Sonar Drop Outs

[LisaAbrams]

Why is my Sonar 8 Producer Dropping out when I try to record? It just started doing that And I can't figure out the problem. I have tried the help screen and it doesn't fix the problem.

Am I overlooking something else?

[Metaltyme]

Originally Posted by LisaAbrams

Why is my Sonar 8 Producer Dropping out when I try to record? It just started doing that And I can't figure out the problem. I have tried the help screen and it doesn't fix the problem.

Am I overlooking something else?

To be able to help you, we need know first what kind of computer you're running. It would also be helpful to know what kind of audio interface or sound card you're using too. And, in your recording project, do you have any plugins or soft synths going?

If you can answer these three questions, I can tell you exactly what you need to do...I'm 99% sure anyway.

[brandondrury]

Recording Computer Troubleshooting: Is Your Windows Operating System Clean? | Home Computer Recording

[LisaAbrams]

HP Windows Vista
I am new to this. Not sure about the sound card. Realtek High def speakers, USB port Mic.
I don't have any soft synths or midi inputs.

[Metaltyme]

Not sure about the sound card.

Chances are, then, that you're using the stock sound card that came with your computer. These are generally not very good for audio work....more for general sound playback and/or gaming really. But, it might "do" for now. If you're planning on getting fairly serious with recording and stuff, I'd recommend getting an audio interface, which are ideally made for such purposes. [Go here to find out which one would suit your needs.]

When you open up Sonar, go up to the options menu and select "audio." When the dialog box appears, click on "wave profiler." This will do a brief series of tests that will analyze your sound card, allowing your soundcard to be recognized and optimized for Sonar.

After doing the wave profiler, I believe Sonar will ask you to close the program, then reopen for the new settings to take effect.

So, when you're getting these dropouts, are you just trying to record one track of one of your instruments without any additional tracks for accompaniment?

At any rate, what exactly are you trying to do? Before the dropout occurs, does playback or record for any length of time? Or, as soon as you commence playback or record, does it dropout instantaneously?

[LisaAbrams]

(So, when you're getting these dropouts, are you just trying to record one track of one of your instruments without any additional tracks for accompaniment?)

I am trying to record one track at a time with 1-3 other tracks playing for accompaniment.


(At any rate, what exactly are you trying to do? Before the dropout occurs, does playback or record for any length of time? Or, as soon as you commence playback or record, does it dropout instantaneously?)

It doesn't ALWAYS drop out instantaneously when I try to record or playback, but once a drop out occurs, then it will continue to do it over and over almost instantaneously.

[Metaltyme]

Have you done this [below] yet?

When you open up Sonar, go up to the options menu and select "audio options." When the dialog box appears, click on "wave profiler." This will do a brief series of tests that will analyze your sound card, allowing your soundcard to be recognized and optimized for Sonar.

After doing the wave profiler, I believe Sonar will ask you to close the program, then reopen for the new settings to take effect.

If that has been done, then it's probably your "playback I/O" and your "record I/O" buffer size settings that are not optimized for your PC.

To check: Within Sonar, go to "options." Then, select "audio." Click on the "Advanced" tab and have a look at your playback/record buffer size settings. What do they read on your system? On mine, both of them say 512 KB. That works well for my system, but that could be different for yours. Just keep in mind that the lower these numbers are, the more work your PC has to do, and if you exceed the amount of work your computer can do at once, a dropout occurs.

Since you are getting dropouts, try increasing both sets of numbers by a value of 128. Once you make this change, apply the new settings and hit "ok." Try your project out, if the problem persists, go back to that same dialog box, and increase both values by 128 again. When you do not have the issues occuring, you've fixed the problem.

Please, let us know how things come out. Good luck!