Pro Tools DAE Error -6031, -9128

DAE error -6031 or -9128. “You’re running out of CPU power. Take out some plug-ins to free up CPU power.”

This article describes how to manage the Playback Engine and other settings for optimum host-based playback and RTAS plug-in performance.

RTAS plug-ins use your computer’s CPU to process audio. Settings in the Playback Engine can dramatically affect how well Pro Tools utilizes your host computer’s processing power. How plug-ins are programmed can also affect which settings are most effective.

• DAE error (-9128): “You are running out of CPU power. Remove some RTAS plug-ins or increase the CPU Usage Limit in the Playback Engine dialog. (-9128)”

Playback Engine Settings:

• Reduce the number of Host Processors. Set this to one less than the maximum number – this usually results in best performance. If errors persist, try lowering this setting further. With Virtual Instruments and plug-ins that are processor intensive (pitch correction, amplifier modeling, multiband compression), this setting can be critical.
• Raise the H/W buffer size. This will improve RTAS performance, but increases the latency of Virtual Instruments, which may not be desirable. During tracking, set this number to a lower setting. During mixing, increase to be able to use more RTAS plug-ins. When recording Virtual Instruments, most players find settings between 128 and 256 samples result in an acceptable amount of latency.
• CPU Usage Limit: If you have reduced the number of Host Processors, it is safe to increase this to 99% if available.
• Host Engine – Ignore Errors During Playback/Record. In some instances, checking this box will permit you to use more RTAS plug-ins.

Plug-In Compatibility, Updates, and settings:

• Refer to the Plug-In Compatibility Grid to confirm that you have the best version of your plug-ins installed. Some manufacturers have specifically updated their plug-ins to improve multiprocessor performance in Pro Tools. Follow the links to the manufacturer’s websites to find information about updates.
• Plug-In Settings: Many virtual instruments have preference settings within the plug-in which affect how it uses system resources. For example, Native Instrument’s Kontakt version 3.5 and above works much better in Pro Tools with Multi-Processor support turned off. Check your plug-in’s preference pane to determine if there are settings to reduce its use of CPU power.
• Number of Plug-in Instantiations: Some virtual instruments like Digidesign’s Structure support multiple patches per instance, receiving on different MIDI channels. Use multiple patches within one instance of the plug-in, and create separate midi tracks to control them. Also for effects shared by multiple tracks, creating sends and bussing them to an aux track with the desired plug-in can reduce the processing required. (See “Using Sends” in the Pro Tools Reference Guide)
• Disable Elastic Audio. Elastic Audio also uses significant processor resources. If you have finished manipulating your tracks with Elastic Audio, choose None – Disable Elastic Audio, and you will be prompted to commit these changes to disk.

RAM 

• Install more RAM in your computer. Pro Tools currently uses a maximum of 3 gigabytes of RAM. If you are using ReWire applications, they can also use their own memory partition. Your operating system also uses additional RAM to perform system tasks.

Freeze, Print, or Bus-Bounce Virtual Instrument and processed tracks. 

• Record their output to separate Audio tracks.
• Hide and make inactive the original, processor intensive tracks. How to Bus-Bounce tracks. This saves the musical and plug-in information, so if you want to go back and change them in the future you can, and reduces the amount of processing power required to play those tracks.

Optimize your system: 

• Disable wireless network, keyboard, mouse, and Anti Virus software.
• Perform system optimizations to make sure that no background processing tasks or settings are decreasing your system performance.

 

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