MacBook Pro 2.2Ghz: topping out at or before 32 tracks :(

[Steve Henningsgard]

My MacBook Pro seems to be crapping out at around 32 tracks (the artificial maximum for Pro Tools LE, I know). Even with very few plugins inserted (we're talking like 5 instances of EQ and 3-4 compressors... that's it.), it is giving me hardware communication errors and "increase buffer size" warnings.

Is this normal behavior for Pro Tools LE? I really wish one of the other great programs out there had developed into the unofficial standard of the industry; this thing sucks :/

- MacBook Pro
2.2Ghz Core 2 Duo
2 Gb Ram

- Digi002

- External Maxtor FW400 hard drive (might be the culprit?)

- Pissed off engineer

 

[MessianicDreams]

No, absolutely not.


I run 25-40 tracks with generally 2 or more plugs per track, as well as 3-4 reverbs and a few delays, and only then do i occasionally have issues.

What is the error msg exactly? and what is your buffer size currently set to?

One thing I would be careful of is overloading your FW buss: if you're running 7-8 tracks in to and out of the 002 as well as streaming 32tracks from your FW drive on the same buss this could be where the issue is.

If all else fails, try a re-install on your mac. I did this last week and PT is performing MUCH better..

 

[madmax25]

I've got an 002r into a dell laptop and protools likes to slap me around a bit now and then...originally i was recording straight onto an external 500 GB hard drive, but after about 5 or 6 months it decided it didn't like the external HD anymore. I kept getting the "turn buffer up" "turn buffer down" crap. took the HD out of the chain and it records straight into the laptop fine. So maybe try that.
Another thing...sometimes protools just bogggssss dowwnnn and I go in and do this: http://www.protoolsforum.com/digiprefs.html and it clears crap out and drives like a caddy for another few months...
Hope that helps...

Elliot