Soundproblems in MIDI Mode / SC Live 4

Engine DJ Hardware Standalone Controllers
1

Hello,

I’ve had the SC Live 4 for a few days now. Unfortunately, when I use the controller as MIDI, I have sound problems, e.g., the speakers crackle at certain frequencies. Here are the key details: SC Live 4 Latest Engine DJ software Latest device drivers Connected via original USB cable Powered by original power supply Laptop Processor 13th Gen Intel(R) Core™ i7-13850HX, 2100 MHz, 20 cores Installed physical memory (RAM) 64.0 GB NVIDIA RTX 2000 Ada generation Intel UHD Graphics Operating system Microsoft Windows 11 Enterprise Speakers Active studio speakers Hi-Res 3-way monitor 110 watts Connected via XLR Software for MIDI function Virtual DJ Professional Serato DJ Pro The same effect occurs with both programs.

The controller works perfectly in standalone mode. When I switch to MIDI mode, everything works, but after a short time the speakers start to crackle. This happens with the external speakers connected via XLR as well as with the internal speakers of the SC Live 4. I have already reinstalled the Windows drivers. I have changed the buffer size. I have installed the ASIO4ALL driver. I don’t know what else to do. I have a feeling that the controller is the problem. Every now and then, the track time freezes for half a second. At that moment, the speakers also crackle. Could it be that the controller is overloaded?

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First thing to do is get rid of ASIO4ALL. It’s not an ASIO driver and you don’t need it. Only use the official driver, and don’t set the buffer size too low. What is your buffer size?

Also, DPC latency seems to be a big issue on recent computers (people struggle to find one that doesn’t cause glitches), so you may need to change a few OS settings to help with that.

3 Likes
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Hey thanks for your reply. I will deinstall the ASIO4ALL. I tried different buffer sizes. 256, 512, 1024 there is no difference.

I will install later a DPC tool thanks for the idea.

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Audio crackling is a major problem for Nvidia GPU users. Nvidia drivers that install many unnecessary services tend to significantly increase DPC latency.

I had this problem on my laptop equipped with an RTX 4060 and I solved it using NVCleanstall.

This small utility allows you to download the Nvidia driver version of your choice, remove all the superfluous Nvidia services (Nvidia Telemetry, Nvidia App, Nvidia HDMI Audio Driver, etc.), and repackage a clean driver installer.

It’s quite easy to use. If you’re unsure what to remove, simply select the recommended settings, and it should work. However, I advise you to remove Nvidia App and Nvidia HDMI Audio Driver, which are quite resource-intensive in terms of DPC calls. Finally, install the ASIO driver from your controller manufacturer and set the buffer to 256 samples.

Please also ensure that the Windows power management setting is in high performance/game mode.