gimbal

I have been running max msp 4.5.5 for quite a while now. But lately, I am having issues with program's stability

here's a list of things that result in program crash

-wiring an msp object while the audio is on

These all occur in a more or less random fashion, not everytime I do these things but they do occur very frequently, at least enough to drive me crazy.

I added several external libraries a short time ago (CNMAT and several other single objects like analyze~, beat~ etc.). I thought this could be one reason and I took back all the changes and removed all the externals, the result is the same. 

I checked file preferences in case the max is trying to reach something but it couldn't find the path. I even switched to the onboard soundcard which is pretty stable

I'd appreciate if anyone guides me through this.

Hi,
I have been running max msp 4.5.5 for quite a while now. But lately, I am having issues with program's stability
here's a list of things that result in program crash

-openning-closing a help patcher
-openning-closing audio
-deleting-creating an object
-wiring an msp object while the audio is on

I added several external libraries a short time ago (CNMAT and several other single objects like analyze~, beat~ etc.). I thought this could be one reason and I took back all the changes and removed all the externals, the result is the same. 
I checked file preferences in case the max is trying to reach something but it couldn't find the path. I even switched to the onboard soundcard which is pretty stable

I'd appreciate if anyone guides me through this.
Thanks!
Ali


severe-problems-with-stability

Since it was working before, and has recently stopped working, when 

doing completely normal, generally stable actions, I might be 

inclined to test RAM or hard drive. This sounds like a hardware issue 

But you might try removing preferences, doing a backup + clean 

reinstall of your OS, etc. etc. etc. before you start swapping out 

> I have been running max msp 4.5.5 for quite a while now. But 

> lately, I am having issues with program's stability

> here's a list of things that result in program crash

> -wiring an msp object while the audio is on

> These all occur in a more or less random fashion, not everytime I 

> do these things but they do occur very frequently, at least enough 

> I added several external libraries a short time ago (CNMAT and 

> several other single objects like analyze~, beat~ etc.). I thought 

> this could be one reason and I took back all the changes and 

> removed all the externals, the result is the same.

> I checked file preferences in case the max is trying to reach 

> something but it couldn't find the path. I even switched to the 

> onboard soundcard which is pretty stable

> I'd appreciate if anyone guides me through this.

Since it was working before, and has recently stopped working, when  
doing completely normal, generally stable actions, I might be  
inclined to test RAM or hard drive. This sounds like a hardware issue  
to me.

But you might try removing preferences, doing a backup + clean  
reinstall of your OS, etc. etc. etc. before you start swapping out  
hardware.

>
> Hi,
> I have been running max msp 4.5.5 for quite a while now. But  
> lately, I am having issues with program's stability
> here's a list of things that result in program crash
>
> -openning-closing a help patcher
> -openning-closing audio
> -deleting-creating an object
> -wiring an msp object while the audio is on
>
> These all occur in a more or less random fashion, not everytime I  
> do these things but they do occur very frequently, at least enough  
> to drive me crazy.
>
> I added several external libraries a short time ago (CNMAT and  
> several other single objects like analyze~, beat~ etc.). I thought  
> this could be one reason and I took back all the changes and  
> removed all the externals, the result is the same.
> I checked file preferences in case the max is trying to reach  
> something but it couldn't find the path. I even switched to the  
> onboard soundcard which is pretty stable
>
>
> I'd appreciate if anyone guides me through this.
> Thanks!
> Ali


Any of these tasks, performed while audio is on, will force the audio 

dsp chain to have to be rebuilt, maybe several times over. When I 

accidentally try doing this kind of stuff myself, I experiences 

occasional crashes myself. In those cases I blame myself more than 

others. I would strongly recommend that you stop audio before doing any 

> -openning-closing a help patcher
> -openning-closing audio
> -deleting-creating an object
> -wiring an msp object while the audio is on
>

Any of these tasks, performed while audio is on, will force the audio 
dsp chain to have to be rebuilt, maybe several times over. When I 
accidentally try doing this kind of stuff myself, I experiences 
occasional crashes myself. In those cases I blame myself more than 
others. I would strongly recommend that you stop audio before doing any 
of these tasks.

> I would strongly recommend that you stop audio before doing any of 

stop audio before stopping it?? wooowww!!!

>>
>>-openning-closing audio
>>
>
>  I would strongly recommend that you stop audio before doing any of 
>these tasks.
>
>
  stop audio before stopping it?? wooowww!!!

Trond, stopping the audio would be one good option if it didn't cause the program to crash too. 

And it didn't work that way a week ago, so why should it change and what caused it to do that?

I mean opening a help patch may be hard on the dsp chain but does it supposed to crash the program for that, don't you aggree : )

Trond, stopping the audio would be one good option if it didn't cause the program to crash too. 
And it didn't work that way a week ago, so why should it change and what caused it to do that?
I mean opening a help patch may be hard on the dsp chain but does it supposed to crash the program for that, don't you aggree : )


> And it didn't work that way a week ago, so why should it change and 

In this situation the question to ask is "What did you change a week 

You probably did change something. Possibly inadverdently.

Peter Castine +--> Litter Power & Litter Bundle for Jitter

Interface Building for |home | chez nous|

Max/MSP Extremely cool |bei uns | i nostri|

On 1-Jan-2007, at 15:34, gimbal wrote:
> And it didn't work that way a week ago, so why should it change and  
> what caused it to do that?

In this situation the question to ask is "What did you change a week  
ago?"

Good luck and a Happy New Year to all!
-- P.

--------------    http://www.bek.no/~pcastine/Litter/    -------------
Peter Castine             +--> Litter Power & Litter Bundle for Jitter
                                Universal Binaries on the way
iCE:  Sequencing,  Recording &
       Interface  Building  for                   |home    | chez nous|
       Max/MSP   Extremely cool                   |bei uns |  i nostri|
       http://www.dspaudio.com/                   http://www.castine.de

sorry for being a bit to fast to reply. Turning audio on and off 

obviously shouldn't cause problems for you. Here are a few suggestions 

- I see that you are currently using Max 4.5.5. If you are at Mac OSX, 

download the latest version of Max and install. This will install to a 

separate folder and as such won't interfere with your currently 

installed version. Test it running MSP tutorials and help files and see 

- If you are on Mac, do you get crash logs, and if so, what do they look 

like? Do you get the same crash log every time?

- If you are on Mac PPC, rename the Max folder to something else, move 

the C74 folder and reinstall Max 4.5.7. Do you still get the same 

problems testing MSP tutorials and help files?

- As Peter has pointed out already, did you do any changes to your 

system at the time that the problems started appearing?

If new and clean installs of Max work fine, it is a clear indication 

that the problem have to do with the currently installed version of Max. 

If they continue to display the same problems, it might be something 

else causing it, e.g. hardware problems. Do you get similar problems 

I hope this gives you something to work on.

> Jeremy and Trond, Thanks for the answers

> Trond, stopping the audio would be one good option if it didn't cause the program to crash too. 

> And it didn't work that way a week ago, so why should it change and what caused it to do that?

> I mean opening a help patch may be hard on the dsp chain but does it supposed to crash the program for that, don't you aggree : )

sorry for being a bit to fast to reply. Turning audio on and off 
obviously shouldn't cause problems for you. Here are a few suggestions 
for where to look for further cues:

- I see that you are currently using Max 4.5.5. If you are at Mac OSX, 
download the latest version of Max and install. This will install to a 
separate folder and as such won't interfere with your currently 
installed version. Test it running MSP tutorials and help files and see 
if it displays the same problems.

- If you are on Mac, do you get crash logs, and if so, what do they look 
like? Do you get the same crash log every time?

- If you are on Mac PPC, rename the Max folder to something else, move 
the C74 folder and reinstall Max 4.5.7. Do you still get the same 
problems testing MSP tutorials and help files?

- As Peter has pointed out already, did you do any changes to your 
system at the time that the problems started appearing?

If new and clean installs of Max work fine, it is a clear indication 
that the problem have to do with the currently installed version of Max. 
If they continue to display the same problems, it might be something 
else causing it, e.g. hardware problems. Do you get similar problems 
running other music programs?

gimbal wrote:
> Jeremy and Trond, Thanks for the answers
>
> Trond, stopping the audio would be one good option if it didn't cause the program to crash too. 
> And it didn't work that way a week ago, so why should it change and what caused it to do that?
> I mean opening a help patch may be hard on the dsp chain but does it supposed to crash the program for that, don't you aggree : )


Thank again Trond for the answers. I am sorry for not stating my OS, which is windows XP. so I am unable to follow through all of your advices, for example the one on crash logs.

But I did the re-installing procedure however the result is the same

When I undo my recent changes, the problem is usually fixed because I realized that this undoing part is usually concerned with uninstalling my externals : )

The Granular Toolkit by Nathan Wolek has proven to be the most problematic library among them. I did had issues with reverb plugins such as freeverb~, gigaverb~ etc. I couldn't test all of my externals because trying to invoke a problematic system state is a little time consuming : )

So now that I more or less put my finger on the problem, I think the solution should be closer. Thanks everyone for the comments.

the further is welcome too in this case : )

Hey, 
Thank again Trond for the answers. I am sorry for not stating my OS, which is windows XP. so I am unable to follow through all of your advices, for example the one on crash logs.
But I did the re-installing procedure however the result is the same

the further is welcome too in this case : )
Ali


Severe problems with stability