Pops, clicks and dropouts are often signs of buffer size issues. There are generally two buffer settings within a computer audio system:
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The buffer setting in your audio interface hardware (i.e. soundcard) adjusts the INTERFACE's access to the computer's RAM (buffer).
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The buffer setting in your recording software (e.g. Sonar 8 or Sonar 8.5) adjusts the SOFTWARE's access to the computer's RAM.
These two buffer settings are independent of each other; however, each affect the performance of your computer audio system.
Check the Buffer Size setting in your audio interface as well as within Sonar if there are noise issues and/or dropouts. Increase the buffer size(s) until the problem goes away. The following procedure will help you adjust the buffer settings in both the audio interface/soundcard that you are using as well as in Sonar to alleviate pops, clicks and/or dropouts in the audio:
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Open Sonar.
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Click on Options > Audio.
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Click on the General tab selection on the top of the Audio Options window.
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Under "Mixing Latency", increase the buffer size bar and then click "Apply". This setting adjusts the buffer setting of the audio interface that you are using.
- Click "OK" to close the window.
- Begin testing playback and/or recording to see if the pops, clicks and dropouts continue.
If the problem continues, you may adjust Sonar's buffer setting:
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Click on Options > Audio.
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Click on the Advanced tab selection on the top of the Audio Options window.
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Increase the Playback I/O Buffer Size (KB) and Record I/O Buffer Size (KB) values and the click "Apply". These settings adjust the buffer sizes of Sonar.