Crackling/Static Audio!

[scooter11]

Hey guys! I'm new to the Seven Forums and are very pleased with the detailed answers that everyone gives. They are very well informed and most give very simplistic instructions. Just thought I'd put that out there...So anyways to my problem

To get to the point, I'll put this in point-to-point format.

1. About two days ago I bought a 1/8-1/4 audio jack to connect my guitar to computer.
2. A couple of failed attempts at connecting and I finally got it to work.
3. I downloaded Asio4all to reduce latency when recording. Mixcraft was the recording software
4. After I was done recording, my problems arose

Here I'll go into a little more detail. I got on World of Warcraft to play with some friends and I noticed that my audio was make crackling noises. I had WMP playing in the background and all the sound get distorted. After I closed WoW, everything sounded fine, no noise whatsoever. When I reopened WoW, the crackling noises started to arise again. I then went online and checked to see if my video was the same. I went to Youtube/Megavideo and both still had the crackling noises (It was even worse in full screen as the video lagged as well). Now here's everything I did to try and solve the problem.

-Reinstalled and updated my audio drivers (I use realtek HD)
-Tried Vista and manufacturer drivers as well.
-Checked my latency with DPC latency checker-all green.
-Searched seven and other forums for an answer-nothing.
-Tried a system restore-nothing.
-Tried both speakers and headphones, same crackling/static noise.
-Updated from both Realtek and Microsoft for the drivers-nothing.
-Tried different web browsers-same static noise. [I use Firefox]

So yeah...I've tried many solutions, yet no luck :huh:. My sure fire thought is that I somehow damaged my sound card. It was only after I successfully was able to hear my guitar when connected did the problems arise. Now I'm not a 100% computer tech who knows things such as BIOS or that sort, but I'm fairly decent with solving an issue on Windows, that is if I can see a taskbar and mouse ! So what are you guy's take on this? Anything else that might be the problem I could try? ANY answers would be a great help. Thank you all in advance. --Also below I posted my system specs and any other info you might need ~O:

My regards,
scooter11

 

[stormy13]

scooter11, welcome to the forums.

Unless ouy missed listing it, in all of that the one thing I don't see id uninstalling Asio4allto see if that is the cause of the problem.

Also the Audio tab from your dxdiag screen shot is not for the onboard Realtek, but a USB Logitech headset which won't use anything from the onboard audio as it uses a different driver and is essentially a sound card unto itself.

 

[scooter11]

Thank you stormy13 for replying, I appreciate the help .

Oh yes I forgot to list it, but I did uninstall asio4all. I believe I uninstalled it as soon as the noticed the distortion and crackling sounds because I believed that was the cause.

As for the dxdiag screen shot that is the USB headset I use. I forgot to post one from my device manager of the sound driver. --I reinstalled the latest realtek audio driver to replace the one I got from the manufacturer.

But yeah, both my headset and speakers/headphones (managed by the realtek drivers) are both still causing distortion. I honestly believe that this is a hardware issue, seeing as how everything was fine until I day I started to fool around with my guitar...So do you think there's anything else I could probably do? or do I have to just replace my sound card?

My regards,
scooter11

 

[Aphelion]

But yeah, both my headset and speakers/headphones (managed by the realtek drivers) are both still causing distortion. I honestly believe that this is a hardware issue, seeing as how everything was fine until I day I started to fool around with my guitar...So do you think there's anything else I could probably do? or do I have to just replace my sound card?
My regards,
scooter11

Just curious, did you plug your guitar directly into the audio card or did you use an amp or preamp.

You didn't use an output meant to drive a speaker did you? In that case it probably is hardware, but just the guitar or preamp level shouldn't cause a problem, actually, ASIO4All shouldn't cause a problem either.

Did you install anything else, or upgrade other drivers at about the same time?

Ap

 

[scooter11]

Thank you for answering Aphelion! I actually solved the problem!

And to answer your question, I directly plugged my guitar into the 1/8 to 1/4 jack directly into my microphone jack in the rear of my comp.

I just did a system restore (again) to the 1st and all my issues were solved. Looking back from the first I had done several things which includes:

- Installed PacketiX VPN client
- Device Driver Package for PacketiX
- Windows Mudles Installer
- Installed NVIDIA nTune (deleted afterwards after finding out it's crap)
- Installed Adobe Flash 10
- Removed and INstalled PacketiX VPN Client (this was today. I read a post that stated this could have been the problem
- Multiple re-installations of various audio drivers.

So yeah, those are all the major things that happened from the 1st to today. If anyone else is having this problem, check and see if you have installed anything that might affect your drivers. I'm not completely sure which of the programs (Packetix, nTune, etc) cause the problem, but it's gone.

Again, thank you for the concern and help stormy and Aphelion. I really, really appreciate it .

My regards,
scooter11

 

[Aphelion]

Probably PacketX and it's associated driver... although the nVidia "extras" are known to cause problems as well.


Ap