Why is PT so unstable?

[Jeezo]

first thing i tried ......also increased the the buffer ....

Man at startup , it crashed all the way because of an expired demo of echoboy V3 !!!

What's a daw that crashes when you scan some like that ? In sonar , it ask me if he have a problem with a plugin , to skip or not , to exlude the plugin (recommende) or not ...)

Again that was 1.0 ....maybe the new upadtes makes it better ......i know when daw makers drop a new version , we have to wait 6 months to have some solid , but 20 tracks and 6 plugins isn't something that, any other daw even as new realease , can't handle !!

[Jeezo]

by the way how to try the demo one more time ? (to check the upadted versions )

[SmoothVibe]

Originally Posted by NBarnes21

I get this same issue with my projects, curious to read about some workarounds (2.8 GHZ i7 MBP here). Using an external FW Drive as well.

Honestly the protools recommended system configs are ridiculous- they want me to turn off spotlighting on my internal drive? It's like they expect me to do nothing but run protools on my comp. I use my comp for everything- video, photos, audio and more. Close iTunes and safari? That's ridiculous too, plenty of other DAWs work fine with them open. Get it together Pro Tools!

/rant

I totally agree... I think the story is the following. Pro Tools only works good enough if you are using OSX combined with the Pro Tools HD rack and PCI card, as soon as you go somewhere else with it things start failing. As a result of the quality issues one has to face whenever going with some other type of configuration there is a good enough reason to lose confidence in Avid as a general provider of high quality solutions, it simply shouldn't be like this. I still have some confidence in Microsoft + Steinberg, but the route I'm taking next is Apple OSX + Apple Logic Pro + PrismSound Orpheus. Apple and PrismSound will provide me the robustness I need...

[shanabit]

SmoothVibe,

Hopefully youll be able to BUY Logic Pro 9 in the App Store. No go here and I was on the phone with the Apple Experts for 2 hours friday trying to BUY their app. So much for AppleCare LOL

[29CountsNY]

As a long time Windows user until April this year, I can say that running ANYTHING ELSE while running the DAW on a windows system was just asking for trouble.
After getting fed up with my PC crapping out during sessions (i7 quad core, 12 gigs of ram) I switched to a refurbed 2008 Mac pro in April.

I followed the Avid recommendations and my system runs rock solid. I have never had such consistent up time and have been so productive since I switched.
With that being said, I still will not use my 'money making' machine for ANYTHING other then running the daw.
That's what I repurposed my old PC as a Hackintosh for.

I don't know any client that would find it very professional while a bounce is happening to watch you check email or surf the web.

I'll one up the 'Ford comparison' by saying if you were putting together a new cooking grill or even better a children's swing set and the instructions say to put the protective coverings on the exposed screws and YOU don't feel it's necessary or that it's ridiculous to add them and then some kid cuts themselves, whose to fault?
The manufacturer or the assembler?

I know how most humans feel about following instructions but seriously, they are given for a reason.
If you don't want to follow the recommendations for one daw, move to another.

Me, I'll stick with pro tools till the current management runs it into the ground.

[myles]

Originally Posted by TYPHY

I'm nowhere near a pro so I could care less what the standard is.

Bingo.

[mirrorboy]

Under playback engine settings:

--Set your cores to 3 or 4 MAX (8 threads, right?)

--Set CPU to 95%

--Uncheck those two boxes towards the top

--uncheck box at bottom and leave bottom setting at 2 (default)

--start w a buffer of 256 or 512


...take a screenshot of your playback engine and post back here.


--Turn off spotlighting, airport, etc and do EVERYTHING else Avid states AS WELL as the above (some of which is slightly different than Avid's recommendations).

--Once you've made all these changes, please repair prefs and restart.

--Then start a BRAND NEW PT session and see if the problem persists.




Please post back your progress.


Thx.

Scott

EDITED TO INCLUDE MORE DETAILS

[joeq]

Originally Posted by 29CountsNY

I don't know any client that would find it very professional while a bounce is happening to watch you check email or surf the web.

+1

I simply can not see any "need" to have these programs open while working on a client's music. Never mind how insulting it is.

When I am working on my OWN music, then I am the client. Why should I deliver less than my best to my 'favorite client'?

[ears2thesky]

Remember that up until recently PT was DSP-assisted. Is it any wonder that the native incarnation would require a few configuration concessions?

I am not now nor ever have been a fan of PT. However, if you are going to run any particular computer program and expect optimal performance, then observing configurations and settings suggestions from the manufacturer would seem to be obligatory.

Why not turn all the other crap off when you're using your DAW? It should be relatively painless.

Oh well, good luck.

[Whitecat]

The complainers should be happy they don't have to deal with Media Composer. If you think Pro Tools is fickle...

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by ears2thesky

Remember that up until recently PT was DSP-assisted. Is it any wonder that the native incarnation would require a few configuration concessions?
.

1996 being recently ?

[mirrorboy]

Originally Posted by KevWind

1996 being recently ?

Lol !

Scott

[dankin]

Originally Posted by joeq

+1

I simply can not see any "need" to have these programs open while working on a client's music. Never mind how insulting it is.

When I am working on my OWN music, then I am the client. Why should I deliver less than my best to my 'favorite client'?

It's insulting to check your email for mix notes while bouncing a mix? Or maybe I'm just bouncing synth parts? Or maybe I'm waiting for elastic audio x-form to render? Or maybe I'm downloading files from dropbox for the next song I'm about to mix? What does any of this have to do with "giving your best"? My best work usually happens when I take frequent short breaks to give my ears/brain a rest. Sometimes a break can be to turn the volume low and check my email or something while the song plays through. I almost always end up hearing something that needs to be tweaked that I didn't notice when I was so focused on the mix. 90% of my mix work is done without a client present as I prefer to get a mix really close so that the client can come in with fresh ears and we can make final tweaks. That's providing the client is even here in town which most of them are not. If they are not here then we are usually making tweaks via email/skype/ichat/FB/ ect... which means I've usually got one of those apps open. There are plenty of times when it would be insulting and totally inappropriate to be checking email or FB for instance - while tracking a session when you have a full band/orchestra playing or really pretty much any time you are working with a client in person. Especially if they are paying by the hour. Part of working in this day and time often involves using other technology to communicate. I have a hard time seeing that as being insulting.

[joeq]

Originally Posted by dankin

It's insulting to check your email for mix notes while bouncing a mix?

if you are bouncing the mix, it's a little late to be reading the mix notes

If we dig around deep enough in the dumpster, we can find some justification for "needing" the email, the Facebook, the Twitter, the Gearslutz while our DAW is open. But we all know 99% of the time, it's just an excuse for the Addiction to digital distractions.

Especially if they are paying by the hour.

[chrisdee]

Originally Posted by TYPHY

This is how it's going one minute:


Then this is how it is 30 seconds later:


The system usage window is at the top right corner.
WTF?!
This is running on a Macbook Pro quad-core i7 with 8GB RAM.
I was getting this error every time I was using a plug in last night.
So I shut it down and tried finishing the mix today but it's still happening.
My HW buffer size is at 512.

I dont understand what is going on.

When PT starts acting up like this I restart the computer and the soundcard. It usually helps for a while. It also might be PT doesnt like some of your plugins.

[dankin]

Originally Posted by joeq

if you are bouncing the mix, it's a little late to be reading the mix notes.

For the song you are currently bouncing yes. But for the song you sent 20 min before because they decided they wanted to hear it without the tambourine on the 2cd verse or whatever - no. I'm out of this thread as its already turning into the typical GS debate over who's right and wrong all over a Internet browser. All I was trying to show the OP is that in 2012 computers are capable of having an internet browser open while running the almighty PT at the same time.

[TREMORS]

It's kinda odd if PT is still insisting on having the internet turned off...

Considering they just added Soundcloud to PT10, which sort of requires an internet connection.

[amost]

Originally Posted by TREMORS

It's kinda odd if PT is still insisting on having the internet turned off...

Considering they just added Soundcloud to PT10, which sort of requires an internet connection.

don't forget the ever convenient "Pro Tools Store"....it's down a few from "Create New Track".

[TYPHY]

Does making a Midi track with a VST on it inactive save cpu?

[TYPHY]

PT is such a joke.

[jwh1192]

i just received a Mix Mag newsletter and there is a line near the bottom about Avid ... Avid offers composing and recording advice from British TV and film composer Michael Price »

i had to post this hear and have a sickening laugh ... here is a guy on the Avid website that gets an Error message about Time Machine .... why does he have Time Machine running ? why is it working for him ?

i thought this might be interesting ...

cheers

john

[lpkyer]

I would'nt use 99% at all. I would go at 80% MAX.

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by jwh1192

i just received a Mix Mag newsletter and there is a line near the bottom about Avid ... Avid offers composing and recording advice from British TV and film composer Michael Price »

i had to post this hear and have a sickening laugh ... here is a guy on the Avid website that gets an Error message about Time Machine .... why does he have Time Machine running ? why is it working for him ?

i thought this might be interesting ...

cheers

john

Not quite sure what you're saying here....what has Michael got to do about anything? If you've got any specific questions for him, find him online and ask him...he's a lovely guy, and very talented!

[javd007]

I kept getting CPU overload errors on pt 9 hd. Didn't have one plugin on the session. Tried everything. Every setting in the playback menu. Was even on the phone with UAD for 45 minutes trying to troubleshoot. Gave up. Btw my computer is an 8 core machine with 12gb of ram. CPU overload, I think not PT! Switched to logic. 0 problems and it's 64 bit!!

[daniel c]

Originally Posted by TYPHY

The system usage window is at the top right corner.
WTF?!
This is running on a Macbook Pro quad-core i7 with 8GB RAM.
I was getting this error every time I was using a plug in last night.
So I shut it down and tried finishing the mix today but it's still happening.
My HW buffer size is at 512.

I dont understand what is going on.

Have you deleted all of your preferences, etc? Download the Pro Tools Pref and Database helper if you haven't.

What version is your OS?
What version of Pro Tools are you running?
Did you add any new plugins to your system before you had these problems?
Are you using an external firewire drive, USB drive or the internal drive?
If you have an external firewire drive, is there anything else sharing the bus?

[jwh1192]

hi mr. monkey ... quote - "Not quite sure what you're saying here....what has Michael got to do about anything? If you've got any specific questions for him, find him online and ask him...he's a lovely guy, and very talented!"

i do not think i could be any clearer ... of course i am not saying anything about michael ... love the guy to death ... great insight into working with PT and film / TV ... and, yes i may indeed try and contact him for some additional info .. good idea ... but i doubt he has the time for this but you never know ..

sorry for any confusion regarding this matter ...

let me try this again ... this thread is about PT being unstable and how everyone (including me) are saying that you have to have most everything turned off (avid's recommended settings) ... while michael clearly has Time Machine turned on / as the error came up and he even seemed a bit surprised ...

i was honestly asking how can his system can be stable with Time Machine running in the background ... while others are having issues with Apple Features like TM running ...

i do not use TM, and would probably not have it running while working in PT if i did as it seems one of those background processes that could interfere with PT ... i am truly curious how stable a system can be using these features ...

cheers

john

[jwh1192]

hey danny ... i just clicked on your Coda website link and it says that there may be Malware associated with the link ... just a heads up to you down under ...

you have the same name as a Video director here in the states btw ...

cheers

john

[phas3d]

Not trying to start anything here, but just want to point out that no system is perfect. Nothing runs flawlessly. It takes some hard work to have any DAW working perfectly. Pro Tools is no exception to it.

[jwh1192]

hi monkey ... nice tunes from mr. hardman ... i dig chocolate eyes ... and famous ...

very cool vocal sounds ...

can i shameless plug you back ...

iTunes - Music - The Drive by Agona

last CD i worked on ...

sorry for not staying on the topic .. back to it ..

cheers

john

[daniel c]

Originally Posted by jwh1192

you have the same name as a Video director here in the states btw ...

Yep, I always get a kick out of seeing my name in Rolling Stone under a picture of Jimmy Page It spins out some bands when they come back home and can't believe we share a name. Mind you I think he has some of my recording credits on allmusic lol

Thanks for letting me know about the link, I'll let our web admin know about it. We get the same problem when browsing some links with our installation of Trend.