How do I resolve the “Pro Tools could not initialize the current playback device. Please make sure that the device has been configured correctly.” error when trying to launch Pro Tools 9?
This could be an issue with the Current Engine setting in the Pro Tools Playback Engine, which could be resolved by picking a different Playback Engine. Check the solutions below for assistance:
Choosing a Different Playback Engine
- Launch Pro Tools 9 and wait for the splash screen to appear.
- Then, hold down the n key on your keyboard, which will eventually open the Playback Engine dialog for Pro Tools.
- At the top of this window, locate Current Engine drop-down menu and choose a different Engine (such as Pro Tools Aggregate I/O) Once completed, click OK.
This should allow Pro Tools to launch!
Additional Solution on Mac OS X
If the solution above fails, you can try deleting the “com.apple.audio.AggregateDevices.plist” preference on Mac OS X. You can find this preference file in the following location:
- Macintosh HD > Library > Preferences
Driver Updates (Mac and Windows)
If you are upgrading to Pro Tools 9, download and install the latest drivers for your Avid, Digidesign or M-Audio hardware from this article.
Helpful Links
Pro Tools tells me that “The current playback engine does not support a sample rate of…”
I’m getting an Assertion error in Pro Tools. How do I fix it?
My plugins do not show up in Pro Tools.
DAE error -9514 in Pro Tools 10.3.2
When you need help, Sweetwater has the answers!
Our knowledge base contains over 28,000 expertly written tech articles that will give you answers and help you get the most out of your gear. Our pro musicians and gear experts update content daily to keep you informed and on your way. Best of all, it’s totally FREE, and it’s just another reason that you get more at Sweetwater.com.
