Sound consistency problems

I am having some sound consistency problems with DMXControl 2.8 rev0.

I am using a Compaq Deskpro ENS 1000MHz 512MB (with is more than enough).
(Intel 82801BA Interface Controller + PCi Bridge + Ultra ATA Storage Controller
+ USB Universal Host Controller
Intel 82815 Graphics Controller + Processor to I/O Controller
SoundMAX Intergrated Digital Controller
(only the Ethernet Controller isn't working)
all onboard
)

It can also run on 166MHz 32MB without problems, although the loading will take about 15 minutes.

I am using Windows 98SE (4.10.2222a) on all computers except the Medion.

I turned output plugins off and show experimental program parts on.

I am using the Audioplayer with a wav or mp3 file and about 15 scenes on 15 devices.
The use of wav or mp3 file doesn't mather.
The use of scenes and devices or nothing doesn't mather.
The demo shows the same effects.

Hardware acceleration has to be turned of (or the time will jump).
The length of the Wave-audio-device buffer has effect on the rythm of jumping
in time when Hardware acceleration is on (even little), but has no effect when it is turned off.
[control panel] [multimedia] [devices] [mediacontrol-devices] [wave-audio-device] [settings]
[control panel] [multimedia] [audio] [advanced] [performance]

The sound is good if for about 9 hours after DMXC is started.
The sound effect will stop about 9 hours after it started.
When DMXC is closed and opened again, the sound is good again.
When a project is opened the effects remain (sound reload doesn't help).

The sound will have some of the following unwanted effects:

Ticking sounds (+- 1.2 sec interval)
Jumping back and forth (+- .5 sec) in time sometimes repeating (+- every .2 sec).
Cracking continuously (more when fading) (less when mouse button held down).
Ploping when a button is pushed (with and without macro-programm).
Ploping after a loud sound.

There appears to be little/non connection between any of the these effects.

No chips were to warm to handle and additional cooling (18`C) didn't help.

All 4 of these computers have the same effects with very little differenses.
Here is a part of my testing-report:
17:00 started DMXC + MacroMagic
21:50 ticking already started
next day
10:10 ticking already stopped
10:10 buttonplopping already started
17:40 jumping already started
next day
11:05 jumping already stopped
next day
08:55 jumping already started
08:55 ticking already started

Insering a soundcard (ALS4000 Audio Device (WDM), (from Goodwell)) didn't change anything.

A Compaq Deskpro 166MHz 32MB is doing fine, and so are a Fujitsu-Siemens Myrica 500MHz 128MB and a Medion 200MHz 512MB winXP.

Has anyone got any explanation of what might be wrong or what could be changed to see what it might be?

Hello Frank,

The problem only occurs on the 4 Compaq Deskpro ENS's.
The other Compaq (166 MHz) and all the other computers are doing great.

I am using MacroMagic 4.1t to:
- repeat start
- focus on the window called Audioplayer
- move the mouse to the play-button and click
- wait for 120 sec.
- repeat end

A show was about 2 minutes long and was repeating for more than 12 hours.

There was one show in which the sound could be heared. That show had to be restarted every 4 hours.

There was another show made with the Audioplayer with these computers but that sound was not used.

The show with the sound from the Medion worked perfectly.

Two show where using the Scenelist in loop mode. The sound came from a movie started with an triggered electronical finger.
It was running 12 hours a day but DMXControl was kept on for at least 8 days.

Is it helpful to record the sound effects for you to listen to?

I will try to check if the problem occurs if DMXControl is on without running Audioplayer, and put on after 8 hours.

( Erata: The Midion is a 2667 MHz PentiumIV )

I ran another test. Here is what I did:

DMXControl started
Audioplayer closed
computer restarted

DMXControl started
waited for 6 hours
Audioplayer opened (sound loaded)

tested after 0 hours: no jumping
tested after 6 hours: " "
tested after 8 hours: " "
tested after 17 hours: " "
tested after 19 hours: " "
tested after 23 hours: " "

tested after 33 hours: jumping after played 8 times
recorded rec02.wav + rec03.wav

tested after 42 hours: no jumping
tested after 51 hours: " "
tested after 54 hours: " "

tested after 65 hours: jumping after played 15 times
tested after 67 hours: " "

tested after 69 hours: less jumping after played 17 times :-/
recorded rec04.wav
tested after 71 hours: " "
stopped

It appears that the jumping isn't starting after sertain time nor after a sertain number of times it is played, but of a combination of them.

The differance in time may also be caused by the fact that MacroMagic wasn't running in this test, but there is a lot of difference between 4 and 24 hours.

The recorded sounds are stored in the file DMXC wavs.zip (646.831 bytes).
They are shorter than the demosound because when the sound is jumping it takes only 52 seconds to play a show instead of 59 seconds. :o

Is it possible to load a sound with a length of 1 hour? ???

Sorry for the long wait.

I tested BASS 1.8a for 61 hours straight.
I tested BASS 2.1 for 50 hours straight.
But the demo sound didn't jump. :-/

The size of bass.dll in the DMXcontrol folder is 103.532 bytes
The size of bass.dll in BASS version 1.8a is 102.196 bytes
The size of bass.dll in BASS version 2.1 is 92.728 bytes

Could I replace the current bass.dll with one of an other version? ???

The sound still jumps in DMXControl 2.8 build 94 alpha