PTLE8.0.3 windows 7 MBox 2 8.0.4b driver distorted audio

[CraigCanon]

Hello,

Just picked up a new laptop to run PTLE 8 for my home studio projects.

I'm experiencing some distorted audio issues running Pro Tools 8.0.3 on Windows 7 (64 bit) with the 8.0.4b MBox 2 drivers (poor audio quality...I can hear the intended audio, but there are tons of pops and lots of static in the way).

From reading some of the other posts, I can see I'm not alone

All I've tried since installing is playing the mini-grand through an M-Audio Oxygen 25 USB MIDI controller. I'll try doing some actual audio, but the audio output of the plain-jane midi is distracting to make this unworkable until this is resolved. (I know...the price of using beta software).

I think someone suggested above to try an earlier driver version, but 8.0.4b was the only one I've successfully gotten to install without experiencing a blue screen of death.

My Sandra report is included below. Any help is much appreciated.


Thanks,

Craig

SiSoftware Sandra

System
Model : Hewlett-Packard HP Pavilion dv4 Notebook PC
Workgroup : WORKGROUP
Host Name : LiveNowStudio
User : Craig

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU M 430 @ 2.27GHz
Speed : 2.4GHz
Cores per Processor : 2 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 2 Unit(s)
Type : Dual-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 : 3MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 12-way, Exclusive, 64 byte line size, 4 threads sharing

System
Mainboard : Hewlett-Packard 140A
BIOS : Insyde F.05 (12/10/2009)
Bus(es) : PCI PCIe USB i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : No
Total Memory : 3.8GB

Chipset
Model : HP 0044h
Front Side Bus Speed : 1x 133MHz (133MHz)

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Elpida EBJ21UE8BDS0-DJ-F 2GB DDR3 SO-DIMM PC3-10700S DDR3-1334 (9-9-9-25 4-34-10-5)
Memory Module : Elpida EBJ21UE8BDS0-DJ-F 2GB DDR3 SO-DIMM PC3-10700S DDR3-1334 (9-9-9-25 4-34-10-5)

Video System
Adapter : Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator HD (SM4.0, 64MB, PCI)

Storage Devices
ST9320423AS (320GB, SATA300, 2.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 16MB Cache) : 298GB (C:) (D:) (E:)
hp DVD RW AD-7701H (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (F:)

Logical Storage Devices
SYSTEM : 199MB (NTFS)
Hard Disk (C:) : 279GB (NTFS) @ ST9320423AS (320GB, SATA300, 2.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 16MB Cache)
RECOVERY (D:) : 19GB (NTFS) @ ST9320423AS (320GB, SATA300, 2.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 16MB Cache)
HP_TOOLS (E:) : 99MB (FAT32) @ ST9320423AS (320GB, SATA300, 2.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 16MB Cache)
Optical Drive (F:) : N/A @ hp DVD RW AD-7701H (ATA, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : HP Ibex Peak LPC Interface Controller
Audio Device : HP Ibex Peak High Definition Audio
Audio Codec : Integrated Device Tech 7605h
Serial Port(s) : 1
Disk Controller : HP Ibex Peak 4 port SATA AHCI Controller
USB Controller 1 : HP Ibex Peak USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Controller 2 : HP Ibex Peak USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel 801xx/63xx SMBus

Printers and Faxes
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600, Colour)
Fax : Microsoft Shared Fax Driver (200x200)
Printer : EPSON Stylus CX8400 Series (360x360, Colour)

Network Services
Network Adapter : Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller
Wireless Adapter 1 : Atheros AR9285 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter (802.11g (ERP), TKIP, 54Mbps)

Power Management
Mains (AC) Line Status : On-Line
Battery No 1 : 100%

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

Windows Experience Index
Current System : 4.6

[sw rec]

1. This is a BETA version for Win 7 and a major hassle for the majority of people who are trying it.
2. Where's your dedicated audio drive? Recording to the system drive is a MAJOR no-go.
Get this thing 100% compatible before attempting any more tests.

[CraigCanon]

Planning on the 2nd HD for audio soon. Not sure i buy the assertion that a missing audio drive is causing this issue though. Here's why.

I haven't recorded anything yet. The audio is terrible while I'm playing without recording. Since nothing is recording, there's nothing that should be writing to disk, right?

I'm not well enough versed in the pro-tools voodoo yet, though. I suppose anything's possible.

I'll be picking up the extra drive this week anyway. More tests to follow then.

[caruso7r]

Originally Posted by sw rec

1. This is a BETA version for Win 7 and a major hassle for the majority of people who are trying it.
2. Where's your dedicated audio drive? Recording to the system drive is a MAJOR no-go.
Get this thing 100% compatible before attempting any more tests.

Read my post. I am recording to a separate firewire approved drive.

My Post

[caruso7r]

There's two things that raise a 'reg flag" between our systems. Your running an intel and you have windows 7 "home" installed where I have an AMD and Ultimate installed. I'm replying cause of this Post: My Post

[sw rec]

Read my post. I am recording to a separate firewire approved drive.

Yeah, but I was addressing the original poster. How am I supposed to know what's on YOUR system????

[CraigCanon]

Thanks for the info, caruso7r.

I imagine I'll be wiping Pro Tools off and starting from scratch - in case I missed any steps. I don't remember whether I had my MBox 2 plugged in during the 8.0 install or not, but I think I started getting the blue screen of death behavior after installing 8.0.3. I'll wipe it clean and retrace my steps. Maybe I'll have better luck this time.

On another note - sw rec - I did manage to pick up the 2nd hard drive today. Once I get that configured and reinstall from the ground up, I'll run some more tests and post the results.

Thanks again,

Craig

[caruso7r]

Originally Posted by sw rec

Read my post. I am recording to a separate firewire approved drive.

Yeah, but I was addressing the original poster. How am I supposed to know what's on YOUR system????

I was only giving you a similar configuration that I've been testing and I had the link for you to look at. Our problems were similar with the 8.0.4 driver. No worries.