Pro Tools 7.4 stalls on playback

cameron_henry · 27th March 2009

I'm running PT HD 7.4 & using it strictly as a tape machine (no plugins). On occasion, I will encounter a problem with the playback. I will hit spacebar...8-10 seconds will go by...then Pro Tools will begin playing again. I've adjusted my buffer size, and the same problem persists. Next step, restart the computer...No dice. So, I just deal with it because work needs to get done. The next day, I come in, and it is working fine. 2 days later the problem comes back...then disappears again. No one else is using my system, and I cannot seem to find any preferences that relate to this issue. Does anyone have any advice for me?

Jax · 27th March 2009

Have you looked to make sure the transport is not set to pre-roll? Chances are, it's counting off a couple of bars ahead of playback.

Makinithappen · 27th March 2009

Besides what he ^ said (which would be the most obvious answer), you could check your preferences to make sure the "Open Ended Record Allocation" is not set to "unlimited"... This can sometimes cause a slight pause before recording (or playback if there is a track armed and you are in QP mode)

cameron_henry · 29th March 2009

There isn't any pre roll set & Open Ended Record Allocation is not set to unlimited. I had already assumed both of these issues at first. Sorry that i did not specify that in my original post. Thanks for the suggestions.

Any other ideas will be greatly appreciated.

psycho_monkey · 29th March 2009

have you done the trash prefs/databases/repair permissions thing (I'm assuming Mac here)?

If so, you then might need to rebuild your session by opening a fresh session and reimporting all the tracks - opening the old session will just rebuild a potentially corrrupt preferences file.

Is it multiple sessions that do this?

cameron_henry · 29th March 2009

Yes, it happens on multiple sessions. I have taken the session to a laptop to ensure it wasn't a preferences thing (half of the preferences in pro tools don't make sense to me...even some of the one's I know). The session ran seamlessly on the laptop. Someone else I spoke with had the same problem with their setup.

Jax · 29th March 2009

If you have firewire or usb devices of any kind that can be unplugged without losing some needed component of your system, you can try unplugging them, if you haven't tried this already. There could be an issue with a device causing a bottleneck on drive access speed. This is a tough one to figure out without trying a bunch of things one at time and using some intuition.

cameron_henry · 2nd April 2009

I've reinstalled Pro Tools & all issues have resolved themselves (at least for the past few days). I was at my wit's end with it, and the only thing left to do was a complete wipe & reinstall. So it goes. Thanks for the help

27th March 2009	#1
cameron_henry Gear interested Joined: Jul 2008 Location: Nashville Posts: 6 Thread Starter	Pro Tools 7.4 stalls on playback I'm running PT HD 7.4 & using it strictly as a tape machine (no plugins). On occasion, I will encounter a problem with the playback. I will hit spacebar...8-10 seconds will go by...then Pro Tools will begin playing again. I've adjusted my buffer size, and the same problem persists. Next step, restart the computer...No dice. So, I just deal with it because work needs to get done. The next day, I come in, and it is working fine. 2 days later the problem comes back...then disappears again. No one else is using my system, and I cannot seem to find any preferences that relate to this issue. Does anyone have any advice for me?

27th March 2009	#3
Makinithappen Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2006 Location: St. Louis, MO USA (Hot Louis) Posts: 1,566	Besides what he ^ said (which would be the most obvious answer), you could check your preferences to make sure the "Open Ended Record Allocation" is not set to "unlimited"... This can sometimes cause a slight pause before recording (or playback if there is a track armed and you are in QP mode) __________________ I think you'll find that 'generic and flavourless' is generally something that occurs before the microphone -Karloff70 Two f**in' weeks to make up your mind whether you want a beard or you want a job. This is the Buddy Rich Band; young people...with faces!- Buddy Rich

29th March 2009	#5
psycho_monkey Gear Guru Joined: Jun 2006 Location: London Posts: 14,291	have you done the trash prefs/databases/repair permissions thing (I'm assuming Mac here)? If so, you then might need to rebuild your session by opening a fresh session and reimporting all the tracks - opening the old session will just rebuild a potentially corrrupt preferences file. Is it multiple sessions that do this? __________________ Shameless Plug: If I've ever helped you with a technical problem or provided you with advice you found useful, you can more than repay me by going here and spending 79p of your hard earned on this single, now available for purchase, by a singer I'm working closely with. It would be much appreciated! http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/fam...14?i=496923918 Album now available for pre-order: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/preorder/...an/id513648911 /Shameless Plug....

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27th March 2009	#2
Jax Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,779	Have you looked to make sure the transport is not set to pre-roll? Chances are, it's counting off a couple of bars ahead of playback.

2nd April 2009	#8
cameron_henry Gear interested Joined: Jul 2008 Location: Nashville Posts: 6 Thread Starter	I've reinstalled Pro Tools & all issues have resolved themselves (at least for the past few days). I was at my wit's end with it, and the only thing left to do was a complete wipe & reinstall. So it goes. Thanks for the help