FIXED: Audio crackles continuously - RME interface - other interfaces and apps work fine

Bugs
,
1

TD Audio in OSX using RME

SPECS
TD 2023.11600
M1 Max 32GB - OSX Ventura 13.6
Babyface firmware v226, driver v3.38A
Digiface Dante firmware v56, driver v3.38A

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PROBLEM
I have a problem with audio output using RME interfaces: even when I delete all operators except an Audio File In and an Audio Device Out, the audio crackles continuously until I flip the “active” switch on the Audio Device Out off and on.

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WHAT I’VE TRIED
The test project described above as a whole takes only 0.028ms cook time on CPU (0 on GPU) and the buffer size of the audio device is really quite high at 6615 samples (9 frames @ 60fps). Even taking down the FPS to 15 and setting the buffer to 9 frames (quadrupling the buffer size to 26460 samples) does not solve the problem.

When mixing audio (my bread and butter, using Nuendo, Pro Tools, Ableton Live, WaveLab), I’m used to running at 256 samples or less, down to 64, but when a mixing session gets really heavy I up it to 2048, but that is really rare.

I’ve tested this setup and much heavier ones with the built-in audio, which is considered slow (meaning in need of higher buffer sizes) and it works fine. I’ve also tried it with an Audient iD24 interface, and that works fine as well.

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WHAT WORKS
A workaround I use now is VB-Cable (a virtual audio cable in OSX) with LadioCast. TD sends audio to VB-Cable, LadioCast links VB-Cable to the RME interface. This works at 60fps with a buffersize of 2 or 3 frames, no problems. (Taking it to 1 frame drops the occasional frame)

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QUESTION
What else could I try? The workaround is ok-ish, but I feel TD should work without help, considering how complete and smooth the rest of the program is.

PS I checked the forum for similar cases, but no solution there.

2

Hi - thanks for the report, it definitely sounds like something’s going wrong. Is your Babyface the original and not the Pro/Pro FS model? We’ll try to reproduce here and look into it.

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3

Hi Tom, thank you for your response. Yes, the Babyface is the original model.

The RME Digiface Dante has the same problem. Both run on USB and use the same driver package if i’m not mistaken. Clocking internally at 48kHz. Tried 44.1kHz as well, no change.

File type didn’t change anything either (mp3, wav16bit or 24bit).

Let me know if you want me to try something, I have some appointments here and there this week, but I’ll be in the studio most of the time next week.

Cheers! Harmen Sipkema

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4

Similar issue with:

RME Fireface UC, latest drivers
Mac M1 Sonoma 14.4.1
2023.11600

Probably solution and explanation here:
https://rme-audio.de/driverkit-info.html
(I haven’t tested yet)

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5

If that was the problem, all other software would cause the same issues I think. At some point, TD is doing something different from all other apps that I use with the RME.

If anything, the Kernel-Drivers are more direct and high-performance than the DriverKit option.

(As said, I use Pro tools, Nuendo, Ableton Live, Wavelab. But also Davinci Resolve Studio has no problem, nor does Fission, OBS, VLC, C74 Jitter / Max-MSP, Reaper etc.)

My daily income is mixing and mastering, I think at some point I might need to try the other drivers from RME, but not at this time. Same reason I didn’t upgrade to Sonoma yet.

But nevertheless, thanks for chiming in, good to know other RME users have the same issue.

If you don’t mind, let us know what “latest” is, that way future readers will know if it is the driverversion they have or not.

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6

Yes, it’s clear.
I use 3.31 drivers.

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7

Do you need me to test something here? Did you manage to recreate the issue? Cheers, Harmen

8

Hi @polycorn - we’re still looking into this - we’ll update here when we have news

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9

Hi @polycorn - could you drop us an e-mail at support@derivative.ca - we could use some feedback on a potential fix. Thanks.

10

Sorry, I should have included you @letsius - or indeed anyone else with an RME device experiencing this issue, please drop us an e-mail at support@derivative.ca, referencing this thread.

11

This issue is fixed in TouchDesigner 2023.12000 (download) - it’d be great if either of you could test and confirm you don’t get crackles. Thanks!

12

oooh, sorry, I completely forgot about my promise to check it earlier. On it.

13

Ok, update: it works. I tested with my RME Babyface (original) and with my RME DigiFace Dante.

It does require a high buffer setting (at least, what would be considered high from an audio perspective). Anything below 4096 samples is likely to crackle, but that sounds more like the audio engine not keeping up and not the i/o issue at hand. I ran two of my tracks through it, the second one is more quiet, probably easier to hear what does and does not belong there.

Check out the vid here.

Does that give you enough info? Let me know if you need me to test a specific patch or config.

14

Thanks @polycorn - good to hear the fix works.

A larger buffer size is needed for the CHOP compared to dedicated audio apps to cover the time between frames in TouchDesigner.

15

Ah, that’s explains a lot, thanks.

Can you tell me what the culprit was?

16

A bug effected all our audio on macOS for a fraction of a frame when we first began output. The RME drivers didn’t recover though, so the effect became noticeable.

17

Well done for finding it than and thanks for the clear and open communication. Much appreciated.

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