Artist Series and Studio Monitor Express

[Kelly M. Pieklo]

Hello all -

Wondering how many of you are using Euphonix's Studio Monitor Express application with your Pro Tools rig?

I've been using the MC Pro since about 2008 (when it was still the MC) and have another studio outfitted with the Artist Series controllers. I use PT and Nuendo in both studios.

Here's the setup:

Mac Octo, 10.5.8, PT 8.01
192 I/O ADAT out > Apogee Ensemble ADAT in
Ensemble is feeding my monitors
In "Audio MIDI Setup" Mac utility, Ensemble is set as "Default Output"

Ensemble is set as Audio Device in "Config" tab in SME
In "Patching" tab in SME, "Audio Device In" inputs are set to the Ensemble IPs
In "Patching" tab in SME, "Audio Device Out" outputs are set to the Ensemble OPs

Ever since I originally rec'd the MC Pro, I have been having a recurring issue when monitoring PT through the Studio Monitor Express app. It seems to appear randomly, but more often it happens after opening a plugin on a track, or after going to another app I'm using simultaneously (like Soundminer) and coming back to PT.

I end up starting playback and the playback is choppy and stuttered - there is audio there, but is played back like the disk can't keep up with playback. I'm 99% positive that the problem doesn't exist within ProTools, but instead occurs somewhere between the SME matrix and the Ensemble. I've all but confirmed this by watching my Dorroughs which are fed directly from the 192.

In most cases, the problem will go away if I open up Apogee's Maestro software and reset the clock - say, go from WC to Internal, then back to WC.

But that is unacceptable. Clients aren't impressed when I bring them up to listen to the final mix and upon playback I have to stop, reset the clock, and start playback all over again. And quite honestly, I know what clock issues sound like, and this doesn't sound like a clock issue.

I've had this problem since I started using the Euphonix units, and haven't really come across anyone else who has had the same or similar issues. I don't use the SME software with Nuendo, and Nuendo performs flawlessly on playback. I've voiced the issue to Euphonix as well, with not much help. I've talked to Apogee too. No luck.

I am about to invest in an outboard monitor controller like a Multimax because I can't seem to figure out what the problem is. I'd rather not, as I like using the monitor controllers on the Euphonix consoles.

So I'm wondering what you all are doing to port PT into SME successfully? Additionally, does anyone know if AVID is planning on integrating a CR monitor matrix section into PT itself, like Nuendo?

Thanks in advance. I'm hoping I don't have to shell out for an outboard monitor controller right now.