"the audio device buffer underflowed"...

[james21789]

Hey guys,

I know this is the same problem everyone seems to be having, and I've been reading all the forums but I can't get to the bottom of it. Hopefully someone will be able to shed some light on my situation?

Whenever I'm using the program, and sampling at 1024, I get this error about 10-20 times an hour:

"The audio device buffer underflowed. If this occurs frequently, try decreasing the "H/W Buffer Size" in the Playback Engine panel or remove other devices from the audio firewire bus. (-6085)"

Whenever I'm sampling at 512, I get this error, perhaps more often than previously:

"The operating system held off interrupts for too long. If this occurs frequently , try increasing the "H/W Buffer Size" in the Playback Engine panel. (-6088)"

The error seems to have little to do with the amount of tracks I am recording or have recorded, or the amount of effects processing I'm using. Sometimes it happens once, sometimes it happens several times in succession. Very unpredictable.

I'm running a Digi 003 rack with my Dell XPS 1530, its got duo core running at 2.6 and 4 gigs of ram, so it should be more than capable of running PT8 effectively, right? Could there be a problem with Vista, I know the OS is hypersensitive? I've got the program running from the computers internal hard drive and I'm saving the session and audio files to my lacie external hard drive. It's 160 gig, only half full, and formatted in NTFS.

I run protools with nothing else open. What gives?

Frustrated,
James Jamail

[spkguitar]

Originally Posted by james21789

I know this is the same problem everyone seems to be having, and I've been reading all the forums but I can't get to the bottom of it.

If that was really true then you would have seen that in every one of those posts, the people attempting to assist are asking for the users to read the General troubleshoting post and post their computer specifications using the software and instructions from that post. We need that information to be able to help you.

Originally Posted by james21789

Hopefully someone will be able to shed some light on my situation?

If/when you post your specs.

Originally Posted by james21789

I'm running a Digi 003 rack with my Dell XPS 1530, its got duo core running at 2.6 and 4 gigs of ram, so it should be more than capable of running PT8 effectively, right?

Powerful enough? Yes. Compatible with Pro Tools? mMaybe not, but without specs...

Originally Posted by james21789

Could there be a problem with Vista, I know the OS is hypersensitive?

I personally would not recommend Vista, but others (including Digidesign) have it running smoothly.

[Benoni]

yeah, post a sandra report dude so we can see what ya got.

[TOM@METRO]

Because you are on a Dell, the first thing that comes to mind is the firewire controller. But without a Sandra Report on you system... Who knows?

Instructions are here.

[james21789]

All of your help is greatly appreciated; thank you.

Alright, sorry I missed this the first time.

here's the SANDRA:

SiSoftware Sandra

System
Host Name : JAMESXPS
User : James XPS
Workgroup : WORKGROUP

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T7700 @ 2.40GHz
Speed : 2.39GHz
Cores per Processor : 2 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 1 Unit(s)
Type : Mobile, Dual-Core
Internal Data Cache : 2x 32kB, Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way, Inclusive, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 4MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 16-way, Inclusive, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing

System
Platform Compliance : Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Technology
Mainboard : Dell Inc. 0XR148
Bus(es) : ISA PCI PCIe IMB USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : Yes
System BIOS : AT/AT COMPATIBLE DELL - 27d8070e
Total Memory : 3.50GB DDR2

Chipset 1
Model : Dell Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Express Processor to DRAM Controller
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 200MHz (800MHz)
Total Memory : 4GB DDR2
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 333MHz (666MHz)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : Generic PnP Monitor
Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
Imaging Device : Laptop Integrated Webcam

Physical Storage Devices
FUJITSU MHZ2160BH G2 160GB (SATA300, NCQ, 8MB Cache) : 149.05GB (C:) (D:)
TEAC DVD+-RW DVW28SLC (ATAPI33, 24x CD-R, 24x CD-W, 3x DVD-R, 3x DVD-W, 64kB Cache) : N/A (E:)
OLEZ MNG1Y3S5UV (SCSI) : N/A (F:)
OLEZ MNG1Y3S5UV (SCSI) : N/A (G:)

Logical Storage Devices
RECOVERY (D:) : 10.00GB (4.27GB, 43% Free Space) (NTFS) @ FUJITSU MHZ2160BH G2 160GB (SATA300, NCQ, 8MB Cache)
OS (C:) : 136.50GB (60.33GB, 44% Free Space) (NTFS) @ FUJITSU MHZ2160BH G2 160GB (SATA300, NCQ, 8MB Cache)
CD-ROM/DVD (E:) : N/A @ TEAC DVD+-RW DVW28SLC (ATAPI33, 24x CD-R, 24x CD-W, 3x DVD-R, 3x DVD-W, 64kB Cache)
CD-ROM/DVD (F:) : N/A @ OLEZ MNG1Y3S5UV (SCSI)
CD-ROM/DVD (G:) : N/A @ OLEZ MNG1Y3S5UV (SCSI)

Peripherals
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2830
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2831
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2832
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2834
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2835
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 2836
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 283A
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Composite Device
USB Controller/Hub : Generic USB Hub
FireWire/1394 Controller/Hub : RICOH OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
Bluetooth Device : Microsoft Bluetooth Enumerator
Bluetooth Device : Dell Truemobile 355 Bluetooth + EDR
Keyboard : Standard PS/2 Keyboard
Keyboard : HID Keyboard Device
Mouse : Dell Touchpad
Mouse : HID-compliant mouse
Human Interface : Bluetooth Remote Control
Human Interface : HID-compliant consumer control device
Human Interface : HID-compliant consumer control device
Human Interface : USB Human Interface Device
Human Interface : USB Human Interface Device

Printers and Faxes
Model : Microsoft XPS Document Writer
Model : Canon MP620 series Printer

Power Management
Mains (AC) Line Status : On-Line
Battery No 1 : 100%

Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows Vista Home Media Center 6.00.6001 (Service Pack 1)
Platform Compliance : Win32 x86

Network Services
Adapter : Marvell Yukon 88E8040 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller
Adapter : Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN

[sw rec]

You need to run the Sandra reports with EvERYTHING hooked up just as you would run Pro Tools. So run it with the aforementioned Lacie hooked up.
I'm going to second the notion that the Dell Firewire controller is what's giving you trouble.

[james21789]

oops! my bad...

SiSoftware Sandra

System
Host Name : JAMESXPS
User : James XPS
Workgroup : WORKGROUP

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T7700 @ 2.40GHz
Speed : 2.39GHz
Cores per Processor : 2 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 1 Unit(s)
Type : Mobile, Dual-Core
Internal Data Cache : 2x 32kB, Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way, Inclusive, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 4MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 16-way, Inclusive, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing

System
Platform Compliance : Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Technology
Mainboard : Dell Inc. 0XR148
Bus(es) : ISA PCI PCIe IMB USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : Yes
System BIOS : AT/AT COMPATIBLE DELL - 27d8070e
Total Memory : 3.50GB DDR2

Chipset 1
Model : Dell Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Express Processor to DRAM Controller
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 200MHz (800MHz)
Total Memory : 4GB DDR2
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 333MHz (666MHz)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : Generic PnP Monitor
Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
Imaging Device : Laptop Integrated Webcam

Physical Storage Devices
FUJITSU MHZ2160BH G2 160GB (SATA300, NCQ, 8MB Cache) : 149.05GB (C:) (D:)
HDT72251 6DLAT80 165GB (USB) : 153.39GB (H:)
TEAC DVD+-RW DVW28SLC (ATAPI33, 24x CD-R, 24x CD-W, 3x DVD-R, 3x DVD-W, 64kB Cache) : N/A (E:)
OLEZ MNG1Y3S5UV (SCSI) : N/A (F:)
OLEZ MNG1Y3S5UV (SCSI) : N/A (G:)

Logical Storage Devices
RECOVERY (D:) : 10.00GB (4.27GB, 43% Free Space) (NTFS) @ FUJITSU MHZ2160BH G2 160GB (SATA300, NCQ, 8MB Cache)
OS (C:) : 136.50GB (59.74GB, 44% Free Space) (NTFS) @ FUJITSU MHZ2160BH G2 160GB (SATA300, NCQ, 8MB Cache)
CD-ROM/DVD (E:) : N/A @ TEAC DVD+-RW DVW28SLC (ATAPI33, 24x CD-R, 24x CD-W, 3x DVD-R, 3x DVD-W, 64kB Cache)
CD-ROM/DVD (F:) : N/A @ OLEZ MNG1Y3S5UV (SCSI)
CD-ROM/DVD (G:) : N/A @ OLEZ MNG1Y3S5UV (SCSI)
LACIE (H:) : 153.38GB (78.35GB, 51% Free Space) (NTFS) @ HDT72251 6DLAT80 165GB (USB)

Peripherals
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2830
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2831
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2832
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2834
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2835
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 2836
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 283A
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Mass Storage Device
USB Controller/Hub : USB Composite Device
USB Controller/Hub : Generic USB Hub
FireWire/1394 Controller/Hub : RICOH OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
Bluetooth Device : Microsoft Bluetooth Enumerator
Bluetooth Device : Dell Truemobile 355 Bluetooth + EDR
Keyboard : Standard PS/2 Keyboard
Keyboard : HID Keyboard Device
Mouse : Dell Touchpad
Mouse : HID-compliant mouse
Human Interface : Bluetooth Remote Control
Human Interface : HID-compliant consumer control device
Human Interface : HID-compliant consumer control device
Human Interface : USB Human Interface Device
Human Interface : USB Human Interface Device

Printers and Faxes
Model : Microsoft XPS Document Writer
Model : Canon MP620 series Printer

Power Management
Mains (AC) Line Status : Off-Line
Battery No 1 : 98%

Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows Vista Home Media Center 6.00.6001 (Service Pack 1)
Platform Compliance : Win32 x86

Network Services
Adapter : Marvell Yukon 88E8040 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller
Adapter : Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN

[sw rec]

HDT72251 6DLAT80 165GB (USB) : 153.39GB (H:)

Your external is listed as a USB drive now, and USB drives are not supported or recommended. If you have the option of running it as FIREWiRE, certainly do that, but again, I'm pointing the (pun intended) big finger at the Dell firewire controller.

[james21789]

Thanks for the help.

If my computer only has one fire-wire port, is it possible for me to run an ext HD and my 003 though firewire?

How should I attempt to rectify the Dell firewire controller issue? I have no idea what that even does...

[spkguitar]

Originally Posted by james21789

If my computer only has one fire-wire port, is it possible for me to run an ext HD and my 003 though firewire?

You would daisy chain them: computer->hard drive->003

Originally Posted by james21789

How should I attempt to rectify the Dell firewire controller issue? I have no idea what that even does...

Purchase and install one of the Digidesign Qualified Firewire Cards (<-Click there). There's only one that is compatible with laptops, and I'm not sure yours is even capable of expanding that way, though I think it might be.

I'd like to point out a few other things;

Originally Posted by james21789

CD-ROM/DVD (F:) : N/A @ OLEZ MNG1Y3S5UV (SCSI)
CD-ROM/DVD (G:) : N/A @ OLEZ MNG1Y3S5UV (SCSI)

Those look like "virtual" drives (daemon tools? clone drive? )

Digidesign does not support virtual drives while using Pro Tools. If you absolutely need them for other things, turn them off or disable them while using Pro Tools.

Originally Posted by james21789

Imaging Device : Laptop Integrated Webcam

Do you really need the webcam while using Pro Tools? Disable it when using Pro Tools.

Originally Posted by james21789

Adapter : Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN

In my experience with Pro Tools on laptops, this absolutely must be disabled while running Pro Tools.

Then there's Vista.