[Marc Ocram]

I need help with with my DAW.
I use Cubase SX3 under Windows XP with a Tascam US122 audio interface. Though it looks a bit "vintage", it worked absolutely stable! Until I renovated my study room.
After connecting all my cable and started again to work I was facing some huge problems, that didn't exist so far. All settings and connections are like before. But when I start recording with a microphone, I get audio clicks and dropouts. It also doesn't help to increase the audio buffer. I did a complete new installation, because I thought of a software fault - but again the same problems. Could it be, that my audio interface is damaged? How could I find out?

[Boydie]

Did your audio interface have a power supply that might have been disconnected?

Are you sure you are using the Tascam drivers when you put everything back together? - you should be using ASIO drivers?

[Marc Ocram]

The interface got no power supply, it's bus powered. I also use the latest Tascam ASIO drivers. The strange thing is, that this setup worked very stable over the last years and now everything changed from one second to another. Seems my DAW doesn't like the new room
I'll try to do a clean uninstall of the drivers and a new installation afterwards. I've found a guide on the Tascam site how to do this.
Is there a possibility to find out, if the interface could be damaged?

[Mystic Dreamer]

Does your system use any analog cables at all?  Analog versus digital.  Like a microphone input jack for example?  Audio dropout and clicks sure sounds like a bad connection somewhere.  It could even potentially be a digital connection actually.   But often times a digital interruption will cause software to crash or something like that.

In any case, this type of connection problem is also most likely to be associated with a connector that had been plugged in for years, and was only recently unplugged and plugged back in.  The reason being that the contacts may have oxidized all but where they were touching.   So when the connector is unplugged and plugged back in that good contact was lost.   If that is the case sometimes it can be cured by simply spraying the connectors and input jacks with some kind of contact cleaner spray or "turner cleaner" designed for old TV tuners.

If you have only recently unplugged everything that had previously been plugged in for a very long time, then that's most likely the problem.

[Boydie]

If you driver re-install doesn't work then I would suggest taking a "step back" and take a logical approach to troubleshooting

If you suspect the Tascam are you able to try it out on a different PC?

The next steps for me would be...

Are the pops and crackles being "recorded" - can you see them in the waveform?

Do "clean" tracks pop or crackle on playback?

Are you sure your buffer settings are actually being applied? - these are usually set in the audio interface software

Do you have wifi on your PC? It may be worth turning this off to try

There is a utility called DPC Latency checker that may be worth a go

http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml

Or this one called LatencyMon

http://www.resplendence.com/latencymon

Good luck and keep us posted...

[tone]

I have a Tascam US122. Have you tried using the right channel instead of the left (assuming you're only using one at the moment?)
Also, do you have phantom power turned off (unless you're using it?) and the input switches all set correctly?
Also, try plugging it into a different USB port?

Good luck!

[Marc Ocram]

Thank you all for your help.
I'll check if it helps to use the right channel, because I'm using only the left by now.
I'll also try the interface on another Computer and it's a good idea to check the contacts.

I'll keep you updated.

[Marc Ocram]

Well it took a while, but it looks like it's working stable again!
I did a clean uninstall of the audio interface driver and a clean installation.
I used the guide on the Tascam website (http://tascam.com/product/us-122/downloads/).
The test was successful - no clicks and dropouts.

[seriousfun]

There is one other thing to keep in mind with this if the problem recurs. With cubase you can get pops and clicks if your buffer setting is too low.