Pro Tools 8 virtual instrument problems

[kimballob]

Hi, on starting Pro Tools when creating a new blank session the edit window opens. I then go to create a new instrument track. I then select any virtual instrument and proceed to try and play any note on my midi keyboard. All I get is part notes, cut outs and the occasional note playing. So cant' get any virtual instrument to play properly using this method. If I then try to record anything I get error 6086 and recording stops after 2 seconds. What I found completely by mistake was if I go to the X in the top right of the edit window, hold the mouse over the X while keeping left mouse button depressed, for some reason this lets me play the keyboard and virtual instruments without any problems whatsoever. I can also record using this method but as you can appreciate, holding my mouse down over the X while trying to play and record isn't an ideal situation, plus I need an extra arm! I'm using Pro Tools 8, Vista Ultimate, 4GB memory, an external firewire drive with Oxford firewire interface, the Pro Tools software is running on an internal SATAII drive and I record on the external firewire drive. I'm using an MBox 2. I've had so many errors in Vista and as yet have not had a proper working Pro Tools that I can use for more than 2 days without new problems. Can anybody please help? If I had any hair, I would have pulled it out long ago...lol!

Kind regards & many thanks,

Kimball.

[jmitchell1532]

What version of Vista? 32 or 64 bit? PT isn't supported for 64 bit Vista, so you might be better off in the long run going to XP.

[DigiTechSupt]

We're going to need a lot more info about your system - Sandra report, how you have everything connected, etc.

See the Help Us Help You and General Troubleshooting threads for details as well as possible solutions to your problems.

[kimballob]

Thanks for your replys guys .Ill do Sandra report but im using Vista Ultimate 32 bit

[kimballob]

Hi Guys heres Sandra Report

SiSoftware Sandra
System
Model : System manufacturer P5K-E
Workgroup : WORKGROUP
Host Name : LH-5N5S8IHM29LH
User : Kimball
Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz
Speed : 3GHz
Cores per Processor : 2 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 1 Unit(s)
Type : Dual-Core
Integrated Data Cache : 2x 32kB, Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 6MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 24-way, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing
System
Mainboard : ASUSTeK Computer INC. P5K-E
BIOS : American Megatrends Inc. 1301 (12/16/2008)
Bus(es) : ISA X-Bus PCI PCIe IMB USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : Yes
Total Memory : 3.25GB DIMM DDR2 DDR3
Chipset
Model : ASUS P35/G33/G31 Processor to I/O Controller
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 334MHz (1.34GHz)
Total Memory : 4GB DIMM DDR2 DDR3
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 534MHz (1GHz)
Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Kingston KTC1G-UDIMM 1GB DIMM DDR2 PC2-6400U DDR2-800 (5-5-5-18 3-23-6-3)
Memory Module : Kingston KTC1G-UDIMM 1GB DIMM DDR2 PC2-6400U DDR2-800 (5-5-5-18 3-23-6-3)
Memory Module : Kingston KTC1G-UDIMM 1GB DIMM DDR2 PC2-6400U DDR2-800 (5-5-5-18 3-23-6-3)
Memory Module : Kingston KTC1G-UDIMM 1GB DIMM DDR2 PC2-6400U DDR2-800 (5-5-5-18 3-23-6-3)
Video System
Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT (64 SM4.0 1.6GHz, 512MB DDR3 2x900MHz, PCIe 1.00 x16)
Graphics Processor
Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT (64SP 1.63GHz, 512MB 2x900MHz Integrated Graphics)
Storage Devices
SAMSUNG HD753LJ (750.2GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache) : 699GB (C:) (H:)
WDC WD5000AAKS-00A7B0 (500.1GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 16MB Cache) : 466GB (F:)
SAMSUNG HD753LJ (750.2GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache) : 699GB (D:)
WDC WD3200KS-00PFB0 (320GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 16MB Cache) : 298GB (E:)
ST9320421AS (320GB, FireWire/1394, 2.5", NCQ) : 298GB (J:)
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H10N (ATA33, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (G:)
Disk : N/A (I:)
Logical Storage Devices
vista (C:) : 492GB (NTFS) @ SAMSUNG HD753LJ (750.2GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache)
XP Pro Sp 3 (H:) : 207GB (NTFS) @ SAMSUNG HD753LJ (750.2GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache)
Pro Tools (F:) : 466GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD5000AAKS-00A7B0 (500.1GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 16MB Cache)
D: Audio (D:) : 699GB (NTFS) @ SAMSUNG HD753LJ (750.2GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache)
DSK4_VOL1 (E:) : 298GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD3200KS-00PFB0 (320GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 16MB Cache)
Optical Drive (G:) : N/A @ HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H10N (ATA33, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)
Optical Drive (I:) : N/A @ Disk
Firewire (J:) : 298GB (NTFS) @ ST9320421AS (320GB, FireWire/1394, 2.5", NCQ)
Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : ASUS (ICH9) LPC Interface Controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1 : Winbond W83627DHG
Serial Port(s) : 1
Disk Controller : ASUS (ICH9) 4 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 1
Disk Controller : ASUS (ICH9) 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 2
Disk Controller : ASUS JMB36X PCIE-to-SATAII/IDE RAID Controller
USB Controller 1 : ASUS (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 2 : ASUS (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 3 : ASUS (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 4 : ASUS (ICH9) USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Controller 5 : ASUS (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 6 : ASUS (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 7 : ASUS (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 8 : ASUS (ICH9) USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
FireWire/1394 Controller 1 : ASUS IEEE 1394a Firewire Controller
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel 801xx/63xx SMBus
Printers and Faxes
Printer : Send To Microsoft OneNote Driver (300x300, Colour)
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600, Colour)
Fax : Microsoft Shared Fax Driver (200x200)
Printer : HP Photosmart C5200 series (600x600, USB, Colour)
Printer : HP Photosmart C5200 series (600x600, USB, Colour)
Network Services
Network Adapter : Marvell Yukon 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (Ethernet, 100Mbps)
Wireless Adapter 1 : Realtek RTL8187 Wireless 802.11b/g 54Mbps USB 2.0 Network Adapter (802.11g (ERP), AES-CCMP, 54Mbps)
Wireless Adapter 2 : D-Link AirPlus G DWL-G510 Wireless PCI Adapter(rev.C) (802.11g (ERP), AES-CCMP, 54Mbps)
Power Management
Mains (AC) Line Status : On-Line
Operating System
Windows System : Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 6.00.6001 (Service Pack 1)
Platform Compliance : x86
Windows Experience Index
Current System : 5.6
Performance Tips
Tip 2546 : Large memory modules should be ECC/Parity.
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.

[spkguitar]

Some strange stuff there, and I would like to point out a few things:

Originally Posted by kimballob

an external firewire drive with Oxford firewire interface, the Pro Tools software is running on an internal SATAII drive and I record on the external firewire drive.

Why?

It looks as if you are saying that you have Pro Tools installed to a separate drive on your system. That should definitely not be the case. Pro Tools should be installed to the system drive.

Originally Posted by kimballob

Chipset
Model : ASUS P35/G33/G31 Processor to I/O Controller

The G33 chipsets have been known to cause problems, though I think the P5K-E is actually the P35. Confusing

This is even more confusing:

Originally Posted by kimballob

Storage Devices
SAMSUNG HD753LJ (750.2GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache) : 699GB (C:) (H:)
WDC WD5000AAKS-00A7B0 (500.1GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 16MB Cache) : 466GB (F:)
SAMSUNG HD753LJ (750.2GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache) : 699GB (D:)
WDC WD3200KS-00PFB0 (320GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 16MB Cache) : 298GB (E:)
ST9320421AS (320GB, FireWire/1394, 2.5", NCQ) : 298GB (J:)
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H10N (ATA33, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (G:)
Disk : N/A (I:)
Logical Storage Devices
vista (C:) : 492GB (NTFS) @ SAMSUNG HD753LJ (750.2GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache)
XP Pro Sp 3 (H:) : 207GB (NTFS) @ SAMSUNG HD753LJ (750.2GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache)
Pro Tools (F:) : 466GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD5000AAKS-00A7B0 (500.1GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 16MB Cache)
D: Audio (D:) : 699GB (NTFS) @ SAMSUNG HD753LJ (750.2GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache)
DSK4_VOL1 (E:) : 298GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD3200KS-00PFB0 (320GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 16MB Cache)
Optical Drive (G:) : N/A @ HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H10N (ATA33, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)
Optical Drive (I:) : N/A @ Disk
Firewire (J:) : 298GB (NTFS) @ ST9320421AS (320GB, FireWire/1394, 2.5", NCQ)

So your main drive is dual boot between XP and Vista? Any particular reason why you are using Vista for Pro Tools instead of XP?

Then the drive F is labeled "Pro Tools"? Do you have Pro Tools and all it's peripherals insstalled there? If so, you need to seriously rethink that approach.

Drive D is labeled "Audio"; what are you using that for?

And what the heck is drive "I"? Is that a "virtual" drive? You definitely need to disable that when using Pro Tools.

What external case specifically is the firewire drive in? Why are you using that for session audio?

Originally Posted by kimballob

Wireless Adapter 2 : D-Link AirPlus G DWL-G510 Wireless PCI Adapter(rev.C) (802.11g (ERP), AES-CCMP, 54Mbps)

This absolutely, positively, MUST be disabled when using Pro Tools.

[kimballob]

Hi Thankyou for the reply if ive omitted anything please let me know


1. I have pro tools on the system drive c: and write audio to the firewire drive

2. I set up the dual boot system beacuse of the problems i was having with Vista loaded xp and still had so many errors i went back to vista

3. The variety of drives listed are drives i have bought because of the problems i was having i:e hardware errors buffer errors so ended up buying a
firewire drive the case is actually an oyen digital FireWire+USB+eSATA 2.5 Hard Drive Enclosure Oxford 924. And have just ordered an internal
PCI FIREWIRE 1394 2+1PORTS CARD TI CHIPSET-LOW PROFILE.

The Memory modules were sold to me as Kingston KHX8500D2K2/2G 1066 mhz but they seem to show as 800mhz in the Sandra report or am i reading that
incorrectly. Would i benefit changing these for the Corsair TWIN2X2048-8500C5D modules.


Then the drive F is labeled "Pro Tools Is just drive storage


Drive D is just drive storage


Drive I has since been disabled


I have set the drives in Workspace the firewire to R and R what do i set all the other drives to
Many Thanks
Kimball