Windows 10: Audio crackles when a window is visually in the background

I run various audio programs on my windows 11 OS for music production.These programs include Amplitube 5, STL tones, and Ampeg SVT Suite among others. I use the standalone versions.All of these programs use my Focusrite's ASIO drivers to function, set at a fairly high buffer rate 250 or above and a 44.1k sample rate.I'm using a 12th gen i5 that should run multiple instances of these programs without issue just fine.However, I run these programs one at a time, with only Music Bee running along with them, or a window playing a Youtube video.Running them within a DAW seems to get rid of the iss

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Troubleshooting Crackling and Popping Audio Issues on PC (Windows Interaction Only)

Hello,

For the past few days, I've been trying to fix persistent audio issues where I constantly hear popping and crackling sounds whenever I interact with Windows. This issue occurs, for example, when pausing or unpausing a video, or when a Windows notification plays. However, I've noticed that the problem only arises when interacting with Windows. There is no crackling or popping when playing video games or using applications like Spotify.

Here are the steps I've already tried to resolve the issue:

• Completely reinstalled Windows multiple times
  
• Removed and reinstalled drivers (video, audio, etc.)
  
• Changed power settings
  
• Tried different headsets (the issue persists regardless of the hardware but doesn't occur when connected to a different PC)
  
• Tried multiple audio jacks and USB ports
  
• Updated BIOS
  
• Tried sfc /scannow / DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  
• Changed audio format
  
• Disabled any enhancements
  

Despite these efforts, the crackling and popping audio persist, but only when interacting with Windows, not in games or other applications (For Example Spotify) but it still occurs when for example pausing video in browser etc.. . If anyone has further suggestions or solutions, I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

Audio Crackling/Popping. Input/Visual/Lag

This seems to be a larger and possibly cascading issue. Working on my nephews computer, I first noticed it on Titanfall 2. Then it started happening in Battlefield 1, now a few days later it is happening in almost all of the games. Youtube and netflix seem
to be unaffected. Here is just a small list of the steps I tried doing today.

Issue:

Severe audio crackling and popping leading to visual and control lag in most video games tried since last Windows 10 update.

Severity:

All affected games are mostly unplayable.

Games affected:

Titanfall 2

Battlefield 1

Heroes of The Storm

World of Warcraft

Overwatch

Note:

So far, no Steam games seem to be affected. Also, Titanfall 2 was playing PERFECTLY before late Thurs night/Fri Morning.

System Specs:

Alienware x51 (Custom-Upgraded)

i5

16gb

750Ti Nvidia

*Please note; We use the HDMI sound from the 750 Ti.

Date problem became noticeable: ~11/19/16

List of attempted solves.:

Switching from HDMI sound to on-board Reltek sound card = No change

Uninstalling/reinstalling Nvida Drivers = No change

Rolling back to formerly known good Nvidia drivers = No change

Uninstalling/reinstalling Window driver package = No change

Updating Bios = No change

Trying various BIOS switches (speed step, etc.) = No change

Changing input/output audio (trying dif. cables and speakers) = No change

Disabling Nvidia "Shadowplay" and all tertiary programs = No change

Manually updating all graphic and audio drivers = No change

In short, I have done everything I can do up to reformatting, which I would be willing to do if I thought it would help. I will probably do this at some point within the next couple of days.

When I started googling the issue with "Past month" filter on, the results were/are astounding. This does indeed seem to be a wide spread issue and the usual fixes are having no effect. Try it for yourself. Google/Bing search "Audio crackling in X" were
X is the name of the game. Make sure the results in past "month" filter are on, in some cases you can use past "week" and still get a large number.

Basically this is an FYI post to let you know that if you have this issue and have tried everything, you are not going crazy.

 

Audio Crackling

Recently, I've noticed that the audio with my speakers and headphones is "crackling". It doesn't seem to matter what the volume is set at, nor what program I'm running. If I'm playing a game, the audio crackles. If I'm listening to music, the audio crackles.
I've tried downloading/updating my audio drivers, but nothing seems to help.