Audio Slow Down --> Freeze

Hello everyone,

I just switched back to my laptop after having to borrow my friend's (which the s4 ran fine on) and now using my laptop, within 5 mins of play back, both decks begin to slow down, along with the mix recording, until it completely stops and freezes up. Its just the decks and recorder that freeze up.

I got the latency set to 512 and sample rate to 96000

ive tried everything, optimized my laptop in every way i know

i was going to try to upload a clip of what it sounded like but apparently i cant record it. every time i got back and listen to the recording, it only records to right up before the decks start freezing..

 

Try setting sample rate to 44.100Hz as maybe 96000 is too much for your CPU, also I don't see a reason to use 96000 if the files you are going to play are at 44100.

 

I tried it to no avail. I tried everything, every sample rate and every process buffer and it makes no difference.

The decks are still slowing down to a stop and the music slows down to a loud buzz. Sometimes a deck wont even play, left and right deck will do this. wtffffff.

maybe my comp just cant handle it?

windows 7 SP1 (did the same thing without SP1 installed)
6gigs of RAM
AMD Athalon II P340 Dual Core 2.2 GHz

dpclatency runs green with no spikes when wireless is off, latencymon shows the highest executing driver is USBPORT.SYS at .118

running on high performance setting with all the advance settings optimized and aero turned off. background is given priority.

i dont know what's goin on..it worked fine on a different laptop and mac's

is it a sign that i just need to get a mac?

 

What it's a sign is that NI should optimize their software to work in all kind of computers before releasing it as other companies do, I rather return the thing than buy a MAC specially for it only cause someone didn't do their job well.

Anyway, go here: http://co.native-instruments.com/?id=freeupdates and download and try this driver: Traktor Kontrol S4 2.9.8 Beta - Windows if you are not already using it.

 

Right on Kenny

As you know I've had problems with my Windows machine and have decided to upgrade to a Macbook Pro.

The Windows machine I am getting rid of handles Ableton Live with a APC40, Serato, Reason, and ProTools without any latency issues, cracks and loud noises. They don't require me to mess about with my operating system etc.

 

That's what I mean and what tells me that is a problem of NI and also what makes me angry when other guys say here that Windows is the problem.

 

i tried installing the beta driver but it didnt help. i installed the latest s4 driver and it didnt help either. everytime i think ive fixed the issue, it just starts happening again. i cant get a solid 5 minutes of playback without the audio/track slowing down to a complete halt accompanied by a super annoying frozen buzz sound of the playing track(s). ive optimized my pc in every way that i know how. i followed dj endo's optimization giude for windows 7 (which im running) and read a few more in case i missed anything. dpclat and latencymon both show no dropouts or cpu spikes.

im starting to think the issue isnt the software, but MY specific laptop. all the specs exceed minimum requirements so i dont know why it would be but it seems like its the only explanation. either way, this is incredibly frustrating....help?

 

512 samples of latency? That's a lot, IMHO. But anyways...

Obviously, the tracks shouldn't slow down like that. It sounds like the CPU is being overloaded from HID AND streaming audio, but I may be wrong. How new is the OS install? How many other programs are installed on it as well?

The only course of action that I can recommend is to reinstall the OS fresh and go from there. If the S4 doesn't work well enough on that, then I'd replace the laptop.

I keep my OS clean by using a multi-boot system with iTunes and TP on one OS and everything else in another. This isn't required, but keeps me from chasing down how programs change Windows and adversely impact TP and the S4.

-KLH

 

ive tried all the samples of latency, right now i have it on 96 but it doesnt make a difference...

well the laptop is only like 4 months old. ive been keeping windows updated and whatnot. ive tried disabling the internal audio card in the laptop and just using the s4's but it didnt make a difference.

i have disbaled almost everything that isnt necesaary. itunes, anti-virus, windows media, both wired and wireless adapters, etc, all disabled.

 

I have had the same issue, except with all troubleshooting on this site I thought it was resolved for a few months, One day I did not use my cooling fan and had the same problem on my Acer. Worse, I went to a party on Monday which was streaming, went to jump on and same issue.. This time it was the heat from the sun, with the cooling fan under it did not matter. The software definitely still taxes my machine which falls well within the specs, but the heat just makes it so much worse. I can only use it flawlessly in a climate controlled condition. Weirdest thing is, even with the computer overheating, its only Traktor that slugs down and even my 3D visualization programs keep on cruising along.

I am a dedicated pc user up until now.. Am am moving across the country soon and was only going to bring my gear to start out new. This weekend I will do a backup and dual-boot myself as well, but unfortunately it looks like I may go the macbook route. IMHO its the only way I can feel comfortable. I mean, streaming with viewers in Europe from Canada and half way through the first track it went half tempo and started stuttering. Although it did look pretty sitting around the techn 12's, other macbooks and controllers under the fireworks.. Unfortunately it just sat there the whole stream unused.

I guess I couldn't be of much use, but one thing to try is a cooling fan, it works great for me as long at its not too hot already.. Maybe not a cure, but another small nudge in the right direction..