Re plugins, sometime an issue caused by a plugin, will happen with no plugins actually in use in a session. For this reason, one method of troubleshooting is to actually remove plugins from the plugins folder. In Windows, that is found here:
C:>Program Files>Common Files>Avid>Audio. In there, you will see 2 folders; Plugins and Plugins(unused). Removing suspect plugins from the Plugins folder makes it so PT doesn't load the plugin at all(your option to move something to the Plugins(unused) folder, or just drag them anywhere handy. I usually drag to the desktop or a folder on the desktop for temporary troubleshooting.
