4 minutes to startup protools-le, is this normal?

[fson]

Hi,

I find the startup of Protools-LE with eleven rack extremely slow. On my machine it takes more than 4 minutes before I can start recording. I have a hard time imagining that this is normal behaviour. My startup time breaks down as follows:

Runtime after starting application in seconds:

4 - splash screen appears
20 - midi setup message appears
100 - midi setup completed
103 - Dialog appears choose guitar tracking, tracking with re-amping, full session
212 - File selector appears
228 - 11R settings loaded
>240 - application finished loading

My hardware is pretty up to date:
++ PC specs

SiSoftware Sandra

Computer
Workgroup : WORKGROUP
Host Name : Ichiban
User : Frank

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU 750 @ 2.67GHz
Speed : 2.8GHz
Cores per Processor : 4 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 1 Unit(s)
Type : Quad-Core
Integrated Data Cache : 2x 32kB, Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing
L2 On-board Cache : 2x 256kB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 8-way, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing
L3 On-board Cache : 8MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 16-way, Exclusive, 64 byte line size, 4 threads sharing

Computer
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 : 4GB DIMM DDR3

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

Chipset
Model : Giga-Byte Core Desktop (Lynnfield) UnCore
Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 2.4GHz (4.79GHz)
Total Memory : 4GB DIMM DDR3
Channels : 2
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 665MHz (1.33GHz)

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Mushkin 991585 996585 2GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-10700U DDR3-1334 (9-9-9-24 4-33-10-5)
Memory Module : Mushkin 991585 996585 2GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-10700U DDR3-1334 (9-9-9-24 4-33-10-5)

Video System
Video Adapter : ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series (800 SM4.1 650MHz, 1GB DDR3 2x1GHz, PCIe 2.00 x16)

Graphics Processor
STREAM Processor : ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series (800SP 10C 650MHz, 1GB 2x1GHz)
Compute Shader Processor : ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series (800SP 650MHz, 1017MB 2x1GHz)

Storage Devices
Hitachi HDS721616PLAT80 (160GB, ATA133, 3.5", 7200rpm, 7MB Cache) : 149GB
WDC WD15EARS-00Z5B1 (1.5TB, SATA300, 3.5", NCQ) : 1TB (E:)
SAMSUNG HD103UJ (1TB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache) : 932GB (C:) (I:) (Q:)
TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-S223B (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : 3GB (H:)
HKR 9Y7W1M3WXEB (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R) : N/A (J:)
HKR 9Y7W1M3WXEB (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R) : 4GB (G:)
HKR 9Y7W1M3WXEB (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R) : 4GB (K:)
HKR 9Y7W1M3WXEB (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R) : N/A (F:)
HKR 9Y7W1M3WXEB (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R) : N/A (D:)
HKR 9Y7W1M3WXEB (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R) : 3GB (L:)
HKR 9Y7W1M3WXEB (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R) : N/A (M:)
HKR 9Y7W1M3WXEB (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R) : N/A (N:)
HKR 9Y7W1M3WXEB (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R) : N/A (O:)
HKR 9Y7W1M3WXEB (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R) : N/A (P:)

Logical Storage Devices
Backup (E:) : 1TB (NTFS) @ WDC WD15EARS-00Z5B1 (1.5TB, SATA300, 3.5", NCQ)
System Reserved : 100MB (NTFS)
Download (Q:) : 98GB (NTFS) @ SAMSUNG HD103UJ (1TB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache)
Data (I:) : 443GB (NTFS) @ SAMSUNG HD103UJ (1TB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache)
Windows (C:) : 391GB (NTFS) @ SAMSUNG HD103UJ (1TB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache)
Sims2 (H:) : 3GB (UDF) @ TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-S223B (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)
Optical Drive (J:) : N/A @ HKR 9Y7W1M3WXEB (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R)
INSTRUMENTALS DISC 2 (G:) : 4GB (UDF) @ HKR 9Y7W1M3WXEB (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R)
INSTRUMENTALS DISC 2 (K:) : 4GB (UDF) @ HKR 9Y7W1M3WXEB (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R)
Optical Drive (F:) : N/A @ HKR 9Y7W1M3WXEB (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R)
Optical Drive (D:) : N/A @ HKR 9Y7W1M3WXEB (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R)
INSTRUMENTALS DISC 1 (L:) : 3GB (UDF) @ HKR 9Y7W1M3WXEB (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R)
Optical Drive (M:) : N/A @ HKR 9Y7W1M3WXEB (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R)
Optical Drive (N:) : N/A @ HKR 9Y7W1M3WXEB (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R)
Optical Drive (O:) : N/A @ HKR 9Y7W1M3WXEB (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R)
Optical Drive (P:) : N/A @ HKR 9Y7W1M3WXEB (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : Giga-Byte P55 LPC Interface Controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1 : ITE IT8720F
Audio Device : Giga-Byte P55/PM55/3400 High Definition Audio
Audio Device : PC Partner Sapphire HD 4850 512MB GDDR3 PCI-E Dual Slot Fansink
Audio Codec : ATI (AMD) HDMI Audio
Disk Controller : Giga-Byte P55/PM55/3400 6 port SATA AHCI Controller
Disk Controller : Giga-Byte JMB36X PCIE-to-SATAII/IDE RAID Controller
Disk Controller : Giga-Byte JMB36X PCIE-to-SATAII/IDE RAID Controller
USB Controller 1 : Giga-Byte P55/PM55/3400 USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 2 : Giga-Byte P55/PM55/3400 USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 3 : Giga-Byte P55/PM55/3400 USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 4 : Giga-Byte P55/PM55/3400 USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Controller 5 : Giga-Byte P55/PM55/3400 USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 6 : Giga-Byte P55/PM55/3400 USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 7 : Giga-Byte P55/PM55/3400 USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 8 : Giga-Byte P55/PM55/3400 USB Universal Host Controller
FireWire/1394 Controller 1 : TI TSB43AB23 1394a-2000 OHCI PHY/link-layer Controller
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel 801xx/63xx SMBus

Printers and Faxes
Printer : Send To Microsoft OneNote 2010 Driver (1200x1200, Colour)
Printer : Popfax Printer (600x600, Colour)
Printer : PDF-XChange 3.0 (2400x2400, Colour)
Printer : novaPDF Server OEM 6 Printer Driver (2400x2400, Colour)
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600, Colour)
Printer : HP DeskJet 1220C (1200x1200, USB, Colour)
Fax : Microsoft Shared Fax Driver (200x200)
Printer : CutePDF Writer (4000x4000, Colour)

Network Services
Network Adapter : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller (Ethernet, 100Mbps)
Network Adapter : VMware Virtual Ethernet Adapter for VMnet1 (Ethernet, 100Mbps)
Network Adapter : VMware Virtual Ethernet Adapter for VMnet8 (Ethernet, 100Mbps)

Power Management
Mains (AC) Line Status : On-Line

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

[TFord]

Hi.

I had the same issue; it was resolved after setting my virus scanner inactive.
Maybe it will do the trick for you.

[Badcard]

Well I have the same issue has well.
I did not time it exactly, but it seems extremely long to startup and I also have a more than decent machine.

I've complained about this in the past and this is part of the reason why I'm desperate to get a standalone UI for the 11R.

Never tried launching PT with the anti-virus disabled though.
I'll give it a try to see but I must say I'm confused as to why PT would be more affected by this than any of the other softwares I use on this computer.

[Hotcrazyfruit]

Originally Posted by Badcard

Never tried launching PT with the anti-virus disabled though.
I'll give it a try to see but I must say I'm confused as to why PT would be more affected by this than any of the other softwares I use on this computer.

Anti virus programs are VERY VERY cpu intensive. At any given time they are constantly scanning everything you do, anything you download, anything you open. Constantly scanning memory for viruses or malicious code. This causes your machine to become boggled down. Try runnign as few applications as possible when working with any DAW.

PROTIP: don't install virus scanners. Keep your recording rig disconnected from the internet.

Nick

[VaiSatchAtrucci]

I won't be that douche that says "just get a Mac" like they're cheap and free or something... but... I'm kidding!

Seriously though I had to also uninstall Norton from my PC when I was using my PC and Nuendo for that same reason... It just strangles the hell out of your system resources not that anti-virus is the ONLY culprit, but a huge one.

Look in your registry too if you are good with that and look under your HKEY's under software -> microsoft -> windows -> run (and/or run once) and make sure nothing funky is getting loaded up at startup. I usually kill all that quicktime, ms messenger, acrobat, etc.. B.S. - basically anything you really don't want/need loading at startup and you might see some improvement as well with OS boot times in general but also potentially freeing up more RAM once booted up.

*** MAKE A BACKUP OF YOUR REGISTRY FIRST!!! ***

If none of that helps, you may have something a little more serious going on virally... Theres a program called "HiJack This" or something like that and if you boot into safemode (hit F8 like a mad man when booting up and select "safe mode") and run that program and it'll show you EVERYTHING that gets loaded at startup and you can eliminate things there too and pay particular attention to any weird ".exe" names that may be getting executed...

I highly suggest NOT doing any of the above unless you are comfortable with what you are looking at as some of the entries you'll see in hijackthis will look strange but can be totally legit too but if it's loading an ".exe" named "evil" in the system32 folder, those are the more obvious ones, and chances are it's not good.

[Benoni]

For Anti Virus I highly recommend SuperAntiSpyware, it has a tiny footprint and can be turned off without having to restart the PC, i leave it on with never a problem. You will need to purchase it to have the Real Time Protection. But a lifetime license is pretty cheap, if you look for discount codes you should be able to get a lifetime license for $20. But you can download the free version and do scans, you just dont get the Real Time Protection.
http://superantispyware.com/

Also its good to scan with Malware Bytes AntiMalware every now and then, you can use the free version. Everyone should have MBAM on their PC.
http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebyte...-10804572.html

Download Ccleaner and Defraggler. They are free.

Use Ccleaner to clear all the temp stuff and to clean un-needed reg entries.
Also in Ccleaner you can easily see and turn On/Off programs that get started when the PC boots. I turn off pretty much everything that checks for updates, Itunes, Quicktime, Realplayer ect... also turn off the Adobe SpeedLauncher and if you have Adobe CS3, CS4 or CS5, or any of those programs, there will be quiet alot of things for you to turn off.

http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

The defrag in Windows is ok, but Defraggler is way better. And that means it is slower. Defrag all your drives with Defraggler.

http://www.piriform.com/defraggler

Be sure to launch PT with Run As Admin.

Run As Admin by Default


What hard drive are you recording to?

[fson]

I run G-Data internet security (firewall/virus scanner) on my system as it is not dedicated to recording. I actually use protools 50% of the time just as an UI for 11R and 50% for actual recording my guitar to see if I am making progress in my playing.

I will look into shutting down as many unneeded services as possible. But there is a point that I start to cripple my PC.


Recording is to a WD15EARS-00Z5B1 (1.5TB, SATA300, 3.5", NCQ) : 1TB (E:) drive. Protools itself is on the system drive. Don't see how this would effect startup time so much as the biggest delays occur before the file selector appears to designate a recording file location.

Timings were recorded with all the background applications (auto startups) closed manually and the virus scanner set to the disabled state. Also with the quad core I5 cpu the background applications should not cause startup delays. Actually tried to measure this, CPU overall < 30% during startup, Memory about 50%. CPU time used by protools during complete startup is 31 seconds. CPU usage during the two long wait periods around 0%.

To me the long delay to setup midi is suspect. I wonder if there may be a conflict with the software for my line 6 pocket pod, which uses some sort of MIDI over usb. However less likely with other users reporting long startup times.

Regards,

Frank

[Badcard]

Ok so I just set my Anti-virus to ignore the Digidesign folder... PT loads in around 30sec now... not that fast, but bearable! :-p

I agree with the tip that for the best result, you Audio rig should be without unnecessary software and isolated form the network. But until I dedicate a machine for this, it'll do fine. (I just want to edit my damn patches most of the time)

[zedhed]

Maybe consider dual boot, with PT boot, all unecessary hardware disabled and OS optimized with only PT installed on the partition?

[adamqlw]

Originally Posted by Badcard

Ok so I just set my Anti-virus to ignore the Digidesign folder... PT loads in around 30sec now... not that fast, but bearable! :-p

I agree with the tip that for the best result, you Audio rig should be without unnecessary software and isolated form the network. But until I dedicate a machine for this, it'll do fine. (I just want to edit my damn patches most of the time)

Same thing for me, adding ProTools to my AV program's "exception list" made it run good as new again.