If you are running into issues with USB audio playback on your PC, it’s possible that you will see improved performance by taking the following steps to optimize your system:

• Increase the number of samples per buffer (Buffer Size). Using too small of a Buffer Size can introduce clicks, dropouts and glitches during playback. Lower Buffer Sizes can reduce latency, however, too low of a Buffer Size can introduce performance issues. Depending on which product you’re using, you can raise or lower the number of samples per buffer in the M Series Control Panel app, MOTU Pro Audio Control’s Device Page or the MOTU Audio Console. Setting the Buffer Size to 256 or 512 is a good place to start with most systems.
• If you are using a USB hub, please make sure it is externally powered. If you are using a powered hub and you’re still seeing issues, try disconnecting other USB devices or connect the M Series interface directly to a USB port on the computer. Be sure to try all USB ports on the computer.
• Use the included USB cable or a high quality third-party cable. It’s possible that inexpensive alternatives and cables that are too long can introduce problems. We recommend a USB cable no more than six feet in length.

There are a number of settings in Windows that can have an impact on USB audio performance. Try making the following changes:

Change USB Root Hub Power Management settings:

• Open the Start menu and type in “Device Manager”.
• In the Device Manager, go to “Universal Serial Bus Controllers”.
• Find “USB Root Hub” and right-click on it.
• Go to Properties > Power Management/
• Uncheck the option for "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power".
• Press OK.
• Make sure to repeat this process for each USB Root hub in the Device Manager.

Disable USB Selective Suspend:

• Right-click the Start button.
• Click Search and type "edit power plan" in the Windows Search box.
• Click "Change Advanced Power Settings" then scroll down to "USB Settings"
• Click the plus (+) sign next to"USB Selective Suspend" to expand the options.
• Click Disable.

Disable Exclusive Mode:

• Right-click the Start button.
• Click Search
• Type Control Panel and hit Enter on your keyboard
• Select Hardware and Sound > Sound and click on the Playback tab
• Select the MOTU Audio Device from the list of audio devices.
• Click Properties.
• In the Properties window, go to the “Advanced” tab and uncheck the option to "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device”.
• Click OK to Apply the setting.
• Back in the Sound window, click on the Recording tab and repeat steps 2-4.
• Once complete, restart your computer for the changes to take effect

Disable Fast Startup:

• Right-click the Start button.
• Click Search.
• Type “Control Panel” and hit Enter on your keyboard.
• Click “Power Options”.
• Click “Choose what the power buttons do”.
• Click "Change settings that are currently unavailable".
• Deselect "Turn on fast startup (recommended)" - make sure that the check mark disappears.
• Click “Save Changes”.

Disable Cortana:

• Right-click the Start button.
• Click Search.
• Type “Edit Group Policy” and hit Enter on your keyboard.
• Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search.
• Find “Allow Cortana” and double-click to open.
• Click “Disabled” and then hit OK.

Users with NVIDIA Graphics Cards:

• Open the NVIDIA Control Panel.
• Click “3D Settings”.
• Click “Manage 3D settings”.
• Under the “Global Settings” tab, scroll down to “Power management mode”.
• Choose “Prefer maximum performance”.

If you have carefully followed the above suggestions and are still experiencing USB audio playback issues, please consider these additional suggestions:

• Check with your motherboard and USB chipset manufacturer to see if there are any BIOS or driver updates available.
• Check Windows Update for any USB related updates for your computer.
• Consider purchasing and installing an aftermarket PCI USB Card, and connect your MOTU interface to a USB port on the PCI card. We recommend purchasing a card from a manufacturer such as Inateck for best results.