Pro Tools 6101/9128 errors

[jeid]

Current setup is 27" iMac with the i7 2.93Ghz CPU, 12Gb Ram, 1TB hard disk and a 1TB Lacie D2 Quadra external drive. I use an RME Fireface 800 as my main interface. Newest drivers and firmware (updated the driver last night). Snow Leopard 10.6.8 and Pro Tools 9.0.6. If I've missed something relevant, let me know.

The chain is iMac->Lacie Drive->FF800 (and has been for months)

For the past month or so, I've been getting 6101 errors. (not my screenshot)


It's been annoying the bejesus out of me. So far, I've done the following

Trash prefs
Fresh install
Drive optimization
Format drive and re-install everything

Still the error remains. I'm expecting people to say that it's the drive, but I've had no issues for well over a year.

The CPU is only ever peaking at a max of about 50%, so there's plenty of power left. I can understand the odd error when there's a lot of plug-ins on my sessions, but I've had this happen on empty sessions when I've been tracking drums. It happens more when my H/W Buffer is set to 128 samples, but when I'm mixing, I always set it to 1024 samples as it saves on errors.

My RME setup looks like this:


And my Pro Tools Playback Engine screen looks like this:


My possible solutions are:

Buy a new external drive
Upgrade to PT10
Try new cables
Punch myself in the face repeatedly


Money is tight just now as I'm going on two holidays in a couple of weeks, so cheap quick fixes are my favourite. I'm not looking for people to come in and tell me that PT is [bleep][bleep][bleep][bleep].. I know it's flawed, but this is getting ridiculous now. Going to post this on DUC as well.

Thanks for any tips

[The Dougfather]

Has all the hallmarks of a rogue out of date plugin.

Even if they're not being used in the immediate session they can still cause this behaviour.

[jeid]

Yeah? Even when none are being used? Very odd.

Going to have to do some fishing on that one then.

[PMcC]

Jeid,

I used to get these all the time, it made PT non workable, I would just close it and open Logic. I know it's frustrating too, to hear people say it's your system.

same here,..dedicated audio Mac,..no BS on it yada, yada,...I hear you.

Do a search around the Avid site for the PT optimizations....there's a whole bunch of steps you take,..includes un-installing and reinstalling PT in fact.

This was a HUGE help to me,...I rarely get the message any longer.

I probably just jinxed myself,...and will now...:}

seriously, do this.