Crackling Audio

[C4J3]

Okay so I'm lost here. 

 

I upgraded my sound setup just after Christmas. I'm now using DT770 pro's with an older Shure mic all running off my new (at the time) Focusrite Scarlett Solo (3rd Gen). A couple of weeks in it started crackling/popping (I can't really describe it. somewhere between someone rubbing wool against a fabric pop filter and something ripping. *See* attached audio recording.) I've tried everything I can think off to fix it. I don't have the issue running off of other devices like my phone or laptop. Only my main rig. It sometimes works fine on boot but will get progressively worse the longer the system is on for. It also get's worse WAY quicker if I crank the bitrate from 48KHz to 192KHz. The headphones I use work fine without the AI and with the AI on different devices. I've started wondering if BIOS settings like my CPU OC could be the cause of the issue. Could it be some timing desync caused by the AI using an internal clocking method that isn't matching my CPU?

 

 

Here is semi-exhaustive list of some of the trouble shooting steps I've tried this far:

 

Different cable

Different ports

Reinstalling audio drives (Nvidia ones, Built in Audio ones and Focusrite ones.)

Reinstalling Windows

Using USB 2.0 ports instead of 3.0 and (I think) USB 3.1 type c (I purchased a separate USB 2.0 port that uses the USB 2 header on the mobo as well)

Using beta drivers for the Audio Interface

Changing Windows Power plan disabling power management stuff there as recommended by the manufacturer

Disabling USB power management in device manager for all USB hubs. (Or whatever windows calls them)

Using PEACE and ASIO4ALL

Disabling all USB Hubs in Device Manager except the one I was testing the device with.

Unplugging everything. (literally just the power cable and the AI. booted PC, launched music player, unplugged mouse, monitor and keyboard then left it running and the pops returned.) It should be noted that the problem took significantly longer to appear when I had fewer devices plugged in.

Disconnecting everything else from the AI except headphones.

Updating BIOS

Uninstalling USB Controllers in Device manager.

 

That's all I can think of right now but if I remember other stuff I will add it. 

 

 

Specs are on my profile. the important stuff would probably be:

 

i7-7800x

Asus ROG STRIX X299-E Gaming (BIOS 3403)

Corsair RM1000

 

 

Any ideas and suggestions are welcome at this point!

Recording.m4a

[C4J3]

Just noticed the recoding attached is mono. Windows is being silly with the inputs and made them left and right channels so the microphone is only used as the left channel. That isn't a related issue and is just me and windows being silly.

[SorryBella]

2 minutes ago, Chupp4 Jo3 said:

Just realised Windows separates the primary and secondary inputs as left and right channels so the recording is only single channel (left I think) that's just me being silly not anything else.

Remember to mark your thread as finished with the checkmark button on your own comment.

[C4J3]

1 minute ago, SorryClaire said:

Remember to mark your thread as finished with the checkmark button on your own comment.

That was just in refence to the attached audio file. The crackling is a separate issue. Will edit my comment to clarify that.