Black box sequencer slows down and the buttons flash

[amyhazel666]

Hey I’ve been having this problem with the black box on the 1.7.4 beta where when I’m playing a sequence that only has drums, a two note chord and a baseline, after a few runs through the sequence the buttons start to flash white and the audio distorts and starts to slow down. Wondering if anyone has had this happen, or has a fix?

using the stock and card and samples for the most part ~ I’ve uploaded about 3gig of my own samples on there as well, but I’m not using any of them on this particular track.
thanks in advance!

[pallozza]

Got the same issue; filed a support request.

No fix from what I can tell; you may want to contact support and send them the project you are using, so they can investigate

You can also try to replace the SD card that came with the unit; it is quite a cheap card so that may end up slowing down your project. Try a fast card and see if that is still happening. Support will ask you about the SD card anyway (same for trying different USB cables for power and the original power brick), so you can just save time

[Steve]

all true. The first 2 questions I will ask are related to microSD and power. So many issues start there.

[emji_herara]

Hey all I'm having a similar behaviour:
- Buttons flashing when activating a sequence with a lot of notes (as in 16 steps with 2-4 notes each)
- When recording a pattern it sounds like notes from other patterns get left out

[Steve]

which miroSD card are you using and how are you powering the blackbox? And are you using stock content?

[emji_herara]

Hey Steve, I am using the sd that came with the bb, the power-supply also from the box and samples that where already in the library.

[Steve]

would you mind sending a short video of the issue? Please include the connections. [email protected]

[Emerging Patterns]

Same behavior : here's a video

https://youtu.be/1FmSNZhxjsc

[Steve]

what is connected to your blackbox in this video? I would like to understand how you are using MIDI in this particular setup.

[mojod20]

+1
Had same issues too and using 1.7.4. Started crackling, flashing and dropping samples on quite a few tracks with only a handful of samples used (least being 8 samples consisting of drums hits and a few key multis) and on a couple of sequences (least being 2). Ive been using usb battery power, but also tried the provided plug/cable and thought it may be the stock sd card, so thought I would upgrade to the best sandisk suggested on the other thread, but same thing happening. Also, when transferring the files to the new card after formatting, some of the samples on a few tracks decided to change pitch?!

[mojod20]

Ok, thats a +2!
My mate also bought the blackbox around the same time as me (different sellers), both having similar issues but thinking it was 'user error' or card strain. We have both went to 1.7.4 not long after buying and we have had similar issues. After messing around with the blackbox a bit, we both bought new SD cards at the same place (advised sandisk) this week thinking that would resolve the issue. He just just got in contact to say that it cant handle anywhere near the stated sample/sequence load. Is this a problem with the firmware and should we go down to an older firmware?

[mojod20]

Any support with the above? After starting some new tracks with the new advised SD card, I'm still having the problem of even recording hats on top of a 2 sample kick and snare hit sequence, recording with minimal reverb/delay on and having the underlying drum samples drop out of the sequence now and again whilst recording... and I was having this even when starting with the provided firmware and sd card?

[Steve]

What else is connected to the blackbox - and how? How are you using MIDI? What are your card & power specs?

[mojod20]

I'm only using a Korg Nanokey 2 through the usb now and again (but happening with or without it), I am powering with a Blackweb 10400 5v 3.4a powerbank, but also using the factory wall power and cables when charging and using the Sandisk A1 128gb card mentioned in the other thread as being best to use, but was doing a similar thing with the factory card too?

[Steve]

what gear was connected when the issue happened? Other than the Nanokey2? Are you using stock WAV files? If not, where did you get your audio samples?

[mojod20]

I've not connected any other gear to the blackbox yet, I only use the nanokey when needed. I dont use any of the stock wav files either and use my own wav's that ive collected over the last 20 years, as well as a few synths from a collection that was posted on here.

[Steve]

are you using wav files that are not 24bit/48k?

[mojod20]

Yes, I have a mixed bag of samples up to 24bit/48k. I have just put 3 new samples in and tried to repeat it by recording kicks and snares on a sequence and adding hats and its doing exactly the same thing. I can send one of these projects?

[Steve]

You can send it. However, the first thing I will do is convert your samples to 24/48 and see if you have the same issue. I would urge you to do this before sending it. Our samplers can playback any bit depth/sample rate combo. However, the DAC is always 24/48.

As an example. Another forum user had this very issue and I received his preset, swapped a bunch of 16/48 audio for 24/48 audio, and the issue resolved. There are a lot of ways to push this box - make sure you understand the load you are placing on the CPU.

[mojod20]

Sorry, im a bit confused... to use the blackbox and to record a sequence of just 3 drum hit samples without problems, I need to convert my thousands of wavs from the format that online ads and the manual says its ok to use, to 24/48?

To avoid any sample rate issues, I just did a test recording directly in to the blackbox, so using its native recording sample rate and bit depth. I recorded 3 seperate 1/2 a second samples (with my angelic voice) replicating my above post. I then live recorded a sequence of 2 samples to start then overdubing the 3rd sample and the samples still keep dropping out. This is whilst being plugged in with the factory power/lead, using top rated sandisk and no additional connections like the nanokey.

[Steve]

I need to ask questions - even the ones that don't make sense. Yes, you can playback any bit depth/sample rate. But to help you troubleshoot, we need to eliminate as many variables as possible.

Please capture this behavior on video and send it to us at [email protected]. I will help you get this figured out.

[mojod20]

Here is a video of it happening. Did the same as above, again recorded a 'beatbox' directly in to the blackbox with the mic using its native sample rate/bit depth with just 3 samples. This is just 3. When I start layering more in a sequence and not even that many, I have sequence playback issues of samples dropping out or crackling.

[Steve]

Unfortunately, this video does not help. Please contact us using the email I provided in the previous post. I understand you are frustrated. Going back and forth here is going to add more of that. Please contact us directly.

[mojod20]

Sorry if I am coming across frustrated, as i'm not by the way. I think the blackbox is fantastic! I'm just hoping it's just a software bug and not hardware limitations.

What specifically are you looking for in the video if the video doesn't help? I thought you were after a video showing the behavior of the samples dropping out?
Sorry, also thought it better to try and use the support forum too, as if other people are having the same issues as above and in some other threads, then the forum is the place to hunt down these issues and to find the resolution... I know when trying to find answers on here and generally other forum issues, the thread ends when contacting outside the forums, so hard to get to the bottom of what the answer was.

But I am more than happy to send through another video to the email provided if the above video doesn't show the samples dropping out well enough. What is it specifically you are after and I will send through on email?