Major Pro Tools problem. HELP!

[Jetblack]

I am having a miserable time getting Pro Tools to work properly. Here is what I have:
G4 Powerbook 1.6ghz w/ 1.5 gig RAM running OS 10.4.2
002 R running PT 6.9.2
PreSonus Digimax LT

Here are my problems:

1- I can't get PT to record more than 15 seconds of 12 tracks (24, 44.1) without being prompted to increase CPU usage (its at 85% already). I've tried everything I could using the answerbase solutions but I keep getting the same bloddy message. My computer should be powerfule enough, right? Could it be a HD thing? I am still waiting on my Lacie D2 drive but I should still be able to record on to the computers HD. I have restarted about a million times, and my Energy settings are at the highest.

2- I have the Digimax slaved to the 002 but I keep getting very loud pops all over the place. I tried different mic/ cable/ pre input. Same problem.

Any help would be really appreciated. I've been at this for HOURS!!!!

[NoiseToys]

Recording to the internal hard drive can make PT unhappy - you're trying to access the same drive for program info as audio... We had problems with one of our 002s and it turned out to be a power supply issue that Digi replaced FOC... they knew exactly what was wrong and corrected it for us... I am having the same issue now with an MBOX and am starting to wonder about the software as well... But at the very least check with Digi about your 002...

Good Luck

[smarsland]

it shouldn't matter, but I always clock to the lightpipe device (in my case, 01V). I have had huge issues with popping too. Usually its the damned 01V not being set correctly. Another possibility I have experienced is a shitty optical cable. Try replacing it and see how that goes.

As far as the 15 second thing, it is definitely your hard drive. Defrag it like crazy and go to the Disk Utility and repair permissions. Get some stuff off your hard drive and see where that all takes you.

s

[Jetblack]

smarsland
Thanks for the tip. I slaved to the Digimax, nad the pops have gone (I don't understand why, but whatever).

[True North]

The 15 second problem may also be linked your sample buffer size. If you are tracking you can't get away with anything less 256 samples. If you are mixing you can bump it up to 1024

Good Luck

[C_F_H_13]

Originally Posted by Jetblack

I am having a miserable time getting Pro Tools to work properly. Here is what I have:
G4 Powerbook 1.6ghz w/ 1.5 gig RAM running OS 10.4.2
002 R running PT 6.9.2
PreSonus Digimax LT

Here are my problems:

1- I can't get PT to record more than 15 seconds of 12 tracks (24, 44.1) without being prompted to increase CPU usage (its at 85% already). I've tried everything I could using the answerbase solutions but I keep getting the same bloddy message. My computer should be powerfule enough, right? Could it be a HD thing? I am still waiting on my Lacie D2 drive but I should still be able to record on to the computers HD. I have restarted about a million times, and my Energy settings are at the highest.

2- I have the Digimax slaved to the 002 but I keep getting very loud pops all over the place. I tried different mic/ cable/ pre input. Same problem.

Any help would be really appreciated. I've been at this for HOURS!!!!

Definetly go to an outboard firewire 400 or 800 drive. Also as True North said, make sure the buffer is at least like 256 or 512. Also make sure that all the OSx energy saver crap is off as well as the drive sleep options. I highly suggest you get YASU as well (do a google search). It's great for general OSX maintnance, that I find helps PT run alot smoother.

[Mixmoses]

Jet,


I had the same popping problems with my setup (Onyx 800r). It is definitely the the clock source. When you are running optical into the 002, the clock source should be external.

Moses

[the1Hub]

do you have norton system works installed?

[Jetblack]

Thanks for the replies. I am hoping that when my external fw 800 drive arrives that that will solve the problem. I will definitly check out YASU and Norton System Works. Hopefully that will help as well. Why are these issues so poorly documented or un-addressed in PT manulas and on their website? Grrrrrrr!

[minister]

hi,

i would advise against NORTON for OSX, and Get DISK WARRIOR instead. a lot of people have had problems with NORTON after OS9.

there are compatibilty documents, trouble shooting douments, and general setup guidelines in the PT manuals, READ ME files, and at their website.

here are some links:

COMPATIBILITY
SETUP GUIDELINES & TROUBLESHOOTING

[the1Hub]

i guess i should have been more clear.... dont use norton system works. it can cause the buffers on the hard drive to back up creating the problems you described. stay away from it. its ok to boot from the disk to clean up drive and such but never install it.

Originally Posted by the1Hub

i guess i should have been more clear.... dont use norton system works. it can cause the buffers on the hard drive to back up creating the problems you described. stay away from it. its ok to boot from the disk to clean up drive and such but never install it.

ugh man... that thing is a nightmare ...just like everything else they release

i guess you should've been more clear; don't use ANYTHING by norton

[T_R_S]

What is your disk buffer set at .. try 4 or 8 with slower machines (G4) and drives

[Geert van den Berg]

Originally Posted by Jetblack

smarsland
Thanks for the tip. I slaved to the Digimax, nad the pops have gone (I don't understand why, but whatever).

It's logical that you need to slave PT to the external clock because it's not possible to do it the other way around. The Digimax has a wordclock input but none of the LE digi boxes has a wordclock output (at least not a dedicated one, you could use the s/pdif output).

So if you would run PT to its internal sync and don't offer its clock to the Digimax both devices will run asynchronous. The clocks of both devices don't run exactly at the same pace. The converter is delivering data to the ADAT input but varies slightly and that's why you get those pops.

In a digital setup where you use multiple digital devices there should always be one master device and the rest should be clocked to that. That's also why dedicated clocking units exist.

[Jetblack]

Originally Posted by Geert van den Berg

It's logical that you need to slave PT to the external clock because it's not possible to do it the other way around. The Digimax has a wordclock input but none of the LE digi boxes has a wordclock output (at least not a dedicated one, you could use the s/pdif output).

So if you would run PT to its internal sync and don't offer its clock to the Digimax both devices will run asynchronous. The clocks of both devices don't run exactly at the same pace. The converter is delivering data to the ADAT input but varies slightly and that's why you get those pops.

In a digital setup where you use multiple digital devices there should always be one master device and the rest should be clocked to that. That's also why dedicated clocking units exist.

I assumed that the sync info would be contained in the lightpipe as the Clock Soucrce option in the hardware setup includes "Lightpipe". So I need to plug the Coaxial "Word Clock Out" of the Digimax to the "SPDIF In" on the 002? (What do I set the clock source to?)

[Geert van den Berg]

No, you already got it right Jetblack! You said you didn't understand why the clicks and pops were gone. I just wanted to explain proper digital connections.

You can sync Pro Tools to the Digimax, and that's fine. you already noticed the clicks where gone. PT can indeed also sync to the lightpipe signal.

Don't forget to put PT back to internal sync if you ever go from your 002 to another digital device, a DAT or other masterrecorder.

Usually the playing device is master and the recording device is synced, unless you have a seperate masterclock , then both devices would be synced to that.

[Rab]

Make sure you've downloaded the latest CS update off Digi's site (I think it's 6.9.2cs4). I guess you've done all the usual - trash related preferences, trash Digi Database, repair disk permssions?

[Jetblack]

My goodness! This system is functioning so poorly. I updated the software to the latest CS version, & I bought a Lacie D2 FW 800 drive. Bloody system still gives me the "Increase Buffer Memeory" message 10 seconds into the recording. I went to another Digidesign dealer, and the guy said that I need to change the internal HD on my laptop to one that spins at 7200 rpm, even though I am using an external HD!!!!! He said that its NOT a common setup to have an 002 R with a G4 laptop and that he thinks that it is a bad combination!! I miss my mx-80 tape machine.... I guess I have to call Digidesign on Monday and hope they know what the hell is going on. Thanks to everyone for their comments & tips. Much appreciated.

[Geert van den Berg]

Hmm, your dealers reply doesn't make much sense. Who delivered your system anyway?

Your computer is fast enough for what you want to do! But I do think that the Digi LE devices cause quite a strain on the computer, they're not very efficient.

What's the buffersetting you are using? Set it to 1024 and see if you still get these errors while you try to record. I know that tracking with a 1024 buffer is a pain because of too much latency, but at least we'll know a bit more about your problem.

Also you can set CPU usage limit to its max value if you aren't using any other apps while you run PT.

[Bishbashbosh]

You're dealer doesn't know what he's talking about. I run a 002R into a 1Ghz Titanium powerbook.... as well as an HD system. You're machine is plenty powerful enough.
A 7200 rpm internal drive is not necessary, and will make no difference to the number of audio tracks if you're recording to an external drive.

Check the DUC's general troubleshooting tips: http://duc.digidesign.com/showflat.p...fpart=1#313423

There may be something you've overlooked- energy settings, repairing permissions, etc.etc.
Go through the list - it's pretty helpful to try these things whenever you run into a problem (both on protools, and the same applies to many other apps)

[Bishbashbosh]

Just did a test with my laptop, and 002R.
12 tracks of 24bit 44.1 shows about 10% CPU usage, and about 15-20% disk usage on my Glyph GT drive.

12 tracks 24bit 44.1 recorded onto my internal system drive (which is getting a little full!) showed the same CPU usage, but disk usage was higher (as expected) at around 30%.

As I stated in my earlier post, there is nothing wrong with your setup (the external hard drive will improve your disk usage). It's time to run through the Digi troubleshooting list.

Sounds like a permissions/prefs problem to me....

If you're showing CPU error messages, have you any other apps running? What about plugins?

If you restart, then create a totally new session do you still get the same problems?

[minister]

jetblack,

you are getting good advice here. your dealer has his head up his... dfegad

you don't have the FW drive and the 002R on the same port, do you? they should be on different ports.

as bishbashbosh pointed you to...do those maintenance things at the digi site. i ppointed you to them in previous post did you gfo there? trash prefs. make sure that you have the right version of PT for LE and TIGER..... run DISK WARRIOR on the drive, reapair disk permissions. restart.

your system should be fine. you mush have other issues with your sytem. let us know what else happens and we can try to help.

[Jetblack]

Problem solved!!I called Digidesign today... Pro Tools 6.9.2 is NOT compatible with the newest generation G4 Powerbooks with the 1.67 ghz processor, despite the fact that their website says it does. I had to upgrade to Pro Tools 7.0. The guy said that they need to update the compatability page on their site!!!!! Thanks again for all the help from all the members. This place is a goldmine.

[Geert van den Berg]

Did you buy Digi002 + G4 at the same dealer?

If so, I would contact them, and try to get your upgrade for free!