Audio dropping out

[AlexanderMachoManHaHa]

I moved up to PT9 a month ago, and sometimes audio doesn't play: A track will show it is audio in the edit window, but meters aren't showing it. I restart and often it will return.
A few days ago began a new issue, about 2 minutes into listening, bouncing, whatever, the audio drops out completely. Curser is moving across edit window, but the audio is not making it to output. No sound.
Restarting computers buys another 2 minutes and then gone.
Any help?

[DonM]

A:
It may be related to the fact that Pro Tools doesn't know what your computer configuration is .... or maybe we don't.

How about - CPU / RAM / Interface / Operating System / PT 9 rev xx

Also number of tracks / plugs / VI's can be helpful in the file you're testing

-D

[AlexanderMachoManHaHa]

oh details sorry.
IMac 2.8 Ghz, 4G Ram, OSX 10.6.7, DIGI 002, 8 processors . These are music sessions with around a dozen audio tracks at this point.
The random track audio still drops. Sometimes a guitar track, sometimes another. track audio does not register in meter. Today I caught it doing it and when I dragged the audio onto another track it seemed to be fine.
Still an odd thing, and I hate to think about trying to mix with lots of tracks, and having to worry about this happening.

I may have fixed the issue of total audio drop after 2 minutes by bypassing some plug ins (mostly Amplitubes). Give me another day of work to see if it sticks.

[Obsidian Dragon]

Are you recording to the system drive?

[AlexanderMachoManHaHa]

No no, I have little lacie external (500G) firewire 800

[DonM]

Good idea to start by isolating your plugs. I have used other DAWs much longer than PT- but have learned from experience that PT seems more particular about malfunctioning or improperly installed plugins.

-D

[AlexanderMachoManHaHa]

Any ideas on the random audio drops? like when a guitar track just doesn't make any sound or register on the meter?

The full audio drop out issue seems to be resolved. Too many Amplitube apps going on. It looks as though instead of shutting down with an error message it just ran out of RAM and stopped making the audio, and so it would have to restart.

[AlexanderMachoManHaHa]

First, let me say THANK YOU to 'DonM' and 'Obsidian Dragon'.
The problem is definitely with Amplitube. It has gotten to where it can not work even on one track. The problem seems to have just gotten worse until now it is quite consistent. I turn on Amplitube and the audio is gone. The input to the plug in is registering, but not the output.
Could it be a problem with Amplitube2 not working well the PT9?
Can it be uninstalled and reinstalled easily? Could that even help??

ProTools 9, Imac, OS X 10.6.7 2.8 ghz intelcore i7 4 gb ram
Digi 002 laCie 'Rugged' firewire 800
Total Studio Bundle 2 (Amplitube 2, T-RackS)