Play/Pause Mode

[sendkyleanemail]

Hello everyone. I have been searching and reading threads for days on this topic and haven't found a definitive answer, so I am re-posting the question so many others have posted.

Is there a known solution to the "play/pause mode issue"? At random, and sometime for very long periods of time, I run into an issue where hitting the PLAY button illuminates the STOP button and the session won't play.

Resetting the buffer sizes doesn't solve the issue, nor does a complete reboot of the computer. I am not waiting for a note and have no count off enabled. And the problem seems to pervade EVERY session I have, except for one I created for testing this issue. That session has NO tracks. It opens and plays just fine. No other session will play. Not even one with a single imported audio track.

I am using PT 10.3.8 on Win 7. When the session will play/record, the system I am running is great. Several channels/mixes, VI's plug-ins, recording live audio from mics...all at once, no problem. But now and then, when I fire my rig up, it just won't go.

Is there a fix in 10.3.9? I will be upgrading to PT11 soon on a new machine. But I cannot work like this. Any help is greatly appreciated.

I am using:

PT 10.3.8 on Win 7
i3 processor
4GB RAM
Drive 1 (internal): OS, PT application
Drive 2 (internal): VI applications
Drive 3 (external): sample libraries and record to space

[sendkyleanemail]

Here is my Sandra report:

SiSoftware Sandra

ID
Host Name : kylet-PC
Workgroup : WORKGROUP

Computer
Chassis : Desktop
Mainboard : Intel DP67DE
Serial Number : BTDE10******
BIOS : Intel BAP6710H.86A.0079.2012.0622.1722 06/22/2012
Total Memory : 4GB DIMM DDR3

Processors
Processor : Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-2100 CPU @ 3.10GHz (2C 4T 3.09GHz, 3.1GHz IMC, 2x 256kB L2, 3MB L3)
Socket/Slot : FC LGA1155

Chipset
Memory Controller : Intel Core (Sandy Bridge) DRAM Controller 100MHz, 2x 2GB DIMM DDR3 1.33GHz 128-bit

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Corsair VS2GB1333D3 2GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-10700U DDR3-1334 (9-9-9-24 5-34-10-5)
Memory Module : Corsair VS2GB1333D3 2GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-10700U DDR3-1334 (9-9-9-24 5-34-10-5)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : ACR V233H
(1920x1080, 23.1")
Monitor/Panel : ACI ASUS VW193T
(1600x1200, 19.1")
Video Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce GT 440 (2CU 96SP SM5.0 1.62GHz, 128kB L2, 1GB 1.59GHz 128-bit, PCIe 2.00 x16)
Video Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce GT 440 (2CU 96SP SM5.0 1.62GHz, 128kB L2, 1GB 1.59GHz 128-bit, PCIe 2.00 x16)

Graphics Processor
OpenCL GP Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GT 440 (96SP 2C 1.62GHz, 128kB L2, 1GB 1.59GHz 128-bit)
Compute Shader Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GT 440 (96SP 2C 1.62GHz, 128kB L2, 1GB 1.59GHz 128-bit)
CUDA GP Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GT 440 (96SP 2C 1.62GHz, 128kB L2, 1GB 1.59GHz 128-bit)

Storage Devices
WDC WD5000AAKX-00ERMA0 (500.1GB, SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm, 16MB Cache) : 466GB (C:)
WDC WD3200AAJS-00YZCA0 (320.1GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, 8MB Cache) : 298GB (D:)
Hitachi HTS547550A9E384 (500.1GB, USB2/SATA300, 2.5", 5400rpm, 8MB Cache) : 466GB (G:)
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH24LS50 (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (E:)
ELBY CLONEDRIVE (SCSI, SCSI-2, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD-R, CD-R, 256kB Cache) : N/A (F:)

Logical Storage Devices
System Reserved : 100MB (NTFS)
New Volume (D:) : 298GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD3200AAJS-00YZCA0 (320.1GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, 8MB Cache)
Hitachi (G:) : 466GB (NTFS) @ Hitachi HTS547550A9E384 (500.1GB, USB2/SATA300, 2.5", 5400rpm, 8MB Cache)
Hard Disk (C:) : 466GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD5000AAKX-00ERMA0 (500.1GB, SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm, 16MB Cache)
Optical Drive (E:) : N/A @ HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH24LS50 (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)
Optical Drive (F:) : N/A @ ELBY CLONEDRIVE (SCSI, SCSI-2, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD-R, CD-R, 256kB Cache)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : Intel P67 LPC Controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1 : Nuovoton LPC
Audio Device : Intel Cougar Point High Definition Audio Controller
Audio Codec : Realtek Semi High Definition Audio
Audio Device : EVGA GF108 High Definition Audio Controller
Audio Codec : nVidia 0014
Audio Codec : 1 0001
Audio Codec : 1 0001
Disk Controller : Intel Cougar Point 6 port SATA AHCI Controller
USB Controller 1 : Intel Cougar Point USB Enhanced Host Controller #2
USB Controller 2 : Intel Cougar Point USB Enhanced Host Controller #1
USB Controller 3 : Intel Renesas Electronics USB 3.0 Host Controller
FireWire/1394 Controller 1 : Intel VT6315 Series Firewire Controller
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : SMBus Dev Drv 1

Printers and Faxes
Printer : Send To Microsoft OneNote 2010 Driver (1200x1200, Colour)
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600, Colour)
Printer : hp LaserJet 3020 PCL 5 (600x600)
Fax : Microsoft Shared Fax Driver (200x200)

Network Services
Network Adapter : Intel(R) 82579V Gigabit Network Connection (Ethernet, 100Mbps)

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

Windows Experience Index
Current System : 5.9

[sendkyleanemail]

Also I am using an Avid MBox 3 interface

[Craig F]

Are we talking the Play and Stop buttons in the on screen transport or on a control surface? I think you're talking the former but want to make sure

in the bottom left of the Edit widow what message is there? something like Wait for Sync or Note?

[sendkyleanemail]

Hi Craig

It is an on screen transport, as I am not using a control surface in this system. Wait for note and sync are both disabled...its almost like the machine is freezing when it happens. Very random.

[mjslakeridge]

If you are recording to the external G usb drive, that is most likely the source of your problem, as the drive is only spinning at 5,400 rpm. Pro Tools needs the recording drive to be a minimum of 7,200 rpm. Try copying one of the sessions to your D drive and see if the problem goes away.

When you do upgrade to PT 11 on a new machine, make sure you research which spec's the machine will have to be built to (Lots of good info here on the forum). Your current machine won't likely run PT 11 (not enough RAM, and underpowered processor).

[albee1952]

This computer is seriously under-powered for Pro Tools. The i3 is a budget cpu and 4GB of RAM is barely enough to run the OS. Also, not sure which drive you are recording to, but the Hitachi is 5400 rpm(too slow) and Drive D:, with 8meg of cache is not a great choice either. Recording drives must be 7200 rpm(or a fast SSD) and larger cache is better(for instance, the WD Caviar BLACK with 64 meg cache is a top choice for a recording drive)

Then there's the motherboard/chipset
Mainboard : Intel DP67DE
I have no idea if its compatible with PT or if its part of the problem.