Cubase Studio 5 causes fatal exception and kills computer

[shedrecordings]

This is a recent phenomena. After running just MIDI instruments for about 20 mins the computer crashes.
It started when I started to use Zoom R16 as audio interface and control surface - so uninstalled drivers and all but still happens.

Any advice welcome

I am running with:
Vista Business edition SP2 32 bit
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6400 @ 2.13GHz, 800 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s)
2GB RAM
C drive (Program files) 36 GB free
D drive (data files) 47 GB free

[MoPro]

This is a recent phenomena.

Any advice welcome

I am running with:
2GB RAM

My first guess would be that you are running out of RAM! You are skating pretty close to the edge of not having enough resources to run Cubase properly!

I would try to do a system restore to before your Zoom driver installation!

Al

[Steve Fogal]

Though more ram would be very nice, and should 'definately' add more, 4 GB with Win Vista 32 bit.... what I was 'understanding' from the original poster was that 'it all started with the Zoom interface'. I can assume by the post, that his system was handling the same loads just fine before the Zoom was introduced, with the same low amount of ram...? What I'm wondering is what was being used for an interface before the Zoom?

I ran my 1st DAW for years with just 2 GB ram & a 1.6 GHz single core AMD CPU without many problems. But not many VSTi's at that time. Now with a 2.5 GHz quad core & only 4 GB ram (Win XP 32 bit), I've been running fine for 5/6 years...until, I became a more heavy VSTi user that is.

More ram...yes... but not knowing how many VSTi's you're actually running(?), I'd test the zoom with just a few or so VSTi's to see if it runs ok. Also I'd want to find out if this Zoom has any incompatability issues with any of your hardware. I can run VSTi's off my stock laptop without any audio interface other than what Dell has on it & 4 GB installed ram...the latency sucks big time without a proper ASIO card, but it was only a test..I don't use my laptop for recording music.

[MoPro]

I can assume by the post, that his system was handling the same loads just fine before the Zoom was introduced, with the same low amount of ram...? What I'm wondering is what was being used for an interface before the Zoom?

Yea...you're right, but the OP also said the system is crashing about 20 minutes into his session! That sounds like a resource issue especially since the OP also stated they de-installed the Zoom driver, but the behavior continues! I also run Cubase 6.5 on my laptop, which has the T7200 Core2 Duo processor @ 2Gig Hz. So, I know exactly what you mean about not being able to run too many VSTi's, and my laptop does have 4Gig of ram!

I still think it's a good idea to try to get the system back the way it was before the Zoom installation! And yea...I'd also like to know what the OP used for an audio interface before the Zoom!

Al

[Steve Fogal]

Yes of course, keep the Zoom interface out of the equation, both hardware & it's drivers to 'uncomplicate' things. And add more ram asap, bringing it up the the 4 GB limit for a 32 bit OS, without question...why would anyone not.
But one should be able to run a few (lower resourse hungry VSTi's) with even just 2 GB ram....'just to test' if it runs well beyond 20 minutes, in spite of skating on the edge of resourses.

Whenever I've ran too many VSTi's on my quad core, 4 GB ram desktop DAW, it started choking immediately...then crashed soon after...even by adding just 'one more' VSTi' it made the difference from running fine, to coming to a halt ... and then my DAW started speaking spannish "No Mas!"

A man (or woman) has got to know his limitations, with what he has, is where I was going is all. How many, and which VSTi's are being ran here?

[shedrecordings]

Thanks for all the help and advice.

After much hair pulling and gnashing of teeth I found the problem to be a conflict of resources which was solved by updating the ATi video driver! It seems to have fixed the problem, I should say, as Cubase now runs without crashing the system. It was the only application that caused this crash but I suppose that if it was trying to run the same resources as other parts... I've not yet had time to have a thorough audio session recording into Cubase except using VSTi and MIDI only.

I don't run many VSTi currently. Most of the sounds I use are run through Halion Player - probably mostly up to 10 different sounds plus the drum sounds using Groove Agent which came with Cubase Studio 5.

I started to record audio (guitar double tracked on 2 channels) when the problems started. My ASIO settings were insufficient for the task but by increasing the buffer size from 512 up to 2048 has got rid of the stutter and crackle as this forum suggested somewhere. Interestingly, I started to use the ZOOM ASIOP as suggested in the manual but couldn't change the buffer size from 512 at all. When I reverted back to the M-Audio Delta ASIO on the soundcard (Delta Audiophile 2496) it solved the problem.

I think that the Zoom R16 will probably be a good solution once I have got tamed! I have had it plugged in now for 7 days without any crashes! (Fingers crossed)

I am a real novice when it comes to recording audio. I have been using Cubase for many years running all the MIDI and recording guitars and voices, etc onto Yamaha AW16G. I needed to expand the number of tracks and as I had Cubase thought that it was the obvious route to go.

Biggest problem is, hopefully, short term - getting the sound I want using a new way of working - in Cubase as the master rather than the AW16G. Running effect channels and rediscovering compression settings for bass, lead and backing vox.

Thanks, again. I will definitely use this forum more!

Mick