Hi all, I experience a problem that is definitely not an RME problem, but maybe someone has experienced similar issues.
I have 2 M1 macbook with madiface XT's. Latest drivers firmware and mac OS... If I record 192 channels on reaper, all is totally fine. I have used this system to record many many hours perfectly reliably.
If I record on Pro Tools Ultimate on these systems, Pro tools stops recording every once in a while. It acts like it's still recording but timecode stops and recording stops.. Eiher chasing to MTC or not chasing.
"Just don't record on crappy pro tools" one could say... However, I use other systems: M1 mac mini with RME pci cards in sonnet housing, also 192 channels, and these systems run totally lovely.
I have tried all the usual things one tries, and am on a job now where I have some time to experiment, but I can not get the system to run reliably!

*Edited.*

Any clues welcome.

Huub

What are your playback engine settings in Pro Tools?

What are your Audio Midi Setup settings in macOS? Are you using the XT multi-client (set for system sounds too? Or more than one application using it alongside Pro Tools.)

And finally, you absolutely have to turn off all sound notifications in macOS for all applications with Pro Tools. Go through the notifications list for all apps in macOS and make sure they all have no sound notifications. Then there are programs that don't show up there for notification settings (like Microsoft Office) where you have to go to the applications to turn off sound notifications. With the last 3 macOS versions this is necessary as it breaks Pro Tools communication with audio hardware. This is in Avid's install notes. This is most likely your issue (because the symptoms would be exactly as you described.)

Thanks.

The XT is not set as system output.
However; another app uses the XT: lockstep, for LTC>MTC conversion..
I will try without lockstep, and if this works give lockstep another audiodevice..
Another thing to investigate and try, thankssss

Huub

Even with the XT not set as the system output, I would make sure all sound notifications are off.
This is something weird about how Pro Tools talks to CoreAudio that affects its data stream.

I still have the problem, whatever I try. I am convinced that the problem is indeed that PT loses contact with the madiface xt briefly.. How to solve this is the next step.
I am in contact with Avid as well, they don't seem to have a clear solution or explanation, but I'm investigating still...
I have rolled back to sonoma (earliest I could on this hardware) and am testing with a clean install with only an earlier version of pro tools; still the same problem.

For future googlers: I now have a stable recording set up. The workaround seems a bit re*tarded though.
PT seems to loose contact with the rme driver briefly.
Reaper does not.
If I keep reaper open during PT recording, things remain good.
If I install UAD apollo drivers and connect both the UAD apollo and the RME madiface xt, things go haywire again..
Thusfar I have been testing with the reaper/PT combo without UAD installed and things remain stable for a few days already.

Also for future googlers: the workaround mostly worked, but the systems still stop every once in a while..

An intel macbook was the only real solution in the end...

Or just use Reaper for recording. Several forum members have given up on Pro Tools for recording.

This is really bizarre... I agree that there might be something in deep OS-world doing this to you. If PT (and Reaper) work ok on other Mac systems with the same OS then is there something extra-odd loaded on that laptop?

Or just use Reaper for recording. Several forum members have given up on Pro Tools for recording.[/QUOTE]

I fully rely on reaper
But for quick remixing and or editing I do prefer Pro Tools.

It’s on 3 different M1 MacBooks, with 2 madiface XTs. I experimented with different OS versions, Pro Tools versions and RME drivers.
Noooo idea 🤷

So this problem is happening on all these systems or just 1?

All three systems.
Same PT version and madiface XT on intel Ventura OS, no problem at all.

Are you using the driverkit version of the RME driver or the kernel version of the driver?
Do you have the short offset turned on or off?
Have you reduced the macOS security policy (needed for kernel version) done from recovery mode?

What exact driver version are you using, what exact firmware are you using, and what full version number of your macOS Ventura?
All these things will matter (give the full version numbers)

(Your issue seems distinctly yours so it must be something about your choices. We have a lot of MADIXT deployed working with Pro Tools and no issues)

You also never answered this question from my post 2
Which Pro Tools version are you using? Are you running Pro Tools in rosetta mode?
And, finally, why are you on Ventura? Apple rolled out a lot of hardware fixes for the M1 chip and M1 system hardware with every macOS version since the release of the chips. That's the only way to get those hardware fixes (which includes system hardware firmware updates.)
macOS Sequoia is terrible for audio, but going up to Sonoma is pretty safe.

I have tried multiple firmware and driver versions, both driverkit and the version where you adjust security settings.
I have also tried Sonoma and tried multiple driver settings :p
Audio hardware settings in pro tools I have also tried all variations.
I had some time to really really try

I have also tried pro tools in Rosetta mode and without and also multiple pro tools versions.

Do you have madiface XT systems with M1 processor?
I would love to have it work. For now I’m going intel though.
I use M1 systems with sonnet pci adapters and Rme pci Madi cards without any problems.

Ventura is on the Intel Mac because it was already installed and it actually works. On the M1 systems I tried all recent OS systems. Not older than Sonoma because it wouldn’t let me downgrade further.


Huub

You didn't answer a single question with version numbers.
It was a simple basic request in order to help you.

No one can help you if you aren't willing to actually answer questions instead of telling us, in essence, you know what you are doing and you have tried everything.
Yes, I have MADIXT running on M1 Ultra systems with zero problems.

Obviously you are doing something wrong if no one else is having these issues. Good luck.

No, it’s more that I feel I have tried everything but did not document every singie step so I can not really answer your questions.

I’m hoping that someone had the same issues and actually found out what causes this.

I’m in contact with Avid with some hard info, but since this is not customer service but a public forum, I was hoping to find shared experience.

I'll be very interested to hear what you can work out with Avid. An issue between Avid and RME gear/apps is fairly alarming.