I'm new to the RME card.
I just printed some masters into Pro Tools 9 like usual, but I noticed a random static noise every now and then in the recorded file, that has never happened before I used the RME card to capture stereo AES input from my Crane Song Hedd.

I have a feeling that I have something set incorrect in the HDSPe Settings App but I can't find anything that tells me what these settings mean:

TEB/AEB

Breakout cable XLR
Do I want this checked when just using the AES in and out?
Preferred Sync Ref?
Clock Mode, auto sync or master?

Also, i seem to get a bit of a pop when I start playback or end playback, any way to fix this?

Thanks!