"Audio Deadline Not Met"

[Brightbelt]

Hello and Seasons' Greetings,
Let me give my stats - they're an ironic part of all this.

I am on an iMac Pro (2017), with:
-2.3 Ghz 18-Core Intel Xeon W.
-256 GB DDR4 Memory (yes you read that right, 256)
-Radeon Pro Vega 64X 16 GB Graphics Card

I use an Apollo Quad 2 for UA plugins PLUS a DSP Accelerator - the highest level you can get.

With ALL THAT, I am frequently getting a screeching halt in the middle of playback and I get a window (I've attached a screenshot) that says: "Audio Deadline was not met. Check 'Electric Guitar' (or whatever track it chooses to blame)

If I go into getting 'more info" and I HAVE done that, it tells me to enter Pro Tools pressing shift (I think?) - whatever it is, it starts Pro Tools with all plugins deactivated. I am then supposed to one by one check which plugin is the culprit. I am also able to access the CPU usage.

For one, the CPU usage which should be a problem? It's laughable how low it is. And it should be given all of my gear.

I have yet to find a consistent plugin to point to and blame. It may even shift tracks/plugins to whatever it finds offensive at the moment.

And the Project I am on now? It's 2 instruments, a lead vocal and 2 Background vocals. And that's all and I am getting the window even MORE on this project.

I really appreciate any assistance. My apologies for my flippant attitude, but given the higher quality I've chosen for my computer, (I know it's old hat now maybe), I should not be having these issues.

Frank B.

[Top Jimmy]

Did you try the suggestions to increase the buffer size or turn off the low buffer performance optimization?

[Brightbelt]

I meant to mention that - YES, the buffer size is set to 1024. It still balks mid-song and comes to a screeching halt.

After that, if I try to just click 'play' again, sometimes it works ok. Other times, I hear a shredded noise that sounds like wires.

So then I have to fully back out of Pro Tools and restart it. That always (so far) resets it so that I am back to square.

Many Thanks for replying....
Frank B.

[Brightbelt]

I did find a similar post by a Google search. In that thread, the person said that Avid said it was Apple's issue and not theirs.

Here's the link to that thread
https://duc.avid.com/showthread.php?t=418941