Host Engine (Error Suppression)

The Host Engine options in the Playback Engine determine error reporting during playback and recording. This is especially useful when working with instrument plug-ins.

On Avid HDX and Pro Tools|HD systems, there is a single Host Engine option. On host-based Pro Tools systems, there are two Host Engine options.

Enable error suppression only if you are experiencing frequent errors that are interrupting your creative workflow. When error suppression is enabled, you can experience a degradation of audio quality. However, this may be acceptable in order to avoid interrupting playback and recording when working with instrument plug-ins.

Disable error suppression when you need to ensure the highest possible audio quality, such as for a final mix.

To enable error suppression:

1 Choose Setup > Playback Engine.

2 Select Ignore Errors During Playback/Record.

3 If available, you can also select Minimize Additional I/O Latency.

4 Click OK.

If the Ignore Errors During Playback/Record option is enabled, you can experience badly distorted audio as a result of too many CPU intensive Native (AAX or RTAS) plug-ins active in the session (such as Eleven Free or various virtual instrument plug-ins). This is because Pro Tools is suppressing playback errors that would normally be seen if Error Suppression were disabled. If you encounter this problem, remove or make inactive any unnecessary Native plug-ins. You can also isolate and bus record any tracks that use virtual instruments, and then make those source tracks inactive to free up processing resources.

Error Suppression Options

Ignore Errors During Playback/Record

When enabled, Pro Tools continues to play and record even if the host processing requirements exceed the selected CPU Usage Limit. This can result in pops and clicks in the audio, but does not stop the transport.

Minimize Additional I/O Latency (Host-based Pro Tools Systems Only)

When enabled, any additional latency due to suppressing errors during playback and record is minimized to 128 samples. Suppressing errors requires at least 128 samples of additional buffering on some systems. If this option is disabled, the buffer is half the H/W Buffer Size, or at least 128 samples (whichever is greater). If you are using a slower computer, you may want to disable this option to avoid adverse performance.

This option is only available if the Ignore Errors During Playback/Record option is enabled and the Pro Tools system you are using requires additional buffering for error suppression, as follows:

Windows:

Mbox Pro and Mbox 2 Pro

All Pro Tools systems with M-Audio devices

Mac:

003 family devices

Eleven Rack

Mbox family devices

Digi 002 and 002 Rack

All Pro Tools systems with M-Audio devices

Pro Tools Aggregate I/O