Pro Tools HD 8 really weird problem.

[rolling_beat]

Hi everyone....
i'm having a really strange kind of problem on one of my studio's new PT HD 8 system.

First of all here's the system description:
Pt HD3 Accel (v 8.0.3) running on Mac Pro Quad Core 2.66 Ghz equipped with 8 GB ram. (OSX is 10.6.2)


The problem consists in digital clicks heard during playback, coming from various tracks randomly.
These clicks are similar to clock releated clicks, but i'm sure i don't have clock problems in my system: i've tried with various interfaces and clock systems; anyway all the converters had always worked perfectly in that same configuration: this PT 8 is an upgrade from a G5 based PT 7.3.1 system; all the hardware (all the Hd3 Accel pcie cards and four 192 converters) is the same as the past days: only the Mac and the PT software has changed for the upgrade to PT 8.



The clicks i hear are really random and they don't seem to be related to anything in the sessions or in the preferences.

I've tried many different sessions, all of them working fine on every other system in the studio.

I've deleted all the DAE and protools preferences...it doesn't help.

Finding no solution to the problem i decided to check the other PT system in the studio, that has EXACTLY the same hardware and software configuration, to see if i could find some misterious difference in the configuration somewhere.

The only difference i noticed in the other Mac Pro is the RAM: 8Gb in two slots of 4Gb each

In the Mac Pro i'm having troubles there are 8 Gb, but 4 memory slots, 2 Gb each.

Could it be related to that strange clicks appearing ??????

that's the strangest thing i saw on a protools ever....

[phoenixblack]

what version of pro tools HD8 are you running?

you are on snow leopard 10.6.2?

is your ram set up correctly:

Mac Forums has great guides for this.

You have the RAM configured incorrectly.

Starting with your largest modules, install them in their pairs in this order

Riser A Slot 1, Riser A Slot 2 - 2 GB + 2 GB

B1, B2 - 1 GB + 1 GB

A3, A4

B3, B4





Is your I/O in your preferences set up correctly? Might want to delete and default those.


It sounds like a clock issue. Have you reset your clocks? Try reseting you reseting your clock,I/O.

hmm, let me know if any of that helps maybe? I will ask around as well!

[Sean Russell]

Did you install PT fresh - system wipe? Or just a simple update?

If you had to jump OS's to install 8, and didn't do it fresh, you'll have these problems.

Fades on elastic tracks, and out of version-date plugs, hard drives over three years old with high edit-density - all of these will all give you these symptoms. You have some troubleshooting ahead, I'm afraid, but I'll put money on it that it isn't RAM-related.

Edit:

If you see these clicks on audio interface I/O (and not latent, already recorded tracks) then you need to swap out the BNC's. I've seen that one before, too.

[rolling_beat]

ok guys...
first of all thank you!

just a few specs:
the system was a fresh 10.6.2 OSX on a brand New MAc Pro.

i'm pretty sure it isn't the clock or the BNCs just because i've tried also with only one converter (tried with a 192 and also with a prism ada8xr) and no clock BNCs...and the clicks are still there!!!!

i've also tried on various hard drives, all of them not such old....and anyway i've tried with the brand new serial ata internal hard drive.

I've resetted clock and IO milions of times....


the only thing i really need to check properly is the RAM.

[rolling_beat]

Originally Posted by Sean Russell

If you see these clicks on audio interface I/O (and not latent, already recorded tracks) then you need to swap out the BNC's. I've seen that one before, too.

sorry Sean, i don't get this: what do you mean with "not latent, already recorded tracks" ?

i basically see the clicks on the PT track meters when they happen (but not in the region of course)!
that's why i don't think it's harware related...and as i said i've tried with no BNCs, with just one 192 or prism.



I made a few other tries:
i cheked the RAM:
it is: Slot 1 1GB
Slot 2 1GB
Slot 3 1GB
Slot 4 1GB
Slot 5 1GB
Slot 6 1GB
Slot 7 1GB
Slot 8 1GB

It is correct, i've checked on the manuals....
on slot 4 and 8 there was a different brand RAM so i tried to take them out, configuring the slots as the manual says, and the clicks are still there...

So maybe it is NOT RAM related...



last try i did is Elastic Audio.
In the session i'm testing if i enable elastic audio on a track it stops clicking!!!!

the tracks i'm talking about were NOT elastic and never have been edited with elastic audio.

that's really strange!

any ideas ?

[rolling_beat]

Originally Posted by rolling_beat

last try i did is Elastic Audio.
In the session i'm testing if i enable elastic audio on a track it stops clicking!!!!

testing in process.....the clicks don't stop, but with elastic activated i hear less clicks ....

[Sean Russell]

Plugs. All are verified as being up to date and compatible with 8?

[rolling_beat]

Originally Posted by Sean Russell

Plugs. All are verified as being up to date and compatible with 8?

yes they are....and i also tried removing all the plugs from the directory....


i'm in contact with a digidesign expert and we're thinking of DSP problems maybe on the HD Core card....

[Sean Russell]

Originally Posted by rolling_beat

yes they are....and i also tried removing all the plugs from the directory....


i'm in contact with a digidesign expert and we're thinking of DSP problems maybe on the HD Core card....

Remove all plugs except the stereo mixer. Wipe the pref's with the pref-tool. Re-try. Report back.

[rolling_beat]

Originally Posted by Sean Russell

Plugs. All are verified as being up to date and compatible with 8?

Originally Posted by Sean Russell

Remove all plugs except the stereo mixer. Wipe the pref's with the pref-tool. Re-try. Report back.

that's exactly what i did!

and the problem is the same...
i'll try that one more time!

thank you for the support!