Pro Tools 11 - Playback Problems and Latency
 

Hello guys!
I’m having a lot of problems with Pro Tools 11 when both recording and mixing.

PC Setup

• CPU: I7-770 3.6 GHZ
• MB: Z270 Tomahawk
• 32 GB Ram
• System HD: WD_BLACK™ SN750 NVMe™ SSD M2 1TB
• Sessions and VSTS HD: Crucial FCCT1024 SSD 1 TB
• Audio Interface: Focusrite Scarlet 6i6 Gen2

My session setup is the following:

1-3 VST instruments like Kontakt , Omnisphere , etc.
3 Mono tracks with Guitar Rig VST
10-12 Mono tracks with 1-2 plugins each (EQ + Dym)
2 Aux Inputs with Reverb and Delay
1 Master Track with an L2 compresor

Recording

• I get Latency, even at low buffer size levels ( 32-128 samples)
• When activating Ignore errors during playback or minimize aditional I/O Latency from the playback engine

• I get Jitter, clicks, pops.
• Sometimes playback just wont start, the play button from the transport menu starts blinking.
• This makes it impossible to record properly while using MIDI and Virtual Instruments

Mixing

• Sometimes I get the same Playback issue at high buffer size levels (1024)

When I check the System Usage to see my CPU usage, it show 30-35% tops, so I dont know why my system is reacting this way.

I’m attaching a picture of the CPU load to the post.

Needless to say that if I use Cubase or Reaper this doesn't happen at all.

If anyone can help me sort this out so I can use my Pro Tools properly , I will really appreciate it.

Thanks!

Re: Pro Tools 11 - Playback Problems and Latency
 

You didn’t specify what your operating system is. How are you hosting VSTs?

Re: Pro Tools 11 - Playback Problems and Latency
 

I am not fond of putting sample libraries on the same drive as sessions. With only 2 drives, I would put those on the system drive, OR, try putting the session on drive C: (this was not good in the days of spinning drives, but a fast SSD should be fine with it).

Set drive cache to 4-6GB("normal" is actually none)

Freeze or Commit the VI tracks as soon as each is recorded to see if that helps(if it does, then that indicates my first comment may have merit):o

Re: Pro Tools 11 - Playback Problems and Latency
 

My OS is Windows 10 Pro.
Then regarding Hosting, I'm just using Instrument Tracks with inserts linked to Midi tracks .

I dont know if that's what you meant by "hosting".

Re: Pro Tools 11 - Playback Problems and Latency
 

VST plugins don’t run in Pro Tools, it only “sees” AAX-64 plugins. How do you get PT to see your VTSs? (I use BlueCat Patchwork)

Re: Pro Tools 11 - Playback Problems and Latency
 

Ohh now I see what you mean. Just a notation mistake, by VST I meant Vsti (Virtual Instruments). They are all AAX.

Re: Pro Tools 11 - Playback Problems and Latency
 

By the way, Pro Tools 11 is not officially qualified for Win 10.That doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t work, but you won’t get Avid support (as if!)
12.4 wasn’t qualified either, but it worked on W10 just fine. Consider running in compatibility mode.

Re: Pro Tools 11 - Playback Problems and Latency
 

Things to consider re latency:
1-playback buffer needs to be low(64 or 128 are usually okay)
2-plugin latency matters. Under Mix Window Views, check "Delay Compensation" so you can see what is really going on. If you see numbers higher than 10 samples(plus or minus a little), then plugins on that track(s) are adding latency(no big deal when mixing, but bad news while recording). You may need to try different EQ or Dynamics plugins while tracking(and Waves L2 is adding 64 samples of latency, no matter what else you do).
3-plugin latency on a MASTER track will also mess up tracking(remember that Delay Compensation works by making everything else later, to match the track with the highest latency).

Re other issues:
1-Guitar rig(and most amp sims) are notorious CPU hogs, so try freezing or committing as you go(so you only have a single GR plugin "live" at any time)
2-Snaps and pops; UN-check "Ignore errors during playback".(and see #4)
3-The Focusrite is USB? Is it connected to the front of the computer or directly to the motherboard backplane(assuming this is a desktop)? The backplane connections might work better(its worth a try).
4-the Z270 Tomahawk is sort of an unknown(chipset can make or break a PT setup).
5-maybe review and re-do all the system tweaks(and note that sometimes a Windows 10 update will reset some of them)

For future reference, "VST" is a plugin format by Steinberg. "VSTi" is a virtual instrument in the VST format. Most of us use "VI" for Virtual Instrument plugins in Pro Tools.