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Need Sound Card Solutions
I need suggestions to get my sound card working.
I plug my studio monitors into a PreSonus Firepod (external Firewire sound card) via TRS cables, and then set Sony Vegas Options > Preferences > Audio Device > Audio Device Type to Firepod ASIO (from the drop-down menu).
In the last two projects, Vegas built sound peaks just fine on the new files, and then let me apply Noise Reduction 2.0 to the audio. I could also do my initial Pan/Crop, but then after I began cutting, Vegas no longer responded. I could press and un-press ‘play’, but the timeline would not move. On the second project it seemed like it started to move maybe a frame or two, because the green sound bars in the Master Bus moved a little, but nothing more than that.
I tried resetting Vegas via CTRL-Shift as I opened Vegas, to reset it to the factory defaults, and then it would work. However, when I went back to Audio Device Type and selected Firepod ASIO, it would lock up again. However, when I re-selected Microsoft Sound Mapper, I could edit again. So I guess Vegas does not like my PreSonus Firepod, or the Firewire card?
I contacted PreSonus, and they had me send them a copy of my System Information file. They noticed that I had a lot of devices on IRQ16, including the Video card, Intel X-38 chipset, PCI bridge, and IEEE 1394 (firewire) controller. They also noticed that my firewire card (standard Dell Precision 380) had an AGERE chip that causes known problems with the Firepod, so they recommended that I get a new card 1394 firewire with a Texas Instruments chipset. They recommended a SIIG firewire 3-port PCI card, so I bought that ($39.00 from CDW).
I installed the new SIIG card, but it was the same story. I could build peaks, apply Noise Reduction, and do my initial Pan-Crop, but then a few hours into cutting the same problem happened all over again.
I can use Microsoft Sound Mapper and it works, but yecch! It’s just not the same. I plan to write Sony tech support and PreSonus next, but I was wondering what other people do to reliably power studio monitors.
I have an old Echo Mia internal sound card I can maybe use, but I would prefer to get the Firepod going, if possible, as the Firepod offers XLR inputs, and is much more flexible.
Does anyone have suggestions/ideas? And what do other people do for reliable, professional quality sound?
Thank you.
Norman Willis
http://www.nazareneisrael.org -
11 Replies
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> …what do other people do for reliable, professional quality sound?
I use an M-Audio Firewire 410 with M-Audio Studiophile LX4 2.1 speaker system. It’s been working reliably for years.
I would disable the Dell on-board firewire port in the BIOS this way it’s not even part of the system anymore. I would also go into the Device Manager and disable any Network devices that use the Firewire card. I always disable these on XP (Vista doesn’t seem to do this anymore).
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
Hi John. Thanks for your suggestions.
>>I would disable the Dell on-board firewire port in the BIOS this way it’s not even part of the system anymore.
I’m in the BIOS right now. I do not see any option to disable the onboard firewire port.
The old AGERE card (supplied by Dell) had a fitting for a wire that led to the firewire port on the front console. The new card does not have this terminal, so the front firewire port is no longer connected (I just coiled the wire up and secured it out of the way of the fans, and the airflow).
I would also go into the Device Manager and disable any Network devices that use the Firewire card. I always disable these on XP (Vista doesn’t seem to do this anymore).
I am using Vista 64 Ultimate. In Device Manager, under IEEE 1394 Bus Host Controllers, all I see is a Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE Host Controller (the new card). It seems to be working properly. Should I just leave this alone?
Do you have other ideas?
Norman Willis
http://www.nazareneisrael.org -
Do we know if this is the actual card that is causing the problems…. or the asio driver?
Try downloading ASIO4ALL driver (free) and see if that eases things…. (or complicates them)
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I didn’t realize that the original firewire was a card and not on the motherboard. There won’t be a BIOS setting if it’s a card. Just remove it. From the looks of things Vista only sees the TI card anyway so that’s good.
The next thing as Rob suggested is the ASIO drivers. You should not have to use ASIO4ALL since your hardware has it’s own ASIO drivers but if ASIO4ALL works… you might want to go to PreSonus and let them know that it seems to be a driver problem with their ASIO driver.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
Wow, I just tried the same thing and it locked up to. But if I leave my audio devices as Microsoft Sound Mapper and it selected in Windows as it’s audio device it works. My Firepod has been updated with the FP10 firmware. Hope this helps, Danny
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Hi Rob, John and Danny.
Great suggestions. The old AGERE firewire card is already out. I pulled it when I put the new Texas Instruments card in.
I am thinking I should try Danny’s suggestion first. Now that I have the AGERE card out and the TI card in, I think I should see if it works. I will select MS Sound Mapper in Vegas again, and select the Firepod in Windows Sound, and see if the AGERE chip was what was causing the problem. And if that does not work I will try the ASIO4ALL drivers.
Is there normally a problem with multiple devices sharing an IRQ? Or is that normally OK?
Thanks.
Norman Willis
http://www.nazareneisrael.org -
> Is there normally a problem with multiple devices sharing an IRQ? Or is that normally OK?
Yes it’s normal to share IRQ’s and unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about it anymore (you use to be able to reassign them yourself but now you can’t). There are only problems if too many devices that you wan to use at the same time are sharing the same IRQ.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
I did what you suggested, and with the new card so far it is working.
Thanks.
Norman Willis
http://www.nazareneisrael.org -
Nope. The Firepod is not working now. I rebooted, and it is the same.
I can select Firepod ASIO in Vegas and it locks up. I reselect Microsoft Sound Mapper, and it will play, but no sound today as there has been the last three days.
I can select the Logitech speakers and I get sound, but nothing from the Firepod.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Thank you.
Norman Willis
http://www.nazareneisrael.org -
Here is a screen shot of the IRQ assignments. I hope.
The motherboard High Definition Audio Controller is also on IRQ16, along with the Texas Instruments Firewire card.
Should I try shutting off sound in the BIOS? Or is that a mistake?
Thanks.
Norman Willis
http://www.nazareneisrael.org
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