Digital Performer Troubleshooting tips for audio problems. Things to try when DP audio is not working properly.

Need help troubleshooting your Digital Performer software? This checklist will help you find possible solutions to your audio problems.

Check Software Version

Check your software version and be sure to frequently check for download updates as needed. Software such as Digital Performer, MOTU Audio System, and FreeMIDI are often updated. There are two easy ways to check which version of MOTU software you’re currently running:

1. In the FreeMIDI Applications folder or Digital Performer folder the application icon will be titled with its version (eg: Digital Performer™ 3.02 or FreeMIDI Setup 1.47)
2. Locate the following folder:

• Macintosh HD > System > Extensions > MOTU >MOTU Audio System (Make sure it is highlighted)
• Together, press Apple and letter I to open the Get Info window. The information window will show the version (eg: 2.33).

Check Other Projects

Make sure your problem is not just one particular project. Open another project or create a new project and see if the problem still exists.

Okay, my problem is only on one project!

If this is the case, use the Load function by closing any current DP projects and create a new project. Next, go to File, click Load function, and open the file that is causing the problem.

Note: Loading a sequence into a new project can oftentimes fix the problem; check out page 21 of the DP9 user guide for more info.

In the Basics Menu:

Check the Audio Hardware Settings

In the Basics menu, choose Configure Audio System and select Configure Hardware Driver. Here, you’ll need to check a few things.

1. Clock Source:

• Not using any digital connections like optical, SPDIF, etc.? Your Clock Source should be Internal.
• You are using digital connections? Make sure the Clock Source matches the source (eg: If you’re sending Optical into your MOTU System, your Clock Source should be Optical)

2. Samples per Buffer setting:

Raise the buffer size one step at a time, and see if performance improves. While you do this, it helps to watch the Performance window. System problems like sluggishness or clicks and pops can be caused by smaller buffer sizes.

3. Inputs and Outputs:

Disable any inputs and outputs you don’t need. Since each input and output that is enabled use system resources, having fewer enabled can often help.

Check DP’s Studio Configuration.

In the Basics menu, click Configure Audio System and select Configure Studio Size.
1. Set the number of voices in your Studio Configure appropriately.

Note: As a general rule, set the amount of Mono Voices, Stereo Voices, and Stereo Busses to no more than what you’ll actually use. If you only have about 16 mono tracks, and 2 stereo tracks, don’t make your Studio size any larger – it won’t fix anything.
2. Keep Disk Read/Write Size and Buffer Size per Voice at their defaults. These almost never need to be changed. The defaults are:

Defaults
Disk Read/Write Size	200 (or 150)
Buffer Size per Voice	400 (or 350)

Run DP without MAS running

In the Basics menu, choose Audio System, and select MIDI Only to see if DP will run better without MAS running.
For a more effective way to disable the MOTU Audio System and test DP, follow the steps below:

1. Quit all applications, open the System, and choose Extensions
2. Drag MOTU folder to Desktop
3. Restart the computer and try running Digital Performer

Note: There will be no audio; only MIDI.

Trim Extensions and Check Sound Control Panel

Trim extensions to reduce the possibility of conflicts. Next, make sure the Sound Control Panel output is set to Built-in while DP is running so your Mac OS does not use the same audio hardware that DP is.

Disable Your Audio Hardware and Third Party Plug-ins

In the Basics menu, select Configure Audio System, choose Configure Hardware Driver and change the hardware setting to Sound Manager. Then, test your system running audio through Sound Manager so the audio can play through your Mac’s audio speakers.

You can also try disabling any third-party plug-ins. Try placing the MOTU folder back into the Extensions folder. Then, click the MOTU folder and find the Plug-ins folder. Pull any third-party plug-ins (VST Wrapper, Powered Plugins, PowerCore, Waves, etc.) onto the desktop. See if DP works better with MAS running, but those plugins disabled.

Still not working?

Let’s try a few other things:

Check Digital Performer’s memory allocation

To find out how much RAM DP has allocated:

1. Open the Digital Performer folder, click once on the icon Digital Performer™ 3.02 so that it is highlighted.
2. Go to File, click Get info, and then click Memory

Note: You can adjust the Preferred size, by typing in a new value. DP3 (3.02) works best with a Preferred size of 120,000 (k) to 150,000 and is recommended to not go higher.

Trash Preferences

In order to trash preferences, quit all applications and open the Macintosh HD in your system drive. Next, open the Systems folder and go to Preferences. From there, drag the following items into the Trash Digital Performer Preferences (folder):

• MOTU Audio System Preferences
• MOTU 324 Preferences OR MOTU Firewire Audio Prefs

Now you can restart the computer, launch your FreeMIDI Configuration First, and then launch DP. Finally, use the Configure Hardware driver to set your hardware back up.

Rebuild the Desktop

After quitting all applications, Restart the computer, immediately pressing and holding Option and Apple (Command) all the way through rebooting. When the prompt asks, “are you sure you want to rebuild the desktop file?“, choose yes.

Zapping the PRAM

After quitting all applications, restart the computer, immediately pressing and holding these four keys: Option, Apple (Command), and the letters P & R. While holding these keys, you’ll hear the Mac chime again. Let the Mac chime three times, before releasing the keys.

Check your Hard Drive

Check your hard drive with a disk utility like Disk First Aid (included free with all Macs from Apple), Norton Utilities, or Disk Warrior.
Note: It’s always safe to follow their recommendations to repair stuff that they find wrong on your hard drive. If your Disk utility has a Defragmenting or Optimizing utility, use that option only after checking and repairing any problems on the disk.

Reinstall your Digital Performer

This works best when removing all DP related software. Feel free to take a look at our article that walks you through how to reinstall DP3.

Contact Technical Support

If none of the above works, contact Sweetwater Technical Support. Sweetwater is known for exceptional customer care and would be happy to help resolve any troubleshooting problems you may have. Also, you can visit MOTU’s web site for a list of technical resources, or take a look at the Helpful Links below for additional help!

Helpful Links

• How do I setup a Raven MTi2 in Digital Performer?
• How do I setup a NanoKontrol2 in Digital Performer?
• How do I use my Fishman TriplePlay with Digital Performer 8?
• My Euphonix Artist Series hardware won’t work with Digital Performer 8!

Knowledge Base