Audacity keeps crashing out

[effetebomb]

Audacity is crashing out at an increasing rate. Now it's every time I try to paste or apply an effect. I get an error report and audacity closes itself. Should 0I reinstall? any help would be appreciated. thanks.

[effetebomb]

i have tried multiple effects and they all crash it. Copy + Pasting leads to crashing. Saving and exporting is possible. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling and my problem persists. Anyone else have this problem? Anyone have any ideas?

[alatham]

I'm wracking my brain on this one.

What does that error report say?

Also, let us know what your computer is like (processor, RAM, hard drive, sound card), what OS you're using, and if your computer generally runs well.

It would also be great if you could download and install Audacity 1.3.3 (they can both reside on the same computer without any problems). Does that version of the software have problems too?

EDIT: I've just been reminded of something else that might cause this. Do you have the VST enabler installed? It seems to cause problems for some people.

[effetebomb]

the error says that audacity.exe has encountered a problem and must close, and asks if i want to send an error report. I could post the technical info, but its really long. I'll do so if it will help. I am running Windows XP (home edition, service pack 2) on an eMachine T3508. I have an intel celuron 3.33 GHz processor andI don't generally have any similar problems. My sound card appears to be a Realtek HD audio output. I don't actually know what a VST enabler is, so I'm not sure if I have one. Where ould I look to find out?

Thanks


EDIT: When I start in on a new project Audacity runs fine for a while and then starts acting this way. When I go back into the project after its done this once, it occurs more frequently until the error occurs the first time I attempt any action.

[kozikowski]

<<<I don't actually know what a VST enabler is, so I'm not sure if I have one. Where ould I look to find out? >>>

In the Audacity PlugsIns folder, look for a file called vst-bridge or something like that. I'm guessing cross-platform now. That's the file that makes using extra VST plugins work. It's a separate thing you had to download and install. If you never used extra VST plugins, then you probably don't have it and don't need it.

That's actually, too bad because that one file causes problems. Now, we don't know where to look.

So on to basic machine. When was the last time you defragged your hard drive? How full is your hard drive? Do you have more than one drive on your system and how full is that one? Is your machine always on high speed internet? Virus signatures up to date? How long has your machine been running without reinstalling Windows?


There is a memory diagnostic on Microsoft's web site that can check memory and general machine health.

==============================================
20071006
Windows Memory Diagnostic

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

Download mtinst.exe and run it to create bootable floppies.
Press T to run extensive all night
===============================================

Download the instructions if you can't make a floppy. They tell you how to make a bootable CD although that's a bit harder. This business checks the machine but not Windows. I'm betting your machine isn't going to make it through all these tests. Audacity is the window through which you view your machine.

Koz

[effetebomb]

well i'm defragging now. i can't seem to find a VST anything in the audacity folder. I did download the LADSPA plug ins and i did download the lame MP3 encoder. I do have some VST stuff in an Ableton folder, if that makes a difference.

My hard drive is around 60% full

[kozikowski]

They warn you that extra plugins can cause problems.

Can you move all of your downloaded plugins to someplace where Audacity can't find them and see if the crashing doesn't go away or change?

Koz

[effetebomb]

yup, i actually deleted all those effects plug ins and the symptoms are the same. What about the nyquist folder? is that important or potentially troublesome?

[kozikowski]

<<<When I start in on a new project Audacity runs fine for a while >>>

I"m thinking memory leak, but that's pretty exotic and I get in trouble every time I do that.

Do you have to be using Audacity for it to do this? What happens if you launch Audacity, open up a project, and then put it in the corner and go on about your business and don't touch it again for hours? Check mail, Open a spreadsheet, edit a Word document, etc.

What are some of the rest of the jobs this machine has?
Describe your shows. What kind of audio projects do you have?

Koz

[effetebomb]

yeah, i actually left it on overnight last night and when i re opened it, i was fine for a while, then crash. I use my computer for hi speed internet, iTunes, I have one CDROM game installed that I am playing lately. and that's about it.

I'm gonna try the newest version and see if that works better.

As far as audacity use i make simple loops by copy/pasting song fragments. After that I usually use the change tempo effect and the impulse convolver effect. I then add little bits of the generate (tone, white noise, silence) and thats about it. I've had the software for about a month, but didnt use it heavily until this past week or so.