Artist Control - Has anyone managed to solve the disconnection issues?

[sixstringbob]

This is a last throw of the dice before I trade in my Artist Control.
I've had the unit for over a year but never been able to get into the flow of learning to use it due to the constant disconnection problems. Never figured out a pattern of what is causing the problem, sometimes it will stay connected for 2/3 hours before freezing and becoming unresponsive, other times it could drop after only a few minutes. Having tried every different connection method I can think of, I've run out of ideas.

As it stands, I have the Artist Control & the iMac connected via a switch. IPV4 manual, static IP's for both (iMac 10.0.0.2, Artist Control 10.0.03). I've just moved over to Pro Tools in the hope that (considering both products are Avid) the stability will be much better but alas no, the dropout/disconnection/freezing still occurs.

The only clues I have to the problem are that
1. The Artist Control stays connected 24 hours a day as long as I don't try to open use it in my DAW (Pro Tools or Logic)

2. The disconnection seems to occur sooner if I have Safari or Mail app open at the same time as my DAW.

If anyone has any tips or experience of the same issue, I'd love to give it another try before I part with it. If I could get it to work the way it was intended, I would stick with it. If the occasional dropout is just something people live with, then it's gone!

Thanks in advance

[SvenIsak]

Have you tried tried locking the Eucon to your DAW? You do this under the "Assign" tab in "Eucon Settings".

That would prevent Eucon to make futile attempts to control Finder, Safari and other non-Eucon software.

[sixstringbob]

I'm sure I've tried that previously but looking at current Eucon settings, it wasn't locked to Pro Tools. I'll give that a go and report back.

Thanks for the tip.

[sixstringbob]

6 hours and counting...no dropouts!! This could be it. SvenIsak you're a superstar!

[sixstringbob]

Switched over to Logic for a new project and lost connection after only 10 minutes! After a restart, I was back in Pro Tools and the dropouts occurred every few minutes. Just had some sound advice suggesting that I connect (via extremely long ethernet cable) directly to the router which I will try tomorrow.

[romanoffski]

Any luck? I have the same issues. In Logic if anything else is open like Mail or Safari it will crash Artist Control.

[sixstringbob]

No luck. Still random freezing/crashes, although not as frequent with cable running through the house (tripping up the wife and kids!). It could be that my cable isn't of highest quality (or I maybe clutching at straws again) but do I go ahead and pay for a professional to come and patch a cable through the walls when deep down I fear that this will just be another waste of money? I guess that if I don't give it a try, I'll never know.
I was toying with idea of disconnecting my system from the internet altogether and using my spare Mac for anything internet related but of course that's a non starter as so many things I'm using need access to the internet.
I'm not ready to give up yet as I really believe that if this thing works as it is supposed to, it will be invaluable.

[sixstringbob]

I've finally thrown in the towel. Having tried every possible method of attaining stable connection, it's clear that I will always experience these dropouts/freezes. For the first time however, I'm not laying the blame directly at the unit itself, rather this is some networking issue that I simply cannot solve.

The decision has now be made to sell the Artist Control and opt for the iCon PROQ with Softube Console for control of plugs. 2 things bother me though. I feel uncomfortable selling a product to someone who may have the same problems that I've had these past 2 years. I respect Karma! Secondly, the idea of the new buyer trying to register the unit - looks like we'd both be reliant of AVID support to assist in the transfer of the registration. Quite simply, placing my trust in AVID is setting alarm bells ringing and seriously doubt this would be anything but problematic.

[EddieJones]

Sorry to hear about your issues. Did you ever run a short cable directly into the Control ? (No router or switch in between)

[sixstringbob]

Yes. Tried absolutely everything that has been suggested. I'm convinced that the unit itself is not at fault and if I had the luxury of spending a few days doing nothing but testing, I might be able to pinpoint the problem (even though in 2 years of trying everything, I haven't sussed it out yet). Such a shame as when this thing is up and running, I think it's amazing and I know I'm seriously downgrading with my other options but I just need something that works and doesn't waste my time.