Solved Ampire suddenly sounds very bad.

[VooDoo]

Tried a new USB Audiobox, worked with tech assist and adjusted sample rate, device block size, record format, etc. to no avail - sound "better" but still sounds crackly and too crisp. Also lots a hiss - even EZ Drummer sounds off. I have used this same setup to record all kinds f stuff of varying quality but the problem just "showed up" one day a few weeks ago and seems to defy resolution.

I bought a brand new Personus Studio One install and all new Ampire install trying to resolve this but to no happiness.

Help! Please!

VooDoo

 

[Trucky]

the problem just "showed up" one day a few weeks ago and seems to defy resolution.

The title of your post is specific to Ampire but you also mention EZdrummer in the details...
Can you think of anything related to something that may have changed (OS update, new gear added, etc.) at that time to cause this issue?

 

[VooDoo]

I update drivers frequently. I'm wondering if updating my graphics drivers etc. might cause a conflict with Studio One?

Gonna try updating all drivers and updates and check again....I appreciate the interest. All the other audio on my PC sound great, just not Studio One.

Edit: I ripped everything Presonus Studio One off of my computer - uninstalled and deleted all the folders. Downloaded all new replacement software, updated computer and all drivers/updates and reinstalled. PITA - guess what?

Still sounds like sh*t. I'm really burning hours trying to resolve this. Might be cheaper and faster to dump all this and start over on my Studio. Does Studio One have to be this convoluted and frustrating? I have used it for years and loved it but I simply cannot resolve this issue. The hiss/noise component that has manifested itself makes the whole Studio One platform virtually unusable.

VooDoo

 

[Ral1020]

I'm having a similar issue. Using S1 7.2.3. Have used S1 daily for years. Several days ago I opened S1 and everything sounded slightly distorted.
All my VSTs (including EZDrummer 3) suddenly sound crapy.
Went back to Cubase 15 Pro and all sounds great.
I have a high end PC which is tweaked just for music. I have't updated any drivers in over 3 months and this started about 2 weeks ago.
Maybe a Windows 11 update is the cause ?

 

[BobF]

The only time I've had this happen is when Windows decides to make my good interface the default Win audio device, changing the sample rate to what Windows wants it to be.

 

[Ral1020]

Thanks Bob: Yeah one of the first things I checked was my interface settings. Nothing changed (48K w/ 128 buffers)
And as I stated: Cubase sounds just fine using the same VSTs

 

[Trucky]

@VooDoo
@Ral1020

Please update your signature (see link and example in mine) with the specific version of Windows you're running.
Also post your audio driver settings, UC and firmware version.

 

[VooDoo]

Updated my signature but I'm sure there is information missing to get a solution - Trucky, what specific information do you need to help with a diagnosis?

Against my better judgement, I uninstalled everything involving Presonus Studio One and all the Toontrack and extras, restarted and downloaded/installed a brand new Studio One Pro with only Studio One and Ampire. Sounds way bad.....so there is a conflict with Studio One and drivers, apps, or OS. The thing that is perplexing is that it worked fine and then, one day, for unknown reasons, everything sounds like a buzz saw on steroids.

VooDoo

 

[Trucky]

You're running an OS no longer supported by Microsoft....

Microsoft support for Windows 10 has ended on October 14 2025
Is your computer capable of running Windows 11?

What version of Universal Control is running?
What firmware release is running on your USB Audiobox?

 

[BobF]

Thanks Bob: Yeah one of the first things I checked was my interface settings. Nothing changed (48K w/ 128 buffers)
And as I stated: Cubase sounds just fine using the same VSTs

Could still be a problem if you're sharing your interface between DAW and Windows. Verify sample rates are the same for/in both.

 

[VooDoo]

You're running an OS no longer supported by Microsoft....

Microsoft support for Windows 10 has ended on October 14 2025
Is your computer capable of running Windows 11?

What version of Universal Control is running?
What firmware release is running on your USB Audiobox?

Studio One requires Windows 11? If so, I'll consider Windows 11. I'm certain the computer can/will run Windows 11.

I do not have Universal Control installed. Apparently it is not bundled with A Studio One purchase/download? I tried to find it via my account/downloads but it is not there. Do I need it? Where do I get it?

Focusrite Control 2 - app version: 1.703.00 - driver version: 4.143.0.261
Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen - Firmware version: 2.0.2508.0

Still baffled as to why it all worked for years and then went to poo. Very frustrating. Very time consuming. Thanks for the help!

VooDoo

 

[Trucky]

Tried a new USB Audiobox, worked with tech assist and adjusted sample rate, device block size, record format, etc. to no avail - sound "better" but still sounds crackly and too crisp. Also lots a hiss - even EZ Drummer sounds off. I have used this same setup to record all kinds f stuff of varying quality but the problem just "showed up" one day a few weeks ago and seems to defy resolution.

I assumed you needed Universal Control because you said you were running a new USB Audiobox which is the name of a PreSonus audio interface.

Audiobox

 

[Ral1020]

Try downloading and installing Reaper or Cubase trial and see if you get similar results

 

[VooDoo]

I assumed you needed Universal Control because you said you were running a new USB Audiobox which is the name of a PreSonus audio interface.

Audiobox

Apologies for the confusion - I'm old and use the term "USB Audiobox" as a generic term for usb audio devices. I'm running a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 . It's a Gen 4 device and has all new drivers and has been updated.

VooDoo

 

[VooDoo]

Try downloading and installing Reaper or Cubase trial and see if you get similar results

Can these DAW's use Ampire and EZ Drummer? Thanks for the suggestion!

VooDoo

 

[BobF]

Can these DAW's use Ampire and EZ Drummer? Thanks for the suggestion!

VooDoo

Reaper: Yes, with PreSonus hub for Ampire, EZD works directly

 

[VooDoo]

Reaper: Yes, with PreSonus hub for Ampire, EZD works directly

Downloaded and installed Reaper and Hub. Working on learning Reaper (not very intuitive for old people) and getting a viable test on Ampire - I can't seem to figure out how to configure a track to use the inputs on my Scarlett 2i2. It want's to be a stereo input all the time. EZDrummer sounds delicious on Reaper. Here's hoping Ampire does as well.

VooDoo

edit: Ampire sounds bad in Reaper as well. Not sure what this means.

 

[Ral1020]

Downloaded and installed Reaper and Hub. Working on learning Reaper (not very intuitive for old people) and getting a viable test on Ampire - I can't seem to figure out how to configure a track to use the inputs on my Scarlett 2i2. It want's to be a stereo input all the time. EZDrummer sounds delicious on Reaper. Here's hoping Ampire does as well.

VooDoo

edit: Ampire sounds bad in Reaper as well. Not sure what this means.

Here's a pretty good video on getting started with Reaper

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[BobF]

Downloaded and installed Reaper and Hub. Working on learning Reaper (not very intuitive for old people) and getting a viable test on Ampire - I can't seem to figure out how to configure a track to use the inputs on my Scarlett 2i2. It want's to be a stereo input all the time. EZDrummer sounds delicious on Reaper. Here's hoping Ampire does as well.

VooDoo

edit: Ampire sounds bad in Reaper as well. Not sure what this means.

Is your OS using the same interface as your DAW?

 

[VooDoo]

Is your OS using the same interface as your DAW?

Yes. All audio from the PC goes thru the interface. I learned something new today -I downloaded and tried Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 and it sounds just as bad (and has the same "sound") as Ampire. I'm trying to envision what has happened to my Windows 10 based PC. I don't think the problem is in the software or the interface. Which is really disturbing given the time and $ I have spend trying to solve this.