Pro tools 12.4 not playing nice with liquid saffire 56
 

Hello all,

Well, I'm stumped...I just made the jump from PT 11.3.1 to 12.4 and now I'm having issues trying to get PT to initialize my LS56.

Keep getting the seemingly ever popular: "PRO TOOLS COULD NOT INITIALIZE THE SAFFIRE", error message.

I also have W7 and here's what I've done so far...FYI, I've gotten these bits of advise from other threads:

1) Trashed preferences and did all the W7 optimizations - didn't work

2) I've changed the sample rate in the windows audio MGR then changed the settings to match that in mix control 3.7 - launched PT, then created a new blank session at the same sample rate. I then pressed play then closed out of it and loaded up my session. Pro tools opens and then freezes/crashes - just get: "PRO TOOLS COULD NOT INITIALIZE THE SAFFIRE"...

FYI, my SAFFIRE is NOT set as the default device

3) Launched PT, pressed N...My playback engine defaults to WINDOWS AUDIO DEVICE...I changed it manually to SAFFIRE, pro tools opens and then freezes/crashes (I did this several times) - still get the error message: "PRO TOOLS COULD NOT INITIALIZE THE SAFFIRE"...

4) I've installed & uninstalled mix control 3.7 & 3.4 - when I open PT, I still get the error message: "PRO TOOLS COULD NOT INITIALIZE THE SAFFIRE"...

5) I've installed & uninstalled my FW chipset several times - when I open PT, I still get the error message: "PRO TOOLS COULD NOT INITIALIZE THE SAFFIRE"...

6) I've tried this with 11.3.1 & 10.3.9 - same issue...When I open PT, I still get the error message: "PRO TOOLS COULD NOT INITIALIZE THE SAFFIRE"...

I didn't have this problem a month ago...Problem started happening last night when I opted to jump to 12.4. Since installing 12.4, I can't get any version of PT (that I have) to open without getting the error message: "PRO TOOLS COULD NOT INITIALIZE THE SAFFIRE" .

Like I said, I'm stumped.

Here are my specs - would appreciate if someone can assist.

Computer
Model : Gigabyte GA-A75-UD4H

Processor
Model : AMD A6-3650 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics
Speed : 2.6GHz
Cores per Processor : 4 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 1 Unit(s)
Type : MP Upgrade, Quad-Core
Integrated Data Cache : 4x 64kB, Synchronous, Write-Back, 2-way, Exclusive, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 4x 1MB, ECC, Synchronous, Write-Back, 16-way, Exclusive, 64 byte line size

Computer
Mainboard : Gigabyte GA-A75-UD4H
BIOS : Award (Phoenix) F7 11/02/2011
Bus(es) : ISA X-Bus PCI PCIe USB FireWire/1394
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : No
Total Memory : 8GB DIMM DDR3

Chipset
Model : AMD 1705h
Front Side Bus Speed : 1x 200MHz (200MHz)

Chipset
Model : AMD 1700h
Front Side Bus Speed : 1x 200MHz (200MHz)
Total Memory : 8GB DIMM DDR3
Channels : 1
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 667MHz (1.33GHz)

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : None 4GB DIMM PC10600U
Memory Module : None 4GB DIMM PC10600U

Video System
Video Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS (20 PS3.0, 7 VS3.0 518MHz, 256MB 2x689MHz, PCIe 1.00 x16)

Graphics Processor

Storage Devices
Samsung SSD 850 EVO 500GB 500.1GB (SATA600, SSD, NCQ) : 466GB (C:)
WDC WD1001FALS-41Y6A0 (1TB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache) : 932GB (E:)
WDC WD1002FAEX-00Y9A0 (1TB, USB/SATA, 3.5", 7200rpm) : 932GB (D:)
ATAPI iHAS324 B (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (F:)

Logical Storage Devices
Main OS (C:) : 466GB (NTFS) @ Samsung SSD 850 EVO 500GB 500.1GB (SATA600, SSD, NCQ)
Pro Tools (E:) : 932GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD1001FALS-41Y6A0 (1TB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache)
Back-Up (D:) : 932GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD1002FAEX-00Y9A0 (1TB, USB/SATA, 3.5", 7200rpm)
Optical Drive (F:) : N/A @ ATAPI iHAS324 B (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : ATI (AMD) Hudson LPC Bridge
LPC Legacy Controller 1 : ITE IT8720F
Audio Device : Giga-Byte Hudson Azalia Controller
Audio Codec : Realtek Semiconductor High Definition Audio
Serial Port(s) : 1
Disk Controller : Giga-Byte Hudson SATA Controller [IDE mode]
Disk Controller : Giga-Byte Hudson IDE Controller
USB Controller 1 : Giga-Byte Hudson USB XHCI Controller
USB Controller 2 : Giga-Byte Hudson USB XHCI Controller
USB Controller 3 : Giga-Byte Hudson USB OHCI Controller
USB Controller 4 : Giga-Byte Hudson USB EHCI Controller
USB Controller 5 : Giga-Byte Hudson USB OHCI Controller
USB Controller 6 : Giga-Byte Hudson USB EHCI Controller
USB Controller 7 : Giga-Byte Hudson USB OHCI Controller
USB Controller 8 : Giga-Byte 7023h
FireWire/1394 Controller 1 : Avlab Technology XIO2200(A) IEEE-1394a-2000 Controller (PHY/Link)
FireWire/1394 Controller 2 : Giga-Byte VT6306 VIA Fire II IEEE-1394 OHCI Link Layer Controller

Printers and Faxes
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600, Colour)
Printer : Foxit Reader PDF Printer Driver (600x600, Colour)
Fax : Microsoft Shared Fax Driver (200x200)

Network Services
Network Adapter : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller (Ethernet, 1Gbps)

Power Management
Mains (AC) Line Status : On-Line

Operating System
Windows System : Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 6.01.7601 (Service Pack 1)
Platform Compliance : x64

Windows Experience Index
Current System : 5.6

Re: Pro tools 12.4 not playing nice with liquid saffire 56
 

It may not be the default windows sound device BUT just check that the playback& record settings for it are set to a sensible default sample rate.

Similarly check that the ASIO buffer setting is not pushing things too hard, 512 samples should be fine - change once stable :-)

Also remove the DSI preferences database C:\Users\*user name*\AppData\Roaming\Avid\Pro Tools\DSIPrefs

Re: Pro tools 12.4 not playing nice with liquid saffire 56
 

Thank you ex-user...I tried what you suggested...Everything worked for about 5 minutes but when I closed out of a session and opened something else I started getting the error message again. I rechecked my sample rates, buffer size, etc...I am denied.

Also, DSIPrefs ended up back in the PRO TOOLS folder (???), I deleted them (again) trashed preferences (again)...re-opened P/T, got the error message (again).

This freakin' error message will be haunting me in my dreams tonight!!! This is RIDICULOUS!!!

Anyway, I e-mailed FOCUSRITE'S support team - hopefully they'll respond with a resolution. I have scoured so many forums, done so much troubleshooting only to end up sitting here with sores on my butt - I'm spent now.

I'm beginning to think my LS56 is flippin' defective.

Yeesh! :rolleyes:

Pro tools 12.4 not playing nice with liquid saffire 56
 

Can you run PT normally on AISO? ie w/o the Saffire as the interface?

B/c it might be the FW controller, either that or have you swapped out FW cables? Or swap ports on the back of the Saffire ?


I have an TI approved FW PCIe card that I used with my Saffire, for sale if your interested...(if you think it's related to the computer FW controller)

Re: Pro tools 12.4 not playing nice with liquid saffire 56
 

Hello and appreciate the response...Works fine using the ASIO4ALL driver. I did swap out cables and ports - I don't think it's my FW card because I noticed something funky while I was goofing around tonight. Ultimately I got everything working but there's something up with my LS56.

Here's what's happening:

First, I have to trash preferences after every project I close out - when I do this all my projects that I recorded in 44K, playback & record just fine. It's when I boot up a project in 48K that I start having issues. Doesn't matter if I change the windows audio manager or the mix control 3.7, my LS56 will not connect in 48K.

Oddly enough I had a similar problem when I bought my 11R years ago, turned out it was defective - had to get it replaced.

Maybe I don't need to that here, any ideas?

Re: Pro tools 12.4 not playing nice with liquid saffire 56
 

No I don't really have any ideas about that aside from making sure that windows isn't telling your Saffire to default to 48k.

Just checking to make sure that it's not listed as the default playback device, i'm never really had an issue with my Saffire, they are pretty cheap now you should be able to get another one if you have to

Re: Pro tools 12.4 not playing nice with liquid saffire 56
 

Try running Pro Tools as administrator

Re: Pro tools 12.4 not playing nice with liquid saffire 56
 

This is typical of my experience with the Saffire 56 (and the TCE). Pro Tools doesn't like sample rate changes with 3rd pary interfaces. As a result, I record everything at 48k 24bit, and if there's a session at 44.1, I usually import the tracks and session info into a new 48k session.

My way of fixing the issue with sample rate changes is to set the Saffire to the sample rate you need, then boot up Pro Tools but don't open any sessions. Instead, create a new session and the new session dialogue will ask for the sample rate, which is usually the old/wrong one. Change it, create the session, then hopefully you'll be able to open the session you want to work on. I do miss the 003 for the simple way you could change sample rates without all this trouble, but this method seems to work for me.

Also, as you probably know, make sure all your devices are clocked together at the same sample rate.

Hope that helps!

Re: Pro tools 12.4 not playing nice with liquid saffire 56
 

Hi I had the same problem . To cure it delete all the I/O and Busses in pro tools and set them to Default
then like magic it worked.