Audacity crashes repeatedly on file open

Hardware: 2008 Macbook Pro 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo, 6GB RAM, 128GB SSD SATA boot drive, 500GB 7200rpm SATA HDD
Software: Mac OS X 10.8.2 Mountain Lion, Audacity 2.0.2 (vanilla install, no 3rd party plugins)

I’ve spent the better part of 8 hours transferring an audio seminar from cassette. The recording was divided into 3 separate files (1 for each cassette), which I’ve edited and merged into a single .aup project file, split into separate tracks. I applied noise reduction and normalize filters to everything, without incident. Yesterday, after cutting and pasting a 30-second clip from one project file to another, Audacity suddenly crashed. I reopened the program and selected yes to recover my previously opened work on the file recovery dialog, only to have the program crash immediately again. Each time I relaunch Audacity and try to open any of my 3 project files, it crashes. I tried Gale’s suggestion for resetting the audacity.cfg file using the portable settings folder, and was able to open 1 of my project files, only to have it crash again a few minutes later. crashReporter is reporting the same symptoms with each crash, which don’t appear to relate to corrupted plugins:

Part 1:

Process:         Audacity [769]
Path:            /Applications/Audacity/Audacity.app/Contents/MacOS/Audacity
Identifier:      net.sourceforge.audacity
Version:         2.0.2.0 (2.0.2.0)
Code Type:       X86 (Native)
Parent Process:  sh [766]
User ID:         501

Date/Time:       2012-11-22 17:31:29.940 -0500
OS Version:      Mac OS X 10.8.2 (12C60)
Report Version:  10

Interval Since Last Report:          1186319 sec
Crashes Since Last Report:           18
Per-App Interval Since Last Report:  83693 sec
Per-App Crashes Since Last Report:   13
Anonymous UUID:                      8C1D58E2-0927-4D74-157F-6D8C17C1E3EE

Crashed Thread:  0  Dispatch queue: com.apple.main-thread

Exception Type:  EXC_BAD_ACCESS (SIGSEGV)
Exception Codes: KERN_INVALID_ADDRESS at 0x00000000099ffff0

VM Regions Near 0x99ffff0:
    mapped file            00000000099f5000-00000000099fd000 [   32K] r--/r-x SM=ALI  /private/var/db/*
--> 
    MALLOC_TINY            0000000009a00000-0000000009b00000 [ 1024K] rw-/rwx SM=COW

Part 2:

Thread 0 Crashed:: Dispatch queue: com.apple.main-thread
0   libsystem_c.dylib             	0x9568d8bb memmove$VARIANT$sse3x + 1853
1   com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x919063bb CArray::ReplaceElements(long, long, long, void const*) + 125
2   com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x9192a15d CUnicodeTextension::UnicodeReplaceRange(long, long, TReplaceParams const&, unsigned char, unsigned char) + 1873
3   com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x9192a741 CUnicodeTextension::ReplaceRange(long, long, TReplaceParams const&, unsigned char, unsigned char) + 97
4   com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x9191c32e CReplaceTextCommand::DoMainAction() + 74
5   com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x9191b949 CTextensionEditCommand::DoIt(short*) + 25
6   com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x9191b24e CTextensionCommand::Execute(short*) + 54
7   com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x91923537 OpaqueTXNObject::ExecuteCurrCommand() + 121
8   com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x9191ea55 OpaqueTXNObject::NewCommand(short, AttrObjModifier const*, TKeyDownParams*, TReplaceParams*) + 1065
9   com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x919146b2 DoSetDataCommand(OpaqueTXNObject*, unsigned long, unsigned long, TReplaceParams*) + 314
10  com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x9191407d TXNSetData + 1037
11  Audacity                      	0x0042c745 wxMacMLTEControl::SetTXNData(wxString const&, unsigned long, unsigned long) + 165
12  Audacity                      	0x0042c853 wxMacMLTEControl::WriteText(wxString const&) + 195
13  Audacity                      	0x0042c438 wxTextCtrl::WriteText(wxString const&) + 168
14  Audacity                      	0x004d9cd9 wxLogWindow::DoLogString(wchar_t const*, long) + 137
15  Audacity                      	0x005461a1 wxLog::DoLog(unsigned long, wchar_t const*, long) + 753
16  Audacity                      	0x004dc2c3 wxLogWindow::DoLog(unsigned long, wchar_t const*, long) + 99
17  Audacity                      	0x00037b7b wxLog::OnLog(unsigned long, wchar_t const*, long) + 235
18  Audacity                      	0x005458f1 wxVLogWarning(wchar_t const*, char*) + 113
19  Audacity                      	0x0054596b wxLogWarning(wchar_t const*, ...) + 27
20  Audacity                      	0x0007757c DirManager::FindOrphanBlockFiles(wxArrayString const&, wxArrayString&) + 108
21  Audacity                      	0x0007c05d DirManager::ProjectFSCK(bool, bool) + 781
22  Audacity                      	0x0019f156 AudacityProject::OpenFile(wxString, bool) + 5830
23  Audacity                      	0x001a28e8 AudacityProject::OpenFiles(AudacityProject*) + 1160
24  Audacity                      	0x0023bc50 CommandManager::HandleMenuID(int, unsigned int, unsigned int) + 128
25  Audacity                      	0x0018dd8b AudacityProject::OnMenu(wxCommandEvent&) + 59
26  Audacity                      	0x0058a903 wxEvtHandler::ProcessEventIfMatches(wxEventTableEntryBase const&, wxEvtHandler*, wxEvent&) + 115
27  Audacity                      	0x0058aa7f wxEventHashTable::HandleEvent(wxEvent&, wxEvtHandler*) + 111
28  Audacity                      	0x0058ae4f wxEvtHandler::ProcessEvent(wxEvent&) + 207
29  Audacity                      	0x004ab42f wxMenuBase::SendEvent(int, int) + 255
30  Audacity                      	0x0040fb28 wxMenu::MacHandleCommandProcess(wxMenuItem*, int, wxWindow*) + 72
31  Audacity                      	0x00440e6f wxMacWindowEventHandler(OpaqueEventHandlerCallRef*, OpaqueEventRef*, void*) + 511
32  com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x9186cb6b _InvokeEventHandlerUPP(OpaqueEventHandlerCallRef*, OpaqueEventRef*, void*, long (*)(OpaqueEventHandlerCallRef*, OpaqueEventRef*, void*)) + 36
33  com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x916f4594 DispatchEventToHandlers(EventTargetRec*, OpaqueEventRef*, HandlerCallRec*) + 1343
34  com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x916f3980 SendEventToEventTargetInternal(OpaqueEventRef*, OpaqueEventTargetRef*, HandlerCallRec*) + 430
35  com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x91707855 SendEventToEventTarget + 88
36  com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x9186ca1a SendHICommandEvent(unsigned long, HICommand const*, unsigned long, unsigned long, unsigned char, void const*, OpaqueEventTargetRef*, OpaqueEventTargetRef*, OpaqueEventRef**) + 498
37  com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x916e3b84 SendMenuCommandWithContextAndModifiers + 70
38  com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x916e3b31 SendMenuItemSelectedEvent + 268
39  com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x916e39b6 FinishMenuSelection(SelectionData*, MenuResult*, MenuResult*) + 134
40  com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x918b902e MenuSelectCore(MenuData*, Point, double, unsigned long, OpaqueMenuRef**, unsigned short*) + 623
41  com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x918b9f76 MenuSelect + 171
42  Audacity                      	0x00437b50 wxMacTopLevelMouseEventHandler(OpaqueEventHandlerCallRef*, OpaqueEventRef*, void*) + 1008
43  Audacity                      	0x003d5cda wxMacAppEventHandler(OpaqueEventHandlerCallRef*, OpaqueEventRef*, void*) + 1114
44  com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x9186cb6b _InvokeEventHandlerUPP(OpaqueEventHandlerCallRef*, OpaqueEventRef*, void*, long (*)(OpaqueEventHandlerCallRef*, OpaqueEventRef*, void*)) + 36
45  com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x916f4594 DispatchEventToHandlers(EventTargetRec*, OpaqueEventRef*, HandlerCallRec*) + 1343
46  com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x916f3980 SendEventToEventTargetInternal(OpaqueEventRef*, OpaqueEventTargetRef*, HandlerCallRec*) + 430
47  com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x91707855 SendEventToEventTarget + 88
48  com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x917277e6 ToolboxEventDispatcherHandler(OpaqueEventHandlerCallRef*, OpaqueEventRef*, void*) + 2188
49  com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x916f4a3f DispatchEventToHandlers(EventTargetRec*, OpaqueEventRef*, HandlerCallRec*) + 2538
50  com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x916f3980 SendEventToEventTargetInternal(OpaqueEventRef*, OpaqueEventTargetRef*, HandlerCallRec*) + 430
51  com.apple.HIToolbox           	0x91707855 SendEventToEventTarget + 88
52  Audacity                      	0x003d3876 wxApp::MacHandleOneEvent(void*) + 38
53  Audacity                      	0x003d394f wxApp::MacDoOneEvent() + 127
54  Audacity                      	0x003ec323 wxEventLoop::Dispatch() + 35
55  Audacity                      	0x0047f00f wxEventLoopManual::Run() + 111
56  Audacity                      	0x00459253 wxAppBase::MainLoop() + 83
57  Audacity                      	0x00539b6a wxEntry(int&, wchar_t**) + 154
58  Audacity                      	0x0003f308 main + 24
59  Audacity                      	0x0003f0ae _start + 216
60  Audacity                      	0x0003efd5 start + 41

Thread 1:: Dispatch queue: com.apple.libdispatch-manager
0   libsystem_kernel.dylib        	0x92e109ae kevent + 10
1   libdispatch.dylib             	0x968ecc71 _dispatch_mgr_invoke + 993
2   libdispatch.dylib             	0x968ec7a9 _dispatch_mgr_thread + 53

Thread 2:
0   libsystem_kernel.dylib        	0x92e100ee __workq_kernreturn + 10
1   libsystem_c.dylib             	0x956a504c _pthread_workq_return + 45
2   libsystem_c.dylib             	0x956a4e19 _pthread_wqthread + 448
3   libsystem_c.dylib             	0x9568ccca start_wqthread + 30

Thread 3:
0   libsystem_kernel.dylib        	0x92e0d8e6 mach_wait_until + 10
1   libsystem_c.dylib             	0x95733c1c nanosleep + 375
2   Audacity                      	0x00050374 AudioThread::Entry() + 100
3   libsystem_c.dylib             	0x956a2557 _pthread_start + 344
4   libsystem_c.dylib             	0x9568ccee thread_start + 34

Thread 4:
0   libsystem_kernel.dylib        	0x92e100ee __workq_kernreturn + 10
1   libsystem_c.dylib             	0x956a504c _pthread_workq_return + 45
2   libsystem_c.dylib             	0x956a4e19 _pthread_wqthread + 448
3   libsystem_c.dylib             	0x9568ccca start_wqthread + 30

Thread 5:
0   libsystem_kernel.dylib        	0x92e100ee __workq_kernreturn + 10
1   libsystem_c.dylib             	0x956a504c _pthread_workq_return + 45
2   libsystem_c.dylib             	0x956a4e19 _pthread_wqthread + 448
3   libsystem_c.dylib             	0x9568ccca start_wqthread + 30

Thread 6:: CVDisplayLink
0   libsystem_kernel.dylib        	0x92e0f8e2 __psynch_cvwait + 10
1   libsystem_c.dylib             	0x956a7220 _pthread_cond_wait + 833
2   libsystem_c.dylib             	0x9572d0a1 pthread_cond_wait$UNIX2003 + 71
3   com.apple.CoreVideo           	0x9953c16d CVDisplayLink::runIOThread() + 903
4   com.apple.CoreVideo           	0x9953bdce startIOThread(void*) + 160
5   libsystem_c.dylib             	0x956a2557 _pthread_start + 344
6   libsystem_c.dylib             	0x9568ccee thread_start + 34

Thread 7:
0   libsystem_kernel.dylib        	0x92e100ee __workq_kernreturn + 10
1   libsystem_c.dylib             	0x956a504c _pthread_workq_return + 45
2   libsystem_c.dylib             	0x956a4e19 _pthread_wqthread + 448
3   libsystem_c.dylib             	0x9568ccca start_wqthread + 30

Thread 8:

Thread 0 crashed with X86 Thread State (32-bit):
  eax: 0x09a63fbd  ebx: 0x0a5289c0  ecx: 0x00000030  edx: 0xfff9c040
  edi: 0x0e935bd0  esi: 0x09a63fd0  ebp: 0xbfffdb98  esp: 0xbfffdb8c
   ss: 0x00000023  efl: 0x00010282  eip: 0x9568d8bb   cs: 0x0000001b
   ds: 0x00000023   es: 0x00000023   fs: 0x00000000   gs: 0x0000000f
  cr2: 0x099ffff0
Logical CPU: 1

Each time I relaunch Audacity and try to open any of my 3 project files, it crashes.

Can you open anything else? Older projects? Create a simple project with noise, save the Project, close Audacity and see if it opens by double clicking the aup file.

How is the second drive connected? FireWire?

Is anything else running on the machine? Is it better or worse if you restart the Mac and then try? I know people who leave billions of applications running in the background and that may not be a good thing.

What is the full name of one of the Projects – with extension? Where on the machine are they? Do you like to use one filename through weeks of editing – constantly stepping on the old file to create a new one?

Koz

What is an HIToolbox?
Koz

Human Interface Toolbox.
Do you do development work? Do you have more than one OS-X on your machine?
Koz

Both drives are internal (SATA). I’m not a developer, I have a single boot partition (OS X 10.8.2). I’m not running a ton of applications in the background, in fact Audacity is all that’s open. In any case, with 6GB of RAM I don’t expect to run out of memory very often. I will try starting with a new project file, then applying the same filters (noise removal and normalize) as I did with the previous project.

I agree. That’s what’s weird about this. Everything should work perfectly.

Although I do wonder how you got two SATA drives inside a MacBook Pro.

We’re after knowing whether you have damaged projects or damaged Audacity. If only your three projects fail to open, then there’s file corruption somewhere.

I know you’ve been thinking about this already, but what changed between good behavior and bad? Do you let your software do automatic updates? We in production generally consider that a bad idea. If we do a manual update and programs stop working, we know immediately.

Koz

I will try starting with a new project file

And new content. You don’t know what’s corrupted. The test should contain no – zero portions of the old show. Record the MacBook Pro Internal Microphone for an hour and use that for testing.

Koz

“UnicodeReplaceRange(long, long” is likely to indicate a problem with a Unicode character. If so, it could be in the name of the project or in the name of a folder in the path to the projects.

Can you attach your current audacity.cfg? See https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/how-to-attach-files-to-forum-posts/24026/1 for how to attach files.

What are the full paths to the three projects? Are any of these projects stored in folders in the Dock?

Was the recording a file you imported into Audacity, or did you you record the seminar into Audacity? If you imported any files, please give the paths to those files too.

To see if you can get your projects recovered, can you quit or force quit 2.0.2 then download 1.3.12 ( http://code.google.com/p/audacity/downloads/detail?name=audacity-macosx-ub-1.3.12.zip ) . If your projects open there, check that the recovery looks correct. if it does look correct, save it as a new project name (numbers 1 to 9, letters a to z or A to Z only) on your Desktop.


Gale