Delta 2496 Good bad now ugly on Mac 10.4.11

[JaZZedUp]

I am having a terrible "out of box" experience installing the Audiophile 2496 into my Mac G4.

It started off rocky, but after several restarts and moving the card to a different PCI slot, I finally was able to record my guitar input using FastTrack USB into GT-PlayerExpress and monitoring it on the RCA's out of the 2496. All seemed to be OK.

On playback however, it had a terrible white noise oscillating over the original clean source. While trying several USB cables I managed to crash GT-PlayerExpress and now no matter what, when the sound output is set for the 2496, either the noise is omnipresent or the computer crashes hard.

I've tried uninstalling the Audiophile Driver (several times), moving the card to a different PCI slot. Pulling the only other PCI card on the bus. Running the Utils>Disk Util>Repair Permissions and then looking on this forum for others reporting similar issues.

I've got it to where if I only use the FastTrack USB and the internal sound card (on the Apple Mobo) it will run without crashing but the noise on playback is still there.

I was going to try to run RCA's out of FastTrack and into the 2496 to see if there is something wrong with the USB that is causing the noise but the 2496 needs to start functioning again in order to do that.

Thanks in advance!

[Paul]

You should be using the input and output from the same device. Just because you can select a different input or output device doesn't mean that it will work correctly. Try recording with the Fast Track USB and then set the 2496 as both the input and the output device when you try to play it back.

[JaZZedUp]

You should be using the input and output from the same device. Just because you can select a different input or output device doesn't mean that it will work correctly. Try recording with the Fast Track USB and then set the 2496 as both the input and the output device when you try to play it back.

I thought that the purpose of the input being set to FastTrack was to enable playing over the top of what you had laid down previously?

The larger problem than the noise on playback is just getting the 2496 to work at all!

Since the initial crash, I have not been able to get the sound card to install and playback at all. I've run the de-installation routine, moved the card, re-installed drivers and it still would bring the machine down hard with a Kernal Panic Freeze or Dark Gray Screen of Death. Sometimes I have gotten to where the moment it is enabled, white noise appears out of both channels. Sometimes, I have silence when it is enabled as the output source but any system alert (standard ping or boink noise) is replaced by the white noise for the duration of what the proper noise should have been.

[Paul]

Try removing all M-Audio drivers from the computer. Then do a file search for any M-Audio file and delete it. After that download and install the 10.4.11 combo update (http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/macosx_updates/macosx10411comboupdateppc.html). Once that is installed repair the disk permissions and re-install the latest driver.

[JaZZedUp]

Thanks for the suggestion Paul.

Before, I did any of those things, I was told by Entourage to update components from Microsoft Office. Their auto install got about 75% finished then the machine crashed hard again.

Oddly enough, when it came back up the audio card was suddenly working again. This lasted about an hour and then the machine froze up again. This time, when it came back up the problem had returned (white noise on the output from the card only (not from the mobo sound card).

So, I forged ahead with your suggestions and de-installed all M-Audio device drivers, repaired permissions, downloaded and installed the Roll-up of 10.4.11 and installed.

Then I re-installed first the sound card, then the FastTrack drivers.

It worked long enough to show me that on input / monitor of a guitar track the sound was clean using GT-Guitar Express however about 1 minute into the track suddenly another different noise started coming out of the card. It sounds like a air-raid siren in the key of F.

This sound comes and goes based on the Effects processor from GT-Player Express. The sound had never appeared from this program when the output was set for the internal sound card of the Mac.

So we now have 2 problems.
1. Snap, crackle, pop on playback of any captured track.
2. An intermittent air-raid siren tied to the GTPlayer Effects processor.

Any ideas?

[Paul]

could the "air raid siren" be feedback? Can you explain your exact setup when this noise occurred?

[JaZZedUp]

could the "air raid siren" be feedback? Can you explain your exact setup when this noise occurred?

My Setup was Guitar 1/4" plugged into FastTrack ->USB into Mac Quicksilver 2p 1ghz CPU. System Preferences->Sound->Input->FastTrack. SystemPrefs->Sound->Output->Delta 2496. RCA out to Nakamici Stereo amp then to speakers.

Application was GT-Express which enables software DSP effects similar to traditional guitar stomp boxes and provides a path to create .aiff files which can then be passed around to Garageband and other apps that like Mac audio file formats.

The siren noise I spoke of was irrespective of any guitar signal being generated. It just started as a drone underneath the guitar signal as if it were a different instrument. If I played an F-chord 1st position on the guitar it had similar tonal qualities but if I played nothing on guitar and turned the volume of the guitar off, the sound remained constant until I exited the effects application "GT-Express'.

Could there be something wrong with this model Mac? I have heard that certain models had issues with sound quality even though they were touting their internal sound cards specifications? Something about RF bleed through?

Appreciate any input.

[JaZZedUp]

Seems like I have Apple issues too....
I found this on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Mac_G4

<snip>
The models were noted for their noisiness, earning them the unofficial designation "Windtunnel G4" in some circles. Noise complaints became such a problem that Apple later replaced the machine's power supply (PSU) and primary cooling fan with quieter versions, and initiated a voluntary do-it-yourself (DIY) replacement scheme for all previously sold machines. At least some MDD models also have a design flaw resulting in noise in the audio-out, picking up interference from the mouse, graphics card, hard drive and other hardware. According to Apple, this is a ground loop issue, and only occurs when used with professional balanced signal audio equipment [1], however some audio experts have contended it is due to shielding defects on the motherboard and affects all equipment [2].

</snip>

In addition, I found this:
http://www.sweetwater.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-2087.html

Although, it doesn't hit my issue exactly, it does talk of issues with both Quicksilver models and noise in the audio. The Quicksilver MDD is the one with the "mirror drive door" which is a chrome opening for the CD door. Mine isn't that model but still considered a Quicksilver model that was produced later at 1Ghz dual processors.

I also today tried an experiment in which I took standard .mp3 files, played them through the Delta card and they sounded fine. Then I used Toast to burn an Audio CD (convert from .mp3 to standard audio CD format) and the same noises that show up when when reading back .aiff files appear on the CD.

So now what? ..... Makes me mad that Apple is so arrogant bashing PC's when some basic issues like clean audio out of the machine aren't addressed.

[Paul]

Is it possible for you to monitor through headphones in stead of speakers? It still seems like it could be feed back.