strange CPU problem

[talizman]

Hi!

I've been struggling with my CPU for a long time, but i've noticed something strange.

I got 2 sets of speakers, my studio speakers go through a external sound card (tascam us-122L) via a USB cable. My other speakers are going directly into the "headphone-socket".

The strange thing is that when im using my studio speakers my CPU goes crazy, but when i use my other speakers it's working just fine..

Is this because of my soundcard? And if so, what soundcard would do a better job for a reasonable prize?


Thanks in advance!

/Leo

[Electric_Head]

The tascam has a far superior audio processor to an on board card.
Just plug both sets of speakers into the tascam, it is more than sufficient.
I previously had the Tascam u122 and it worked without issue.

[outbound]

sounds like a problem with your computer.

When I first got an audio interface my computer couldn't hack it and would spike the cpu levels (the sound actually broke up most of the time because it couldn't handle it) didn't matter whether I upgraded the drivers, optimized my computer etc it just couldn't cope.

I then upgraded my computer and I've been fine ever since

[talizman]

@Electric_head What socket shall i plug the other speakers to? Into the "PHONES"-socket? Then i only get sound from the crappy speakers

@outbound yeah i also thought it was because my computer wasn't powerful enough, but i think an iMac should be able to handle it. And the strange thing is that my CPU levels doesn't spike when i use my other set of speakers.. But i can't mix on them

[Electric_Head]

@Electric_head What socket shall i plug the other speakers to? Into the "PHONES"-socket? Then i only get sound from the crappy speakers

Maybe it's an idea to get a jack switch to alternate between the 2?
Just connect the switching device to the tascam and connect both speaker setups to the switch.
Toggle between the 2 as you please.

[talizman]

@Electric_Head

Put do you really think that would help? Because it is when im using my external soundcard, that my CPU go through the roof, and when i'm using my other speakers that are plugged directly into the headphone socket the CPU problem is gone.
(i really don't even need the speakers that i plug in to the headphone socket since those speakers are really bad)

[Electric_Head]

I misunderstood.
I thought your problem occurred when using on board sound.

[Tom_Autobot]

This is probably down to latency and buffer settings on the tascam. You need to open up a core audio application (logic, ableton, traktor etc) and either open the control panel or change the buffer size settings.
See what settings the latency (buffer size) is set to and increase it.

The tascam 122 is not a good soundcard, it is very outdated and has poor drivers. On the Mac, Apogee and RME are best, but Focusrite's (usb or firewire, excluding the Saffire 6, as it is only USB1) and Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 are good bets.

[talizman]

Thanks @Tom_Autobot ! I'll try change the buffer size, and if that doesn't help i'll sure check out the soundcards you recommended. Thanks again!