PT9 White Noise Bursts Killing Me!!!

[tmartin]

Running Pro Tools 9.0.0 with MBox and can't get rid of random bursts of white noise that will eventually lead to distortion on all audio output and require closing of program to fix. Have virtually no inserts/plug-ins active and only around 12 channels of audio so shouldn't be taxing system at all. Have researched forum but cannot find anything that will correct it. Specs are below and any insight would be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
TMM

Sony Vaio i7 Q740 6 gigs ram
Windows Home Premium 64 bit
LaCie 500g 7200 external HD (running firewire 400...have tried usb 2.0 and e-sata with no change in problem)
Nvidia Geforce GT 425M video card
Pro Tools 9.0.0 w/Mbox mini

[MikeLip]

Originally Posted by tmartin

Have researched forum

no sandra? what research that be?

[tmartin]

sorry, here is:

SiSoftware Sandra

Computer
Model : Sony VPCF136FM
Workgroup : WORKGROUP
Host Name : Variable-VAIO
User : TMM

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU Q 740 @ 1.73GHz
Speed : 1.86GHz
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, 8 threads sharing

Computer
Platform Compliance : Intel Centrino Mobile Technology
Mainboard : Sony VAIO
BIOS : AMI R0180Y9 09/03/2010
Bus(es) : PCI PCIe IMB USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : Yes
Total Memory : 6GB DDR3 SO-DIMM

Chipset
Model : Sony Clarksfield/Lynnfield DMI
Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 2.4GHz (4.79GHz)

Chipset
Model : Sony Core Mobile (Clarksfield) UnCore
Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 2.13GHz (4.26GHz)
Total Memory : 6GB DDR3 SO-DIMM
Channels : 2
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 665MHz (1.33GHz)

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Samsung M471B5273CH0-CH9 4GB DDR3 SO-DIMM PC3-10700S DDR3-1334 (9-9-9-25 4-34-10-5)
Memory Module : Elpida EBJ21UE8BFU0-DJ-F 2GB DDR3 SO-DIMM PC3-10700S DDR3-1334 (10-10-10-27 5-37-11-6)

Video System
Video Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M (64 SM5.0 1.12GHz, 1GB, PCIe 2.00 x16)

Graphics Processor
OpenCL Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M (64SP 2C 1.12GHz, 993.4MB)
CUDA Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M (64SP 2C 1.12GHz, 993.4MB)
Compute Shader Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M (64SP 1.12GHz, 993.4MB)

Storage Devices
SAMSUNG HM641JI (640.1GB, SATA300, 2.5", 5400rpm, NCQ, 8MB Cache) : 596GB (C:)
LaCie d2 quadra 500.1GB (FireWire/1394, NCQ) : 466GB (D:)
HL-DT-ST BDDVDRW CT30N (SATA150, BD-R, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (E:)

Logical Storage Devices
System Reserved : 100MB (NTFS)
LaCie (D:) : 466GB (NTFS) @ LaCie d2 quadra 500.1GB (FireWire/1394, NCQ)
Hard Disk (C:) : 586GB (NTFS) @ SAMSUNG HM641JI (640.1GB, SATA300, 2.5", 5400rpm, NCQ, 8MB Cache)
Recovery : 10GB (NTFS)
Hard Disk (Q:) : N/A
Optical Drive (E:) : N/A @ HL-DT-ST BDDVDRW CT30N (SATA150, BD-R, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : Sony PM55 LPC Interface Controller
Audio Device : Sony P55/PM55/3400 High Definition Audio
Audio Codec : Realtek Semiconductor High Definition Audio
Audio Device : Sony 0BEAh
Audio Codec : nVidia 0014h
Audio Codec : nVidia 0014h
Audio Codec : nVidia 0014h
Disk Controller : Sony P55/PM55/3400 6 port SATA AHCI Controller
Disk Controller : Sony PCIe SD/MMC Host Controller
Disk Controller : Sony PCIe SD/MMC Host Controller
USB Controller 1 : Sony P55/PM55/3400 USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Controller 2 : Sony P55/PM55/3400 USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Controller 3 : Sony uPD720200 USB 3.0 Controller
FireWire/1394 Controller 1 : Sony E832h
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel 801xx/63xx SMBus

Printers and Faxes
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600, Colour)
Fax : Microsoft Shared Fax Driver (200x200)
Printer : EPSON NX410 Series (360x360, USB, Colour)

Network Services
Network Adapter : Marvell Yukon 88E8057 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller
Network Adapter : Intel(R) Centrino(R) WiMAX 6250
Wireless Adapter 1 : Intel(R) Centrino(R) Advanced-N 6250 AGN (802.11g (ERP), 54Mbps)

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

[MikeLip]

You're network cards are turned on. Net cards dont work with Pro Tools.
You have different memory modules, this can cause problems. You'll need to set the timings in your BIOS? Or try ripping out one of the ram sticks to see if it helps with white noise.
Mike.

[tmartin]

thx mike, i will try the easier network card disable first before tackling the bios timing settings and/or removing ram. have work travel for a week but will get back with results. again your help is much appreciated.
tmartin

[danander11]

Also, just to be sure, you're not recording to the operating drive are you? I see the lacie listed but are you using it every time?

[albee1952]

Something else that makes me curious; I see mismatched RAM sticks. I would try removing the smaller stick and retest. +1 for disabling wifi when running PT. Its also possible that the firewire controller is not PT compatible

[tmartin]

thx to everyone for the insights. i have removed the mismatching ram and disabled all network adapters but still have the white noise and distortion issue, though it seems to take longer to start, and if i reduce the master fader to nearly off, the signal is clean...could this be a problem with the mbox mini? i have copied the latest sandie below; any further assistance from you all is SO WELCOME. thanks again.

SiSoftware Sandra

Computer
Model : Sony VPCF136FM
Workgroup : WORKGROUP
Host Name : Variable-VAIO
User : TMM

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU Q 740 @ 1.73GHz
Speed : 1.86GHz
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, 8 threads sharing

Computer
Platform Compliance : Intel Centrino Mobile Technology
Mainboard : Sony VAIO
BIOS : AMI R0180Y9 09/03/2010
Bus(es) : PCI PCIe IMB USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : Yes
Total Memory : 4GB DDR3 SO-DIMM

Chipset
Model : Sony Clarksfield/Lynnfield DMI
Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 2.4GHz (4.79GHz)

Chipset
Model : Sony Core Mobile (Clarksfield) UnCore
Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 2.13GHz (4.26GHz)
Total Memory : 4GB DDR3 SO-DIMM
Channels : 1
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 665MHz (1.33GHz)

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Samsung M471B5273CH0-CH9 4GB DDR3 SO-DIMM PC3-10700S DDR3-1334 (9-9-9-25 4-34-10-5)

Video System
Video Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M (64 SM5.0 1.12GHz, 1GB, PCIe 2.00 x16)

Graphics Processor
OpenCL Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M (64SP 2C 1.12GHz, 993.4MB)
CUDA Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M (64SP 2C 1.12GHz, 993.4MB)
Compute Shader Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M (64SP 1.12GHz, 993.4MB)

Storage Devices
SAMSUNG HM641JI (640.1GB, SATA300, 2.5", 5400rpm, NCQ, 8MB Cache) : 596GB (C:)
LaCie d2 quadra 500.1GB (FireWire/1394, NCQ) : 466GB (D:)
HL-DT-ST BDDVDRW CT30N (SATA150, BD-R, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (E:)

Logical Storage Devices
System Reserved : 100MB (NTFS)
LaCie (D:) : 466GB (NTFS) @ LaCie d2 quadra 500.1GB (FireWire/1394, NCQ)
Hard Disk (C:) : 586GB (NTFS) @ SAMSUNG HM641JI (640.1GB, SATA300, 2.5", 5400rpm, NCQ, 8MB Cache)
Recovery : 10GB (NTFS)
Hard Disk (Q:) : N/A
Optical Drive (E:) : N/A @ HL-DT-ST BDDVDRW CT30N (SATA150, BD-R, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : Sony PM55 LPC Interface Controller
Audio Device : Sony P55/PM55/3400 High Definition Audio
Audio Device : Sony 0BEAh
Audio Codec : nVidia 0014h
Audio Codec : nVidia 0014h
Audio Codec : nVidia 0014h
Disk Controller : Sony P55/PM55/3400 6 port SATA AHCI Controller
Disk Controller : Sony PCIe SD/MMC Host Controller
Disk Controller : Sony PCIe SD/MMC Host Controller
USB Controller 1 : Sony P55/PM55/3400 USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Controller 2 : Sony P55/PM55/3400 USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Controller 3 : Sony uPD720200 USB 3.0 Controller
FireWire/1394 Controller 1 : Sony E832h
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel 801xx/63xx SMBus

Printers and Faxes
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600, Colour)
Fax : Microsoft Shared Fax Driver (200x200)
Printer : EPSON NX410 Series (360x360, USB, Colour)

Network Services

Power Management
Mains (AC) Line Status : On-Line
Battery No 1 : 57%

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

[tmartin]

oh, and always using the lacie for audio btw...

[tmartin]

tried using usb 2.0 and e-sata since removing mismatching ram and disabling network adapters. digital distortion and white noise still returns after using for a short time. i am getting to my wit's end. read the thread "PT 9 and Windows 7 major CPU spike fix!! PT 9 bug, with fix" from the will the weirdo and i guess i'll delve into that next. majorly frustrating as i have a project i cut in nashville last month and need to finish at home but can't get bug free. once again any help or insight from the group would be greatly appreciated.