I've seen this also on one or two earlier versions.

This is on my Vista laptop, with screen set at 1280x800.

I would love to do a screen copy but cant find how

Hi Peter
I put a complete album in the playlist, but at the end when I want to put another album there I have to turn XX off to delete the 1st one. I must be missing something
Cheers Chris

Hi Peter

The words 'double', 'upsample' and 'gapless' all spill over onto 2 lines, making the visual presentation a bit scruffy

Cheers Chris

Hi Peter

How don't know whether you researched the value of your software or based it on a gut reaction, but I believe the price is just about perfectly pitched.

You will always pick up the hardened HiFi nuts like us at elevated prices, but to get universal acceptance across a broad range of people that listen to music on their PCs the price becomes more of an issue.

I think when eventually you roll this out to the World that you will do extremely well. I sincerely hope so

From PeterSt to St Peter

Hi again Peter

Not that I told it, but at 192K the Fireface's buffers should be at 256 from theory, at least (88K2 -> 128 = (more than double the rate) 256).

Yes my plan initially is to run at 44.1K with the possibility of doubling with engine #3 to 88.2K. I dont routinely sit at 192K, but merely use it as a rapid way to judge the level of glitches (which are there, but far less common at 44.1K).
I have heard ticking if the buffer is too small. Can you also get drop-outs/glitches if the buffer is too small?
I routinely pick a buffer of 128 as Bert uses this without problem.

Logic ? well, no. Not if you think (uhhm ... like I did) that the buffer in the Fireface is meant to CAPTURE the data from the PC. But what if this buffer is meant (also ?) for feeding the DAC ??
Otoh, I think you reported that with the Fireface at 1024 you also have glitches ... or ?

Yes indeed when glitches are present, they persist all the way up to a buffer of 1024, but reducing somewhat as the buffer size increases.

What if you just don't let upsample the TacT ?

I have no control over the upsampling of the TacT, it automatically brings all digital inputs up to 192K so it can apply room correction.
What I will say, is that it displays the input frequency on the front screen whilst playing, and this display always faithfully mimics what has been selected downstream and never flickers during the glitches.

I've been doing some more tests that might help diagnose this. I have to say before diving in, that XX and Windows Media Player behave very similarly concerning glitches, except XX sounds fantastic, by comparison.

OK
Using my XP laptop, engine 2 doubled, playing (16bit,44.1Khz) via firewire into Fireface at 128 samples and then Tact, there are no glitches. In all the time I was playing music, it only missed a beat once when I was stressing the PC on the Internet at the same time.

Using my new Vista laptop, as stand alone, with Windows Media Player (WMP) on internal speakers there were no glitches at either 44.1 or 192KHz

Using the Vista laptop, with WMP via firewire into Fireface at 128 samples and then Tact, there were a few glitches at 44.1KHz which could be 'damped out' using 512 samples on the Fireface.
At 192KHz and 128 samples there were lots of glitches.

Cant really figure this out except, to this unskilled eye, it seems that the more demand I place on data transfer (44.1 tp 192kHz) the worse the glitches, and that these can be smoothed out a bit by damping down on the sampling rate of the Fireface.

Just a bit of an update for those that are still awake through this saga

There are a few things you can check :

1.
In the Fireface Mixer (the green icon) under Options, there's "ASIO direct monitoring". UNcheck that.
Does it help ?
Doesn't help

2.
When things are unstable in the area of Firewire, you probably can notice this by comparing with the Mixer on-screen, and the Mixer not on-screen. When you do not have it on the screen, it should be better, or even just okay.
Does it help ?
No difference whether on screen or not

3.
Lastly, when things are not okay, the Mixer might already tell you, because it doesn't refresh the volume bars quickly enough. So they stutter.
Do they ?
Watched through many glitches but cant see any discernible effect on the volume bars

Have ordered Expresscard - Firewire adaptor, which should be here early next week. A good by-product of all this, is that I am learning plenty of things about how computers work

Good man

Hi Peter
Its nice to have the tracker bar at the bottom, showing the progress through each track, but it would be even nicer to have a timer. That way any observations can be logged at the precise time.
Ta

Yes the internal speakers are glitch free.
The Fireface 400 with engine 1 and 2 are glitch free using my old XP Toshiba with built in firewire.

All problems started with the new Dell and Vista

Today, I go back to basics and will reload the firmware and software for the Fireface and also all updated drivers and Bios and software for the Dell. Although all are showing the right version, I have had corrupted versions before.

Bert
I am about to have a blow up with Dell, they are blaming 'foreign' software and (for them) unrecognised external sound cards. This is obviously the easy option for them, and a good get out clause.

I will claim the PC they sold me is not fit for the purpose. It would be extremely useful if I could demonstrate that other Dell laptops they have sold are working glitch free with this combination and with the Vista OS.

When you have a moment could you e mail me, or post here, the model number etc of your Vista Dell laptop.

Thanks a bunch

Chris
 

Sorry to report that if anything this has made the glitches worse

Here is what I have been told so far about the Expresscard

Onboard controllers (for anything) are usually second-class citizens to whatever is in the ExpressCard slot (or PCMCIA on an old-fashioned laptop). Also I think the ExpressCard slot is bus master by default.

This means little to me but might be a cure (said he, clutching at the last few straws remaining)

While the search for Vista PCI latency software goes on, I have tried Bert's "background services" recommendation and will give it a listen later tonight.

Two people, who's views I respect have suggested using an ExpressCard firewire card in place of the standard firewire in the laptop. Funnily, I remember you writing a little while ago that using a firewire card helped the sound.

I am awaiting an explanation from each of them as to why this may eradicate glitches. Till then, does anyone have an opinion on whether this might correct the fault?

Hi Peter
Do you know if this software operates on Vista. I dowloaded it to my desktop PC running XP professional as a test case.
It does the diagnostics and changes very simply - interesting to see how much PCI time the video bits steal, making the audio a poor relation.

But an initial trial on my Vista PC gave difficulties "failed to initialise configuration space access" hence my question.

I have a sneaking feeling this could be the solution to my problems

Cheers Chris

Peter

As they say in all the best cliches:

"A good point and very well presented"

I suppose its about a cure rather than a sticking plaster.

Thanks for the reminder.

Cheers Chris

Thanks for moving this Peter, I was becoming more self conscious it was in the wrong place

Dell rang back, and between us we:
1. Installed latest system software
2. Installed latest BIOS settings
3. Installed latest chipset software (at last)

Bottom line is - no improvements in glitches

Still a few things to try