protools wackiness with plugins...RAM Upgd??

[joemail75]

So my computer isnt a creation station or a quadzilla, but im not running 128 track sessions at 96khz either. I do small demo's.

It is a pentium 4 processor at 2+ Ghz, sorry dont know what chipset, 512 RAM, running XP for the OS. I'm using an an maudio fw1814 and PT 7.1.

This setup has worked fine, running multiple plugins on over 20 tracks. But when I use the big 7-band eq, it seemingly overloads SOMETHING, cause my audio goes all fuzzy and buzzy until I restart the computer. The same thing happens when I use more than 2 verbs on seperate aux sends. I know I'm pushing certain limits within my system.

The problem doesnt seem to make sense, though, since im meeting the minimum requirements established by maudio. everything should at least work! the only thing that doesnt meet the 'recommended' requirements is the RAM...thus my thought is that I if i boost the RAM to 1GB it should help.

Will more RAM help me be able to use those bigger plug ins like the 7-band eq? thanks

[Brian Scherzer]

I have only used Macs for my recording, but 1/2 a gig of RAM sounds like too little. At least 1 gig should be used. I'm not positive that this is the issue that is causing the problem, but it is a likely villain!

[gassyndrome]

I have a slightly newer machine than that, and yes, it would appear to be RAM related to me. I have 1.2 gig, and mine still stuffs up with more than a couple of hungry plugs in going.

Check how much your motherboard/chipset can take before you go buy anything :AOK

[VegasGreg]

I would agree with the RAM being too little.

When I ran Protools on my PC running XP, It was a Pentium 4 3ghz with 2GB RAM, and on some complicated mixes even that was pushing the envelope of what would smoothly work.

Personally, I take the listed minimum requirements for a PC OR a Mac with a grain of salt.

I would think a practical MINIMUM nowadays for either platform doing audio work would be 1 GB, or more if one could afford it.

[Cap'n Fingers]

I have a 1.7 Ghz AMD that had 512 of RAM runnning PT 7.1.
I couldn't run more than a few MIDI tracks with BFD and Xpand.
I added another 1 GIG of RAM and all was peachy.

I'd go with more RAM first and if you still have the same issue
search the digi forums before calling them.

[ZiggY!!]

That buzzing sound you are hearing is your system losing sync with the audio interface. Ram is probably the cause... if upgrading it doesn't fix i'd check and make sure your FW card is recommended by Digidesign/M-audio.