Tick sound at starting playback

[arvind]

Hi Peter,

Everytime I start playback there is a loud tick sound before playback starts. This happens only during starting playback or when the next track is played using hotkey.

Regards,

Arvind

[PeterSt]

Arvind, since when do you have this ?

[arvind]

Hi Peter,

This is since 9y, somehow I had forgotten to point it out. Sorry about that.

Arvind

[PeterSt]

Ok. Is there anybody else out there with a "DAC Needs" setting of 24 bits, having this same problem ?
Or *not* having this problem at that setting ?

Thank you,
Peter

[jeffx]

Peter,

I am experiencing the same thing with my Off Ramp 3 with 0.9z-2. However, it does not do it every time.

Jeff

[PeterSt]

That is what I wanted to know; One additional case is enough I guess. Thank you very much Jeff, especially at taking the effot with a "first post". Really appreciated.

Ok, Arvind. Can you please try to find out which exact version change caused this. You said 0.9y which of course can be that one. But I think you will mean some sub version of that; If I don't know the exact version I won't be able to find it, because it will be dependend on your 24 bit-only device, and I don't own such a device.

Please let me know,
Peter

[arvind]

Hi Peter,

This problem has started with engine #4 if my memory serves me right.

Arvind

[PeterSt]

Hi Arvind - It won't be so that today's Engine#3 doesn't give the problem, or ? It would be helpful to know this.

Peter

[arvind]

Hi Peter,

Tried out Engine #3 & it gives the same tick sound while commencement of playback.

Arvind

[PeterSt]

Thank you very much Arvind.

[PeterSt]

Guys,

I have been working the whole afternoon on this one;

I started with using a HiFace and setting at as DAC Is 24, and indeed, a tick (most of the times).
I ran through everything and everything, until I noticed that with DAC Is 32 the tick is there just the same.

I can have no other conclusion than that it is the HiFace. This is also encouraged by Engine#3 as well as Engine#4 is doing it, while both have completely different initialization trajects. Now, if it would have happened with 24 bits only, I *still* would have given up because I can't find anything, but that always leaves the hope for overlooking something. But not now it's also with 32 bits.

Now, I can't know whether you (both) indeed use the HiFace, so please let me know. This is important, because the tick I perceive seems familiar to the tick my Fireface800 produces at switching sample rates and it *could* be so that I'm initializing the device first with another sample rate than the intended one, and it is just the Fireface doing it to me. Not that I really recognize this, but still. On the other hand, I had a Weiss here the other day, and *that* one ticks (rather loudly plops) when sample rates are really switched, and it didn't tick or whatsoever at the normal start of playback.
But on this matter, is it correct that the tick is often from the right channel only ?

Thanks,
Peter

[manisandher]

I use a hiFace in my office system and have never heard any ticks at all. And this is with a very modest Atom-based PC usiing Adaptive with 1024 buffer.

In my main sytem, I have an RME PCI interface and when I switch HDCD decoding on, I get an intermittent loud tick from the left channel.

Sorry if this doesn't help.

Mani.

[arvind]

Hi Peter,

I have the Empirical Audio/Off-Ramp & the tick is from both channels.

Arvind

[PeterSt]

Arvind - Thanks.
(I knew that, but wasn't sure whether it can be used with SPDIF-In and thus a HiFace)

[PeterSt]

I just tried 0.9x-7 and the problem with the HiFace is there too.
This only means I can't test it, since it is my only "24 bit only" device.

Maybe I can get it away with the latest driver version (and notice that the Internet is full about HiFace click problems, although most are from the MAC (and from before May 2010)).

Supposed I can get rid of it, can you give me an example of a (more known) album where it sure will happen ? I know you will say it happens with all, but I want to have some confidence.

Thanks,
Peter

[PeterSt]

... But there aren't any newer drivers ...

Now I'm stuck.

[PeterSt]

Ok, what I would really like is if you can try 0.9y-4 and proove to me that Engine#3 doesn't exhibit the tick with that version.
Btw, "prooving" is just telling me.

But if it does, try 0.9y-1d.
If that does it too, as a last resort try 0.9y (you can't go back further because the "24 bit only" support started there).

If 0.9y-4 ticks and 0.9y(-1d) does not, *please* try to find the last version which is ok and tell me that version;
As you know I want to solve this, but right now it is the only thing I can offer to find the problem (compare the two versions where it started to go wrong).

And for the next time (and for everybody) : never wait that long before telling about an emerged culprit. It really makes it 100 times more difficult to find it afterwards !

Thanks !
Peter

[arvind]

Hi Peter,

I will try out these versions over the next weekend or earlier, if I can manage. Meanwhile you could try Dire Straits/Brothers In Arms.

Arvind

[PeterSt]

Thank you very much Arvind.

Jeff, if you are there and want to do it (earlier), you are the most welcome !

Peter

[arvind]

Hi Peter,

9y-4 & 9y-1d both dont give the tick sound while starting playback or while playing next track, playing Dire Straits/Brothers In Arms, while 9z-1 continues to give the tick sound, however with 9z-1 the frequency of tick sound has significantly reduced after I changed the buffer size from 128 to 1024 & Q1 from 4 to 1. Previously if the tick sound was 8/10 it is now 3/10.

Hope this helps.

Arvind

[PeterSt]

Thanks !!

Was this with Engine#3 ?

Also :

Previously if the tick sound was 8/10 it is now 3/10.

What does this mean (sorry if it is obvious, but I don't see it ...) ?
Edit : Or do you mean 8 from 10 times and 3 from 10 times ?

Peter

[PeterSt]

Arvind, what happens if you don't show the Coverart Wallpaper ? Does that make a difference ?

[arvind]

Hi Peter,

Yes Engine 3. Wall paper is off. It means 8 times out out 10.

Arvind

[arvind]

Hi Peter,

I wanted to clarify one point when I mentioned Engine 3, I should also mention that the using 9z-1 the tick sound occurs both with engine 3 & 4.

Arvind

[PeterSt]

Thank you very much Arvind. I really think you have clarified enough.
Now it's my turn, and I must say that I'm hopelessly looking against a huge wall;

The fact that the buffer size makes a difference is very important to know, but I really can't think of anything related to just that, especially with Engine3.
I'm afraid this will come down to making a few versions for you, in order to find out what it is what the difference makes, but right now I wouldn't even know what to change in a first version. I have no clues. Or ...
wait ...

What happens if you disable the normal device in the sound properties. Thus, go to the little speaker icon, ask for the list of playback devices, and disable it there. If you have done this right, you won't see it in XXHE anyomore for the non-KS: devices;
Now try the KS: device you are used to.

And pray it helps ...

[arvind]

Hi Peter,

Sorry to disappoint you but even after disabling the normal device the tick sound is still there.

Arvind

[PeterSt]

[PeterSt]

Arvind,

I think it is a good idea to follow this topic : Ticks because of using one SSD only ??

I have a hunch this is related to your tick problem, and *this* one I will be able to nail down (already because I can copy that one). I must say though :

Are you 100% sure this isn't the case with each portion which is read into memory ? So, if you choose a soft track without much cymbals and drums (maybe piano or a bass only), set your Split File size to 12, use Double Arc Prediction then maybe each "few" seconds a tick can be heard. If you look to below picture, right before each spike in the left core occurs, the tick may be there. Now :

Whether you have this (per file portion) or not, what happens if you use Anti Imaging Upsampling ?

When you can admit it happens be file portion loaded (not each time, but often), I see a way to solve this. If you can't I'm still clueless.

Peter

[PeterSt]

Anyway ...

Regarding that other topic, I ran through all the code, and could adjust quite some theoretical "errors" in this context. What remains is that they all reflect the boundaries of track parts, and not tracks only.

I can only hope it is solved in 0.9z-3, so let me know by the time it is there.

Peter

[arvind]

Hi Peter,

Sorry for the late reply as I was travelling. Ok now i tried 4 albums with DAP & anti Imaging & the results are identical in all 4 albums.

America/Greatest Hits & Bad Company/Straight Shooter dont give the tick sound where as Alice in Chains/Jar of Flies & Barclay James Harvest/Eyes of the Universe gave a tick sound.

I think we should wait for 9z-3 to see if this corrects.

Arvind

[PeterSt]

Ha !

Afterall some news here ...

It was just (ignorantly ) occurring to me that lately I can predict when actual sound will start. How ? well, you can guess ...
A faint tick just in advance. Hahaha.

But then (less ignorant) I thought "wait ... what OS is Arvind running on ..." and yes. Vista.
Like I do now.

So ... most probably still not solved, but at least I have a tick now, and somehow it must be related to Vista (and not to the 24 bit output ?).

Well, just to let you know. At this moment I can't find anything further anyway, and maybe it is not the same as you have at all. So I'd rather wait until 0.9z-3 and you tell me that it is solved.
The tick is very faint, and from the left channel ...

Peter

[Gerard]

Ha !

Afterall some news here ...

It was just (ignorantly ) occurring to me that lately I can predict when actual sound will start. How ? well, you can guess ...
A faint tick just in advance. Hahaha.

But then (less ignorant) I thought "wait ... what OS is Arvind running on ..." and yes. Vista.
Like I do now.

So ... most probably still not solved, but at least I have a tick now, and somehow it must be related to Vista (and not to the 24 bit output ?).

Well, just to let you know. At this moment I can't find anything further anyway, and maybe it is not the same as you have at all. So I'd rather wait until 0.9z-3 and you tell me that it is solved.
The tick is very faint, and from the left channel ...

Peter

Had that in Vista too. I think that i have said that one day? But installing Vista again so see if it comes up again. Can easily switch between W7 and Vista now.

 

[tillen]

After i got the Hiface, i got this tick too. Maybe it`s about both, Vista and 24 bit?

[Gerard]

After i got the Hiface, i got this tick too. Maybe it`s about both, Vista and 24 bit?

Yeah wel now i am no sure yet anymore. Have Vista back on 2e SSD and no problemmo.

 

[PeterSt]

Thank you both !

Peter

[Marcin_gps]

And I have ticks with QAP of 24bit tracks. As far as I know, Mani mentioned it. Is it a bug with QAP or sth wrong with my PC?

[PeterSt]

Marcin - does this belong to this topic, or ? IOW, please elaborate, and open a new topic if it's something else. Ok ?
Thanks !

Peter