Arturia Forums
DRUMS => Spark => Spark Technical Issues => Topic started by: charleslklee on March 13, 2012, 08:09:24 am
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I am new to Spark and I have been trying to use it on Protools 10. Sometimes when I open an Intstument track on Protools, it works fine, randomly it crashed my Protools file. It is ok when in Stand alone mode. Also sometimes there is a warning of CPU usage on my Protools file although Spark is the only Plug in I have turned on.
lately it crashed or freeze up my Protools file a lot and sometime it said No Connection to Spark when I click on the Spark on my Protools Instrument track
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Hi charleslklee,
Concerning CPU usage in PT, you can configure PT to not have this problem.
Go to Setup->Playback Engine..., then set "CPU usage limit" to 99% and "Host Processors" to your number of CPU - 1.
More information here (http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec07/articles/ptworkshop_1207.htm)
Concerning the connection, can you tell me what OS you are using?
I guess you are running Windows. The problem is that PT open the device (Spark Controller) before the plugin then the plugin can not open it. The workaround is to turn on Spark controller AFTER launching Pro Tools.
hope this helps
Kevin
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Hi Kevin,
First of all, it is strange that when you replied my message, I didn't see it as NEW MESSAGE when I logged in? Is this normal, or this is not a message to me but a Forum Post? Just curious.
Secondly, no I am using Mac OS X.6.8 with 2 Dual Core Intel Xenon each with 3Ghz speed. The memory is 9GB 667 Mhz DDR2 FB-DIMM.. And yes the CPU is set as 99% as you mentioned. The CPU warning from Protools appear randomly, sometimes it does sometimes not at all
I tried even to load a drum programme or a drum loop from Spark onto Protools 10 when I open a Instrument track, sometimes it work sometimes it freeze or like jumping a stylus on vinyl... My friend who is using a Macbook Pro also have the same problem randomly... it is just not stable enough... I am also using the version 1.4
I also have another question, is it possible to load and record any drum loop from the Spark onto Protools as a Midi file track so that I can change or alter the drum pattern or sound later? I only know how to do it with Audio track on Protools but not as Midi track.
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Hi Kevin again,
Yes I did turn on the Spark everytime AFTER I launched the Protools. I did not even realised you can turn on Spark before turning on the Protools since I can only turn on Spark after I open my Protools file and turn on the Instrument track and use Spark as a Plug In...then when I choose any drum loop , sometime it can be loaded, sometime not only it said CONNECTION FAILED, but it freezes my Protools... btw The CONNECTION FAILED meant I did not have the Hardware Controller connected or it really means even the software Spark cannot be connected hence the freeze up of my Protools???
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Hi,
you did not receive message in your inbox because this is a forum post (not a private message).
Did you try changing the number of "Host Processors"?
Concerning the connection failed, yes this only means that Spark can not connect to the Spark Controller.
Kevin
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Hi Kevin,
Noted about message delivery. Host processor meaning? ProTools or Spark? And any solution on the freeze and crash with ProTools?
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Host Processors is a setting in Pro tools in "Setup->Playback Engine..." menu.
Try set it to 1.
It may solve the freeze and crash issue.
Kevin
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Ok let me try and get back to you I guess this will answer my case ID 105929?? I hope it worked. Also is there a way to load and record any Loop from Spark to ProTools as Midi file instead of Audio file. Those presets Loop I am referring to
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Hi Kevin,
When you say set Protools to Level 1, do you mean DAE Playback Buffer or Plug In Streaming Buffer or both ??
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I set both the DAE Playback Buffer and Plug In Streaming Buffer to Level 1, hopefully it work.. Is this what you mean by setting to Level 1?
Also I have another question, can any of the Loop of Spark be send out to Protools as a Midi signal instead of Audio signal?
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Hi meant "Host Processors", between "H/W Buffer Size" and "CPU Usage Limit".
Concerning your other question, this is not possible to record MIDI in real time into Pro Tools for the moment.
We will add this in a future update.
However yo can drag'n'drop pattern to MIDI track.
Kevin
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Can you explain the step of Drop and Drag the loop pattern from Spark onto Protools? thanks
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Yo have to go in the Library view -> Current Project pane then drag the pattern you want to your MIDI track.
Here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq2HgspXUJU) is a screencast done for Cubase but the process does not differs a lot.
Kevin
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my Playback engine is H/W Buffer Size 512 Samples 2 processors and 99% CPU Usuage and DAE Playback Buffer Level 1 and Plug In Streaming Buffer Level 1 ,, am I correct? I did turn on and off my protools with the Spark twice, the first time it is OK and then the second time it freeze my Protools and the Mac again........ :'( ???
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Try with 1 processor instead of 2.
Let me know if it is working.
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ok let's hope 1 processor but then which level of the other two DAE and Streaming Buffer should I choose? Back to Level 4 or Level 1 ?and thanks about the drag and drop that works....
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Oh one more thing, how come I have to fill in the Activation code everytime I turn off my Protools and then open the Protools w Spark?
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Actually I don't really know for the other settings, I just know that the number of processor can help.
More information here (http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec07/articles/ptworkshop_1207.htm).
Concerning the activation issue, this may due to a permission issue.
Please follow the instructions here (http://www.arturia.com/evolution/kb/?View=entry&EntryID=132) to solve it.
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It works for now on the freeze and crash problem, but I still have to reinstall the activation code each time and open the Protools... will let you know if my Protools freezes again...
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Hi Kevin,
it seems to work for now. I have another question on the Drag and Drop. If I do my own programming and would like to record onto Protools as Midi again, do I have to save it onto the Spark and Drag and Drop onto Protools or I can record the Midi realtime when I do the programming on Spark?
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That's what I said. This is not possible for the moment in RTAS but we will add this in a future update.
Kevin
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I downloaded the version 1.4.1 but somehow when I opened my Spark it is not 1.4.1 but still the older 1.4 version and also when I tried to open the Midi Controller, it still said it is not connected with the Midi Controller and the version becomes 1.1.2... Please advise how to update both... the procedure please
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It seems than on some setup, it is not overwriting the RTAS plugin.
Please delete the following file and reinstall:
/Library/Application Support/Digidesign/Plug-Ins/Spark.dpm
The version of the controller did not change between 1.4 and 1.4.1.
Kevin
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I followed your instructions and deleted and reinstall 1.4.1, how do I know when I turn on the Spark stand-alone version it will be 1.4.1? Since we I click open Spark on stand alone version, it already jumped to the New Project On screen, I couldn't tell what version I open
can you also advise the procedure of turning on the controller and 1.4.1 will be downloaded since strangely it is 1.1.2
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You can see the version by clicking on the Spark logo at the middle of the main panel of Spark.
FYI, the controller version is still 1.1.2.2.
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NOW, when I turn on stand alone mode, it is 1.4.1 64 bit BUT when I turned on my Protools and then click on the Spark logo and it is still 1.4 32bit. Oh Midi Controller is still 1.1.2.2 BUT mine said 1.1.2 ???
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It tells you 32 bit because Pro Tools is still 32 bit.
However it shoiuld be 1.4.1 and not 1.4.
Did you delete the old .dpm file before reinstalling?
Make a quick search of Spark.dpm with the finder. Then reinstall.
The contrroller tells you 1.1.2 but if you look in the About box in the software you will see "Controller version: 1.1.2.2".
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ok understood about the 32 bit portion. With regards to the Spark.dpm for Protools, yes I followed your instruction deleted that digidesign plug in of Spark and reinstall the entire 1.4.1 version again , or do I just reinstall that particular spark.dpm in Digidesign?? if yes, how?
Also sorry for my ignorance, when you say I click on the "about" box in the software, where will that be?
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When you launch installer you can choose to install on RTAS plugin.
Concerning the about, just click on Spark logo in the middle of the Spark then you get the about box (where it is written 1.4.1 64 bit ;))
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Hi Kevin,
yes I can see the 1.1.2.2 version and the 1.4.1 64 bit on the stand alone mode when I turn on the Spark by Application/Spark/Spark.... and yes it does update and linked with the controller...
but when I turn on Protool and as a Plug In mode, then it doesn't connected/cannot connect to the controller and the Spark still is 1.4 when I click on the center Logo
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Hi Kevin,
Although the stand alone mode Spark said 1.4.1, I did not see the Project Vintage Drum Machines at all, and the Protools Plug In mode still said 1.4
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I don't understand I tried to install it from scratch and it works on my computer.
What is your setup (OS, computer ...)
Kevin
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Mac OSX10.6.8 2 Dual-Core x3 Ghz Intel Xenon, 9GB 667Mhz DDR2 FB-DIMM... the strange thing is it is 1.4.1 on Stand alone mode, but not inside Protools 10 as Plug In Mode. Also where do I find those new Drum Machines since when I scroll down the from A-Z, there is no Drum Machines like those Roland , but only the Ace Tone....
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All the DR-X0X are the Roland drum machines.
Concerning RTAS, this may due to a cache problem in Pro Tools.
Can you try to delete the .dpm then launch Pro Tools, ensure that you can not load Spark plugin, it means that the cache has been updated.
After that reinstall only RTAS plugin.
One more thing, please make sure that you have only Spark_1_4_1.dmg on your disk.
Sometimes Mac OS X does not work well with several dmg of the same app.
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Ok I saw those drum machines, I thought they will be under one category...
And when I turn off the computer and restart Protools, the Spark becomes 1.4.1
Then I have another question, when I drag one pattern or the entire bank 16 pattern as Midi file onto Protools, and when I solo anyone of those pattern tracks on Protools, the Spark does not play that particular Midi pattern but it only plays the pattern on the Spark machine at that moment, eg A pattern 1 was blinking on the machine, it will play that pattern only , when I even solo eg Midi track of Pattern 5 on Protools , it still only play the A pattern 1.