Failing to launch + Distorted Audio

[Hbthyname]

--- UPDATE AT BOTTOM, STILL ISSUES THOUGH! :) ---


Hi folks,

I'm a university student with many deadlines so any advice would be greatly appriciated :)

I installed the drivers for my Mackie Blackjack (USB interface) and the iLock program then installed Pro Tools 9 and then the most recent update.

Pro Tools opened up very quickly and appeared to be working fine. When I record enabled a track the audio coming in through my mic pre was extremely digitally distorted. After opening the demo session I then could hear all audio coming back out was also distorted in the same manor. This seems to be a common problem, but without a clear fix. At this point I tried switching mics and XLR cable to no avail.

I had attempted to change the hardware buffer size, but everytime I changed it a Pro Tools dialogue box would appear telling me I had to quit Pro Tools. Sorry I can't offer more information on this part - I haven't managed to get Pro Tools back open to see what it said properly, for example, if there was an error code.

I then did an uninstall and re-installed Pro Tools with the updater. From then on Pro Tools fails to launch at all now.

I have completed all of the optimization guide and have also disabled IE - as whilst searching this forum that has come up a few times before.

I disable all the Network Adaptors and turn off Wifi and Bluetooth.

I am currently recording to an external hard drive via USB. I was planning on buying an eSata external drive today - but I am reluctant after not getting Pro Tools working.

I also turned off Microsoft Security Essentials whilst installing.


Any help is greatly appriciated. :)



Here is my Sandra report:

SiSoftware Sandra

Computer
Model : HP HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook PC
Workgroup : WORKGROUP
Host Name : Hickling-Laptop
User : Hickling

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU Q 720 @ 1.60GHz
Speed : 1.6GHz
Cores per Processor : 4 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 2 Unit(s)
Type : Mobile, Quad-Core
Integrated Data Cache : 4x 32kB, Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing
L2 On-board Cache : 4x 256kB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 8-way, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing
L3 On-board Cache : 6MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 12-way, Exclusive, 64 byte line size, 16 threads sharing

Computer
Platform Compliance : Intel Centrino Mobile Technology
Mainboard : HP 3659
BIOS : HP F.1B 04/23/2010
Bus(es) : PCI PCIe IMB USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : Yes
Total Memory : 8GB DDR3 SO-DIMM

Chipset
Model : HP Core (Clarksfield/Lynnfield) DMI
Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 2.6GHz (5.22GHz)

Chipset
Model : HP Core Mobile (Clarksfield) UnCore
Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 2.32GHz (4.64GHz)
Total Memory : 8GB DDR3 SO-DIMM
Channels : 2
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 725MHz (1.45GHz)

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Crucial CT51264BC1339M16F 4GB DDR3 SO-DIMM PC3-10700S DDR3-1334 (10-10-10-27 5-37-11-6)
Memory Module : Crucial CT51264BC1339M16F 4GB DDR3 SO-DIMM PC3-10700S DDR3-1334 (10-10-10-27 5-37-11-6)

Video System
Video Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce GT 230M (32 SM4.1 1.1GHz, 1GB DDR3 128-bit, PCIe 2.00 x16)

Graphics Processor
OpenCL Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GT 230M (48SP 6C 1.1GHz, 1GB DDR3 128-bit)
Compute Shader Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GT 230M (32SP 1.1GHz, 1GB DDR3 128-bit)
CUDA Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GT 230M (48SP 6C 1.1GHz, 1GB DDR3 128-bit)

Storage Devices
Hitachi HTS725050A9A364 (500.1GB, SATA300, 2.5", 7200rpm, 15MB Cache) : 466GB (C:) (D:) (E:)
hp DVD RW AD-7701H (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (F:)

Logical Storage Devices
SYSTEM : 199MB (NTFS)
Hard Disk (C:) : 449GB (NTFS) @ Hitachi HTS725050A9A364 (500.1GB, SATA300, 2.5", 7200rpm, 15MB Cache)
RECOVERY (D:) : 17GB (NTFS) @ Hitachi HTS725050A9A364 (500.1GB, SATA300, 2.5", 7200rpm, 15MB Cache)
HP_TOOLS (E:) : 99MB (FAT32) @ Hitachi HTS725050A9A364 (500.1GB, SATA300, 2.5", 7200rpm, 15MB Cache)
Optical Drive (F:) : N/A @ hp DVD RW AD-7701H (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : HP PM55 LPC Interface Controller
Audio Device : HP P55/PM55/3400 High Definition Audio
Audio Codec : Integrated Device Tech 7603h
Audio Device : HP High Definition Audio Controller
Audio Codec : nVidia 000Ah
Audio Codec : nVidia 000Ah
Audio Codec : nVidia 000Ah
Disk Controller : HP P55/PM55/3400 6 port SATA AHCI Controller
Disk Controller : HP Standard SD Host Controller
USB Controller 1 : HP P55/PM55/3400 USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Controller 2 : HP P55/PM55/3400 USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
FireWire/1394 Controller 1 : HP IEEE 1394 Host Controller
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel ICH SMBus

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

Network Services
Network Adapter : Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
Wireless Adapter 1 : Broadcom 43225 802.11b/g/n (802.11g (ERP), 144Mbps)

Power Management
Mains (AC) Line Status : On-Line
Battery No 1 : 100%

Operating System
Windows System : Microsoft Windows 7 Home 6.01.7600
Platform Compliance : x64


--------------------------------------------------------------
Update 28/02/2011 01:14am



Pro Tools is now launching - hoorah!


I will update with the further issues later in the morning.

--------------------------------------------------------------

[Hbthyname]

Right, I have the same distorted audio problem I was having before.

When I go to change the buffer size or turn off the 'Ignore Errors...' I get the following:

"Pro Tools is unable to reacquire the hardware because it is in use by another application. Please quit other application and hit OK to retry. If the hardware cannot be acquired, please quit and relaunch pro tools."



Any ideas?