Audio popping issue on laptop

Matt_C_W

I have recently bough a Traktor S4 Mk2 DJ controller and noticed some issue with random popping in my audio playback. I am using a HP ENVY - 13ad010nd as my portable traktor laptop. I have already ruled out the speakers or headset as the culprit as I notice no issues when the Dj controler is connected to my desktop computer. So from what I could gather this seems to be one of two issues: (1) My hardware being out of date or defective (2) The drivers on my laptop interfering with audio latency.

I came to this conclusion after following the windows tuning guide available from the native instruments site. I have attached some screenshots from the LatencyMon diagnostic.

If anyone has anymore knowledge on this problem or a fix that worked for them I would love to know.

Further conclusion fron LatencyMon:

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CONCLUSION

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Your system appears to be having trouble handling real-time audio and other tasks. You are likely to experience buffer underruns appearing as drop outs, clicks or pops. One or more DPC routines that belong to a driver running in your system appear to be executing for too long. Also one or more ISR routines that belong to a driver running in your system appear to be executing for too long. One problem may be related to power management, disable CPU throttling settings in Control Panel and BIOS setup. Check for BIOS updates.

LatencyMon has been analyzing your system for 0:22:20 (h:mm:ss) on all processors.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SYSTEM INFORMATION

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Computer name: LAPTOP-JRJAU8OK

OS version: Windows 10, 10.0, version 2009, build: 19045 (x64)

Hardware: HP ENVY Laptop 13-ad0xx, HP

BIOS: F.33

CPU: GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-7200U CPU @ 2.50GHz

Logical processors: 4

Processor groups: 1

Processor group size: 4

RAM: 8038 MB total

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CPU SPEED

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Reported CPU speed (WMI): 2511 MHz

Reported CPU speed (registry): 2712 MHz

Note: reported execution times may be calculated based on a fixed reported CPU speed. Disable variable speed settings like Intel Speed Step and AMD Cool N Quiet in the BIOS setup for more accurate results.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MEASURED INTERRUPT TO USER PROCESS LATENCIES

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The interrupt to process latency reflects the measured interval that a usermode process needed to respond to a hardware request from the moment the interrupt service routine started execution. This includes the scheduling and execution of a DPC routine, the signaling of an event and the waking up of a usermode thread from an idle wait state in response to that event.

Highest measured interrupt to process latency (µs): 10845,90

Average measured interrupt to process latency (µs): 7,573529

Highest measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs): 10826,10

Average measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs): 1,813702

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

REPORTED ISRs

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Interrupt service routines are routines installed by the OS and device drivers that execute in response to a hardware interrupt signal.

Highest ISR routine execution time (µs): 2245,676991

Driver with highest ISR routine execution time: Wdf01000.sys - Kernel Mode Driver Framework-runtime, Microsoft Corporation

Highest reported total ISR routine time (%): 0,00530

Driver with highest ISR total time: ACPI.sys - ACPI-stuurprogramma voor NT, Microsoft Corporation

Total time spent in ISRs (%) 0,007149

ISR count (execution time <250 µs): 9317

ISR count (execution time 250-500 µs): 0

ISR count (execution time 500-1000 µs): 1

ISR count (execution time 1000-2000 µs): 1

ISR count (execution time 2000-4000 µs): 1

ISR count (execution time >=4000 µs): 0

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

REPORTED DPCs

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DPC routines are part of the interrupt servicing dispatch mechanism and disable the possibility for a process to utilize the CPU while it is interrupted until the DPC has finished execution.

Highest DPC routine execution time (µs): 2506,707596

Driver with highest DPC routine execution time: storport.sys - Microsoft Storage Port Driver, Microsoft Corporation

Highest reported total DPC routine time (%): 0,092809

Driver with highest DPC total execution time: iaStorAC.sys - Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology driver - x64, Intel Corporation

Total time spent in DPCs (%) 0,273712

DPC count (execution time <250 µs): 2054977

DPC count (execution time 250-500 µs): 0

DPC count (execution time 500-10000 µs): 1909

DPC count (execution time 1000-2000 µs): 2

DPC count (execution time 2000-4000 µs): 53

DPC count (execution time >=4000 µs): 0

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

REPORTED HARD PAGEFAULTS

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hard pagefaults are events that get triggered by making use of virtual memory that is not resident in RAM but backed by a memory mapped file on disk. The process of resolving the hard pagefault requires reading in the memory from disk while the process is interrupted and blocked from execution.

NOTE: some processes were hit by hard pagefaults. If these were programs producing audio, they are likely to interrupt the audio stream resulting in dropouts, clicks and pops. Check the Processes tab to see which programs were hit.

Process with highest pagefault count: msmpeng.exe

Total number of hard pagefaults 174324

Hard pagefault count of hardest hit process: 50293

Number of processes hit: 101

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PER CPU DATA

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CPU 0 Interrupt cycle time (s): 27,377547

CPU 0 ISR highest execution time (µs): 2245,676991

CPU 0 ISR total execution time (s): 0,383315

CPU 0 ISR count: 9317

CPU 0 DPC highest execution time (µs): 2506,707596

CPU 0 DPC total execution time (s): 10,957547

CPU 0 DPC count: 1620751

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CPU 1 Interrupt cycle time (s): 7,670266

CPU 1 ISR highest execution time (µs): 60,931785

CPU 1 ISR total execution time (s): 0,000160

CPU 1 ISR count: 3

CPU 1 DPC highest execution time (µs): 528,213496

CPU 1 DPC total execution time (s): 1,233472

CPU 1 DPC count: 144530

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CPU 2 Interrupt cycle time (s): 5,292446

CPU 2 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0,0

CPU 2 ISR total execution time (s): 0,0

CPU 2 ISR count: 0

CPU 2 DPC highest execution time (µs): 2289,979720

CPU 2 DPC total execution time (s): 1,199647

CPU 2 DPC count: 144165

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CPU 3 Interrupt cycle time (s): 4,898812

CPU 3 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0,0

CPU 3 ISR total execution time (s): 0,0

CPU 3 ISR count: 0

CPU 3 DPC highest execution time (µs): 2242,467920

CPU 3 DPC total execution time (s): 1,290580

CPU 3 DPC count: 147495

innerdrum

That pc should be good enough.

Take a moment to revise services by pressing windows key + R and type msconfig (check startup services) disable all 3rd party anti-virus and cloud based apps If only for testing purposes. Also test max performance power plan, set your USB ports to not disable for saving power

Also i don't know if this works but since you cannot entirely disable windows defender real-time protection make exclusions to your traktor and music folders. That's what I do.

Hope you can sort it out.

Dino Jukic

Have You tuned Your PC by NI tuning tips for audio processing on Windows?

Storport.sys for example is problem often because You have turned on power saving on Your USB ports in device manager. Btw you also have your wifi turned on, put Your pc in airplane mode when using traktor.

Matt_C_W

Hey there, Yes I have used the recommend tuning settings from the Native instruments site. I have also rechecked that powersaving mode for the usb is off and airplane mode is on. This has not helped with the issue as the popping still persists.

Do you have any other ideas that might work?

innerdrum

That pc should be good enough.

Take a moment to revise services by pressing windows key + R and type msconfig (check startup services) disable all 3rd party anti-virus and cloud based apps If only for testing purposes. Also test max performance power plan, set your USB ports to not disable for saving power

Also i don't know if this works but since you cannot entirely disable windows defender real-time protection make exclusions to your traktor and music folders. That's what I do.

Hope you can sort it out.

blindstar

Hi Matt_C_W, I had the same problem with my laptop using the GR7 as standalone and I solved it to a large extent, I hope it helps you. Sorry for my English, it's very bad.

First.

Open Regedit, copy the following address "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power "find the folder "Power/Power Settings" (If the Power Settings folder is not found, you have to create it). In Power Settings, right click create a file "DWORD value (32 bits)" called "PowerThrottlingOff", open the file, in value information write 1 and in Base click Hexadecimal and accept.Now, in search you have to write Run, in run write "gpedit.msc" open computer configuration/administrative templates/system/power management/power request throttling settings: open "disable power request throttling" click enable and accept.

Second

Open "Device Manager" on your PC. > open the "Batteries" option. > Right click on "Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Batteries". > Click on Disable Device. > Close everything and reboot. (All with the charger plugged in).

For the first step, I leave you this link, but it is in Spanish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtbTrarZGE0&t=36s