A2ZSNB Zipper Noise

silvertones · Nov 1, 2010, 01:23 PM

Win XP SP3.
I use the card with 8 outs from my multi track recording software.
Once in awhile when I stop playback I'll here noise that can only be described as a pulsing zipper noise. If I restart playback and then immediatly stop it'll usually go away. Can't hear it when music is playing. Very random.

Any ideas?
I play live and it's kind of odd when coming through the PA.

Russ · Nov 1, 2010, 07:50 PM

It is hard to say as there are many possibilities, and to start with, kX does not fully support your card as of yet (which can result in any unknown behavior) and you are using a workaround (epiloglt_k2) to get your side speakers working, etc.

It would be helpful to know if any other kX/A2ZSNB users have the same issue under similar circumstances (or at all), etc.

What is your DSP config?
Are you using any DSP plugins that use xTRAM (might not work great on PCMCIA bus?)?
What is your CPU load at the time?
Is it possible that AV software is scanning or updating when it happens?
What other applications are running at the time?
Does it happen with many applications or just one particular application?
Is the noise associated with any graphic elements (or mouse movement) going on at the time?
Try different Hardware Acceleration settings, and see if that makes any difference.

I know the above is not that helpful, but again, there are many possibilities... If you do a web search on the subject (e.g. sound card zipper noise) you will probably get a bunch of hits.

silvertones · Nov 1, 2010, 09:43 PM

It's not consistent. I'll do some work and see if I can pin it down.
The only consistent thing is that the noise stops the minute I hit play. Even if there's no audio.

peate · Nov 1, 2010, 11:04 PM

Sounds more like a software issue to me. See if you can make the zipper noise change channels by re-assigning them is your multi-track program. Do you get the noise when using other media players?

silvertones · Nov 2, 2010, 12:12 PM

Thanks guys.
I misdiagnosed the issue.
My setup is basic.
I have 3 Src ----->three 10Band EQs------> epiloglt_k2.--------3 channels of my HW Mixer
The noise randomly comes out of any of the 3 outs to the mixer. Turning down the volume of that channel makes the noise go away. Disabling the corresponding 10 Band EQ also makes it go away.
It appears to be those EQs causing the trouble.
I'll try using gates on the 3 channels.

silvertones · Nov 3, 2010, 12:15 PM

Gates do the trick in relieving the symptom. I have the threshold at -62 so it doesn't affect the music at all.
Just wonder why the noise.

**Eugene Gavrilov** · Nov 8, 2010, 12:20 PM

the noise might be related to the way a2zsnb deals with tank memory (external TRAM located in your system RAM)
it is advised to avoid using DSP effects utilizing TRAM
--
also, you may be using some kind of SpeedStep or similar technology
a2zsnb will not work properly with SpeedStep, and any time your CPU enters power saving mode, audio may become distorted

E.

silvertones · Nov 8, 2010, 01:01 PM

Thanks Eugene,
No speed step. As mentioned using gates after the 10 band EQ solves the issue,at least symptomatically.

**Eugene Gavrilov** · Nov 17, 2010, 02:57 AM

probably any effect using TRAM might cause such issues
I guess xTRAM access is not implemented properly in hardware
when you reproduce the problem, try to 'bypass' the EQs
does this fix it?
try to remove EQs and add a delay (kx has several different delays, use the one that utilizes xTRAM). is the issue present with no EQs loaded but with delays?
if you bypass the delay, does this fix the problem?

E.

silvertones · Nov 17, 2010, 12:56 PM

Hey Eugene,
The only effect that seems to be affected is the 10 Band EQ. If I toggle the gates after the EQ the noise comes in and out. If I toggle the Bypass on the EQ the noise comes in and out. If I toggle the mute on the EQ there is no change. I never get noise from the "EFX Reverb Station"
Remember that the noise is not always present.

Nov 1, 2010, 01:23 PM	#1
silvertones HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 283 Rep Power: 39	A2ZSNB Zipper Noise Win XP SP3. I use the card with 8 outs from my multi track recording software. Once in awhile when I stop playback I'll here noise that can only be described as a pulsing zipper noise. If I restart playback and then immediatly stop it'll usually go away. Can't hear it when music is playing. Very random. Any ideas? I play live and it's kind of odd when coming through the PA. Last edited by silvertones; Nov 2, 2010 at 12:06 PM. Reason: Mis diagnosed the issue

Nov 1, 2010, 07:50 PM	#2
Russ HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,563 Rep Power: 62	Re: A2ZSNB Zipper Noise It is hard to say as there are many possibilities, and to start with, kX does not fully support your card as of yet (which can result in any unknown behavior) and you are using a workaround (epiloglt_k2) to get your side speakers working, etc. It would be helpful to know if any other kX/A2ZSNB users have the same issue under similar circumstances (or at all), etc. What is your DSP config? Are you using any DSP plugins that use xTRAM (might not work great on PCMCIA bus?)? What is your CPU load at the time? Is it possible that AV software is scanning or updating when it happens? What other applications are running at the time? Does it happen with many applications or just one particular application? Is the noise associated with any graphic elements (or mouse movement) going on at the time? Try different Hardware Acceleration settings, and see if that makes any difference. I know the above is not that helpful, but again, there are many possibilities... If you do a web search on the subject (e.g. sound card zipper noise) you will probably get a bunch of hits. Last edited by Russ; Nov 1, 2010 at 08:01 PM. Reason: more info

Nov 1, 2010, 09:43 PM	Thread Starter #3
silvertones HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 283 Rep Power: 39	Re: A2ZSNB Zipper Noise It's not consistent. I'll do some work and see if I can pin it down. The only consistent thing is that the noise stops the minute I hit play. Even if there's no audio.

Nov 1, 2010, 11:04 PM	#4
peate HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 409 Rep Power: 57	Re: A2ZSNB Zipper Noise Sounds more like a software issue to me. See if you can make the zipper noise change channels by re-assigning them is your multi-track program. Do you get the noise when using other media players?

Nov 2, 2010, 12:12 PM	Thread Starter #5
silvertones HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 283 Rep Power: 39	Re: A2ZSNB Zipper Noise Thanks guys. I misdiagnosed the issue. My setup is basic. I have 3 Src ----->three 10Band EQs------> epiloglt_k2.--------3 channels of my HW Mixer The noise randomly comes out of any of the 3 outs to the mixer. Turning down the volume of that channel makes the noise go away. Disabling the corresponding 10 Band EQ also makes it go away. It appears to be those EQs causing the trouble. I'll try using gates on the 3 channels.

Nov 3, 2010, 12:15 PM	Thread Starter #6
silvertones HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 283 Rep Power: 39	Re: A2ZSNB Zipper Noise Gates do the trick in relieving the symptom. I have the threshold at -62 so it doesn't affect the music at all. Just wonder why the noise. Last edited by silvertones; Nov 3, 2010 at 12:22 PM.

Nov 8, 2010, 12:20 PM	#7
Eugene Gavrilov kX Project Lead Programmer and Coordinator Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,119 Rep Power: 75	Îòâåò: A2ZSNB Zipper Noise the noise might be related to the way a2zsnb deals with tank memory (external TRAM located in your system RAM) it is advised to avoid using DSP effects utilizing TRAM -- also, you may be using some kind of SpeedStep or similar technology a2zsnb will not work properly with SpeedStep, and any time your CPU enters power saving mode, audio may become distorted E.

Nov 8, 2010, 01:01 PM	Thread Starter #8
silvertones HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 283 Rep Power: 39	Re: A2ZSNB Zipper Noise Thanks Eugene, No speed step. As mentioned using gates after the 10 band EQ solves the issue,at least symptomatically.

Nov 17, 2010, 02:57 AM	#9
Eugene Gavrilov kX Project Lead Programmer and Coordinator Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,119 Rep Power: 75	Îòâåò: A2ZSNB Zipper Noise probably any effect using TRAM might cause such issues I guess xTRAM access is not implemented properly in hardware when you reproduce the problem, try to 'bypass' the EQs does this fix it? try to remove EQs and add a delay (kx has several different delays, use the one that utilizes xTRAM). is the issue present with no EQs loaded but with delays? if you bypass the delay, does this fix the problem? E.

Nov 17, 2010, 12:56 PM	Thread Starter #10
silvertones HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 283 Rep Power: 39	Re: A2ZSNB Zipper Noise Hey Eugene, The only effect that seems to be affected is the 10 Band EQ. If I toggle the gates after the EQ the noise comes in and out. If I toggle the Bypass on the EQ the noise comes in and out. If I toggle the mute on the EQ there is no change. I never get noise from the "EFX Reverb Station" Remember that the noise is not always present.