[Troubleshooting] Clicks/Buzzes from Scarlett Solo Interface | Audacity | Page 1

void tusk Oct 28, 2025, 9:38 PM

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Hi,

I hope this is the right place to post... I've been trying to troubleshoot this issue for months and can't figure it out after scouring forums and guides.

I record DI guitar/keyboard and microphone vocals/acoustic instruments all through a FocusRite Scarlett Solo interface, but I keep getting these static noises throughout the recordings. It's very frustrating to think the problem may have finally disappeared, finish a 5-minute take, and then realize it's unusable because the problem has intermittently persisted.

I used to use MME. Then I read that it's very old, so I tried DirectSound and got the same issues. WASAPI won't record at all from my interface - it's just totally silent. I was going to try ASIO next, but it seems like a bit of an undertaking to add it to Audacity.

Besides unplugging my laptop from its power supply and plugging the interface directly into USB without a splitter, both of which I read can produce these static "pops," what else can I do that might fix this issue? Thanks!

vernal nimbus Oct 28, 2025, 9:52 PM

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void tusk Hi, I hope this is the right place to post... I've been trying to troubleshoot ...

Wait, pluggin the interface directly into USB without a splitter? You should absolutely be plugging your audio interface directly into the computer. But without more information (like a sound sample) that is about all I can tell you.

urban lily Oct 28, 2025, 9:54 PM

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Bring on the recording sample 🙂

void tusk Oct 28, 2025, 9:55 PM

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Hi, thanks so much for your responses. Here's a sample of what I'm talking about - it's that "Thwip" sort of noise in the last arpeggio note

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I get it with keyboard recordings too

void tusk Oct 28, 2025, 10:03 PM

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vernal nimbus Wait, pluggin the interface directly into USB without a splitter? You should ab...

What other info would be helpful? There's a settings panel from Focusrite that I could screenshot, and also windows sound settings and the audacity ones. Do most people use WASAPI for this kind of recording

urban lily Oct 29, 2025, 1:06 AM

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void tusk Hi, thanks so much for your responses. Here's a sample of what I'm talking about...

I feel your pain. My instinct is that it is some kind of a power issue, and I would try to see if you still hear the pop when your laptop is on battery power only. And yes, removing any kind of USB hub/split is recommended.

void tusk Oct 29, 2025, 1:09 AM

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@urban lily Would the USB hub being plugged in have an effect if the interface was in a totally different jack? The way I have it set up now when I record is:

laptop on battery power unplugged from wall
USB port 1, interface
USB port 2 (other side of laptop), mouse and speakers plugged into the hub so I can hear the metronome while I record

urban lily Oct 29, 2025, 1:12 AM

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No, I wouldn't think it would. That's interesting. Another thing to explore might be USB power save settings in windows, but that's a long shot. Someone else may have another idea.

void tusk Oct 29, 2025, 1:14 AM

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Thanks, I'll try unchecking "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power"

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If other people have this problem, other things I've tried that haven't seemed to help include:

Turning off wifi and Bluetooth on computer and nearby devices
Recording with laptop in airplane mode
Unplugging everything except the interface
Switching guitar cables

void tusk Oct 29, 2025, 2:18 AM

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Worst one yet just now

urban lily Oct 29, 2025, 2:20 AM

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void tusk Worst one yet just now

How about matching sample rates? Interface and Audacity both set to 48000? (Or both 44100?)

void tusk Oct 29, 2025, 2:22 AM

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I'll check

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Oh audacity is 44100 and focusrite is 48000

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Does it matter which I switch to

urban lily Oct 29, 2025, 2:26 AM

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Not exactly, but 48 is a modern standard. 441 is a holdover from CD days

void tusk Oct 29, 2025, 2:26 AM

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Ok good to know, thanks so much. I'll see if the problem persists with both set to 48

urban lily Oct 29, 2025, 2:27 AM

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Good luck

void tusk Oct 29, 2025, 2:27 AM

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Thanks

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Just got another one

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But it was quieter...

urban lily Oct 29, 2025, 2:36 AM

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Damn

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I know some audio interface software lets you adjust buffer size. Usually recommended to make the buffer larger for a slow/old computer, but it's one more thing to try. Increase to 512

void tusk Oct 29, 2025, 2:38 AM

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Ok, buffer length increased to 512ms

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I'll restart and try again

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I'm using an Acer swiftx, not too old of a laptop

urban lily Oct 29, 2025, 2:41 AM

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I figured, but worth it to try some of the common things anyway just to see 🎙️

void tusk Oct 29, 2025, 2:41 AM

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🤞

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Getting a few less of them now! Thanks so much. Looks like it added a bunch of input lag, but I know how to fix that part.

urban lily Oct 29, 2025, 2:54 AM

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Well that's good. Yeah, I'd be curious what the results are longer term or if it's placebo, but maybe step in right direction

void tusk Oct 29, 2025, 2:59 AM

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505,000ms of input lag is a lot, isn't it

urban lily Oct 29, 2025, 3:03 AM

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Yes I think so

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Could try 256 and see if that's also good

void tusk Oct 29, 2025, 4:50 AM

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urban lily Could try 256 and see if that's also good

You're saying buffer length 512, latency compensation -256? Or buffer length 256

urban lily Oct 29, 2025, 2:29 PM

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Buffer 256 if the extra lag is too much

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Earlier you mentioned wasapi, which is also worth a go. Gets you closer to a direct feed from the dac in the interface, at least that's my limited understanding. If there is something going wrong during processing of the signal, getting into wasapi or even asio could help

#[Troubleshooting] Clicks/Buzzes from Scarlett Solo Interface