AUDIO CLICKS AND POPS

1. I’ve just recently had to re-install XP and all the rigmarole that goes along with it, due to a fried graphics card.

   After having my DAW system running pretty smoothly for 2 years, I forgot all the tweaks I had done to make this smooth running possible.

   Anyway, having searched for ‘XP audio optimization’ and ‘BIOS tweaks,’ and performed all of the relevant suggestions, my tracks were still horribly skipping, clicking and popping.

   Then I did some more delving into ‘Standard PC vs ACPI.’

   Despite installing XP 3 times, I had still not pressed ‘f5’ when it prompted for an f6 input, so I was on ACPI, and even though the list of IRQ’s was all separate, ie – everything had its own number, audio was shit.

   So I followed the process to convert from ACPI (or uni/ multi –processor under Computer in Device Manager,) and presto, my previous smoothly streaming setup was restored. Even though System Information is telling me IRQ’s are shared all over the place, there are no clicks and pops, and I’m a happy bunny once again.

    

   The process is simple, and you don’t have to manually re-install your drivers:

   Go to Device Manager.

   Click the + sign next to ‘Computer’ at the top. If it says Standard PC at this point – your problem lies elsewhere..

   Right-click the uniprocessor/ multi-processor PC.

   Click ‘Update Driver.’

   Click ‘No, not this time’ - Next

   Click ‘Install the list from a specific location,’ – Next

   Click ‘Don’t search. I will choose the driver to install.’

   Choose ‘Standard PC.’

   You will re-start twice, and then you’re done.

    

   Hope this helps, I know the frustration of sourcing DAW problems, and the relief of getting things running smoothly.