Cakewalk not playing

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dr. dave

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Cakewalk plays and then after a while it won't play. It seems to be happenning as I keep importing more wave files. Wavefiles are all I use for now.

When I hit play absolutely nothing happens and the meter do not move. I keep trying to play but no meter movement.

After creating a new file and importing wave files everything is fine but then it won't play.

I deleted extra waves but still it won't play. I haven't gone over 8 tracks of stereo wave files.

Thanks for help
Dave H.
 
Sounds like a soundcard missmatch. Could you give us more info about your setup?? :)

cheers
John
 
Soundcard is configured fine. Someone said RAM requirement is essential.

Here is my results so far...

I went back and did some tests accordingingly but somehow the program did not stop this time. I loaded 20 one bar stereo [40 tracks] and 5 stereo 4.5 minutes [10 tracks] and the program only got sluggish once I got up to about 44/45 tracks. I can definitely work with that limit.

I rebooted fresh, started a new file/song and loaded 6 stereo [10 tracks] that were about 4.5 minutes long and did a bit of editing and the program worked fine then.

I only have 128MB RAM and still do not know why the program stopped previously and not doing it now that I tested to see how far my ram will go.

If I continue to have this problem in the future [and I am believing that it is indeed ram related] I will just do small phrases and do the final copying in SoundForge and/or Wavelab. I use these apps anyway to prepare the CD for burning.

Any other help is still welcome.
Thanks
Dave H.
 
Hi Dave.

Just some long-shots here.
Have you defraged your drive/s?
Have you set your buffer size?

What is your CPU?
How much free HD space do you have?
What Cakewalk Progie are you running?

As far as I know, 128 Megs should be enough to run most of Cakewalks progies. But,,,,,, there's always an exception.
 
Hello Fellas,

While 128 MB of Ram is often enough, it depends on what type of system resources that your machine has available. A guy I know partitioned his hardrive (40 gig) into two sectors with 30 gig in one and 10 gig in the other. Uses the 30 gig for PC studio. The operating system resides on both partitions and when he boots the computer in "Music Mode", there are no other drivers (Printers/scanners/modems etc.) running. He says this works well. This alows him to have One computer that his wife and family can still use for other things without interferring with his Music stuff.

Also you may have some slow ram (PC100 or PC133 that runs at a much slower clock speed). I would look into that. Also be aware that you can upgrade just about any machine to 512 mb for less than $100.00 Even if you buy all new Ram sticks.

P.S. I also second the Gas Man when he talks of the HD defrag and Buffer size. Simple things to take a look at.

Good Luck.

Fangar
 
Try the route that Badgas and Fangar gave you. It is good advice. ;)

spin
 
If you have soundforge have you tried CD Architect for CD preparing??

cheers
John
 
One more idea... if you have anti-virus software running turn it off while you are using Cakewalk. It could be monitoring all your file i/o and would introduce some substantial system overhead.
 
Good one Heinz. Definitely check that also. Could be a problem.

Fangar
 
So far the problem has ceased but I will post back if necessary guys.

Thanks for all the help.

Dave H.
 
What???
A Ceased Problem???
That's not right!!! Problems just don't cease, do they?
Try to recreate the problem so we can hand out more advice and ideas.

Oh, well.

I'm glad everything is fine for you now, dr. dave.
Anything pops up again, let us know.
 
badgas
>>Just some long-shots here.
Have you defraged your drive/s?<<

Yes

>>Have you set your buffer size?<<

No. What are the recommended settings?

>>What is your CPU?<<

500mhz

>>How much free HD space do you have?<<

2gb remaining on D:\ and 2.6gb remaining on c:\ but I can clean them up if necessary to regain space but it has to be an absolute must. Hardrive is 15gb. c:\=5gb d:\= 10gb totals
>>What Cakewalk Progie are you running?<<

Cakewalk Pro Audio v7.0

Fangar
>>Hello Fellas,

While 128 MB of Ram is often enough, it depends on what type of system resources that your machine has available.<<

System Resources behaving fine. Only my sound card is in the sys tray.

>>John Sayers
If you have soundforge have you tried CD Architect for CD preparing??

cheers
John<<

No I just use HP CDWriter and it works well. Not that I won't mind trying other things. I am always venturing.

>>heinz
One more idea... if you have anti-virus software running turn it off while you are using Cakewalk. It could be monitoring all your file i/o and would introduce some substantial system overhead.<<

I don't run that stuff. I hate it. As a matter of fact I hate too much junk running in the background so I end them all in msconfig etc. unless I absolutely need them back. Understand that I mean junk for my purposes though it might be gold to many others.


Like I said before the problem has ceased but if it comes back I sure will give you guys a holler. I still want to set my buffer size however.

I really do appreciate your help to this point. I am new to the list. Great list!

Thanks a bunch
Dave H.
 
Dr. Dave,

Hi there. Lets see you said a 500mhz. What type of processor is that? Who is the maker of the PC. Please don't say Packard Bell. RAM are you running PC100 or PC133? If it's less than 128mb, then upgrade. I am running 512mb and it only cost me 38.00 -15.00 rebate= $23.00, per strip (256mb each). The hard drive space sounds kinda small. 10gig is plenty, if that is all you have, but with only 2-3 remaining, that tells me there is a bunch of stuff on your drive. The main problem is access rate. Your drive is partitioned into two separte storage bins so that you can re-install all of the factory software etc. The problem is, one partition is considered a bakcup drive by your computer and is not accessed usually. So your drive is limited. Again an easy upgrade if you decide.

Also, you may have a slow HD controller (IDE) that is choking down your transfer rate. If this is the case, you will see a lot of problems, cracks, pops, droputs, failures and blue screens when trying to run large files. The 500mhz processor should be fine as a buddy of mine uses a 300mhz Pentium II, but the machine is completly empty other than the operating system (windows 98) and the music software. He still has a few problems with droputs and cracks with real time recording. This is as we know due to his slow processor.

I use a 733mhz Pent III with 512 MB ram (only PC100) with a 30gig HD. My life is easier though, because I do all of my recording Via Alesis ADAT and then slave the DAT unit to the PC. and ultimately dump all of its contents to PC for editing, mixing, effects, and CD burning (via toslink Optical Cables).

Answer those questions above for me. Good luck.

Fangar.
 
Fangar

I went ahead and cleaned up my other hd 15GB 7400RPM WD and I left the default of 5GB on C:\ and 10GB on D:\

D:\ is totally clean and it's where I will be keeping my music files.

The old hd in question is IBM 7200 RPM 15GB. It has a lot of my files there so I will keep it as a back up until I buy some more CDs to burn them then go back and clean up that drive later.


I fdisked/formatted and installed Win98 2nd Ed on the 15GB WD and only installed the necessary apps. Cakewalk and SoundForge so far to C:\. I probably should have installed to D:\ but that's ok performance is excellent so far.

Now to answer your applicable questions...

>>Dr. Dave,

Hi there. Lets see you said a 500mhz. What type of processor is that?<<

PentiumIII

>>Who is the maker of the PC.<<

No name brand. Custom built. MoBo is Abit RevII.

>>Please don't say Packard Bell.<<

I miss my Packard Bell. But no it is not one of those.

>>RAM are you running PC100 or PC133?<<

PC100 SDRAMS

>>If it's less than 128mb, then upgrade. I am running 512mb and it only cost me 38.00 -15.00 rebate= $23.00, per strip (256mb each).<<

128RAM.

But please let me know where I can get RAM for that price if it's my type. I won't upgrade too soon though.

>>Also, you may have a slow HD controller (IDE) that is choking down your transfer rate. If this is the case, you will see a lot of problems, cracks, pops, droputs, failures and blue screens when trying to run large files. The 500mhz processor should be fine...<snip>

I am using ATA66


Thanks
Dave H.
 
Oh and I still need to know what to set the buffer size to. If this is necessary, someone please let me know.

thanks
Dave
 
One more thing. I did a complete mix with 12 separate tracks running @ 4min 35sec, dumped it into Sound Forge to add some finishing touches and everything went great!

But please still give me tips on CakeWalk. I've only used it for about 3 days now. Long time ago I meddled with it but never got involved. Just a few clicks.

Dave
 
Dr,

Sounds like your system is running fine and up to par. I got the RAM at BEST BUY. They are (as of yesterday) still running a special on PNY PC133/100/66 (meaning it will work for all systems and adjust to your clock speed). I have a Compaq and it when right in. I recently purchased some off brand RAM from Fry's that i had to take back as it was incompatible with my system. It was 38 or 39 bucks and came with a rebate of 15.00 via manufacturer for each Dimm purchased. Not usre if you have a BEST BUY around you, but I am sure that there are many stores with comparable prices.

The buffer thing will vary for each system. The manual says to fiddle around until you find the best one. There are many influences as to what the buffers should be set at. If your system is running with 12 tracks at 4+ minutes, I wouldn't bother with it. You would know if you needed to play with that as it would either crash or produce crappy tracks with pops and stutters etc.

Don't you feel so clean now that your HD is straightened out?
=)

Fangar
 
Fangar thanks for all the tip and ram info. Yeah it feels great to be up and running!

Have a great day!

Dave
 
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