**WARNING** SSL's Duende 'update' rendered my Duende USELESS!!

[manthe]

I successfully installed the latest Duende software and firmware without a single hitch.

Anxious to try out the new $600 10-band EQ, I rebooted the Duende, loaded my DAW and loaded a project. I inserted the new EQ and hit play...loud POP, then nothing...no audio, just a light clicking in the background as my audio tried to play.

I tried to unload it and loaded it again...same thing.

Restarted my DAW, same thing.

Tried the Channel Strip, Bus Compressor and Drumsrtrip....same thing

I tried several different projects as well as different DAW software and Wavelab....same F'n thing!!!

Powered off my computer and the Duende and back up....same thing.

This could not have come at a worse time. I have a ton of mixing to do this weekend and now I'm F'd!!

SSl support for Duende has been really, really bad for me in the past. Many others have had the same complaint. This thing is at the heart of myu mixing work flow. I can NOT afford to be without it. I paid a premium for 'pro' equipment here.

The upgrade went flawlessly. I am really pi$$ed right now!

BEWARE.....INSTALL AT YOUR OWN RISK!!! I RECOMMEND AGAINST IT!!!!

[DontLetMeDrown]

Ouch. Is it possible to rollback to the old software version?

[mynameischance]

Mike, that's just terrible. I hope SSL helps you as soon as possible. Ugh.

[elambo]

Do you have a Quad Intel machine by chance?

[preben]

Works fine here with Logic and a Mac Intel Dual 2.66.

[gollumsluvslave]

Sorry to hear about the problems Manthe.

I'm glad I held off un the purchase now. Will wait until this latest update is fully resolved.

This report and the AES demo failure to work isn't very encouraging at all.

It had seemed to me that they had just brought out really stable drivers as well that had solved all the problems.

[manthe]

Originally Posted by elambo

Do you have a Quad Intel machine by chance?

As a matter of fact, yes. Why?

PS - Just upgraded a week ago from dual to quad. Duende was flawless until update, though!

[manthe]

Originally Posted by mynameischance

Mike, that's just terrible. I hope SSL helps you as soon as possible. Ugh.

Thanks Chance! I don't know about SSL. I swear, if it weren't for Jim, I don't know what a lot of us would do. This gu is a champ an SSL is extremely lucky to have him. He puts up with a lot of our bitching quite graciously as well. I mean, it is understandable. A lot of us are/get/have become very frustrated.

I opened a support request with SSL. The problem is, they don't do Duende support on weekends and it is web only. That is frustrating. I would think that SSL, of all companies, would know that weekends *are* business days for most studios!

I am, indeed frustrated. But I know Jim will take care of us.

[kellyd]

The update hasn't made my system any worse.

[manthe]

Originally Posted by DontLetMeDrown

Ouch. Is it possible to rollback to the old software version?

Unfortunately, no!

[manthe]

Originally Posted by kellyd

The update hasn't made my system any worse.

Was it bad to begin with?

[kellyd]

I can only get 8 instances @96k, anymore I get locked out. The system is pretty stable @ 8 but not as stable as it was before I installed the SSL. The ch plugin is so damn good that even at only 8 chs I can't work without it. I believe it's a bandwidth issue related to my system and not Duende. I'm about to upgrade to a quad but reading your posts I'm concerned. Seems you've been successful with the unit up till now. Is it the firmware update that won't let you roll back?

[manthe]

Originally Posted by kellyd

I can only get 8 instances @96k, anymore I get locked out. The system is pretty stable @ 8 but not as stable as it was before I installed the SSL. The ch plugin is so damn good that even at only 8 chs I can't work without it. I believe it's a bandwidth issue related to my system and not Duende. I'm about to upgrade to a quad but reading your posts I'm concerned. Seems you've been successful with the unit up till now. Is it the firmware update that won't let you roll back?

The Duende hasnever been able to roll back firmware on a PC. I reqlly don't get that. It is really strange and, IMO counter-productive. With that ability, I'd be 100% in business right now

[Emusic]

Hi there, do you have a Mac nearby that you can hook it up to temporarily.
I think I managed to do a firmware downgrade a while back while battling the Duende.
Can't remember now exactly what I did but it was right around the V2 release and in
desperation I think I went back to 1.5, it didn't work properly either way!

I am glad now I haven't installed the latest update. My Duende ver 2.1 still does not work
properly but I at least have a process of resetting sound card drivers etc every time
I open a song that works pretty well for me (most of the time!)

good luck!

Originally Posted by manthe

Unfortunately, no!

[manthe]

Originally Posted by Emusic

Hi there, do you have a Mac nearby that you can hook it up to temporarily.
I think I managed to do a firmware downgrade a while back while battling the Duende.
Can't remember now exactly what I did but it was right around the V2 release and in
desperation I think I went back to 1.5, it didn't work properly either way!

I am glad now I haven't installed the latest update. My Duende ver 2.1 still does not work
properly but I at least have a process of resetting sound card drivers etc every time
I open a song that works pretty well for me (most of the time!)

good luck!

OMG!! I'm SO stupid. I have 3 Macs sitting here!!!

I swear to GOD if my head wasn't attached.

I hope you're not a dude, I want to kiss you! If you are, could you put on a wig and a dress?



I hope this works!

[Prefontaine]

Originally Posted by manthe

I opened a support request with SSL. The problem is, they don't do Duende support on weekends and it is web only. That is frustrating. I would think that SSL, of all companies, would know that weekends *are* business days for most studios!

I know it's a tight market and every company has to look at ways to save money, but I hate calling a place for tech support to only have them be closed, like my gear only fails M-F 9am to 6pm. The best one is when you call the bank and they are closed...especially when it's something stupid like a security flag.

[elambo]

Originally Posted by manthe

As a matter of fact, yes. Why?

PS - Just upgraded a week ago from dual to quad. Duende was flawless until update, though!

Duende - Console-Grade Processing for your DAW

Read down a bit under "Mac specific information"

[DontLetMeDrown]

You can rollback on a Mac but not on a PC? WTF kinda half-ass programming is that? I'm a big fan of SSL's stuff but from everything I've read, I'd never buy a duende. How unfortunate.

[manthe]

Originally Posted by elambo

Duende - Console-Grade Processing for your DAW

Read down a bit under "Mac specific information"

Thanks for that. I primarily use it on my PC (but I also use it with my Macbook Pro and Macbook (MOTU and Logic Exp.).

My Macs are all Duo, my PC is the QUAD. But, perhaps there is a bug developing here with the new release...

Thanks for the link!

[manthe]

Originally Posted by DontLetMeDrown

You can rollback on a Mac but not on a PC? WTF kinda half-ass programming is that? I'm a big fan of SSL's stuff but from everything I've read, I'd never buy a duende. How unfortunate.

Tell me about it! I am really confused by this.

I'm lucky I happen to use and run both platforms.

I am also lucky someone here reminded me what a bonehead I am!. I am in the middle of the downgrade right now.

I'll report back.

Thanks every one so far...ESPECIALLY Jim....you're great, man. I know I've given the company some crap over the years (not directed at you and CERTAINLY not personal). I have to say that I do not feel sheepish about it. I stand behind everything I say 100%. I am also the first to marvel at this device and sing its praises. I know for a FACT that I've been very instrumental in a half-dozen sales of Duendes (I always warn about the the very real possibility for a total nightmare situation, but if it works, your in sonic heaven compare to any plug-ins and even a lot of outboard gear).

I still think this product is very volatile and buggy. I truly believe it is still not ready for production, ESPECIALLY in its target market, which is with professionals (people who make money using it). There are too many problems and too many quirks even with a problem free set up (no downgrade on a PC??????).

At any rate, my point is, despite all of that, Jim has single-handedly ket the Duende viable in this and other forum communities. He has also kept a lot of customers from jumping ship.

I guess you should print this down, Jim and go in and ask for a raise! You deserve it.

[manthe]

Well, I was able to use one of my Macs to downgrade the Duende. That went fine. But, something is very, very wrong here.

I Was actually able to load the channel strip and the bus comp. Audio would pass through But, after a few tweaks, it will do the same thing. Here is the REALLY strange part...if I even *touch* the LPF knob on the channel strip ti does the same thing.

Something very strange was broken with this update. Rolling back simply did not fix it...it only made it weirder!

So...

I am in the midst of a complete rebuild right now. I went out and bought all new hard drives (so I would not have to risk losing an otherwise rock solid setup). Ghosting the existing drives was even too risky for me. I decided to (anti-static) bag the original system and application HDDs and replace them with 2 others. My samples and Audio/projects drives are obviously transferable, so I kept them in place.

I started late last night. I am through the OS install, patching, OS optimization and now system and peripheral driver installs. I am now, essentially ready to begin installing audio and DSP device drivers, DAW software, plug-ins, synths, toolm, etc.

I am stopping for now to watch my Bucs get stomped Manning and the Colts (talk about adding insult to injury !!

I'll update my progress. I simply can not wait around for SSL to do something. this 'no support on the weekends' thing is BS. If they cater to proffesional engineers, they need to cater to professional engineers!

Any word, Jim?

[kellyd]

And I was bummed that I couldn't get the Bucs game here in Austin. Glad I missed it.
Today I'm messing with latency timing settings trying to get some more chs out of Duende.
Good luck. Hope the install goes well.

[barryjohns]

Did you ever notice that Jim at SSL would chime in on a thread at Gearslutz if it looks like its advertisement for the Duende? I find it very typical of their company to avoid posts like this one; they have zero focus on taking care of customers, which they displayed to me back in the day.

I would expect them to jump in and want to help even if it means getting a little dirty when the going gets tough as it has for so many.

[Jim@SSL]

I think that's a little unfair Barry.

I have already posted in the other thread where Manthe tells of his issues, and I have also posted in the thread he posted on Mixbuss.com

I've been in touch with the programmers at home over the weekend (while I have been in NY working at the AES show). Not all of us are having the luxury of sitting on our computers this weekend....

Once the team are back in the office on monday morning they'll be thoroughly looking at this.

[manthe]

Originally Posted by barryjohns

Did you ever notice that Jim at SSL would chime in on a thread at Gearslutz if it looks like its advertisement for the Duende? I find it very typical of their company to avoid posts like this one; they have zero focus on taking care of customers, which they displayed to me back in the day.

I would expect them to jump in and want to help even if it means getting a little dirty when the going gets tough as it has for so many.

I must respectfully disagree. Jim is pretty much, IMO the only thing *good* about the SSL Duende support 'network'. If it weren't for him there would be 0 communication on the weekends and then, depending on the case load, Monday might come and go with no response (it has happened to me before).

I understand the frustration with this product. I also understand the love/hate extremes! But I really believe that Jim legitimately cares about it and wants it to succeed. I believe it shows in his actions.

[kellyd]

I have to agree. Jim is the one I get my SSL info from. Thanks. Jim.