Topic by ddascher

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Topic: Crackling Issue

I just purchased a used laptop to use exclusively with my Pianoteq 6.4.1 software.

I am experiencing some issues with crackling and hope someone can help me diagnose the problem and perhaps find a solution.

I am playing bass notes in the left hand and 4 note chords in the right hand steadily and watching on the Performance page of Pianoteq.

This is what I see ….

CPU frequence 3001 MHz

The audio load graphic moves along about half-way (to 3/4) up with an occasional red line popping up.

The performance index is 31.

check marks on Multicore Rendering and CPU overload detection.

Internal Sample Rate 48000 Hz (highest option)

Host Sample Rate 48000 Hz

Buffer Size 128 samples (I had it on 256 with same result)

Maximum Polyphony 64

Current Polyphony stays in 10-20 range.

Any ideas ?

Reply by ddascher

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Re: Crackling Issue

A bit more information ….

I just tried playing a classical piece of music and no problems.

It appears it is the playing chords (simultaneous tones) that is the issue.

So ….. how to overcome that ?

Reply by LTECpiano

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Re: Crackling Issue

"Maximum Polyphony 64
Current Polyphony stays in 10-20 range."

Then set it at 32

Lanny

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Reply by ddascher

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Re: Crackling Issue

Ok … I set the polyphony to 32.

Now everything is fine.

One might think the polyphony number was the culprit.

However, I set it back to 64 and everything is fine.

Now, I noticed the performance index is at 90..101.

It had previously been at 31 as I played.

Switched polyphony back to 32 and everything is fine.

Curious about that performance index going from 31 to 90..101.

Perhaps it is because I set the Power Plan to high performance previously but cannot recall if I rebooted after setting it.

Maybe after turning off the laptop and turning it back on …. something was affected.

Anyway …. everything seems fine for now.

Thanks for the help

Reply by sjgcit

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Re: Crackling Issue

ddascher wrote:

Perhaps it is because I set the Power Plan to high performance previously but cannot recall if I rebooted after setting it.

I had issues with occasional cracking from my main Pianoteq system (which was running Linux) until I found a way to switch the default power plan from "powersave" to "performance".  No issues when I have performance set..  Although you may not be running Linux, the same issues apply to any OS running a "powersave" type of mode and as the default nowadays is to set systems (especially laptops) to a similar powersave mode, I suspect this is a source of grief to a lot of people.  Before that I'd tried all sorts of elaborate tweaks I found online and none of them made any difference.  Switching from powersave to performance was literally an instant and consistent fix.

As you mention polyphony, I tried practically every setting and it made no difference at all to crackling for me.  Currently I have it set on a rather high 256.  The only time I ever came close to this I was deliberately holding sustain down and hitting keys as fast as I could.  I think the polyphony in use count reached 130 on one particularly silly test of this sort.  But I've not seen it make any difference to crackling.  I leave it high because the system I mostly use can easily handle 256 and why not give yourself the option if you can ?  The highest I've seen it reach (from a live midi file from one of the e-piano contests) was a recording of a Rachmaninov concerto (no surprise there :-) ) where it peaked at about the 130-ish mark for brief periods, but was more often in the 30-75 region.  Note that Pianoteq seems to keep sustained and resonating notes alive for a very long time - long past the point I can hear them in practice, so a lot of that polyphony is probably not noticeable in practice and 64 is probably more than enough for most purposes (e.g. Scarlatti K-141 barely hits 30-ish on the fastest e-piano midi file I could find).

Incidentally "powersave" and "performance" are named after the Intel CPU modes.  There are other modes on some CPUs that some OSes let you access (although not always easily) which are reputed to be better for Pianoteq and similar applications that rely on instant access to bursts of power.  It's worth experimenting with these settings if you can to find one that meets your particular system requirements.

But for me at least powersave is a Pianoteq "killer" to a certain extent.

StephenG

Reply by Groove On

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Re: Crackling Issue

Another thing to check - I’ve been able to solve my crackling issues by knocking the internal PTQ volume setting down a few notches; and then turning up the external volume of the hardware to match.

Don’t really understand why, but it’s like banging on the dashboard of your car when the engine starts making funny noises. It won’t solve everyone’s issues, but it works for me when its needed. On a good note -  it’s a non-issue right now with 6.4.

But, while I can’t prove it, and I know it sounds unlikely - I suspect there are some instances of crackling that occur digitally somewhere inside the PTQ models before the sound gets to the DAC. (Maybe some point where the internal mics record and send the sound out of the program?)

Notes:
- Anecdotally, this issue seems to happen with complex presets & more mics.
- I ruled out busted headphones. Once the crackling starts it affects all my headphones.
- also ruled out the DACs in the MacBook Air and Mackie USB-MDB DAC.
- running all 48000 kHz, 192 samples, polyphony auto-optimistic, performance index 72-115.

Last edited by Groove On (12-04-2019 09:23)

Reply by Viridis

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Re: Crackling Issue

I also had crackling in one speaker.
It turned out to be the connection to that speaker which was a little corroded.
Once I polished it, the crackling was gone.

Can anybody recommend a spray to improve electrical connection?

Have a nice day and happy playin'

Have a nice day & happy playin'

Yamaha CP33 -- Scarlett 2i2 -- Yamaha HS7 / Sennheiser HD650 -- PTQ 8 Pro [Linux] -- Some instruments

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Reply by Professor Leandro Duarte

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Re: Crackling Issue

ddascher wrote:

Ok … I set the polyphony to 32.

Now everything is fine.

One might think the polyphony number was the culprit.

However, I set it back to 64 and everything is fine.

Now, I noticed the performance index is at 90..101.

It had previously been at 31 as I played.

Switched polyphony back to 32 and everything is fine.

Curious about that performance index going from 31 to 90..101.

Perhaps it is because I set the Power Plan to high performance previously but cannot recall if I rebooted after setting it.

Maybe after turning off the laptop and turning it back on …. something was affected.

Anyway …. everything seems fine for now.

Thanks for the help




The performance index always being at 30% should not be normal, even using chords and polyphony above 64.

You can resolve this issue with the following measures:

1) by changing your laptop's "power management" option to high-performance mode.


2) verifying that all processing cores are working, opting for "multicore rendering" in options / perf.


3) Disable programs or applications that work simultaneously in the background on your computer while the pianoteq is open. There are cases where the "antivirus" messes up.

4) If you are using the onboard sound card, switch to an external sound card. Even the most affordable ones are good and better than computer onboard ones. I, for example, use a Behringer UMC202 and I have no problems.

Respeito, Esforço e Sabedoria

Reply by MrRoland

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Re: Crackling Issue

Viridis wrote:

I also had crackling in one speaker.
It turned out to be the connection to that speaker which was a little corroded.
Once I polished it, the crackling was gone.

Can anybody recommend a spray to improve electrical connection?

Have a nice day and happy playin'

You can use Kontakt 60  or WD40

Last edited by MrRoland (01-05-2019 20:44)

Reply by LTECpiano

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Re: Crackling Issue

Viridis wrote:

I also had crackling in one speaker.
It turned out to be the connection to that speaker which was a little corroded.
Once I polished it, the crackling was gone.

Can anybody recommend a spray to improve electrical connection?

Have a nice day and happy playin'

I have used the following with my vintage ham radio equipment with great results:

1-  WD40 SPECIALIST Electrical Contact Cleaner Spray (green and black label)

2-  DeoxIT D5

Good luck,

Lanny

LTECpiano's Website

Reply by dklein

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Re: Crackling Issue

Corrosion-X (the thin standard one):

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B003HFTI0S/...B0009E3T6E

- David

Reply by Torsten B. Hagemann

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Re: Crackling Issue

Brad made an excellent overview on how to tune you PC for audio use (and also check out his Cantabile VST host software, excellent if you need to run Pianoteq and another audio software simultanously) - but back to his book on setting up your PC: https://www.cantabilesoftware.com/glitchfree/

Enjoy.

Hardware: Studiologic SL 88s + SL Mixface, Focusrite Scarlett 2i4, Lenovo Yoga I5 Windows 10 Pro
VST host: Cantabile
Other instruments: hammond (GSi VB3 II), saxophone (Selmer), harmonicas (Hohners)

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