Tracktion Software

KlaxonLabs · Post by **KlaxonLabs** » Sun Jun 24, 2018 4:53 am

I just went back to Tracktion 6 (32 bit) after some months away, and apparently something's changed -- maybe an update to Windows 10? -- because when I try to open projects, the program crashes pretty much immediately.

I've discovered that the process doesn't stop right away -- it persists in Task Manager for several minutes, and in fact I can't even kill it. After about 5 minutes, I can kill it, then I can start Tracktion again. But when I try to open an edit, the same thing happens again.

Has anyone else experienced anything similar recently?

jabe · Post by **jabe** » Sun Jun 24, 2018 8:02 pm

Does this happen in all edits?

You should locate the log file and send it to support@tracktion.com along with as much detail as you can manage. The log file is usually in c:\Users\FredBeethoven\AppData\Roaming\Tracktion 4\Temporary\. You'll want the Tracktion6log.txt file.

KlaxonLabs · Post by **KlaxonLabs** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 1:27 am

jabe wrote:Does this happen in all edits?

You should locate the log file and send it to support@<span class="skimlinks-unlinked">tracktion.com</span> along with as much detail as you can manage. The log file is usually in c:\Users\FredBeethoven\AppData\Roaming\Tracktion 4\Temporary\. You'll want the Tracktion6log.txt file.

Thanks for the info on finding the log file!

Just now I tried again. I was able to open a different edit -- one that I last worked on a few months ago -- without a problem. But the one I tried to open just the other day once again wouldn't open, and caused Tracktion to hang.

Of note, the one that wouldn't open has a lot of instances of the Glaceverb plugin in it. I know this because I got an error message saying that Glaceverb couldn't be loaded. I haven't ever been able to install Glaceverb on my Windows 10 machine, for some reason. A lot of my older edits used it, which means that when I open them up, I have to replace Glaceverb with something else. This particular edit seems to contain about 8 or 10 instances of Glaceverb, judging by the number of error dialogs that popped up.

As I mentioned above, when Tracktion hangs or crashes after I try to open this particular edit, I can't start it again for a while. This seems to be because the process lingers even after the program appears to close. And when I try to kill the process with Task Manager, I get an "Access Denied" error. The same is true when I try to kill the entire Tracktion process tree. But after 4 or 5 minutes, the process disappears, and I can restart Tracktion.

jabe · Post by **jabe** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 11:22 am

There is a possibility that the edit file has somehow become corrupted. If you know how XML works, you could open it up in NotePad and make sure all the XML tags are complete. If you don't know how XML works, you could email me a copy and I'll check that the tags are complete. I could remove the Glaceverb plug-ins from it and send it back for you to try. One of our users had a problem with a file a year or so back and I was able to open it okay, and the version I sent back to him worked for him.

If you think this is worth a try, let me know, and I'll Pm you my email address.

KlaxonLabs · Post by **KlaxonLabs** » Sun Sep 23, 2018 4:39 am

Sorry for ghosting on this thread. Life stuff intervened for a few months, and I was unable to devote any more time to Tracktion troubleshooting... until now.

I tried opening a couple of edits in T6 today, and again, it crashed. But I was able to open some others successfully.

After one of the crashes, I sent my Tracktion logfile to support@tracktion.com. I look forward to hearing back.

I also opened one of the crashing edits in Notepad. It's interesting to see it all laid out in XML. However, I have no idea how to identify any problems.

If you are still willing to take a look, I'd be happy to send a file to you!

KlaxonLabs · Post by **KlaxonLabs** » Sun Sep 23, 2018 5:07 am

A new twist: I just installed T5 on my PC (which I hadn't done until now on this machine -- I bought it last fall and installed T6), and I seem to have no trouble opening old edits in it. This includes edits that contain plugins that aren't installed, like Glaceverb.

The only weirdness is that I keep getting a dialog saying Tracktion is running in demo mode, and prompting me to enter my email and password. When I do, I'm told Tracktion is unlocked. But then I get the same demo mode dialog again a few minutes later.

Anyway, I'm happy to have at least some kind of access to my edits again. But I'm wondering what changed between T5 and T6 that makes so many of them impossible to open in the latter.

terrynoakes · Post by **terrynoakes** » Sun Sep 23, 2018 6:50 am

T7 is now the latest free daw from Tracktion. Why not try that and see if your edits open.

jabe · Post by **jabe** » Sun Sep 23, 2018 5:22 pm

KlaxonLabs wrote:Sorry for ghosting on this thread. Life stuff intervened for a few months, and I was unable to devote any more time to Tracktion troubleshooting... until now.

I tried opening a couple of edits in T6 today, and again, it crashed. But I was able to open some others successfully.

After one of the crashes, I sent my Tracktion logfile to support@tracktion.com. I look forward to hearing back.

I also opened one of the crashing edits in Notepad. It's interesting to see it all laid out in XML. However, I have no idea how to identify any problems.

If you are still willing to take a look, I'd be happy to send a file to you!

If you're familar with XML (or if you're not), the first thing is to make sure all the tags are complete and balanced. That's where I'd start. If there are still problems, I'd try deleting selected track(s) via Notepad and then seeing if it would open. One of our other users had a problem a couple of years back; he emailed me the file, which opened fine on my system. I emailed it back to him, and the version I sent worked on his too. I think I PMed my email address to you - feel free to send me the file, and let me know on here (PM or on this thread) that you've sent it.

HansP · Post by **HansP** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 2:18 am

my experience is humble but here it is:
objects that caused crashes on open - particular plugins and complex racks with automation. then, things like folder or submix tracks.

I deleted an offending track from the edit and it worked. I rebuilt the track without that plugin.

I stumbled upon a couple of plugins that I could insert, nudge and use, but on recalling the edit, the plugin will crash always.
for a semi-professional mix the workaround (except finding a better plugin) was to write down the settings in the text plugin, or even save a preset for it, and save the mix without the plugin. a recall means to reinsert the plugin, and restore its settings by one or another method.

Let me recommend T7 for better stability, especially with automation curves, GUI issues, and folder tracks. Maybe even a plugin works that didn't with earlier versions.

KlaxonLabs · Post by **KlaxonLabs** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 2:02 pm

terrynoakes wrote:T7 is now the latest free daw from Tracktion. Why not try that and see if your edits open.

I just downloaded and installed it. It looks like the edits that were crashing T6 are causing T7 to crash as well.

terrynoakes · Post by **terrynoakes** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 4:25 pm

KlaxonLabs wrote:
terrynoakes wrote:T7 is now the latest free daw from Tracktion. Why not try that and see if your edits open.
I just downloaded and installed it. It looks like the edits that were crashing T6 are causing T7 to crash as well.

That's unfortunate. I don't get these problems often. But I have a very old laptop with just W8 no plugins. I load problem edit and remove what I think is the guilty plug

KlaxonLabs · Post by **KlaxonLabs** » Wed Sep 26, 2018 1:57 am

I just opened the edit in T5, and replaced 8 instances of Glaceverb with Kjaerhus Classic Reverb. Now it opens in T6 and T7 without a hitch. I think using T5 to remove/replace problem plugins or other features will be my workaround for the time being.

Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions about XML editing -- it's good to know that this is possible, if all else fails. I'm impressed with how clean and human-readable all that code is. But given that I have an easier approach, I won't go that route for now.

I still need to try to figure out what's up with another edit of mine that doesn't have Glaceverb (or any other problem plugins, as far as I know) in it, but still crashed T6. No time tonight, but I'll take a look soon.

HansP · Post by **HansP** » Mon Oct 01, 2018 3:25 pm

on Win7 / T7 , I can run Glaceverb!
there are various plugins that are detected ok but fail on mix recall or after rendering.

another issue might be racks with automation curves pointing inside a rack plugin.

KlaxonLabs · Post by **KlaxonLabs** » Wed Oct 03, 2018 12:17 am

HansP wrote: Mon Oct 01, 2018 3:25 pm on Win7 / T7 , I can run Glaceverb!
there are various plugins that are detected ok but fail on mix recall or after rendering.

another issue might be racks with automation curves pointing inside a rack plugin.

I never had trouble with Glaceverb on my Win7 machine, but have not been able to get it to run in T5, T6, or T7 on my Win10 machine. I'm not sure why Win10 would cause problems for it. Maybe it could be a conflict with some other software I've installed. In any case, there are other reverbs I can substitute.

I don't really use racks, so I don't think that has caused any of my problems. Perhaps complex automation curves could be a source of trouble. That's unfortunate, because it would mean that Tracktion's performance and capabilities are effectively degrading over time.

When I next have time to investigate further, I plan to try freezing some tracks in complex mixes and seeing if that makes them openable in T6 and T7.

Tracktion Software

KVR Audio

T6 crashing every time I try to open an edit