Recording with protools/mbox. Help Please.

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Member Since: Sep 04, 2005

I just Recently Purchased the MBOX, it came with protools le 6.7.

Let me say this, When it records, it sounds great.

But I have a Problem. After about 5 minutes of recording and Playing back tracks it gives me an error.

"Audio processing is Interferring with CPU Tasks. Please Try Redcuing the HardWare Buffer Settings."

So I dropped down the sample Buffer from 1024 samples to 512 samples.

but 5 minutes after that I get this Error:

"CPU has held interrupts too long, Try Increasing the Hardware buffer..?"

I then tried turning the bit depth down to 16 and the Sample Rate to 4400 hz. Same problems.

My Computer is a 2.8ghz Pentium 4 with hyper threading (I turned HT Off) and It has 1280 Mbs or 1.25 gb of ram.

Why is this happening? Whats Causing it?

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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Sep 04, 2005 08:00 pm

Hello, and welcome to HRC.

My first thought is to ask what other background processes you have running on your PC...spyware apps, anti-virus, system utilities, instant messengers...anything like that running while you are recording?

Member
Since: Sep 04, 2005


Sep 04, 2005 10:56 pm

Well, I have Macafee running, I disabled that while recording, I am Going to run my Spyware and Ad aware progs right now to clear it up, I also Disabled the start up programs in MS Config, Any other suggestions?

jimmie neutron
Member
Since: Feb 14, 2005


Sep 05, 2005 09:05 am

I'm not familiar with a PTle setup, but their web site is full of FAQs and other info. Be sure you've read all you can read about system optimization from Pro Tools web site & the included documentation with your card...

As for other things to try, be sure your hard drive(s) is/are defragged. Be sure you've got virtual memory (WinXP pagefile) set to a sufficient PERMANENT amount. Be sure you've got your computer optimized for "Background Applications" (right-click My Computer, left-click Properties, and then hunt, since I forgot the rest!).

And, be sure there's not a "timer" in PTle that's set to like 5 min. of recording... I had that in my Cubase VST a while back where I'd get 1:24 of recording, no matter what I set things at, and it was driving me bonkers trying to figure it out. Turns out, all I had to do was move the "Right" field marker from the 1:24 spot, out to beyond where I wanted recording to stop! Simple, yet easy to miss...

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Sep 05, 2005 09:30 am

The errors to me sound much like the CPU is trying to do too much at once, however, we all know Windows error messages are not always that correct or informative...plus, a 2.8ghz with over a gig of RAM surely shouldn't be having a problem unless you have A LOT going on in the background.

I would, in addition to what jmail said (which is also good, valid advice) make sure you go to digidesigns web site and make sure you have the latest drivers and patches for the MBox and ProTools LE...as well as fully updating Windows itself.

Member
Since: Sep 04, 2005


Sep 06, 2005 08:15 am

Alright. Sounds Good, I DID go into MSCONFIG and Turn off Startup Applications, I also turned off the Text smoothing and Junk like that. I also Turned off Hyper Threading.

The MBOX doesnt automatically disable my onboard soundcard, Should I disable the soundcard on my PC?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Sep 06, 2005 08:27 am

it certainly wouldn't hurt to disable that. Disable it in BIOS, not Windows, uninstall it's driver and pretend it never existed :-)

I don't know if that will make a big difference, but it's good practice to do anyway. Also, you saying this does make me think of something else. Make sure Windows, and all applications for recording, have the preferences set for using the MBox directly, not uses "Microsoft sound mapper" or anything else...assign the MBox exclusively.

Member
Since: Sep 04, 2005


Sep 06, 2005 10:18 am

Wait, How do make sure that Windows is Diretly using the MBOX, and Protools for that matter?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Sep 06, 2005 10:23 am

Well, to make sure ProTools is using MBox directly would just be a preference setting in the application itself.

For Windows you need to go to the audio and video preferences of the Windows Control Panel and look for the default recording and playback devices and make sure they are set to the MBox.

Member
Since: Sep 04, 2005


Sep 06, 2005 11:03 am

Awesome. I will Try what you all said and let you know how it goes. Hopefully i wont have the same problem.

Member
Since: Sep 04, 2005


Sep 06, 2005 11:31 am

I also tried what Jmail said about the Optimizing for background processes, I didnt find THAT persay, but i did find something that lessance the appearance of XP but optimized for performance. That should also Help. I'll poke around and see what else might help.

Member
Since: Sep 04, 2005


Sep 06, 2005 11:32 am

Sorry for the triple post but, what would be a decent Virtual Memory size?

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Sep 06, 2005 11:38 am

also, i know i TAX my harddrive pretty hard, if you're all on one harddrive, that thing is movin' alot and fast, which can cause an error...

a good way to tell, is to see if you can accually hear a pattern in the noize of your computer (my hard drive makes a very distinct sound when it's workin'....you can hear your buffer settings by listening to the pattern of your harddrive....basically ya want it to grab a 'pile' of data, send it through the processor, then have it go back and grab some more.....if you have two harddrives, this is pretty much NOT a problem.....although at the moment on my p4 512MB with two drives, i am forced to mix a small verse or section, by looping it......and i'll tell you what, it's slowed me down, but i had to adapt.


here's a good test, set a loop and make sure it chrashes atleast once before looping, press play again, and after it plays through the entire loop, it'll play perfect.

cheers

wyd

Member
Since: Sep 04, 2005


Sep 06, 2005 11:44 am

Well I record to an External Harddrive, So that shouldnt be an issue.

But I someone reccomended I increase the allotted Virtual Memory Paging File Space.

Whats a decent amount?

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Sep 06, 2005 11:49 am

i think IF i remember that was either set to 1, or some multiple 8 depending on how much ram ya have, in your case i'd start at about half of your ram (so say 500mb) and keep gooin' down from there.....or does that sound too high? i gotta check, cuz i KNOW i messed with this on mine, and i have it written down at home (i'm at work right now)

doh!

so just try 1, 2, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, and 512. and see what happens....or i can get back to ya in abut 9 hours.

Member
Since: Sep 04, 2005


Sep 06, 2005 11:55 am

alright, I too am at work, I will try this when I get home, Hopefully I wont need to Change he alloted paging file size. BUT its good to know if i have too. I'll get back to you tonight.

If you or someone else finds out a good permanant VM size. I'll be checking back here.

Thanks for all the help, this is by far the best Recording forum I have been in.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Sep 06, 2005 12:19 pm

www.homerecordingconnecti...tory&id=253


it dosn't say there, but i've done all of thse things...

Member
Since: Sep 04, 2005


Sep 06, 2005 12:28 pm

Wow that article tells me all sorts of goodies. I'll be checking that out when I get home.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Sep 06, 2005 12:30 pm

yeah i printed it out and checked 'em off as i did them....there were a few that i didn't change, but not many.

Member
Since: Sep 04, 2005


Sep 06, 2005 12:53 pm

Yea, unfortunately its my only PC, so i cant disable a lot of the internet processes, BUT, most of the others should be good to go.

Freeleance Producer/Engineer/Gtr
Member
Since: Aug 11, 2002


Sep 06, 2005 07:09 pm

the external drive might be an issue since PT doesn't like to record to a USB or FW drive. You can also adjust how much of the CPU PT uses in the same window as the hardware buffer. PT likes to use a lot so set it high.

Member
Since: Sep 04, 2005


Sep 07, 2005 11:35 am

I did all the stuff in the article, most of it, and then some of the stuff you all reccomended, It seems to have fixed the problem

Its strange that you say not to use the external drive, el musico, because I was reccomended to Use an External drive... hmm. Now I am conflicted.. Either way. The other stuff fixed the problem. I'll try doing that CPU usage thing though, I am sure that will help.

Freeleance Producer/Engineer/Gtr
Member
Since: Aug 11, 2002


Sep 07, 2005 06:05 pm

What is recommended is the use of a secondary internal IDE or SATA drive, not an external FW or USB drive. But...

Digidesign just qualified the use of FW800 drives with the Oxford 912 chip with OS X 10.4 and up with HD and LE systems running 6.9.2 and up.

So if you had one of these drives with a Mac then you're set but you're not so this might be your problem.

The external drives are great for transfers/backup but tend to hang for record/playback.

Member
Since: Sep 04, 2005


Sep 08, 2005 08:15 am

Interesting. I suppose I will Switch that up then.

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