audio device buffer underflow error please help

[idleave]

so i just got a 003 factory and when i try play anything i get the audio device buffer underflowed. it tells me to lower h/b buffer size and it doesnt help. and im only useing one firewire port. also when i have any instrament or mic, it is getting signal but it cuts out in short pops. please help!!!

[spkguitar]

Please,

Read this thread: Help us help you - what you need to know before posting!

Which directs you to read this thread: General Troubleshooting

Until we know what we're dealing with, it's really hard to give you any kind of advice. Some of the suggestions in the General Troubleshooting thread might correct the problem and make it no longer necessary to post details, but until you do those things we're just shooting blind here. Understand?

[idleave]

gateway fx510
win xp pro
intel core 2
Core 2 Duo E6600(2.40GHz 1066MHz FSB 4MB cache,non-HT
pro tools 7.3
500GB 7200rpm SATA II (2-250GB HDD) w/NCQ
4 gb ram
NVIDIA« GeForce 7600GS 256MB Dual DVI - Dual Link w/ HDCP
texas intsraments ohic compiant ieee 1394 host controller
linsys wireless-g pci adapter
creative sb x-fi

ive tried lowering the buffer like it told me i should do. i have 3 ieee 1394 fire wire ports but none of them do anything fifferent and im only using the one to connect the 003 factory. please help me.

[spkguitar]

Thanks for more details, but what would really help is posting the information from a Sandra report (the software that is recommended at the end of the General Troubleshooting thread).

Some things that stand out just a bit:

500GB 7200rpm SATA II (2-250GB HDD) w/NCQ - is that a RAID array? Two 250GB drives as 500GB? Pro Tools does not support RAID. This is most likely what is causing your problem, if so.

If not, where are you recording your Pro Tools sessions? You need a separate physical hard drive for your Pro Tools sessions.

Definitely recommended to turn of the WiFi when using Pro Tools.

Sound Blaster cards have been known to cause issues on some systems. I would recommend at least disabling it when using Pro Tools, but better yet, removing it altogether


And please; posting multiple times isn't going to solve you problem any faster, and will most likely confuse those who would be trying to help you. I know you are anxious, but it may actually make it harder to solve your problems, thus make it take longer.

[idleave]

im sorry for posting more than once. if it is the hard drives, how would i go about fixing the problem. if i got an external hard drive? or would i have to get all new hard drives for my computer? thanks and sorry again for reposting.

[spkguitar]

I really still can't say for sure that your problem is the hard drive(s), because you still haven't posted enough information about your system (I've asked you twice now, and this makes three...). Please. Please, post details about your system using the Sandra software that is linked to at the end of the General Troubleshooting thread.

If your problem is due to a RAID array, you would need to disable the RAID array and configure everything to use single drives. That might require re-installing windows from scratch, depending on how you have it installed. (really can't say for sure... you didn't post details).

If you don't have a raid array, but just one single drive, you would need to get another drive. Internal drives are recommended, but you can also use an external firewire drive; it's your choice which you prefer.

All of this information is covered in the compatibility documentation, which is the very first suggestion in the General Troubleshooting document I linked you to above.

[idleave]

i hope this is whats youre looking for please let me know what i need to do to get my 003 up and running.

-

< System >
Host Name: ROBOCOP
User: Terry Fusco
Workgroup: WORKGROUP

< Processor >
Model: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6600 @
2.40GHz
Speed: 2.40GHz
Cores per Processor: 2 Unit(s)
Threads per Core: 1 Unit(s)
Type: Dual-Core
Internal Data Cache: 2x 32kB Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way set,
64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache: 1x 4MB ECC Synchronous, ATC, 16-way set, 64
byte line size, 2 threads sharing

< Mainboard >
Bus(es): X-Bus PCI PCIe IMB USB FireWire/1394 i2c/
SMBus
MP Support: 1 Processor(s)
MP APIC: Yes
System BIOS: Intel Corp. LA97510J.15A.0045.2006.0711.1639
System: Gateway FX510X
Mainboard: Intel Corporation OEMD975XLAG1
Total Memory: 3.2GB DDR2-SDRAM

< Chipset 1 >
Model: Gateway 2000 82975X Memory Controller Hub
Total Memory: 4GB DDR2-SDRAM

< Video System >
Monitor/Panel: Plug and Play Monitor
Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS

< Physical Storage Devices >
Hard Disk: HDT722525DLA380 (233GB)
Hard Disk: WDC WD2500JD-00HBB0 (233GB)
Hard Disk: Generic USB CF Reader USB Device
Hard Disk: Generic USB MS Reader USB Device
Hard Disk: Generic USB SD Reader USB Device
Hard Disk: Generic USB SM Reader USB Device
CD-ROM/DVD: HL-DT-ST DVD-ROM GDR8164B (CD 48X Rd) (DVD 6X
Rd)
CD-ROM/DVD: LITE-ON COMBO SOHC-4836V (CD 48X Rd, 48X Wr)
(DVD 6X Rd)
CD-ROM/DVD: SONY DVD RW DRU-830A USB Device

< Logical Storage Devices >
Hard Disk (C:): 116GB (99GB, 86% Free Space) (NTFS)
pro tools (E:): 117GB (114GB, 97% Free Space) (NTFS)
Hard Disk (D:): 233GB (233GB, 100% Free Space) (NTFS)
CD-ROM/DVD (J:): N/A
CD-ROM/DVD (K:): N/A
CD-ROM/DVD (L:): N/A
Removable Drive (F:): N/A
Removable Drive (G:): N/A
Removable Drive (H:): N/A
Removable Drive (I:): N/A

< Peripherals >
Serial/Parallel Port(s): 2 COM / 1 LPT
USB Controller/Hub: Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal
Host Controller - 27C8
USB Controller/Hub: Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal
Host Controller - 27C9
USB Controller/Hub: Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal
Host Controller - 27CA
USB Controller/Hub: Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal
Host Controller - 27CB
USB Controller/Hub: Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 Enhanced
Host Controller - 27CC
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: Multimedia Card Reader
FireWire/1394 Controller/Hub: Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394
Host Controller
Keyboard: Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/
2 Keyboard
Mouse: HID-compliant mouse
Human Interface: USB Human Interface Device

< MultiMedia Device(s) >
Device: Creative SB X-Fi

< Printers and Faxes >
Model: Microsoft XPS Document Writer

< Power Management >
Mains (AC) Line Status: On-Line

< Operating System(s) >
Windows System: Microsoft Windows XP/2002 Professional
5.01.2600 (Service Pack 2)
Platform Compliance: Win32 x86

< Network Services >
Adapter: Linksys Wireless-G PCI Adapter

< Performance Tips >
Tip 2546: Large memory modules should be ECC/Parity.
Notice 5901: CD 1x= 150kB/s; Exercise caution when
comparing measured versus published ratings.
Notice 5902: DVD 1x= 11.08Mbps Exercise caution when
comparing measured versus published ratings.
Tip 2: Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip
is selected for more information about the
tip.

<<< Physical Disks >>>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<< WDC WD2500JD-00HBB0 (ATA) >>
<< Read Performance >>
< Benchmark Results >
Drive Index: 45 MB/s
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.
Random Access Time: 48 ms
Results Interpretation: Lower index values are better.

< Performance Test Status >
Run ID: ROBOCOP on Wednesday, July 04, 2007 at 12:56:
56 PM
Platform Compliance: Win32 x86
System Timer: 2.4GHz
Use Overlapped I/O: Yes
IO Queue Depth: 4 request(s)
Block Size: 1MB

< Volume Information >
Capacity: 233GB

[spkguitar]

< Physical Storage Devices >
Hard Disk: HDT722525DLA380 (233GB)
Hard Disk: WDC WD2500JD-00HBB0 (233GB)
<snip>
< Logical Storage Devices >
Hard Disk (C:): 116GB (99GB, 86% Free Space) (NTFS)
pro tools (E:): 117GB (114GB, 97% Free Space) (NTFS)
Hard Disk (D:): 233GB (233GB, 100% Free Space) (NTFS)

OK, I'm a little confused about your setup. Partly because it doesn't quite match what you posted earlier, but mostly because of the actual report.


You actually have two separate physical hard drives, but you have the first one partitioned into two logical drives. You have the second partition labeled "Pro Tools", and that could mean one of two things (both of which would be bad). Are you using the partition (drive E) for your Pro Tools sessions? If so, that could be your main problem as it is on the same physical disk as your system drive. You should be using the other disk (drive D) for your Pro Tools sessions. Now, if you have Pro Tools actually installed on Drive E, that would be even worse. The Pro Tools software should be installed to the system drive with all of the other programs.

One way or the other, you have your drives mis-configured, and that is your main issue.

Hard Disk: Generic USB CF Reader USB Device
Hard Disk: Generic USB MS Reader USB Device
Hard Disk: Generic USB SD Reader USB Device
Hard Disk: Generic USB SM Reader USB Device

I would disable the card reader when using Pro Tools.

CD-ROM/DVD: HL-DT-ST DVD-ROM GDR8164B (CD 48X Rd) (DVD 6X
Rd)
CD-ROM/DVD: LITE-ON COMBO SOHC-4836V (CD 48X Rd, 48X Wr)
(DVD 6X Rd)
CD-ROM/DVD: SONY DVD RW DRU-830A USB Device

The USB DVD writer might be causing problems. I would disconnect it when using Pro Tools. Why not replace the DVD reader with a writer instead?

As I mentioned earlier, the sound blaster has been known to cause problems on some systems. If the earlier suggestions fail, you might want to try disabling it or removing it altogether.