Losing Audio On Tracking With Focusrite Scarlett 2i2

[RoyFan]

Hi,

 

   Anyone have issues when tracking - regardless of port or instrument hooked or cable?

Issues meaning that no audio is recorded?  then it comes back after a second or so?

 

are these things more likely a hardware component in the Focusrite getting worn out/old?

or can logic recording settings cause this?

 

what's an interesting, is when I get this when recording with the Motif, I have to lower the volume on it and then raise it back and I get audio..

where as when tracking guitar, it just comes back on it's own..

Thanks

[triplets]

Does this happen in Maveicks?

Looks like an issue with the interface.

[RoyFan]

Does this happen in Maveicks?

Looks like an issue with the interface.

Thanks Ernesto!

i guess i can look into switching to mavericks... but can this also be the interfaces harwdware?  i've been good for a long time now..

[triplets]

Sound coming and going could be the mic pres on the Scarlett going bad. Or the outputs of the unit.

Digital problems are sonically more annoying.

[RoyFan]

Can changing a setting of "Input Monitoring" create these problems?

[triplets]

If you have Auto Input Monitoring selected from the top menu bar under Record, you won't hear your instrument signal if the song is playing because it will give priority to what's already on that track.

Once the song stops you can hear your signal again.

To avoid that and be able to hear your signal at all times, uncheck Auto Input Monitoring.

[skijumptoes]

When it comes back, is it hard return? i.e. sudden return of sound.  Or does it fade back in and is more glitchy?

 

Could be your cables of course, or exactly as triplets mentions previously related to monitoring.

 

Try turning direct monitor on with your audio interface and you can hear what's going directly into it, which may help you diagnose where the problem is?  i.e. it's not affected by anything in Logic.

 

Also, in the case of your Motif, is it an older model? If so, do you ever get crackles on the volume pot/slider when it's moved?  I've got some old synths that do this and can cut out at times, they are well due an open-up and clean.

[RoyFan]

When it comes back, is it hard return? i.e. sudden return of sound.  Or does it fade back in and is more glitchy?

 

Could be your cables of course, or exactly as triplets mentions previously related to monitoring.

 

Try turning direct monitor on with your audio interface and you can hear what's going directly into it, which may help you diagnose where the problem is?  i.e. it's not affected by anything in Logic.

 

Also, in the case of your Motif, is it an older model? If so, do you ever get crackles on the volume pot/slider when it's moved?  I've got some old synths that do this and can cut out at times, they are well due an open-up and clean.

Thanks so much both of you.  I will turn on direct monitor, if I got you right that can help assess if the Motif itself is losing strenght/signal or it's happening further down in the

interface/logic chain yes?

It seems to be happening with the motif and guitars.  What's very unusual about the Motif, is it doesn't come back in until I first lower the motif volume and then raise it again.  I have no idea what that means.  The only thing there is I was recently doing experiments to control my motif from Logic.  However this happens with projects that are not doing this and ones that don't have the Motif defined in the Midi Environment.

With the guitars, the volume just come back on it's own.. (though I'll have to experiment with that more today, as I only did briefly yesterday to rule out that it strictly a Motif thing).

I've returned my Input Monitoring setting to what it was. (someone had changed it prior to all these things).

Anyway, today on the docket - I'll be trying to my other focus rite if I can find it and if that one still works. 

[David Nahmani]

When it comes back, is it hard return? i.e. sudden return of sound.  Or does it fade back in and is more glitchy?

I'd love to know the answer to this too.

[skijumptoes]

Oh, i was thinking things through how i would diagnose such an issue, was thinking that if it was fading in/out there's a chance of a protection circuit somewhere (Maybe in the focusrite itself, or any other external path like a mixer?) which is cutting the sound and usually they fade the audio back in rather than a sudden return.  

 

Also, Thinking that a glitchy sudden on/off type of response would indicate cabling/contacts issue somewhere. I.e. on the volume pot of the motif.

 

Anything that helps diagnose which side of the Audio Interface this is occurring really!

[RoyFan]

Oh, i was thinking things through how i would diagnose such an issue, was thinking that if it was fading in/out there's a chance of a protection circuit somewhere (Maybe in the focusrite itself, or any other external path like a mixer?) which is cutting the sound and usually they fade the audio back in rather than a sudden return.  

 

Also, Thinking that a glitchy sudden on/off type of response would indicate cabling/contacts issue somewhere. I.e. on the volume pot of the motif.

 

Anything that helps diagnose which side of the Audio Interface this is occurring really!

Hey - so more info.  And also responding to your ideas below...

It does happen with other instruments not just the motif.  Tried multiple cables both ins of the 2i2.

Believe it's Logic because it never happens when I have Direct Monitor on, and when my headphones are connected to 2i2 out.  Usually the way it happens is that it does technically sort of quickly cuts out in terms of volume to either no volume, or very low volume.  But it's very quick.  so it's almost like immediately to nothing.

It does come back sometimes on it's own without me lowering and then raising the volume.  And that's pretty much instantaneous in how it comes back.

But usually with the motif at least lowering and raising helps it come back.

Are there any settings in Logic that when changed can very logically and easily lead to this scenario?  Like monitor settings? other audio settings like Threads/Buffer Range?

 

As far as cables, I've had the same setup , i.e. they're not all 100% separated all the time for 2 years and never had this.  And also this all started pretty might right after someone changed some settings with regards to Auto Input Monitoring, and threads,  I think I've put them back to how they were, but that's why I'm extremely curious if Logic settings can explain this behavior?

[RoyFan]

When it comes back, is it hard return? i.e. sudden return of sound.  Or does it fade back in and is more glitchy?

I'd love to know the answer to this too.

Keeping with the theme of love    I'd love to know are there Logic settings that can lead to this behavior?    Btw answered both of you guys's questions right right above this..

[RoyFan]

When it comes back, is it hard return? i.e. sudden return of sound.  Or does it fade back in and is more glitchy?

I'd love to know the answer to this too.

More info.  Between the 2 I'd say it's definitely more that it comes back right away.  The volume that is.

Something that might help.  I've been trouble shooting, I play audio into the 2i2 w DM on.  And when the output is routed to Mac built in output I am still getting cutting out problem.

At that point in order to see if it's the Motif, I take out the audio cable that's been going out of the mono output of the motif.. and put in headphones into it.

What I hear then is that only the right ear bud has volume.

So in other words - does it make sense that a motif all of a sudden outputing a right-only signal would be heard as nothing-at-all, no audio when hearing thru the above described chain Logic etc..?  but be heard on the right bud with the "headphone direct into motif chain" ? 

[triplets]

The analog outputs of the Motif or most keyboards are L and R, so each is one side and the L is usually mono.

If you're putting in a headphone jack, which is TRS, you're gonna hear one side, not stereo.

[skijumptoes]

Ok, next step for me, would be to record enable a track in Logic, and then watch the meters in logic to see if they stop moving when the sound cuts out, and do this without recording/playing - i.e. no activity in logic whatsover to rule out direct monitoring issues, or anything you're doing within Logic as being the culprit.

 

What's not clear is if *only* the 'line in' (i.e. guitar or motif) is cutting out, or your entire mix - i.e. could this actually be an output problem that you're experiencing?

 

When you record and it cuts out, does the waveform still display in Logic at the time the audio cut out when performing?

 

This reminds me, going back a few years, of a mate who had a very similar problem and i took months to see him despite him asking me for help (Yes, i still feel guilty), however, we spent hours listening to his set up, playing etc. and at different volumes his audio would cut out, and it completely confused me, because it seemed quite random, and sometimes would only be one side first, followed by the other.

 

Eventually, it was only when we sat down chatting and checking the cables i heard a 'pop' from one speaker, and then a second 'pop' shortly after from the other.  I asked him what it was and he said "Oh, they turn themselves off - pretty cool eh?".

 

I felt like strangling him, but then i realised the issue as i checked the rears of the monitors.

 

Basically, he had his active monitors up full blast, then controlling the volume by a physical mixer on his desk.  So when he was recording at low volumes the speakers would occasionally cut out until a peak in the music was reached, because the input level going in to them was so low.   We just dropped hi monitors to 40-50% power and he could raise the volume on the mixer, and all good.

 

Not saying that's your issue, but of course, sometimes it's easily to be thrown by little 'features' like that in hardware - so just making sure you've got nothing like that in your setup, i.e. you're going directly in to the Scarlett i presume?  No kind of effects, or mixer inbetween?  And your speakers/monitors aren't on an auto-off setting? (Only applies if your whole mix is cutting out obviously).

 

If you're missing bits of the waveform when recording, and/or the record meters drop off within logic then i think you're looking increasingly likely that you have a driver issue (Think these are class compliant?), but most likely some kind of hardware failure in the Analog-Digital convertor in the interface perhaps?   If that's the case then get on to Focusrite, in my experience, if you call them you usually get a really good personal response and they will see you through to a solution.

 

Damn, just trying to throw as many ideas your way in the hope one clicks!!!

[RoyFan]

The analog outputs of the Motif or most keyboards are L and R, so each is one side and the L is usually mono.

If you're putting in a headphone jack, which is TRS, you're gonna hear one side, not stereo.

Thanks Ernesto, what I do is I have an output cable coming out of the "phone" output of the Motif, not the L and R ..does it make sense then

that if the Motif goes into a state where it's only transmitting one half of that signal.. the right side? that I'd hear that as nothing at all in Logic?

[RoyFan]

Ok, next step for me, would be to record enable a track in Logic, and then watch the meters in logic to see if they stop moving when the sound cuts out, and do this without recording/playing - i.e. no activity in logic whatsover to rule out direct monitoring issues, or anything you're doing within Logic as being the culprit.

 

What's not clear is if *only* the 'line in' (i.e. guitar or motif) is cutting out, or your entire mix - i.e. could this actually be an output problem that you're experiencing?

 

When you record and it cuts out, does the waveform still display in Logic at the time the audio cut out when performing?

 

This reminds me, going back a few years, of a mate who had a very similar problem and i took months to see him despite him asking me for help (Yes, i still feel guilty), however, we spent hours listening to his set up, playing etc. and at different volumes his audio would cut out, and it completely confused me, because it seemed quite random, and sometimes would only be one side first, followed by the other.

 

Eventually, it was only when we sat down chatting and checking the cables i heard a 'pop' from one speaker, and then a second 'pop' shortly after from the other.  I asked him what it was and he said "Oh, they turn themselves off - pretty cool eh?".

 

I felt like strangling him, but then i realised the issue as i checked the rears of the monitors.

 

Basically, he had his active monitors up full blast, then controlling the volume by a physical mixer on his desk.  So when he was recording at low volumes the speakers would occasionally cut out until a peak in the music was reached, because the input level going in to them was so low.   We just dropped hi monitors to 40-50% power and he could raise the volume on the mixer, and all good.

 

Not saying that's your issue, but of course, sometimes it's easily to be thrown by little 'features' like that in hardware - so just making sure you've got nothing like that in your setup, i.e. you're going directly in to the Scarlett i presume?  No kind of effects, or mixer inbetween?  And your speakers/monitors aren't on an auto-off setting? (Only applies if your whole mix is cutting out obviously).

 

If you're missing bits of the waveform when recording, and/or the record meters drop off within logic then i think you're looking increasingly likely that you have a driver issue (Think these are class compliant?), but most likely some kind of hardware failure in the Analog-Digital convertor in the interface perhaps?   If that's the case then get on to Focusrite, in my experience, if you call them you usually get a really good personal response and they will see you through to a solution.

 

Damn, just trying to throw as many ideas your way in the hope one clicks!!!

Wow, thanks indeed for all the info!  Details below of behavior.  Can you let me know which Logic settings can affect what's described  below?  and what settings to try?

i have a hunch it's to do with monitoring but someone changed it so not sure exactly which one.

Yea I'm going in direct to the 2i2.  During recording, when it happens the waveform dissapears, i.e. no sound is recorded during the drop in volume.  My monitors aren't in use at all.

Here's the sequence of what's happening.

Create audio track with Motif going into focusrite (both ports have the problem).  Play motif til problem starts.

Once it starts, the volume indicator on the channel does spike when played but VERY little.  If I do DM on 2i2 and plug in headphones to it, I can very faintly.

At that point - I take the cable from the Motif and plug it into my Strat, NO problem with strat.  Volume indicator spikes much higher on channel strip.

To make sure I then replug cable from Start into the out of the Motif and everything still is problematic again..

[RoyFan]

When it comes back, is it hard return? i.e. sudden return of sound.  Or does it fade back in and is more glitchy?

I'd love to know the answer to this too.

THINK I'm onto something.

If instead of going out of the headphone jack of the motif into the 2i2, I instead go out of the L Mono of the Motif into the 2i2, it seems to not be happening..

Does this give a much clearer picture as to what settings can be at play here?

And I've been going of the headphone for 1.5 years now no problem.. and recently settings were changed..

[RoyFan]

Another update - if I try to go with 2 separate cables out of the respective L and R outputs of the Motif, then the left signal cuts out eventually in that scenario.

 

so it seems only when I go out of the L Or the R of the Motif (not both, and not the Mono Headphone out) am I able to get a consistent signal.  In the other two scenarios I either lose all audio (Headphone out), or half the stereo (when going into both ins of 2i2 with the L and R outs of the Motif)

 

What Logic settings effect this type of behavior?

[blinkofani]

You chose the Line inputs and not the Inst inputs with the little switches in front of your 2i2?

 

Blink

[triplets]

You chose the Line inputs and not the Inst inputs with the little switches in front of your 2i2?

 

Blink

+ 1.

Guitar = Instr

Motif = Line

[skijumptoes]

If it's cutting out during recording, AND there's no waveform recorded in logic during that period BUT you can hear the sound during direct monitoring - Then i would suspect it's your Audio Interface at fault, possibly the A-D (Analog to Digital) convertors?

 

Or could even be some kind of interrupt/issue with the driver being used.

 

Just to check, how long have you had the interface?  And do you know if it's running in class compliant mode?  It may not be if you've had this a while and previously installed a focusrite driver for it.

 

I do remember there being an issue with these interfaces with an earlier USB driver, which was subsequently depreciated, and if you had issues there was a manual process to ensure that you were running in class compliant mode.

 

Sadly, all links to that fail on the Focusrite site now, which is a bit of a mystery.  However, i think that was an issue with crackles, not complete audio cut out, so maybe doesn't apply. 

 

Personally i would give Focusrite a call, in my experience their phone support is much better than online too, and if you keep plugging stuff in and out, and putting headphone cables in line sockets etc. there's always a chance you may damage something else the more adventurous you get!

[skijumptoes]

Just found the class compliant app on my hard drive from my previous OSX isntall, if you want to give it a try, as you're running Mavericks right now i would guess this may help, as it is for glitches and drop outs.

 

http://www.getpatched.co.uk/forumattachments/ClassCompliantMode.zip

 

This is the same app as linked here to give you a bit more info:-

https://discussions.apple.com/message/23878399#message23878399