Pro Tools (annoying problem related)
DJ_Enki
6,473 Posts
This doesn't happen all the time, but it happens often enough to become really annoying:When I'm playing back a beat I'm working on (or sometimes if I'm bouncing the beat to disk), the playback will stop and I'll get an error message that says:"Audio processing is conflicting with other CPU tasks. If this occurs often, reducing the H/W Buffer Size in the Playback Engine dialog may help prevent the problem (-9129)."I get the above message when the H/W Buffer Size is set to the maximum level, 1024 samples. So I'll set the Buffer to the next smallest size in the pull-down menu, which is 512 samples. Then I'll get this error message:"The operating system held off interrupts for too long. If this occurs often, try increasing the H/W Buffer Size in the Playback Engine dialog (-9094)." So I'll change the buffer back to 1024 samples and get the first error message again. Then turn the buffer back to 512 and get the second error message. This will go on for a little bit until finally, one of the settings will actually allow error-free playback. Is there some magical setting I don't know about that will prevent this crap from happening at all? It's really annoying to have to deal with it when I'm in the thick of working on a beat.FYI, I've got an Mbox running Pro Tools 6.4 and a 1.8 GHz Mac G5.
Comments
I would suggest stopping all other background application like surfing soulstrut when bouncing. Especially things like apple mail. that seemed to mess PT up in my system.
I've got 256MB of SDRAM, according to my system profiler. And I never run any other applications when I'm working in PT. It just seems weird--this isn't even the top-of-the-line version of PT, and I have a pretty powerful computer, so I'm wondering why it keeps wanting to bitch up.
I remember fucking with the CPU usage as I was trying to find a way to stop these messages from happening. I'm not sure, but I may have left it at the maximum (85 percent), which I should probably lower just on general principle.
So maybe I just need more RAM? I know 256MB isn't a ton, but I figured it'd be sufficient. Plus, I have one of the flatscreen G5 desktop jammies, and I figured adding RAM to it would be a pain, as any upgrade to any piece of technology always is for me. But maybe I should try to get some cheap extra RAM and find somebody to install it, huh?
this bullshit is why I haven't really used protools in about six months. I used to be able to record 45 minute live mixes with my MBox, now I'm lucky if I can record a 3 minute snippet without getting that message. I did all the shit people have suggested here. and it *used* to work.
I don't have a solution, but it's good to know big dudes are having this problem too.
seriously...I have 2 gigs.
OK, so that's definitely the culprit. It's kinda weird--when I first bought this computer and Mbox (I bought them at the same time), this problem wasn't happening. It didn't start popping up until about six months down the road.
Anyway, I have a birthday coming up, so hopefully I'll be able to corral a good 1GB memory card and proper installation thereof (this is an iMac, so I'm not even thinking about installing the shit myself).
Thanks for the help, folks.
I have been running DP3 on a 512mb G4 for years and it's never given me many problems, but it will occasionally shut down if I open another application (sometimes I need to, like Itunes. Sometimes I don't, like soulstrut). But as you use your computer you will amass files, extensions, etc. and that can all take away from the speed. Also these things are meant to crap out over time...
I have really been procrastinating on getting an extra memory card for the tower. Don't really have the need because, at 512 I don't run any plug-ins, just pretty bare bones stuff.
http://www.legitreviews.com/article.php?aid=215&pid=2
ps: it's not a "maybe", you definitely need more ram. Nobody should be running os x on 256mb, let alone pro tools on top of that. Alas that is apple cutting corners by putting so little stock ram in their product line (new revs have 512mb standard). You will slap yourself silly after you upgrade and realize how much of a difference it makes. Especially considering how cheap a memory upgrade is.
Latency sucks ass when you're editting, I maxed the powerbook out with 1.2 gigs of ram and have never had a problem since...incidentally...
DO NOT buy memory from Apple--their shit is too expensive. Go with www.ramjet.com I went with them, saved $300 and have never had a problem with my computer. I've had their memory for over a year now and Pro-Tools gets heavy rotation. I got hip to them through some reviews as well as a MacGenius guy I know who likes these toys waaay too much. Good luck Enki!
Wow, that looks so easy that a well-trained chimp, or possibly even yours truly, could do it. And 1GB of RAM is far less than I thought it would be. I'll turn this rig into a hot piece of ass yet!
This was my next question, too. I saw at the Apple webstore that 1GB of RAM is $300. At RamJet, you can get a pair of 1GB cards as a package deal for $289. It's on and poppin' now!
Big thanks to all for the info.