The Audio Device underflowed problem

[MRFRANC]

Hey guys,

I've only recently had problems with Pro Tools version 9.0.6. Every time I attempt to record or playback, the recording will stop and the following message appears:

The audio buffer underflowed. If this occurs frequently try decreasing the H/W Buffer size in playback engine panel or remove other devices from the audio firewire bus ( -6985)

I am using:

Windows 7 Home Premium Version 6.1 ( Build 7601:Service Pack 1)

Pro Tools version 9.0.6 ( recently updated from 9.0.5, but still had problem before I updated )

Mbox Mini 3rd Generation

I have tried decreasing the buffer size, but this didn't do anything. I also tried changing USB ports to see if it was a port problem. I only have my mouse/keyboard plugged into the USB port, but I can't see this as the cause. I've tried a different USB cable to see if there was a problem with the current cable I'm using, but this wasn't the issue.

I've also pulled out my external hard drive and used that for the back up files of the recordings, but this has also done nothing. I have dl the latest drivers and have made sure that the other sound devices ( soundcard and realtek) are disabled and the mbox is set as the playback and recording device.

I believe this problem has occurred because of the latest Windows 7 system updates. But I can't seem to find anyway of a solution to this problem.

Any help or suggestions would be highly appreciated.

Thanks

[MRFRANC]

that should -6085 not 6985

[Darryl Ramm]

Sandra report...(see the Help Us Help You ... Link on the Top of this web page). run this report with all the disks you use attached and powered up. Especially explain which hard drive are you recording audio/sessions to?

I have no idea what mean when you talk about pulling out the drive disks and backups? Pulled out from where? Added or removed it from this PC? What backups?

What are all the playback engine settings? Set the buffer to 512 for starters.

Darryl

[MRFRANC]

SiSoftware Sandra

Computer
Model : GigaByte H61M-USB3-B3
Chassis : GigaByte Desktop
Mainboard : GigaByte H61M-USB3-B3
BIOS : Award (OEM) F3 03/08/2011
Total Memory : 4GB DIMM DDR3

Processors
Processor : Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2400 CPU @ 3.10GHz (4C 3.3GHz, 3.3GHz IMC, 2x 256kB L2, 6MB L3)
Socket/Slot : FC LGA1155

Chipset
Memory Controller : Intel Core (Sandy Bridge) DRAM Controller 100MHz, 4GB DIMM DDR3 1.33GHz 64-bit

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Kingston 99U5458-005A00LF 4GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-10700U DDR3-1334 (9-9-9-25 4-34-10-5)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : Samsung SyncMaster
(1280x1024, 19.1")
Video Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce 210 (16 SM4.1 1.4GHz/1.49GHz, 1GB DDR3 1.2GHz 19% OC 128-bit, PCIe 2.00 x16)

Graphics Processor
OpenCL GP Processor : NVIDIA GeForce 210 (16SP 2C 1.4GHz, 960MB DDR3 1.2GHz 19% OC 128-bit)
Compute Shader Processor : NVIDIA GeForce 210 (16SP 1.4GHz, 1GB DDR3 1.2GHz 19% OC 128-bit)

Storage Devices
Seagate ST3500413AS (500.1GB, SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm, 16MB Cache) : 466GB (C:)
PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-219L (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (D:)

Logical Storage Devices
System Reserved : 100MB (NTFS)
Hard Disk (C:) : 466GB (NTFS) @ Seagate ST3500413AS (500.1GB, SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm, 16MB Cache)
Optical Drive (D:) : N/A @ PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-219L (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : Gigabyte H61 LPC Controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1 : T2 87-28
Audio Device : Gigabyte Cougar Point High Definition Audio Controller
Audio Device : ASUS High Definition Audio Controller
Serial Port(s) : 2
Parallel Port(s) : 1
Disk Controller : Gigabyte Cougar Point 4 port SATA IDE Controller
Disk Controller : Gigabyte Cougar Point 2 port SATA IDE Controller
USB Controller 1 : Gigabyte Cougar Point USB Enhanced Host Controller #2
USB Controller 2 : Gigabyte Cougar Point USB Enhanced Host Controller #1
USB Controller 3 : Gigabyte Etron USB 3.0 Extensible Host Controller
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel ICH SMBus

Printers and Faxes
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600, Colour)
Printer : HP Deskjet F300 Series (1200x1200, USB, Colour)
Fax : Microsoft Shared Fax Driver (200x200)
Printer : Adobe PDF Converter (4000x4000, Colour)

Network Services
Network Adapter : Atheros AR8151 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (NDIS 6.20) (Ethernet)
Wireless Adapter : RangeMax Wireless-N USB Adapter WN111v2 (802.11g (ERP), AES-CCMP, 39Mbps)

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

Windows Experience Index
Current System : 5.2



Originally, I was just saving the files to my computer HD which I have always done and have had no problem with. I only used/added the external HD today because I read on a forum that using one could prevent this error from occurring, but it didn't.

Sorry, what I meant by backup is just normal recording/track files.

My playback engine was 256, I'll try with 512.

Sorry if I come across basic. I'm only an intermediate Pro Tools user and I'm not very computer savvy.

Thanks for your help

[Darryl Ramm]

Please rerun the Sandra report with the external drive attached as requested before. We need to know if the drive meets the audio drive specs.

You absolutely should not be recording to the system drive. Even if you were lucky and this worked once, there will be a day when it magically stops working. Wow just like this day.

You only have a single memory DIMM, that's a bit unusual. Was the computer sold like this? You really should have at least a matching pair of DIMMs for maximum memory performance. Now wether you ever see that difference in the real world is unknown.

WiFi should be disabled - have you done all the standard recommended Pro Tools optimizations for your system (see the "Help us help you.... Link above in this web page)?

Darryl

[MRFRANC]

Computer
Model : GigaByte H61M-USB3-B3
Chassis : GigaByte Desktop
Mainboard : GigaByte H61M-USB3-B3
BIOS : Award (OEM) F3 03/08/2011
Total Memory : 4GB DIMM DDR3

Processors
Processor : Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2400 CPU @ 3.10GHz (4C 3.39GHz, 3.4GHz IMC, 2x 256kB L2, 6MB L3)
Socket/Slot : FC LGA1155

Chipset
Memory Controller : Intel Core (Sandy Bridge) DRAM Controller 100MHz, 4GB DIMM DDR3 1.33GHz 64-bit

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Kingston 99U5458-005A00LF 4GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-10700U DDR3-1334 (9-9-9-25 4-34-10-5)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : Samsung SyncMaster
(1280x1024, 19.1")
Video Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce 210 (16 SM4.1 1.4GHz/1.49GHz, 1GB DDR3 1.2GHz 19% OC 128-bit, PCIe 2.00 x16)

Graphics Processor
OpenCL GP Processor : NVIDIA GeForce 210 (16SP 2C 1.4GHz, 960MB DDR3 1.2GHz 19% OC 128-bit)
Compute Shader Processor : NVIDIA GeForce 210 (16SP 1.4GHz, 1GB DDR3 1.2GHz 19% OC 128-bit)

Storage Devices
Seagate ST3500413AS (500.1GB, SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm, 16MB Cache) : 466GB (C:)
Seagate ST9500325AS (500.1GB, USB2/SATA150, 2.5", 5400rpm, 8MB Cache) : 466GB (F:)
PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-219L (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (D:)

Logical Storage Devices
System Reserved : 100MB (NTFS)
External (F:) : 466GB (NTFS) @ Seagate ST9500325AS (500.1GB, USB2/SATA150, 2.5", 5400rpm, 8MB Cache)
Hard Disk (C:) : 466GB (NTFS) @ Seagate ST3500413AS (500.1GB, SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm, 16MB Cache)
Optical Drive (D:) : N/A @ PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-219L (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : Gigabyte H61 LPC Controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1 : T2 87-28
Audio Device : Gigabyte Cougar Point High Definition Audio Controller
Audio Device : ASUS High Definition Audio Controller
Serial Port(s) : 2
Parallel Port(s) : 1
Disk Controller : Gigabyte Cougar Point 4 port SATA IDE Controller
Disk Controller : Gigabyte Cougar Point 2 port SATA IDE Controller
USB Controller 1 : Gigabyte Cougar Point USB Enhanced Host Controller #2
USB Controller 2 : Gigabyte Cougar Point USB Enhanced Host Controller #1
USB Controller 3 : Gigabyte Etron USB 3.0 Extensible Host Controller
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel ICH SMBus

Printers and Faxes
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600, Colour)
Printer : HP Deskjet F300 Series (1200x1200, USB, Colour)
Fax : Microsoft Shared Fax Driver (200x200)
Printer : Adobe PDF Converter (4000x4000, Colour)

Network Services
Network Adapter : Atheros AR8151 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (NDIS 6.20) (Ethernet)

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

Windows Experience Index
Current System : 5.2

Yeah my computer only come with the single memory DIMM.

[Darryl Ramm]

So unfortunately that external drive is only 5,400 rpm and therefore does not meet the minimum spec of 7,200 rpm for an audio drive. You really ought to be setting up this system fully to spec. And your PC has USB 3 so I would go with a USB 3 external drive. Other folks here might be able to advise what USB 3 Drives are working well on PCs, I am am mostly a Mac user.

I would buy another matching spec 4GB DIMM and put it in the appropriate slot (on the other memory channel). This one may not make a difference - but occasionally does, but DIMMs are so cheap just do it.

Darryl

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm

So unfortunately that external drive is only 5,400 rpm and therefore does not meet the minimum spec of 7,200 rpm for an audio drive. You really ought to be setting up this system fully to spec. And your PC has USB 3 so I would go with a USB 3 external drive. Other folks here might be able to advise what USB 3 Drives are working well on PCs, I am am mostly a Mac user.

I would buy another matching spec 4GB DIMM and put it in the appropriate slot (on the other memory channel). This one may not make a difference - but occasionally does, but DIMMs are so cheap just do it.

Darryl

Darryl is spot on with his advice, and be aware that the i5 system can often NOT deliver good performance with Pro Tools(sorry to be the bearer of that news). In any case, get the things that Darryl pointed to all ironed out before you worry about anything else