USB holding cpu power ?

[Patlamm]

I have to say that i'm a little bit p.o. about this issue. I bought my Mbox a couple of years ago, i've used it with a PMG4 dual 450MHz with no problem, with a dual 867MHZ, a PMG5 1.6GHz, and then on my Mac Pro 2 x 2GHz. Since i started to use it on my Mac Pro, it never performed correctly like before, I always have the **** message that USB is holding CPU power. I'm just recording a single track and opening Safari, bam, the message appear. Trying to open the mix windows when I have a couple of plugins, bam the message. I never had that problem with my pass PowerMac. Today i've tried my Mbox on a MacBook 2GHz..... and it's working A1, I mean, come on! a MacBook... no even Pro.

On my MacPro, i've tried to change buffer size, change the number of CPU, tried external hard drive, tried Pro Tools 6, 7, 8. Nothing works.

Is Digidesign is saying that I will have to work on a MacBook? Or buy a new MacPro? though i'm not sure why it will not behave the same way it does with my current MacPro.

I miss my PMG4 450MHz.

Of course, help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[onepercentfree]

I've had almost the same problem just reset your processor by switching it to 1 processor then back to 2 processors again in your playback engine and set your h/w buffer size to 2048 samples and click the rtas engine on ignore errors during playback. I know this is not the best settings but works way better then constant error messages with a mbox!!! the problem for me was within the sessions settings and it would affect the whole pro tools system in or out. Good luck:::

ps: also try a shorter usb cable, as short as possible if these settings don't work.

[The Dougfather]

There were problems with the original Mac pro's and a firmware update was released, if you go to:

System Profiler > USB > Mbox

It will tell you the firmware version, it needs to be version v22.

[Patlamm]

Thanks for the hints, I will try that

[Patlamm]

I've check, and my version is 0.22.

[The Dougfather]

What OS?

If it's leopard then you have to have 7.4.2 or 8.0, failing that what about an incompatible plugin. Doesn't even have to be used in the session it can still cause problems, triple check.