Brain Dump: Lexicon Omega and Sonar7

A number of support forums report issues with integrating a Lexicon Omega audio interface with Cakewalk's SONAR software. In many cases, users will see the playback bar moving, but will see no activity on track meters. Here are two reproducible issues that will result in that symptom:

1. The Lexicon Omega is connected to a USB 1.0 port (an error window will pop up with a message about channel bandwidth),
2. The ASIO latency is set to the fastest setting (in this case, move the slider bar one notch to the right)

Also common, the "Monitor Mix" knob - the one that looks just like every other knob on the face, (seriously, Lexicon designers - a different colored knob!!!1!eleven!) it needs to be turned all the way to the right.

This unit is apparently much less sensitive (than the EMU 04040 USB) to the RF interference generated when a lightswitch is turned on or off.

Brain Dump: RF and EMI interference in my studio

Continuing from my earlier posts about ongoing power issues in my studio causing my equipment to glitch out, specifically the SPDIF link dropping sync whenever a nearby lightswitch is toggled.

Turns out that practically every lightswitch causes an RF burst when toggled. One of the pieces of equipment (E-MU 0404 USB or Yamaha M08) is incredibly sensitive to this field, and will cause "jitter" or signal loss between the two units.

I know the problem is "in the air" because I've run the two units off a battery UPS and *still* have the glitch - it's not the connected wiring after all.

It appears that many manufacturers employ a ferrite bead to deflect the RF interference, although the Yamaha power supply clearly lacks this feature...not sure why.