Echo Audio Layla 20bit problem

[wsgarner]

OK, I'm sure I shouldn't post this question here but I didn't know where else I could post it.
I have an Echo Layla 20 SoundCard that has been in storage for a while and now when I try to power on the external interface (breakout box) the power light came on for just a second then dimmed to nothing. I've repetedly turned it off an back on and no power light at all now. I haven't put the PCI card in my computer yet because if the breakout box wont power on I'm done for.

I pulled the power supply out and powered it up on its on and it powers right up. I put it back in the box and "light for second" then nothing. I'd really like to get this thing going again if I can.

I didn't use it but a few times before my Recording WS died. I have just gotten an IBM X335 server (for free) and put it use for recording. I put a Creative Labs Audigy LE in it that I had close to me, but can't get that card to work right either. It plays and records ok, but the audio recorded gets out of sync (Slows down the longer the track audio is, in sync at beat 1 and starts getting farther and farther behind from there {can see it get behind while recording and can hear it when playedback}).

Here is what I have for my recording machine if it will help any: IBM X335 867661X server; Windows Server 2003 R2; 2x 30 gb HD's (SCSI); Sonar 7.

:-[So, I guess my question is really 2 parts: 1. Does anybody have a clue about the Layla card (really want to use it)? 2. Does anybody have a clue about the Audigy card and sync thing(will use it if I can get it working, rather have the Layla though)?

Any help would be great! I know you guys are top notch here!

Thanks,
Scott

[MartyMart]

Is it shorting out inside the box ? ( works when removed right )
Does it need the layla card to be installed and connected to stay powered up ?
Don't own one so just guessing...
MM.

[newfish]

Are these similar to the 'Miya' cards? (sp?)

I know my Bro had issues setting up a machine with 2 of these things.

I'd certainly go with MartyMart's suggestion of using it with the soundcard.

Also, I know my Bro. ended up running Windows XP - simply because ASIO drivers etc. were easier to get hold of.

I'll ask him if he's had a similar issue with his kit tonight...

For what it's worth, once they're up and running, the performance of these cards is well worth the teething issues.  Hang in there!

[wsgarner]

MartyMart,
I have no idea if it needs the PCI card or not. I got this thing used a bunch of years ago and didn't use it but a couple of times before my recording WS HD died. So, I just hung the recording thing up for a while (ended up being a long while). The manual doesn't say anything about a power up procidure or anything. I would think that you could power on the Breakout box all by itself.

There are 2 brds in this box. The power supply and the audio interface. It's a very high end sound card (actually would be called a multi-track recording susytem). I'm thinking that some component on the Audio interface card has gone bad and shorting out (even though the fuse on the power supply has not blown). I think the short is more of a power drain than anything. it's very funny. You'ed think that the fuse would have blown.

[GravityRobert]

Seems like you Layla isn't connecting properly. You NEED the PCI card, its part of the card, downside: takes up a slot in your computer, pro: when well configured you can get lower latency than most usb/firewire etc devices.

Firstly check if your Layla works on another computer that matches the minimum specs required*. If it does, the card is ok.

http://www.echoaudio.com/Products/PCI/Layla3G/index.php

---------System Requirements----------

    * PC System requirements:
          o Windows ME/2000/XP
          o Genuine Intel Pentium or AMD Athlon CPU
          o Motherboard with Intel, AMD, Via, or NVIDIA chipset
          o 256 MB RAM (512 MB recommended)
    * Mac System Requirements
          o Mac OS X (10.2 or later)
          o PCI and PCIX compatible G5. (PCI Express not compatible.)
          o 256 MB RAM (512 MB recommended)

2nd: I would suggest you to reinstall windows on the computer (XP preferred). See if that works with the new drivers.

3rd: Contact Echo Audio for any further questions in case this doesnt work out (maybe you need to reinstall the firmware of the Layla for instance....) http://www.echoaudio.com/Support/Contact.php

4th: PS you're layla is an old sound card, shit gets outdated in no time when it comes to this so the drivers are here (Layla 20 bit)
http://www.echoaudio.com/Downloads/Archived_Drivers.php

[wsgarner]

Gravity,
So your saying the Layla Breakout Box has to be plugged into the PCI card before it will power up?

XP ver Server 2003 - I wanted to install XP on that machine, but the XP install disk wouldn't see the SCSI drives. I came up sayiong that there were no hard drives. Server 2003 had no problem at all. If you know of a way to make my XP disk see the SCSI drives I'm all for XP over server 2003. Server 2003 is kind of a blind of Vista and XP. When I installed Sonar it detected that it wasn't a supported OS, but it let me install it anyway and it seems to work just fine.

I think from what I've read, Vista (server 2003) doesn't handle Audio the same way as XP. It doesn't use Direct Sound? Can't remember axactly what I read about that. Sonar seems to see server 2003 as Vista. There is a Vista OS check box in the audio setup that is checked and grayed out, so.....

I'll put in my home PC as a test and have a nother Parrallel cable ready to see if it's that.

Tnaks,
Scott

[axg20202]

The breakout box probably just contains the AD/DA convertors and physicial connections, while the PCI card contains the main workings of the interface and probably supplies additional juice to the breakout box - they are designed to work together so any testing needs to be done in this configuration.

As for detecting SCSI decives when intalling XP, as I'm sure you know there is an option during installation to load 3rd party SCSI drivers from floppy. I could be wrong, but I think your system has an on-board Adaptec 7902 SCSI/RAID controller - download the drivers, stick them on a floppy and press F6 during XP installation and hopefully you should be good. I honestly think you'll be better of using standard XP than Server 2003. Definitely wouldn't use Vista either as finding drivers for old audio cards is a nightmare. If you're using it as an audio only PC, stick with XP - tried and tested and fewer knobs and whistles to complicate matters.

Drifting audio timing could be because of audio latency or even possible the buffer delay settings of the sound card (these should adjust automatically but you might be able to fiddle with these). You want to make sure you use an ASIO driver if it is available and select this as the driver in your sequencer software. This should bring your latency down considerably because it is designed to sync input and output audio streams. You may also be able to reduce the latency settings either in the hardware setup page in your recording/sequencer software or in the driver software settings for the sound card itself. Some multitrack recording sound card drivers have a latency slider to bring this down. Mine does (it's a pro card - an Aardvark Q10).

Also, I'm not sure if your PC has any on-board sound, but if it does it would be a good idea to disable this in the BIOS. Quite often multiple soundcards don't like to coexist (although this is not always the case).

That's all I can think of right now.

Andy.

[wsgarner]

OK Everybody,
I have the Layla card installed on my home (family) machine and it installed just fine. I plugged in the breakout box and no power on it, rebooted, blablabla (you guys know the routine, we've all been there) and nothing. Sonar can't do anything with it because its toast (yes, I put Sonar on this machine so I could test). So, I'm at an end with the Layla unless somebody can tell what's wrong with it, or something.

I want to thank everyone for the help so far though!! Always a good experience here.
Scott

[GravityRobert]

Install this
http://www.%^&*os.com/reaper/

(REAPER Technical Specifications
Media Support

    * Can natively decode:
          o WAV/W64/BWF (8/16/20/24/32 bit PCM, 32/64 bit float) )

You HAVE to use the PCI card. Install all the drivers etc

[axg20202]

http://boardreader.com/t/Recording_Forum_402135/Layla_20_1814938.html

[axg20202]

Here's a better link to the same info so that you can see the whole thread

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1814938

The rectifier could be your issue and is a very cheap part to replace so it's got to be worth a go.

[wsgarner]

axg20202,
Great post! Thanks! I kinda' suspected that rectifier too, but without a wiring diagram or schematic I didn't really have anything to go on. I'll find that new rectifier and replace it to see if it fixes it.

Gravity,
I did some digging on installing XP on my x335 server and found that IBM has a CD that came with the server called the "Server Guide" that, from what I understand, you use first to setup your hardware and automatically install the needed drivers to install your OS. It looks like you boot the box with the server guide, setup your HW, when prompted (all is ready) you put in the OS disk and off you go! I downloaded a copy (ISO image) of the server guide and will try it this weekend. Hope it works!

Thanks Everybody,
Scott

[12afael]

My layla 20 bit used to have the same issue , just change the rectifier with a bigger one.