A TON of pops and clicks from remote server

[pqlior]

Hey guys, this has been a problem for a while and has still not been resolved...

I have 2 VE server sessions running in tandem with ProTools HD. (one is local, one is remote)

The 2 MacPro's are networked direcrly with each other- no switch.

The CPU usage is fairly low. This happens when plugins are bypassed as well. This ONLY happens from remote session, not the local one. The audio is audio coming from protools into VE and back into an aux track in PT.

The audio coming back from the remote server ALWAYS has pops and clicks on it and on softer songs, it's a real problem.

Anyone else experiencing this? Advice?

[Paul]

Hi pqlior, 

Please add the specs of your computers and at least the settings in your audio driver, for a little orientation. 

Best, 
Paul

[pqlior]

@Paul said:

Hi pqlior, Please add the specs of your computers and at least the settings in your audio driver, for a little orientation. Best,Paul

I’m on Sierra 10.12.5, PT HD native 12.8.1, and the master Mac is a late 2012 12 core with 24gb of ram.

[Synetos]

I had all sorts of issues with you slave, similar to yours. It turned out to be my switch. As soon as I removed it from the loop, everything worked perfectly.

You could try a test. You said one machine is directly connected. Maybe just plug this one in to the direct connection. If the issue goes away, then it is probably your switch, nic driver, or maybe even your network cable.

You can also open up performace monitor on the slave and look at the network traffic graph. If you see drops and bumps pretty much in sync with your artifacts, you can pretty much bank on it being something with a nic driver, switch, cable, etc. At least that has been my experience. It's not very often that it was actually something with VEP, otherwise we would all have the problem.

[pqlior]

You may have missed what I was saying. The 2 computers ARE directly connected.

@Synetos said:

I had all sorts of issues with you slave, similar to yours. It turned out to be my switch. As soon as I removed it from the loop, everything worked perfectly.

You could try a test. You said one machine is directly connected. Maybe just plug this one in to the direct connection. If the issue goes away, then it is probably your switch, nic driver, or maybe even your network cable.

You can also open up performace monitor on the slave and look at the network traffic graph. If you see drops and bumps pretty much in sync with your artifacts, you can pretty much bank on it being something with a nic driver, switch, cable, etc. At least that has been my experience. It's not very often that it was actually something with VEP, otherwise we would all have the problem.

[Synetos]

Sorry...my bad. I did miss read it, although I don't see how I did that since it is clear.  Not enough coffee? Maybe too much? :)

I also don't run Protools, but the remote session communication may be playing a role here.

Answering Paul's questions are going to help find the path to chase down the root cause.

These things are almost always root caused to nic drivers, switches, settings, conflicting apps, hardware, etc. Many variables at play, and it is a process of elimination to find the guilty party.

I will bow out, since I don't have knowledge of that sort of setup to help.

[john]

I out of nowhere am starting to get clicks and pops. It is most likely the switch. I read that they should bereplaced every 4 - 5 years? Does anyone here suggest NOT using the gigabit connection on the motherboard? 

[Paul]

Hi John, 

A dedicated network card can also be of help. 

Best, 
Paul