with these things! That MBox came with ProTools LE, correct? Try some recording there, if it freezes up the machine you may be on to something with the hardware. I think ProTools uses it's own proprietary drivers (instead of ASIO) and I wouldn't expect you to have any issue if it was the ASIO driver causing the problem with RiffWorks.

I wouldn't think in normal cases phantom power would overload the USB bus power. Do you have other things on the bus as well, maybe it's a combination of devices? Also I forgot to ask, is it freezing the entire machine or just RiffWorks?

[pauliemac]

I THINK I GOT IT

tried plugging USB cable direct into motherboard , not the USB on the front of the tower.

So far so good...NO static, NO crash, been going about 20 minutes steady so far...

[davenz]

I am surprised this makes any difference - the USB riser on the front of the case is merely paralleled onto the motherboard ports, making it essentially the same bus as the ones 'on the board'.

Still, it could be you have a separate USB system feeding the front ports.

If it works, it's fixed!

Dave.

[gatorjj]

I had a similar situation with my audio interface, not freezing up the machine but rather having some very odd issues. The tech support at Focusrite was responsive but at a loss, and I noticed through some troubleshooting it was fine on another machine. The tech suggested it might be an odd Firewire problem, and after 14 months of trying everything except plugging it into the FW on the front side...I plugged it in the front and things have worked fine for the last month. I don't think that's supposed to happen either!

No telling what slight difference in the wiring, PC board etching or how much oil is in the hamster wheel in the front vs. the back causes some of these things. Dave I know you have felt that first hand

Pauliemac be sure and give us an update whether things hold or if they break down again. Hopefully the glue will hold and you'll be dazzling us with those Brooklyn vocals soon!

J.J.

[JohnN]

My audio interface is FW and I have similar issues. It will work through my 4 pin FW interface built into my laptop, but not with the M-Audio-recommended 6-pin FW expresscard that I bought with the soundcard. I have played with drivers, power/wall wart combinations, yadda yadda yadda.

I don't mind using the 4 pin FW port except that it's easy to knock out the cable. Then... reboot city.

John

[pauliemac]

Pauliemac be sure and give us an update whether things hold or if they break down again. Hopefully the glue will hold and you'll be dazzling us with those Brooklyn vocals soon!

Looks like it's fixed. Had a good 2+ hour session and everything worked PERFECTLY. Who knows why? Clean living pays off.

now if I can only do something with this voice of mine...


MANY THANKS!