Recording Quality Problems

[glennstapans]

I am wondering what I can do to try to improve the quality of my home recordings. I am using M-Audio Fast track and cubase le 4. I am using my laptop which is relatively new. I only use it for work other than this new recording hobby. I am getting the tracks to come out very nicely except for a static interference. Is this because of my laptop having other things running? I tried adjusting the latency, and it did not help. Do i need to change other settings in the device manager, such as Bandwidth, sample rate, or sample depth? Any advice will be helpful, I am comitted to getting this figured out. I quit my job. I have not left home in days. My eyes are glued to the screen. Who has the answers?

[brandondrury]

I am getting the tracks to come out very nicely except for a static interference. Is this because of my laptop having other things running?

Maybe.

Are your tracks clipping?

What is your CPU meter running at? (Press F12 in Cubase)

Brandon

[glennstapans]

I am not sure if there is a difference between clipping and static. What i hear can be described as:

the type of scratchy noise that you would hear on a phonograph as the music is playing. is that clipping?

[tatteredstudios]

If you have an anti-virus program running, shut it off...If you have wireless running, shut it off...They both can cause what you are describing.

[glennstapans]

I stopped running the anti virus program and my wireless connection when i record and it sounds much better. Thanks for the advice

[tatteredstudios]

Great ! Glad to know you're up and running !