Receptor issues

[ology]

I Just picked up the receptor and I'm having problems with audio dropouts. I'm using Protools tdm v.6.4.1. in OS 10.3x I can't seem to increase the maximum buffer size in uniwire past 512. Protools goes as high as 8192. Optimum settings in protools is 512 to 1024 (although I use 1024). No matter what setting I choose I still get dropouts. The higher I set the buffer in protools, Uniwire has a problem matching because it cant go past 512 (resulting in having to drop the buffer in PT to 128 or some rediculously low setting). I know uniwire is suppost to run double the buffer size than the DAW but at 512 its just unacceptable because protools becomes unusable at that rate for anything over 16 tracks. Is there a compatability issue with receptor and protools? Seems to me that there is. There is very little documentation in regards to using Recept w/ PT. Upgrading to PT 7 is not an option because TDM does run in the later version. The highest I can go is 6.4.1. Does anyone else using a similar setup know a work around this? Any help or feedback would be great. The theory behind receptor is very attractive if only I could get it to play well with my DAW. Seems like a fantastic unit..for now.

[MCal]

Hi,
I'm afraid your setup isnt a supported configuration I take it your using version 1 of FXpansions VST wrapper yes? I have a few clients running similar setups to yours and I have set them up with Receptor by running it as an external instrument and bringing Receptor back into PT via the ADAT output and into 8 aux tracks in the TDM mixer. Do you have an ADAT bridge? If not you will be able to get one from ebay very cheaply.. I sold one a few weeks ago for just over 100 dollars!!! Ideal for use with Receptor on Mix systems.
Muse's efforts uniwire wise within PT are aimed at PT7, so I think your not going to get this currect config working reliably I'm afraid. Just use it like a highly capable JV1080 and you'll be much happier...

Al.

[ology]

Thanks for your response VERY helpful!!!- I dont mind using it externally however will i sstill be able to acces changing perameters from the receptors remote? or not?. BTW i also have logic pro 6 on the same mac.. do you know if this works better with Logic? im looking to move out of p tools anyway in the future> theyre usless anyway.

as for an adat bridge i dont have one--- i am using an apogee rosetta for my interface ---clocking from that i have an 888/24 slaved. is there anyway i can come back through one of those units? by any chance digitally?.

im only going to use a few plug ins at once anyway not very many.

also if you use the receptor via aux busses back into pro tools is there any worse latency issues?. or should it operate pretty much like a standard module?.. please let me know asap and thanks again!!!!!

ology

[MCal]

The good news is that yes, as long as you leave the network cable between the mac and Receptor, you can still use the Remote, which is the way I prefer to work too. You will however need to run a midi connection from your midi interface to the Receptor to trigger it. Again Logic 6 isn't a tested configuration as far as I'm aware, however you can upgrade to 7 (pro) pretty cheaply which should work somewhat better. You may have to wait till you go 'native ' though as the Logic config being tested is Mac OSX.4 and Logic 7.2 and above which wont work with your Mix hardware. It's down to the AU implementation which is more advanced in 7.2 and above than anything before this.
Running your Receptor back into PT via Aux's will give you less latency than you get through Uniwire at present as uniwire doubles the system latency due to having to route audio out and back into the system. If you have no ADAT I/O you can only use the stereo sp/dif output I'm afraid for a Digital connection. Remember to connect this both ways and tell Receptor to clock from it's sp/dif connection. Havn't used an 888 for a while but I'm sure it has stereo sp/dif. If not you'll need adapters to turn a pair of the 888's AES I/O into spdif. When you swap to a native rig consider an Interface with at least one ADAT I/O. I use a MOTU 896HD and it's perfect for bringing the 8 outs from Receptor back into Logic.
In this way it will act as a standard module, but with Graphical control. It's a great way to get hungry plugs off your DAW especially when your using a G4 system.

Any help?

Al.

sorry for any typos.. it's kinda late in the uk lol...

[ology]

Again, thank you for helping me out- youve been a huge help and well may have convinced me to keep this thing for a few more days and give it a second shot- i will try the config you suggested. I really want to love this thing, its just insanely frustrating thinkin i just spent 2400.00 on this and i cnanot use it.

Also can i just tell me if its possible to automate the virtual synths using this config?

if i have any more questions i will let you know

thanks again!

cheers!

[MCal]

Re: Automation of the synths. Yes of course. this wouldn't be any different to if you were using uniwire actually. It will be different for each synth in general. Some will have a learn function for automation, and some will have set controller numbers for their parameters. Either way it's just the same through uniwire. I do think it's a good idea to keep your unit. I work quite closely with Muse and believe me there's a lot more to come from these units.....

Al.

[ology]

Connected it via spdif and MUCH BETTER!! its acting like an external sound module now and with little to no latency. I have it clocked off of the spdiff connection on my 888/24 for now until i can get and ADAT bridge. Seems to have no pops or clicks for th most part as of yet. occaisonally i hear slight crackle in "some" soft synths (the cheap ones) however when using imposcar, oddity or vanguard (my favs)DR-008- it seems to behave well. One issue i am having is trying to get an aux track in OSX to work?. if i am in os 9.2.2 and i pull up an aux trk, and set it's input to SPDIF and arm a midi track. there it is..works great (but have no recpetor remote in os 9.2.2...cannot load software?) however when i go to osX -and set the input on the 888/24 to spdif and arm a midi track --nothing? i cannot get it to work that way as of yet?..i will ask around and see if some pro tools geeks can help but so far i can get it to work in os9.2.2 much better as a sound module.

now my last question, i am assuming that if i want several recptors synths loaded do i have to connect each synth using a different spdif connection? is this correct or can i, send several synths through one spdif connection?...how would this work?. is this why you siggested an adat bridge and 8 aux busses?
been i a room for five days and finally getting it to work- nice....thanks to you!

thanks again--your a god send..

tired and soar in orlando

[MCal]

You can send as many synths as you can handle through the single stereo sp/dif connection. It's just that you have to mix them in the receptor, and not in PT. With an ADAT input you can have 8 outs from Receptor so you have many more mixing and processing options.
I am actually a PT tech as well a Receptor reseller. Have you checked in I/O setup in the setup menu of PT that it actually is configured to use the sp/dif input at the moment? Should work just the same way as in OS9. Try doin a sp/dif recording from another digital device via sp/dif and see if that works. Regarding the non loading of the remote in OS9. I've had this happen, and it turned out to be an extension needed by the remote app was switched off. Remember it uses alot of networking stuff which can easily be switched off in OS9.
I'm sure we can sort out this input issue in OSX....

Al.

[ology]

thanks for your response again, sorry this is a hassle. well i have checked inside osx in "hardware setup" and my 888/24(which is my second interface ) IS set to spdif -when i look at the unit it is set to digital on those inputs and it sais spdif?. however when i load up a midi channel and set it to receptor and open up an aux channel and INSERT i/o to spdif channels- nothing ?..i can restart in os9 and pull up same config and voila there it is?.. could this be a osX farm card config. What i mean is. is there any chance that osX needs my 888/ to be on a certain FARM CARD?..i thought somewhere i read this a while ago, maybe not?.. i just cannot figure out why its dead in osX?......... i will continue trying.

[MCal]

Have you got another sp/dif based unit to try and record in? Does it work?
I dont remember any card order issues on OSX that weren't on OS9 too. Have you trashed your PT and Digisetup prefs?

Al.

[ology]

Good question. in os9 i did trash the digisetup and restarted and things were goood.. however in osX i dont know how or where to actually find the digi setup file?. where is it ive looked and all of the folders are different-(FYI, i am trying to wein myself over to osX for good, so im kind of new in osX)been producing for years in os9..

anyway as for trying another unit i have not yet, however i will try that tonight.

but if you could tel me how to trash the files in osX thats would be stellar.

thanks so much!

[MCal]

Here you go:
-Go to MacHD> Users > "your user name" > Library > Preferences
-Delete 'com.digidesign.protoolsTDM.plist', 'DAE Prefs' (folder), 'DigiSetup.OSX' and 'Pro Tools preferences'.
-Empty trash, then restart the computer.

Al.

[ology]

well so far i have followed the intructions. I threw away those files , restarted in osX , and still when i select my 888/24 channel 1&2 to SPDIF it doesnt change it on the physical interface?. and still does not work?... i can NOT understand why its simply dead and not responding ONLY IN OSX?. when i dothe same thing in os 9 its fine?...it's almost as if in osx it doesnt communicate with my 888/24 at all?.

when i reboot in os9, i can look over to the 888/, and it atomatically switches the channels to digital, i can even hear a little click when it does it, AFTER THAT--if i can re boot to osX and it will then stay in that config but still not work?. i am planning on putting in a call to digidesign tommorrow. Ive my main pro audio dealer here that i have dealt with for years and the tech just told me, "dont know man, gotta call digi" thats all i get. this is BIZZARE!

[MCal]

Well I suggest you look for a new dealer!!! I never passed a client onto Digi..even when they had broken hardware. I always handle things for the client. What are your TDM cards? do you have a DSP farm in the system at all? or are they all Mix cards? (core and a farm?)

Al.

[ology]

yeah i know-ive tried dealing with a few here in Florida and thier all the same attitude attitude attitude ....anyway i have i core dsp and 3 mix farms

could it be a appletalk pref or somthing i dont have switched in osX?

just reaching out there