Windows Guide - Windows XP Optimizations and
Troubleshooting.
Question
Windows Guide - Windows XP Optimizations and
Troubleshooting.
Answer
Windows XP Optimizations and Troubleshooting:
Listed below are a
few things you can do to optimize your Windows system for use with Pro Tools.
Only Microsoft Windows XP Home and Professional Editions with Service
Pack 2 are supported at this time. Media Center, Professional 64, and Tablet
PC versions remain untested by Digidesign, and we cannot guarantee these
versions will work with Pro Tools. If you are using these versions, we recommend
you upgrade to one of the supported platforms mentioned previously. There have
been rare cases reported where unresolvable issues on Media Center Edition have
been fixed by upgrading to Home or Professional.
Items in red are recommended for most laptops, and are required for
those supported models with Intel Core Duo processors. Note: Not all Intel Core Duo laptops can be reconfigured with
these options, and therefore may report constant buffer errors [-6086, -6087,
-9093, -9125, -9129] when recording. Please contact your computer manufacturer if you
need assistance disabling some of the listed options, but realize that we can
only fully support the models we have tested. (see additional compatibility info).
Also, we strongly
recommend that you use a secondary physical hard drive for saving your sessions,
audio, and sample libraries to. If you only have one internal system drive (C:),
then you can purchase an external drive. The drive will need to meet the
following specifications:
- FireWire 400 or 800
- Oxford 911, 912, or 924 chipset
- 7200RPM
- Less than 10 milliseconds of Seek Time
You’ll find the most
common brands meet these requirements, such as Lacie, Glyph, and Maxtor.
Note: this may lead to an unsupported configuration
when using a laptop with only one FireWire port and a FireWire audio interface,
such as the Digi 002 or 003. You may need to purchase a PCMCIA (PC) or Cardbus
(Mac) expansion FireWire card for an extra FireWire port to run the drive from
to attain maximum track count (although connecting the drive to the secondary
port on the Digi 002 or 003 may work, it is not supported for maximum track
count. Also, though the manual states that the Digi 002 or 003 should be
connected to the FireWire port on the back of your drive, this is suggested
only to prevent data loss - having the drive connected
to the Digi 002 or 003 will have slightly better performance, but you MUST properly remove the drive and turn it off before powering
down the 002). We currently only support one model, found here.
Creating a new hardware profile:
- Right-click on My Computer and select
'Properties.'
- Click on the Hardware tab and select Hardware Profiles - you should see a
list with your computer's default profile. This profile will become the Pro
Tools optimized profile, so you can rename it accordingly.
- Click Copy to create a duplicate profile before the changes we'll make -
this will be your computer's access to the internet and other applications, so
name it accordingly as well (i.e. Pro Tools (Current) and Default).
- Then make sure that 'Wait until I select a hardware profile' is checked.
Close the Hardware Profiles dialog.
Disabling non-essential devices:
- You should be back in the Hardware tab of System Properties - click on
Device Manager.
- Click on the '+' symbol next to Network Adapters.
- Double-click on the first device listed and select the 'Do not use this
device in the current hardware profile (disable)' option under Device Usage.
- Close that device's properties dialog and repeat the last step for the next
device listed.
- All items under Network Adapters, Ports, and any default or built-in
soundcard listed under Sound, Video, and Game Controllers should follow suit
(disabling your network adapters will prevent you from using the internet).
- Open the Universal Serial Bus controllers,
and for any USB Root Hub, do the following:
- Right-click and select 'Properties.'
- Click on the Power Management tab and
uncheck the 'Allow the computer to turn off this
device to save power' option.
- Click 'Okay' to go back to the Device
Manager.
- If you have any external FireWire drives,
open the Disk Drives list and right-click on the icon of that drive to select
'Properties.'
- Go to the Policies tab and make sure the
device is set to 'Optimize for Quick Removal.'
- Click 'Okay' to go back to the Device
Manager.
- You can now close the Device Manager and go back to the System Properties
dialog.
Note: Combined with the
previous step, you will now have two Hardware Profiles to choose from during
boot. The 'Pro Tools' profile will now have these devices already disabled,
whereas the 'Default' profile will not (i.e. your internet will still work on
your "Default" profile).
Disabling non-essential startup tasks and services:
- Click on the Start menu and select 'Run.'
- Type "msconfig" in the prompt and click 'OK.' This will bring up the System
Configuration Utility.
- In the General tab, click the 'Selective Startup' radio button.
- Uncheck everything but 'Load System Services.'
- Click on the Services tab, and you'll see a 'Hide all Microsoft services'
checkbox at the bottom - ensure this box is CHECKED, then select 'Disable All.'
- Now uncheck the 'Hide all Microsoft services' box, and you should see the
list of services refresh with some default services and a green check in their
box.
- Click 'OK' on the System Configuration Utility window to close. It will ask
you to restart - do so.
- Note: If you want to go back to your normal startup,
simply run 'msconfig' again and select 'Normal Startup.' Also, this step will
disable most anti-virus software (this is a good thing when running Pro Tools).
Now that you've optimized your computer for running Pro
Tools, it's important to check for anything that might be causing a conflict.
The next steps can be advanced, so if you are unsure, please e-mail or call Tech
Support before continuing.
Entering the BIOS:
The BIOS is the core of your computer. It tells the
system how to communicate to all of its hardware; so it's important to not
change something if you're unsure of what it does. That being said, there are
several ways to enter the system BIOS, and you can only do so for a short period
of time before Windows launches and you have to restart and try again. Some
manufacturers like to set the BIOS entrance key to 'delete' on the keyboard,
others use different function keys (i.e. F9, F4, and F2 are common). Most often,
the motherboard will have a "splash-screen" upon boot that will tell you which
key to press to enter the BIOS (often only referred to as 'Setup') - others, you
either have to read the motherboard manual, or guess. In any case, BIOS
manufacturers have their own way of doing things, as should be noted in the
general descriptions that will be given for navigating the BIOS itself - without
a manual of your specific motherboard handy, I'm limited to a very general
framework. It might be necessary to contact your computer/motherboard
manufacturer to complete the steps below.
With that said, let's enter
the BIOS now...
Disabling RAID:
RAID is a
type of array configuration for your hard drives that can save files between
discs or mirror the file to a backup. Unfortunately, this causes erratic and
often catastrophic errors with Pro Tools. To disable this feature, find the RAID
controller option - it's usually found under the 'Advanced' menu. Even if RAID
is not being utilized, it's important to disable this option.
Disabling Speed-stepping:
This option is referred to as
AMD Cool n' Quiet in AMD processor motherboards, and can show up as various
things in Intel-based boards. Sometimes it simply shows up as 'speed-stepping.'
If your motherboard has this option, disable it, as it can cause major conflicts
with the processor scheduling of Pro Tools and the USB bus. It's usually found
under the 'Advanced' tab.
This option is usually disabled by following
the steps in the ‘Getting Started Guide’ that’s supplied with your product by
setting your Power Options to the ‘Always On’ scheme (found in the Control Panel
- for some Dell laptops, this can also be called Dell Quick-Set Performance
Mode). Some manufacturers supply their own power management system - please
confer with those manufacturers to find the correct option, or follow the step
above to bypass their management and turn this off directly from the BIOS. Also,
sometimes the manufacturers limit your access to the BIOS and you cannot disable
speed-stepping - if you cannot set Power Scheme to ‘Always On’ or disable
speed-stepping on a laptop,YOUR LAPTOP MAY BE INCOMPATIBLE WITH PRO TOOLS.
Note: Disabling Speed Stepping in the BIOS is
NOT necessary to make Pro Tools work on a Core Duo, but may solve otherwise
irresolvable issues. Disabling this feature may increase stability, but will cut
your processors clock speed almost in half (to prevent over-heating).
Disabling C-State Transition and Optimizing Integrated
USB Hub:
This option is specific to Core Duo laptops. If you see
C-State Transition anywhere in the BIOS, be sure to disable it. Also, find the
Integrated USB Hub and set it to High Speed. Note that not all computers or BIOS
will have these options.
That’s the last of the optimizations specific
to Core Duo laptops; however, if you’re still encountering buffer errors and are
on an unsupported model, you can try to disable one of the processor cores in
the BIOS as a last-ditch effort. If that doesn’t fix the problem, then you may
need to run Pro Tools on another computer altogether.
Disabling on-board audio:
This option simply activates or
disables the audio card that's built-in on some motherboards. Disabling the
on-board audio can free up resources and prevent IRQ or resource allocation
conflicts. It's usually found near the 'PCI' or 'On-Board' options. Many users
will want to use their built-in soundcard for playback of Windows sounds or
programs other than Pro Tools; these users should bypass this step.
Other optimizations:
Aside from the steps above, here are some
optional settings to get maximum performance from Pro Tools.
Display Performance:
Another way to free up resources is
to minimize the amount of processing Windows needs for display. This can be done
in a few ways.
- First, right-click on My Computer and select
'Properties.'
- Go to the Advanced tab and select 'Settings' under the Performance section.
- In the Visual Effects tab, select 'Adjust for best performance' - this will
change the way that Windows looks somewhat (to that nice 'classic' feel).
- Then click on the Advanced tab and set both Processor Scheduling and Memory
Usage to 'Programs.'
- Close the Performance Options and System Properties windows by clicking
'OK.'
- Now, right-click on a blank space on the desktop and select 'Properties.'
- In the Display Properties dialog box, select the Appearance tab.
- Click Effects to bring up the Effects dialog box and disable the check-boxes
next to the font-smoothing and shadows options.
- Click 'OK' and go to the Settings tab of Display Properties.
- Set the 'Color-Quality' to 16-bit, then open the 'Advanced' dialog.
- Under the Troubleshoot tab, set the 'Hardware Acceleration' to None.
While it won't be the prettiest OS, it should be running like
a cheetah. More importantly, you have just maximized the performance of Pro
Tools - now it's time to create!
DEP Fix:
This option disables execution prevention, a feature of Windows Service
Packs that can sometimes cause errors. This won’t harm anything, but also isn’t
always necessary. To do this:
- Right-click on My Computer and select
Properties.
- Click on the Advanced tab and select ‘Settings’ under Startup and Recovery.
- In the Startup and Recovery window, click on the ‘Edit’ button. This will
display a text document with system execution parameters - we want to find the
part of the text that reads: “ /NoExecute=OptIn “ and change the “OptIn” to
reflect “ /NoExecute=AlwaysOff “ - note that the ‘A’ and ‘O’ are capitalized and
there are no spaces.
- Then go to the file menu and Save the document.
- Close the document and click ‘Okay’ in Startup and Recovery.
Even more troubleshooting:
If you have any questions or are
still running into errors, there might be deeper conflicts with the system.
Check your RAM - Pro Tools needs at least 512Mb to operate - 1GB or more is
recommended (note that Windows XP can only allocate about 2GB of RAM to an
application).
Some chipsets can also cause Pro Tools to stop in its
tracks - to determine your chipset, download PC Wizard. Check your
listed chipset against the compatible / incompatible chipsets listed here - namely, make sure you're not running an Intel 915G,
915P, or 925X on Intel-based computers; SiS and ATI Radeon chipsets (on the
motherboard, not graphics card) have also been reported to cause conflicts with
AMD-based Machines.
Both AMD and Intel have released updated drivers and
processor accelerators that can fix some irresolvable buffer errors and
generally improve Pro Tools performance.
- All users with AMD dual-core processors (System Properties displays 'X2'
next to your processor model) should download the AMD Dual-Core Optimizer utility. This patch is linked to rare
irresolvable -9093 errors in Pro Tools.
- The Intel Application Accelerator is the same for Intel
processors.
"Unable to locate Digidesign Hardware. Make sure
your hardware is connected and turned on. Click "OK" when the hardware is
ready." Occuring on Windows XP or Vista.
Question
"Unable to locate Digidesign Hardware. Make sure your
hardware is connected and turned on. Click "OK" when the hardware is ready."
Occuring on Windows XP or Vista.
Answer
If your Digidesign Hardware can not be recognized by
Pro Tools. Go to My Computer> (C:) >
Program Files > Digidesign > Drivers > double-click DigiDriver (with
the blue "d" logo) and choose "Install". Once that is finished, try to launch
Pro Tools again. If it still is not connecting: 1. R-click My Computer and choose Manage
2. Click on the Device Manager 3. Click on the plus next to Sound, Video, &
Game Controllers 4. Locate you Digidesign Hardware in the list 5. R-click it and
choose update driver 6. Choose all of the LAST options available to you from the
Hardware Wizard ("Install from a list or specific location", then "Don't search.
I will choose the driver to install.") 7. Select your driver from the list, and
choose Next 8. Then choose Finish Try to launch Pro Tools again, if it still
doesn't connect to the Hardware, check to see if the drivers for your Digidesign
Hardware are listed in the Device Manager. If they have an exclamation point or
question mark, R-click choose update driver and try the automatic options in the
Hardware Update Wizard. Should none of these options work, make sure you have
done all of the system optimizations on your PC (listed in the Getting Started
Guide) and check the compatibility of your PC.
After optimizing your system you may try to uninstall Pro Tools LE (choose the
last option to remove Pro Tools, Device Drivers, Preferences, Databases, and
MIDI Device/Patch Settings) and reinstall Pro Tools. You may then try to run
DigiDriver again. Try these steps before calling Technical Support.
Customer Support Videos — Help With Compatibility,
Product Registration, Ignition Pack 2, and Technical Support
Procedures
Question
Customer Support Videos — Help With Compatibility, Product Registration,
Ignition Pack 2, and Technical Support
Procedures
Answer
Customer Support Videos — Help With Compatibility, Product Registration,
Ignition Pack 2, and Technical Support Procedures
The following videos from Digidesign Customer
Support help answer some of the questions frequently asked by new customers.
Viewing requires QuickTime for Mac or Windows:
Note: QuickTime videos can
also be saved to your computer (for viewing later) by choosing "Save As
QuickTime Movie..." from the dropdown list on the bottom right arrow of the
QuickTime player.
Product Registration
How to register your Digidesign product, and the benefits you are entitled
to by registering.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
Technical Support
Valuable information on common tech support issues such as complimentary
tech support time period, tech support resources on the website, how to get
support after complimentary period has ended, and what to do if your product
needs repair.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
Pro Tools System
Requirements & Compatibility
Information on why your computer
needs to be compatible with your Pro Tools system, how to find out if your
computer is supported, and an introduction to PC Wizard for Windows users.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
Mbox 2 Family
Information on everything that is included in the package when you purchase
an Mbox 2 system.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
Authorizing the Ignition
Pack 2 Programs
Information on which programs are included in the
Ignition Pack 2 and Ignition Pack 2 Pro, how you can use them, and how to
authorize each program.
Part 1 — Introduction of
the Ignition Pack 2 bundles, online registration instructions to get your
activation codes, and information on iLok authorization for the Ignition Pack 2
Pro.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
Part 2 —
Authorizing Ableton Live Lite 6 Digidesign Edition and iZotope Trash Lite,
Spectron Lite, and Ozone 3 Lite.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
Part 3 —
Authorizing Way Out Ware TimewARP 2600 Lite and Melodyne uno essential.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
Part 4 —
Authorizing Propellerhead Reason Adapted 3 and IK Multimedia AmpliTube LE.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
More Information
Question
Mac Guide - Mac OS X
Optimizations.
Answer
Setup for Apple System Preferences
There need to be specific
settings made to your Mac
for proper installation and operation of Pro Tools. Start by going to the Apple
Menu and selecting System Preferences. There are many System Preference settings
that are needed so you can always return to main System Preferences pane by
clicking the 'Show All' button in the upper left hand corner of the window.
Classic
Click the 'Classic' preference.
Under the 'Start/Stop' tab, make sure that the box for 'Start Classic when you
log in' is unchecked.
Date & Time
Click
'Date & Time', and verify that the date and time are set correctly. Under
the 'Clock' tab make sure 'Use a 24-hour clock' is unchecked.
Desktop & Screen Saver
Click the 'Desktop &
Screensaver' preference. Under the 'Screen Saver' tab, move the 'Start screen
saver' slider to never.
Displays
Click the
'Displays' preference. In this pane, set the monitor to a minimum resolution of
1024X768.
Energy Saver
Click the 'Energy
Saver' preference. In Energy Saver, make sure that the sliders for 'Put the
computer to sleep...', and 'Put the display to sleep...' are set to 'Never'. If
the sliders are not visible, click the 'Show Details' button. Uncheck the box
for 'Put the hard disk(s) to sleep...'. Click the 'Options' tab, and set
'Processor Performance' to 'Highest'. Note: Processor Performance may not appear
on all systems
Security
Click the 'Security'
preference. In this window find where is states: 'FileVault protection is
(on/off) for this account'. If FileVault is on click the button to turn Off
FileVault Software Update. Click the 'Software Update' preference and make sure
the box that is labeled 'Check for updates:' is unchecked.
Spotlight
Click the 'Spotlight' preference. In this window
click on the Privacy tab. Every hard drive that is being used (internal and
external) needs to be added to this list, if it is not there already. To add a
drive to the list click the and then highlight the drive and click the 'Choose'
button. Repeat until all hard drives appear in the list.
Turning off AirPort and Bluetooth
If your computer is equipped with
Bluetooth wireless and/or an AirPort card, these may
need to be disabled for Pro Tools to work correctly.
Airport
Disable AirPort by clicking the AirPort icon in
the upper right hand corner of the screen (menu bar) and selecting 'Turn AirPort
Off'. If the AirPort icon is not visible, open 'System Preferences' (Apple Menu
> System Preferences), click on the 'Network' preference and select 'AirPort'
from the 'Show' drop down menu. Under the AirPort tab, check the box next to
Show AirPort status in menu bar.
Bluetooth
Disable Bluetooth by clicking on the Bluetooth icon in the upper right hand
corner of the screen (menu bar) and selecting 'Turn Bluetooth Off', or, open
System Preferences (Apple Menu > System Preferences), click on Bluetooth
under the Hardware section, go to the Settings tab and click the 'Turn Bluetooth
Off' button.
Deleting Databases and Preferences
These are important steps in
order to resolve various issues, such as assertion errors, graphic or display
problems, and other intermittent issues that are not specifically hardware or
compatibility related. Listed below are the paths to all the database and
preference files installed by Pro Tools. Once you have deleted these files, you
should empty the trash and restart your computer. These files will be recreated
when Pro Tools is launched.
Digidesign Databases
These folders are found on the root level of all mounted volumes. (i.e.
MacHD > Digidesign Databases) You should delete (trash) ALL of these folders
and the Volumes folder (see next). Note:
Actual Pro Tools sessions should NEVER be saved in these folders.
Volumes
This folder is related to the
Digidesign Databases, and needs to be deleted in order for this whole process to
work. This folder is located in MacHD > Library > Application Support >
Digidesign
Pro Tools Preferences
These files
and folders are located in MacHD > User > 'your user name' > Library
> Preferences. Delete the following: 'com.digidesign.protools.plist', 'DAE
Prefs' (folder), 'DigiSetup.OSX', and 'Pro Tools Preferences'
Repair Permissions
Quit Pro Tools and all other open
applications, then launch Apple's "Disk Utility" application, located in
MacHD>Applications>Utilities. Select the boot drive (the whole drive, not
the volume underneath the drive). Go to the 'First Aid' tab and select "Repair
Disk Permissions"
Additional Troubleshooting
Uninstall and
reinstall Pro Tools
Go to MacHD > Applications > Digidesign
> Pro Tools > Pro Tools Utilities and doubleclick on 'Uninstall Pro
Tools'. Use the Clean uninstall option, and continue through the uninstaller,
and click the Quit button when the process is finished.
New User Account
Create a new user with administrator
privileges in System Preferences > Accounts. Click the Lock to authenticate
and enter your password. Click the under the list of users. When the new user
dialog comes up, type In Pro Tools for the Name, enter a password and verify
(optional), and be sure to check the box 'Allow user to administer this
computer. Once that is done, click 'Create Account'.
Then login to this
new account and run Pro Tools. Go to the Apple menu and go to 'Log Out
(Username)', wait for the login screen and then login in as Pro Tools. When the
desktop loads in this user account, navigate to MacHD > Applications >
Digidesign > Pro Tools and double-click on the 'Pro Tools' application.
Login Items
Open System Preferences and
click the 'Accounts' preference. Select your account from the list on the left
hand side of the window and click on the 'Login Items' tab on the right hand
side of the window. Go through the list and select each item, one at a time, and
click the below the list to remove the item.
Pace
Drivers
Make sure the most current version of these drivers are
installed on the computer. Visit the PACE website and download the most current
drivers (Extensions), install, and then restart the computer.
Dashboard
For information on disabling
Apple's dashboard visit:
http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?navid=54&itemid=22358
Plug-In Compatibility
Make sure that all
Plug-Ins are compatible with the version of Pro Tools that is installed on your
system. Open MacHD > Library > Application Support > Digidesign >
Plug-Ins. To check the version of a plug-in, select (click once) the plug-in and
go to the 'File' menu and choose 'Get Info', or hit Command-I and look at the
version information under the 'General' Section. Check with 3rd party
programmers for their most up-todate versions, you can also check the plug-in
compatibility grid on the Digidesign website:
Disable Virus Protection
Disable any Virus Protection
Software. Check for evidence of anti-virus software in Library > Startup
items. Move these items out of this folder and restart the CPU (do NOT remove
any Digidesign or PACESupport items). DO NOT move any items out of the
StartupItems folder, if you are unsure of their functionality.
Windows XP Optimizations and Troubleshooting:
Listed below are a
few things you can do to optimize your Windows system for use with Pro Tools.
Only Microsoft Windows XP Home and Professional Editions with Service
Pack 2 are supported at this time. Media Center, Professional 64, and Tablet
PC versions remain untested by Digidesign, and we cannot guarantee these
versions will work with Pro Tools. If you are using these versions, we recommend
you upgrade to one of the supported platforms mentioned previously. There have
been rare cases reported where unresolvable issues on Media Center Edition have
been fixed by upgrading to Home or Professional.
Items in red are recommended for most laptops, and are required for
those supported models with Intel Core Duo processors. Note: Not all Intel Core Duo laptops can be reconfigured with
these options, and therefore may report constant buffer errors [-6086, -6087,
-9093, -9125, -9129] when recording. Please contact your computer manufacturer if you
need assistance disabling some of the listed options, but realize that we can
only fully support the models we have tested. (see additional compatibility info).
Also, we strongly
recommend that you use a secondary physical hard drive for saving your sessions,
audio, and sample libraries to. If you only have one internal system drive (C:),
then you can purchase an external drive. The drive will need to meet the
following specifications:
- FireWire 400 or 800
- Oxford 911, 912, or 924 chipset
- 7200RPM
- Less than 10 milliseconds of Seek Time
You’ll find the most
common brands meet these requirements, such as Lacie, Glyph, and Maxtor.
Note: this may lead to an unsupported configuration
when using a laptop with only one FireWire port and a FireWire audio interface,
such as the Digi 002 or 003. You may need to purchase a PCMCIA (PC) or Cardbus
(Mac) expansion FireWire card for an extra FireWire port to run the drive from
to attain maximum track count (although connecting the drive to the secondary
port on the Digi 002 or 003 may work, it is not supported for maximum track
count. Also, though the manual states that the Digi 002 or 003 should be
connected to the FireWire port on the back of your drive, this is suggested
only to prevent data loss - having the drive connected
to the Digi 002 or 003 will have slightly better performance, but you MUST properly remove the drive and turn it off before powering
down the 002). We currently only support one model, found here.
Creating a new hardware profile:
- Right-click on My Computer and select
'Properties.'
- Click on the Hardware tab and select Hardware Profiles - you should see a
list with your computer's default profile. This profile will become the Pro
Tools optimized profile, so you can rename it accordingly.
- Click Copy to create a duplicate profile before the changes we'll make -
this will be your computer's access to the internet and other applications, so
name it accordingly as well (i.e. Pro Tools (Current) and Default).
- Then make sure that 'Wait until I select a hardware profile' is checked.
Close the Hardware Profiles dialog.
Disabling non-essential devices:
- You should be back in the Hardware tab of System Properties - click on
Device Manager.
- Click on the '+' symbol next to Network Adapters.
- Double-click on the first device listed and select the 'Do not use this
device in the current hardware profile (disable)' option under Device Usage.
- Close that device's properties dialog and repeat the last step for the next
device listed.
- All items under Network Adapters, Ports, and any default or built-in
soundcard listed under Sound, Video, and Game Controllers should follow suit
(disabling your network adapters will prevent you from using the internet).
- Open the Universal Serial Bus controllers,
and for any USB Root Hub, do the following:
- Right-click and select 'Properties.'
- Click on the Power Management tab and
uncheck the 'Allow the computer to turn off this
device to save power' option.
- Click 'Okay' to go back to the Device
Manager.
- If you have any external FireWire drives,
open the Disk Drives list and right-click on the icon of that drive to select
'Properties.'
- Go to the Policies tab and make sure the
device is set to 'Optimize for Quick Removal.'
- Click 'Okay' to go back to the Device
Manager.
- You can now close the Device Manager and go back to the System Properties
dialog.
Note: Combined with the
previous step, you will now have two Hardware Profiles to choose from during
boot. The 'Pro Tools' profile will now have these devices already disabled,
whereas the 'Default' profile will not (i.e. your internet will still work on
your "Default" profile).
Disabling non-essential startup tasks and services:
- Click on the Start menu and select 'Run.'
- Type "msconfig" in the prompt and click 'OK.' This will bring up the System
Configuration Utility.
- In the General tab, click the 'Selective Startup' radio button.
- Uncheck everything but 'Load System Services.'
- Click on the Services tab, and you'll see a 'Hide all Microsoft services'
checkbox at the bottom - ensure this box is CHECKED, then select 'Disable All.'
- Now uncheck the 'Hide all Microsoft services' box, and you should see the
list of services refresh with some default services and a green check in their
box.
- Click 'OK' on the System Configuration Utility window to close. It will ask
you to restart - do so.
- Note: If you want to go back to your normal startup,
simply run 'msconfig' again and select 'Normal Startup.' Also, this step will
disable most anti-virus software (this is a good thing when running Pro Tools).
Now that you've optimized your computer for running Pro
Tools, it's important to check for anything that might be causing a conflict.
The next steps can be advanced, so if you are unsure, please e-mail or call Tech
Support before continuing.
Entering the BIOS:
The BIOS is the core of your computer. It tells the
system how to communicate to all of its hardware; so it's important to not
change something if you're unsure of what it does. That being said, there are
several ways to enter the system BIOS, and you can only do so for a short period
of time before Windows launches and you have to restart and try again. Some
manufacturers like to set the BIOS entrance key to 'delete' on the keyboard,
others use different function keys (i.e. F9, F4, and F2 are common). Most often,
the motherboard will have a "splash-screen" upon boot that will tell you which
key to press to enter the BIOS (often only referred to as 'Setup') - others, you
either have to read the motherboard manual, or guess. In any case, BIOS
manufacturers have their own way of doing things, as should be noted in the
general descriptions that will be given for navigating the BIOS itself - without
a manual of your specific motherboard handy, I'm limited to a very general
framework. It might be necessary to contact your computer/motherboard
manufacturer to complete the steps below.
With that said, let's enter
the BIOS now...
Disabling RAID:
RAID is a
type of array configuration for your hard drives that can save files between
discs or mirror the file to a backup. Unfortunately, this causes erratic and
often catastrophic errors with Pro Tools. To disable this feature, find the RAID
controller option - it's usually found under the 'Advanced' menu. Even if RAID
is not being utilized, it's important to disable this option.
Disabling Speed-stepping:
This option is referred to as
AMD Cool n' Quiet in AMD processor motherboards, and can show up as various
things in Intel-based boards. Sometimes it simply shows up as 'speed-stepping.'
If your motherboard has this option, disable it, as it can cause major conflicts
with the processor scheduling of Pro Tools and the USB bus. It's usually found
under the 'Advanced' tab.
This option is usually disabled by following
the steps in the ‘Getting Started Guide’ that’s supplied with your product by
setting your Power Options to the ‘Always On’ scheme (found in the Control Panel
- for some Dell laptops, this can also be called Dell Quick-Set Performance
Mode). Some manufacturers supply their own power management system - please
confer with those manufacturers to find the correct option, or follow the step
above to bypass their management and turn this off directly from the BIOS. Also,
sometimes the manufacturers limit your access to the BIOS and you cannot disable
speed-stepping - if you cannot set Power Scheme to ‘Always On’ or disable
speed-stepping on a laptop,YOUR LAPTOP MAY BE INCOMPATIBLE WITH PRO TOOLS.
Note: Disabling Speed Stepping in the BIOS is
NOT necessary to make Pro Tools work on a Core Duo, but may solve otherwise
irresolvable issues. Disabling this feature may increase stability, but will cut
your processors clock speed almost in half (to prevent over-heating).
Disabling C-State Transition and Optimizing Integrated
USB Hub:
This option is specific to Core Duo laptops. If you see
C-State Transition anywhere in the BIOS, be sure to disable it. Also, find the
Integrated USB Hub and set it to High Speed. Note that not all computers or BIOS
will have these options.
That’s the last of the optimizations specific
to Core Duo laptops; however, if you’re still encountering buffer errors and are
on an unsupported model, you can try to disable one of the processor cores in
the BIOS as a last-ditch effort. If that doesn’t fix the problem, then you may
need to run Pro Tools on another computer altogether.
Disabling on-board audio:
This option simply activates or
disables the audio card that's built-in on some motherboards. Disabling the
on-board audio can free up resources and prevent IRQ or resource allocation
conflicts. It's usually found near the 'PCI' or 'On-Board' options. Many users
will want to use their built-in soundcard for playback of Windows sounds or
programs other than Pro Tools; these users should bypass this step.
Other optimizations:
Aside from the steps above, here are some
optional settings to get maximum performance from Pro Tools.
Display Performance:
Another way to free up resources is
to minimize the amount of processing Windows needs for display. This can be done
in a few ways.
- First, right-click on My Computer and select
'Properties.'
- Go to the Advanced tab and select 'Settings' under the Performance section.
- In the Visual Effects tab, select 'Adjust for best performance' - this will
change the way that Windows looks somewhat (to that nice 'classic' feel).
- Then click on the Advanced tab and set both Processor Scheduling and Memory
Usage to 'Programs.'
- Close the Performance Options and System Properties windows by clicking
'OK.'
- Now, right-click on a blank space on the desktop and select 'Properties.'
- In the Display Properties dialog box, select the Appearance tab.
- Click Effects to bring up the Effects dialog box and disable the check-boxes
next to the font-smoothing and shadows options.
- Click 'OK' and go to the Settings tab of Display Properties.
- Set the 'Color-Quality' to 16-bit, then open the 'Advanced' dialog.
- Under the Troubleshoot tab, set the 'Hardware Acceleration' to None.
While it won't be the prettiest OS, it should be running like
a cheetah. More importantly, you have just maximized the performance of Pro
Tools - now it's time to create!
DEP Fix:
This option disables execution prevention, a feature of Windows Service
Packs that can sometimes cause errors. This won’t harm anything, but also isn’t
always necessary. To do this:
- Right-click on My Computer and select
Properties.
- Click on the Advanced tab and select ‘Settings’ under Startup and Recovery.
- In the Startup and Recovery window, click on the ‘Edit’ button. This will
display a text document with system execution parameters - we want to find the
part of the text that reads: “ /NoExecute=OptIn “ and change the “OptIn” to
reflect “ /NoExecute=AlwaysOff “ - note that the ‘A’ and ‘O’ are capitalized and
there are no spaces.
- Then go to the file menu and Save the document.
- Close the document and click ‘Okay’ in Startup and Recovery.
Even more troubleshooting:
If you have any questions or are
still running into errors, there might be deeper conflicts with the system.
Check your RAM - Pro Tools needs at least 512Mb to operate - 1GB or more is
recommended (note that Windows XP can only allocate about 2GB of RAM to an
application).
Some chipsets can also cause Pro Tools to stop in its
tracks - to determine your chipset, download PC Wizard. Check your
listed chipset against the compatible / incompatible chipsets listed here - namely, make sure you're not running an Intel 915G,
915P, or 925X on Intel-based computers; SiS and ATI Radeon chipsets (on the
motherboard, not graphics card) have also been reported to cause conflicts with
AMD-based Machines.
Both AMD and Intel have released updated drivers and
processor accelerators that can fix some irresolvable buffer errors and
generally improve Pro Tools performance.
- All users with AMD dual-core processors (System Properties displays 'X2'
next to your processor model) should download the AMD Dual-Core Optimizer utility. This patch is linked to rare
irresolvable -9093 errors in Pro Tools.
- The Intel Application Accelerator is the same for Intel
processors.
"Unable to locate Digidesign Hardware. Make sure
your hardware is connected and turned on. Click "OK" when the hardware is
ready." Occuring on Windows XP or Vista.
Question
"Unable to locate Digidesign Hardware. Make sure your
hardware is connected and turned on. Click "OK" when the hardware is ready."
Occuring on Windows XP or Vista.
Answer
If your Digidesign Hardware can not be recognized by
Pro Tools. Go to My Computer> (C:) >
Program Files > Digidesign > Drivers > double-click DigiDriver (with
the blue "d" logo) and choose "Install". Once that is finished, try to launch
Pro Tools again. If it still is not connecting: 1. R-click My Computer and choose Manage
2. Click on the Device Manager 3. Click on the plus next to Sound, Video, &
Game Controllers 4. Locate you Digidesign Hardware in the list 5. R-click it and
choose update driver 6. Choose all of the LAST options available to you from the
Hardware Wizard ("Install from a list or specific location", then "Don't search.
I will choose the driver to install.") 7. Select your driver from the list, and
choose Next 8. Then choose Finish Try to launch Pro Tools again, if it still
doesn't connect to the Hardware, check to see if the drivers for your Digidesign
Hardware are listed in the Device Manager. If they have an exclamation point or
question mark, R-click choose update driver and try the automatic options in the
Hardware Update Wizard. Should none of these options work, make sure you have
done all of the system optimizations on your PC (listed in the Getting Started
Guide) and check the compatibility of your PC.
After optimizing your system you may try to uninstall Pro Tools LE (choose the
last option to remove Pro Tools, Device Drivers, Preferences, Databases, and
MIDI Device/Patch Settings) and reinstall Pro Tools. You may then try to run
DigiDriver again. Try these steps before calling Technical Support.
Customer Support Videos — Help With Compatibility,
Product Registration, Ignition Pack 2, and Technical Support
Procedures
Question
Customer Support Videos — Help With Compatibility, Product Registration,
Ignition Pack 2, and Technical Support
Procedures
Answer
Customer Support Videos — Help With Compatibility, Product Registration,
Ignition Pack 2, and Technical Support Procedures
The following videos from Digidesign Customer
Support help answer some of the questions frequently asked by new customers.
Viewing requires QuickTime for Mac or Windows:
Note: QuickTime videos can
also be saved to your computer (for viewing later) by choosing "Save As
QuickTime Movie..." from the dropdown list on the bottom right arrow of the
QuickTime player.
Product Registration
How to register your Digidesign product, and the benefits you are entitled
to by registering.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
Technical Support
Valuable information on common tech support issues such as complimentary
tech support time period, tech support resources on the website, how to get
support after complimentary period has ended, and what to do if your product
needs repair.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
Pro Tools System
Requirements & Compatibility
Information on why your computer
needs to be compatible with your Pro Tools system, how to find out if your
computer is supported, and an introduction to PC Wizard for Windows users.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
Mbox 2 Family
Information on everything that is included in the package when you purchase
an Mbox 2 system.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
Authorizing the Ignition
Pack 2 Programs
Information on which programs are included in the
Ignition Pack 2 and Ignition Pack 2 Pro, how you can use them, and how to
authorize each program.
Part 1 — Introduction of
the Ignition Pack 2 bundles, online registration instructions to get your
activation codes, and information on iLok authorization for the Ignition Pack 2
Pro.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
Part 2 —
Authorizing Ableton Live Lite 6 Digidesign Edition and iZotope Trash Lite,
Spectron Lite, and Ozone 3 Lite.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
Part 3 —
Authorizing Way Out Ware TimewARP 2600 Lite and Melodyne uno essential.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
Part 4 —
Authorizing Propellerhead Reason Adapted 3 and IK Multimedia AmpliTube LE.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
More Information
Question
Mac Guide - Mac OS X
Optimizations.
Answer
Setup for Apple System Preferences
There need to be specific
settings made to your Mac
for proper installation and operation of Pro Tools. Start by going to the Apple
Menu and selecting System Preferences. There are many System Preference settings
that are needed so you can always return to main System Preferences pane by
clicking the 'Show All' button in the upper left hand corner of the window.
Classic
Click the 'Classic' preference.
Under the 'Start/Stop' tab, make sure that the box for 'Start Classic when you
log in' is unchecked.
Date & Time
Click
'Date & Time', and verify that the date and time are set correctly. Under
the 'Clock' tab make sure 'Use a 24-hour clock' is unchecked.
Desktop & Screen Saver
Click the 'Desktop &
Screensaver' preference. Under the 'Screen Saver' tab, move the 'Start screen
saver' slider to never.
Displays
Click the
'Displays' preference. In this pane, set the monitor to a minimum resolution of
1024X768.
Energy Saver
Click the 'Energy
Saver' preference. In Energy Saver, make sure that the sliders for 'Put the
computer to sleep...', and 'Put the display to sleep...' are set to 'Never'. If
the sliders are not visible, click the 'Show Details' button. Uncheck the box
for 'Put the hard disk(s) to sleep...'. Click the 'Options' tab, and set
'Processor Performance' to 'Highest'. Note: Processor Performance may not appear
on all systems
Security
Click the 'Security'
preference. In this window find where is states: 'FileVault protection is
(on/off) for this account'. If FileVault is on click the button to turn Off
FileVault Software Update. Click the 'Software Update' preference and make sure
the box that is labeled 'Check for updates:' is unchecked.
Spotlight
Click the 'Spotlight' preference. In this window
click on the Privacy tab. Every hard drive that is being used (internal and
external) needs to be added to this list, if it is not there already. To add a
drive to the list click the and then highlight the drive and click the 'Choose'
button. Repeat until all hard drives appear in the list.
Turning off AirPort and Bluetooth
If your computer is equipped with
Bluetooth wireless and/or an AirPort card, these may
need to be disabled for Pro Tools to work correctly.
Airport
Disable AirPort by clicking the AirPort icon in
the upper right hand corner of the screen (menu bar) and selecting 'Turn AirPort
Off'. If the AirPort icon is not visible, open 'System Preferences' (Apple Menu
> System Preferences), click on the 'Network' preference and select 'AirPort'
from the 'Show' drop down menu. Under the AirPort tab, check the box next to
Show AirPort status in menu bar.
Bluetooth
Disable Bluetooth by clicking on the Bluetooth icon in the upper right hand
corner of the screen (menu bar) and selecting 'Turn Bluetooth Off', or, open
System Preferences (Apple Menu > System Preferences), click on Bluetooth
under the Hardware section, go to the Settings tab and click the 'Turn Bluetooth
Off' button.
Deleting Databases and Preferences
These are important steps in
order to resolve various issues, such as assertion errors, graphic or display
problems, and other intermittent issues that are not specifically hardware or
compatibility related. Listed below are the paths to all the database and
preference files installed by Pro Tools. Once you have deleted these files, you
should empty the trash and restart your computer. These files will be recreated
when Pro Tools is launched.
Digidesign Databases
These folders are found on the root level of all mounted volumes. (i.e.
MacHD > Digidesign Databases) You should delete (trash) ALL of these folders
and the Volumes folder (see next). Note:
Actual Pro Tools sessions should NEVER be saved in these folders.
Volumes
This folder is related to the
Digidesign Databases, and needs to be deleted in order for this whole process to
work. This folder is located in MacHD > Library > Application Support >
Digidesign
Pro Tools Preferences
These files
and folders are located in MacHD > User > 'your user name' > Library
> Preferences. Delete the following: 'com.digidesign.protools.plist', 'DAE
Prefs' (folder), 'DigiSetup.OSX', and 'Pro Tools Preferences'
Repair Permissions
Quit Pro Tools and all other open
applications, then launch Apple's "Disk Utility" application, located in
MacHD>Applications>Utilities. Select the boot drive (the whole drive, not
the volume underneath the drive). Go to the 'First Aid' tab and select "Repair
Disk Permissions"
Additional Troubleshooting
Uninstall and
reinstall Pro Tools
Go to MacHD > Applications > Digidesign
> Pro Tools > Pro Tools Utilities and doubleclick on 'Uninstall Pro
Tools'. Use the Clean uninstall option, and continue through the uninstaller,
and click the Quit button when the process is finished.
New User Account
Create a new user with administrator
privileges in System Preferences > Accounts. Click the Lock to authenticate
and enter your password. Click the under the list of users. When the new user
dialog comes up, type In Pro Tools for the Name, enter a password and verify
(optional), and be sure to check the box 'Allow user to administer this
computer. Once that is done, click 'Create Account'.
Then login to this
new account and run Pro Tools. Go to the Apple menu and go to 'Log Out
(Username)', wait for the login screen and then login in as Pro Tools. When the
desktop loads in this user account, navigate to MacHD > Applications >
Digidesign > Pro Tools and double-click on the 'Pro Tools' application.
Login Items
Open System Preferences and
click the 'Accounts' preference. Select your account from the list on the left
hand side of the window and click on the 'Login Items' tab on the right hand
side of the window. Go through the list and select each item, one at a time, and
click the below the list to remove the item.
Pace
Drivers
Make sure the most current version of these drivers are
installed on the computer. Visit the PACE website and download the most current
drivers (Extensions), install, and then restart the computer.
Dashboard
For information on disabling
Apple's dashboard visit:
http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?navid=54&itemid=22358
Plug-In Compatibility
Make sure that all
Plug-Ins are compatible with the version of Pro Tools that is installed on your
system. Open MacHD > Library > Application Support > Digidesign >
Plug-Ins. To check the version of a plug-in, select (click once) the plug-in and
go to the 'File' menu and choose 'Get Info', or hit Command-I and look at the
version information under the 'General' Section. Check with 3rd party
programmers for their most up-todate versions, you can also check the plug-in
compatibility grid on the Digidesign website:
Disable Virus Protection
Disable any Virus Protection
Software. Check for evidence of anti-virus software in Library > Startup
items. Move these items out of this folder and restart the CPU (do NOT remove
any Digidesign or PACESupport items). DO NOT move any items out of the
StartupItems folder, if you are unsure of their functionality.
Customer Support Videos — Help With Compatibility,
Product Registration, Ignition Pack 2, and Technical Support
Procedures
Question
Customer Support Videos — Help With Compatibility, Product Registration,
Ignition Pack 2, and Technical Support
Procedures
Answer
Customer Support Videos — Help With Compatibility, Product Registration,
Ignition Pack 2, and Technical Support Procedures
The following videos from Digidesign Customer
Support help answer some of the questions frequently asked by new customers.
Viewing requires QuickTime for Mac or Windows:
Note: QuickTime videos can
also be saved to your computer (for viewing later) by choosing "Save As
QuickTime Movie..." from the dropdown list on the bottom right arrow of the
QuickTime player.
Product Registration
How to register your Digidesign product, and the benefits you are entitled
to by registering.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
Technical Support
Valuable information on common tech support issues such as complimentary
tech support time period, tech support resources on the website, how to get
support after complimentary period has ended, and what to do if your product
needs repair.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
Pro Tools System
Requirements & Compatibility
Information on why your computer
needs to be compatible with your Pro Tools system, how to find out if your
computer is supported, and an introduction to PC Wizard for Windows users.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
Mbox 2 Family
Information on everything that is included in the package when you purchase
an Mbox 2 system.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
Authorizing the Ignition
Pack 2 Programs
Information on which programs are included in the
Ignition Pack 2 and Ignition Pack 2 Pro, how you can use them, and how to
authorize each program.
Part 1 — Introduction of
the Ignition Pack 2 bundles, online registration instructions to get your
activation codes, and information on iLok authorization for the Ignition Pack 2
Pro.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
Part 2 —
Authorizing Ableton Live Lite 6 Digidesign Edition and iZotope Trash Lite,
Spectron Lite, and Ozone 3 Lite.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
Part 3 —
Authorizing Way Out Ware TimewARP 2600 Lite and Melodyne uno essential.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
Part 4 —
Authorizing Propellerhead Reason Adapted 3 and IK Multimedia AmpliTube LE.
Click here
for Answerbase article/video.
More Information
|
|
Question
Mac Guide - Mac OS X
Optimizations.
Answer
Setup for Apple System Preferences
There need to be specific
settings made to your Mac
for proper installation and operation of Pro Tools. Start by going to the Apple
Menu and selecting System Preferences. There are many System Preference settings
that are needed so you can always return to main System Preferences pane by
clicking the 'Show All' button in the upper left hand corner of the window.
Classic
Click the 'Classic' preference.
Under the 'Start/Stop' tab, make sure that the box for 'Start Classic when you
log in' is unchecked.
Date & Time
Click
'Date & Time', and verify that the date and time are set correctly. Under
the 'Clock' tab make sure 'Use a 24-hour clock' is unchecked.
Desktop & Screen Saver
Click the 'Desktop &
Screensaver' preference. Under the 'Screen Saver' tab, move the 'Start screen
saver' slider to never.
Displays
Click the
'Displays' preference. In this pane, set the monitor to a minimum resolution of
1024X768.
Energy Saver
Click the 'Energy
Saver' preference. In Energy Saver, make sure that the sliders for 'Put the
computer to sleep...', and 'Put the display to sleep...' are set to 'Never'. If
the sliders are not visible, click the 'Show Details' button. Uncheck the box
for 'Put the hard disk(s) to sleep...'. Click the 'Options' tab, and set
'Processor Performance' to 'Highest'. Note: Processor Performance may not appear
on all systems
Security
Click the 'Security'
preference. In this window find where is states: 'FileVault protection is
(on/off) for this account'. If FileVault is on click the button to turn Off
FileVault Software Update. Click the 'Software Update' preference and make sure
the box that is labeled 'Check for updates:' is unchecked.
Spotlight
Click the 'Spotlight' preference. In this window
click on the Privacy tab. Every hard drive that is being used (internal and
external) needs to be added to this list, if it is not there already. To add a
drive to the list click the and then highlight the drive and click the 'Choose'
button. Repeat until all hard drives appear in the list.
Turning off AirPort and Bluetooth
If your computer is equipped with
Bluetooth wireless and/or an AirPort card, these may
need to be disabled for Pro Tools to work correctly.
Airport
Disable AirPort by clicking the AirPort icon in
the upper right hand corner of the screen (menu bar) and selecting 'Turn AirPort
Off'. If the AirPort icon is not visible, open 'System Preferences' (Apple Menu
> System Preferences), click on the 'Network' preference and select 'AirPort'
from the 'Show' drop down menu. Under the AirPort tab, check the box next to
Show AirPort status in menu bar.
Bluetooth
Disable Bluetooth by clicking on the Bluetooth icon in the upper right hand
corner of the screen (menu bar) and selecting 'Turn Bluetooth Off', or, open
System Preferences (Apple Menu > System Preferences), click on Bluetooth
under the Hardware section, go to the Settings tab and click the 'Turn Bluetooth
Off' button.
Deleting Databases and Preferences
These are important steps in
order to resolve various issues, such as assertion errors, graphic or display
problems, and other intermittent issues that are not specifically hardware or
compatibility related. Listed below are the paths to all the database and
preference files installed by Pro Tools. Once you have deleted these files, you
should empty the trash and restart your computer. These files will be recreated
when Pro Tools is launched.
Digidesign Databases
These folders are found on the root level of all mounted volumes. (i.e.
MacHD > Digidesign Databases) You should delete (trash) ALL of these folders
and the Volumes folder (see next). Note:
Actual Pro Tools sessions should NEVER be saved in these folders.
Volumes
This folder is related to the
Digidesign Databases, and needs to be deleted in order for this whole process to
work. This folder is located in MacHD > Library > Application Support >
Digidesign
Pro Tools Preferences
These files
and folders are located in MacHD > User > 'your user name' > Library
> Preferences. Delete the following: 'com.digidesign.protools.plist', 'DAE
Prefs' (folder), 'DigiSetup.OSX', and 'Pro Tools Preferences'
Repair Permissions
Quit Pro Tools and all other open
applications, then launch Apple's "Disk Utility" application, located in
MacHD>Applications>Utilities. Select the boot drive (the whole drive, not
the volume underneath the drive). Go to the 'First Aid' tab and select "Repair
Disk Permissions"
Additional Troubleshooting
Uninstall and
reinstall Pro Tools
Go to MacHD > Applications > Digidesign
> Pro Tools > Pro Tools Utilities and doubleclick on 'Uninstall Pro
Tools'. Use the Clean uninstall option, and continue through the uninstaller,
and click the Quit button when the process is finished.
New User Account
Create a new user with administrator
privileges in System Preferences > Accounts. Click the Lock to authenticate
and enter your password. Click the under the list of users. When the new user
dialog comes up, type In Pro Tools for the Name, enter a password and verify
(optional), and be sure to check the box 'Allow user to administer this
computer. Once that is done, click 'Create Account'.
Then login to this
new account and run Pro Tools. Go to the Apple menu and go to 'Log Out
(Username)', wait for the login screen and then login in as Pro Tools. When the
desktop loads in this user account, navigate to MacHD > Applications >
Digidesign > Pro Tools and double-click on the 'Pro Tools' application.
Login Items
Open System Preferences and
click the 'Accounts' preference. Select your account from the list on the left
hand side of the window and click on the 'Login Items' tab on the right hand
side of the window. Go through the list and select each item, one at a time, and
click the below the list to remove the item.
Pace
Drivers
Make sure the most current version of these drivers are
installed on the computer. Visit the PACE website and download the most current
drivers (Extensions), install, and then restart the computer.
Dashboard
For information on disabling
Apple's dashboard visit:
http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?navid=54&itemid=22358
Plug-In Compatibility
Make sure that all
Plug-Ins are compatible with the version of Pro Tools that is installed on your
system. Open MacHD > Library > Application Support > Digidesign >
Plug-Ins. To check the version of a plug-in, select (click once) the plug-in and
go to the 'File' menu and choose 'Get Info', or hit Command-I and look at the
version information under the 'General' Section. Check with 3rd party
programmers for their most up-todate versions, you can also check the plug-in
compatibility grid on the Digidesign website:
Disable Virus Protection
Disable any Virus Protection
Software. Check for evidence of anti-virus software in Library > Startup
items. Move these items out of this folder and restart the CPU (do NOT remove
any Digidesign or PACESupport items). DO NOT move any items out of the
StartupItems folder, if you are unsure of their functionality.
Setup for Apple System Preferences
There need to be specific
settings made to your Mac
for proper installation and operation of Pro Tools. Start by going to the Apple
Menu and selecting System Preferences. There are many System Preference settings
that are needed so you can always return to main System Preferences pane by
clicking the 'Show All' button in the upper left hand corner of the window.
Classic
Click the 'Classic' preference.
Under the 'Start/Stop' tab, make sure that the box for 'Start Classic when you
log in' is unchecked.
Date & Time
Click
'Date & Time', and verify that the date and time are set correctly. Under
the 'Clock' tab make sure 'Use a 24-hour clock' is unchecked.
Desktop & Screen Saver
Click the 'Desktop &
Screensaver' preference. Under the 'Screen Saver' tab, move the 'Start screen
saver' slider to never.
Displays
Click the
'Displays' preference. In this pane, set the monitor to a minimum resolution of
1024X768.
Energy Saver
Click the 'Energy
Saver' preference. In Energy Saver, make sure that the sliders for 'Put the
computer to sleep...', and 'Put the display to sleep...' are set to 'Never'. If
the sliders are not visible, click the 'Show Details' button. Uncheck the box
for 'Put the hard disk(s) to sleep...'. Click the 'Options' tab, and set
'Processor Performance' to 'Highest'. Note: Processor Performance may not appear
on all systems
Security
Click the 'Security'
preference. In this window find where is states: 'FileVault protection is
(on/off) for this account'. If FileVault is on click the button to turn Off
FileVault Software Update. Click the 'Software Update' preference and make sure
the box that is labeled 'Check for updates:' is unchecked.
Spotlight
Click the 'Spotlight' preference. In this window
click on the Privacy tab. Every hard drive that is being used (internal and
external) needs to be added to this list, if it is not there already. To add a
drive to the list click the and then highlight the drive and click the 'Choose'
button. Repeat until all hard drives appear in the list.
Turning off AirPort and Bluetooth
If your computer is equipped with
Bluetooth wireless and/or an AirPort card, these may
need to be disabled for Pro Tools to work correctly.
Airport
Disable AirPort by clicking the AirPort icon in
the upper right hand corner of the screen (menu bar) and selecting 'Turn AirPort
Off'. If the AirPort icon is not visible, open 'System Preferences' (Apple Menu
> System Preferences), click on the 'Network' preference and select 'AirPort'
from the 'Show' drop down menu. Under the AirPort tab, check the box next to
Show AirPort status in menu bar.
Bluetooth
Disable Bluetooth by clicking on the Bluetooth icon in the upper right hand
corner of the screen (menu bar) and selecting 'Turn Bluetooth Off', or, open
System Preferences (Apple Menu > System Preferences), click on Bluetooth
under the Hardware section, go to the Settings tab and click the 'Turn Bluetooth
Off' button.
Deleting Databases and Preferences
These are important steps in
order to resolve various issues, such as assertion errors, graphic or display
problems, and other intermittent issues that are not specifically hardware or
compatibility related. Listed below are the paths to all the database and
preference files installed by Pro Tools. Once you have deleted these files, you
should empty the trash and restart your computer. These files will be recreated
when Pro Tools is launched.
Digidesign Databases
These folders are found on the root level of all mounted volumes. (i.e.
MacHD > Digidesign Databases) You should delete (trash) ALL of these folders
and the Volumes folder (see next). Note:
Actual Pro Tools sessions should NEVER be saved in these folders.
Volumes
This folder is related to the
Digidesign Databases, and needs to be deleted in order for this whole process to
work. This folder is located in MacHD > Library > Application Support >
Digidesign
Pro Tools Preferences
These files
and folders are located in MacHD > User > 'your user name' > Library
> Preferences. Delete the following: 'com.digidesign.protools.plist', 'DAE
Prefs' (folder), 'DigiSetup.OSX', and 'Pro Tools Preferences'
Repair Permissions
Quit Pro Tools and all other open
applications, then launch Apple's "Disk Utility" application, located in
MacHD>Applications>Utilities. Select the boot drive (the whole drive, not
the volume underneath the drive). Go to the 'First Aid' tab and select "Repair
Disk Permissions"
Additional Troubleshooting
Uninstall and
reinstall Pro Tools
Go to MacHD > Applications > Digidesign
> Pro Tools > Pro Tools Utilities and doubleclick on 'Uninstall Pro
Tools'. Use the Clean uninstall option, and continue through the uninstaller,
and click the Quit button when the process is finished.
New User Account
Create a new user with administrator
privileges in System Preferences > Accounts. Click the Lock to authenticate
and enter your password. Click the under the list of users. When the new user
dialog comes up, type In Pro Tools for the Name, enter a password and verify
(optional), and be sure to check the box 'Allow user to administer this
computer. Once that is done, click 'Create Account'.
Then login to this
new account and run Pro Tools. Go to the Apple menu and go to 'Log Out
(Username)', wait for the login screen and then login in as Pro Tools. When the
desktop loads in this user account, navigate to MacHD > Applications >
Digidesign > Pro Tools and double-click on the 'Pro Tools' application.
Login Items
Open System Preferences and
click the 'Accounts' preference. Select your account from the list on the left
hand side of the window and click on the 'Login Items' tab on the right hand
side of the window. Go through the list and select each item, one at a time, and
click the below the list to remove the item.
Pace
Drivers
Make sure the most current version of these drivers are
installed on the computer. Visit the PACE website and download the most current
drivers (Extensions), install, and then restart the computer.
Dashboard
For information on disabling
Apple's dashboard visit:
http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?navid=54&itemid=22358
Plug-In Compatibility
Make sure that all
Plug-Ins are compatible with the version of Pro Tools that is installed on your
system. Open MacHD > Library > Application Support > Digidesign >
Plug-Ins. To check the version of a plug-in, select (click once) the plug-in and
go to the 'File' menu and choose 'Get Info', or hit Command-I and look at the
version information under the 'General' Section. Check with 3rd party
programmers for their most up-todate versions, you can also check the plug-in
compatibility grid on the Digidesign website:
Disable Virus Protection
Disable any Virus Protection
Software. Check for evidence of anti-virus software in Library > Startup
items. Move these items out of this folder and restart the CPU (do NOT remove
any Digidesign or PACESupport items). DO NOT move any items out of the
StartupItems folder, if you are unsure of their functionality.
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