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  4. Vi Won't Start Anymore!!

  • Vi Won't Start Anymore!!

    J
    J
    License center says I have 161 more starts left.

    Today, I opened a project I was working on yesterday in Digital Performer 4.61. There were only two instances of VI loaded so far. DP started, but VI or the samples used did not load. I emptied myt VI insert and tried to load a new instance with no success. Quit, restart, nothing. Quit, shut down, rebooted computer-- restarted DP-- same result: no VI.

    Quit DP, dumped VI Directory Manager, reloaded folders into Directory Manager, repaired permissions--- same result-- No VI. Quit DP, shut down and restarted computer. Ran DiskWarrior (zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz) and eventually tried again-- same result: no VI.

    Opened Logic and tried to load VI. The VI console appeared after 10 minutes, but the twirling rainbow beach ball started and continued for 30 minutes.

    Quit Logic. Repaired permissions. Shut down and rebooted computer.

    Started VI Standalone-- spinning beach ball started again and continued for 1 hour.


    [:'(] please help...

    DP 4.61, Logic 7.2
    MOTU 2480mk3/PCI-424
    G5 2.5 Dual, 4.5 GB RAM, OS 10.4.5
  • B
    B
    JW: This happened to me earlier today. Spinning Beach Balls galore. I rebooted and changed the location of the Key. I ran disk permissions again. Then ran the directory manager. THen started standalone. Took 5 minutes to appear. Worked fine. Loaded DP it worked fine. Good luck. So much for being a musician these days.

    You know the VI is working when you see a BEach Ball but then move the mouse and get the message; Please wait loading data.
  • cmC
    VSL Team
    cmC
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    JWL, obviously a problem with some versions of syncrosoft's license control center turned up (they took their downloads offline last weekend).
    please check your version of the LCC - in case you have an oler or newer one than the current 5.0.0.1 i'd recommend to download and install it from their website

    and thank's bruce for sharing your observation
    christian
    and remember: only a CRAY can run an endless loop in just three seconds.
  • J
    J
    cm-

    I have since the beginning had my suspicions about SLCC, but I've updated the LCC twice today-- it is v. 5.0.0.1 bundle containing LCC 1.9.4.0-- unless a new bundle has been put up within the past six hours.

    Bruce-- I know it takes a moment for these consoles and samples to load-- but an hour with no results? I see the key authroization (the silver panel) flash, but no yellow window that says "please wait, loading data" appears at all. The other day, I clocked an *average* load time for full-wack Advanced Matrices at about 30 seconds each. Today, I booted DP, ran off to buy auto insurance, and returned an hour later to find the beach ball still at it.

    Trust me, I spent most of the day unplugging USB ports and connecting the V-Key directly into various tower slots. The odd thing is that I'm not getting ANY warning messages. I've totally reinstalled SLCC and completely reconfigured the VI Directory Mgr.

    I mean, I am honestly stuck with this one...
  • B
    B
    JW: Man that's a drag it won't work for you. Every morning when I start up my studio I pray it's going to work allright. This copy protection thing should be totally rock solid. Timkiel went back to a previous version and that worked for him.

    All I can say to clarify on the Beach Ball is that if that's all you are seeing for more than 10 minutes then it's not working and you must do something else. With the time delay between Austria and N. America it's not so easy to troubleshoot these things. Good luck. And know that the Vienna Instruments are more than worth the initial problems.

    Just read your new post. Suggestion: Try to get it working in Standalone mode first so that you can verify thats its working. VSL will send you more starts if you need them. I had used all mine up troubleshooting and restarting.

    You might try re-installing just about everything except the samples.
  • P
    P
    Not a solution, but an added diagnostic. I load VI / Syncrosoft with my Activity Monitor open. Yes, the key programs (Logic, VSL server and VSL daemon) will say "not responding," but at least the progression of their numbers can be observed. I use that, the prompts (or lack thereof) and the behavior of my hard drive to figure out if I'm loading or if it's a crash.

    I was going to upgrade to 5.0.0.1 until I read about Tim's experience.

    "The other day, I clocked an *average* load time for full-wack Advanced Matrices at about 30 seconds each." That's interesting. I'm running a dual 1.8, and each VI instance takes about fifty to seventy seconds. So accounting for your faster computer, I think the numbers add up.

    I can also tell which VI is loading or hanging. The EXS instrument right before the VI in the channel strips (per layer in Environment) stops loading at the very, very end of the progress bar for a time. This way I know which VI is loading (or causes the issue -- though I doubt it's the VI at all, but Syncrosoft that's causing the problem).

    For the record, I always get the thing going *eventually*.

    At about nine VI's per song (and the other EXS' loads), my boot time is about ten minutes. I'm sure golem will improve on this. I do hope 1.1 comes out soon. Slow loads make crashed loads so much harder to diagnose. The above are the Neanderthal tools I use to guess what's happening.
  • J
    J
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    Thanks Bruce. It is a bit of a drag. My next step was to wipe my main drive containing the OS and all apps, but before doing so I'd sent a note to Syncrosoft and got a response which I've posted on the forum HERE.

    Copy protection is necessary and important. It is my strong feeling that VSL deserves to have its library protected in a reliable and functional manner that makes it difficult or impossible to pirate their wonderful product by those who have no intention of honoring copy protection laws. Those who have pruchased VSL's products deserve also to have their investments protected as well. For myself, I would want NO ONE to gain access to what I've paid dearly for in an effort to use it at my expense.

    With that said, I wholly agree that the licensing process should be without reproach. What good does it do for a manufacturer and its faithful supportive customer base should the software be rendered unusable by anyone-- including the rightful owner of the licenses?

    I must give Syncrosoft due credit for disclosing their awareness of the problems caused by their system. Many companies would deny such problems exist and would content themselves by blaming the issues solely on user error.

    Users on this forum, including myself, have wasted precious time and money by troubleshooting issues on a case-by-case basis, unique to their systems. Uninstalling and reinstalling software, tracking updated versions, chiming in with customer support and forums, paying for a technician's assistance, canceling days of income producing creative work, warding off encroaching deadlines, replacing perfectly functional hardware believed to be faulty-- these are understandable and necessary parts of the process, but personally I'm into my second week of these issues, and for as patient with my computer and with myself as I have been, I confess that I'm at the point where my patience has quite run out.

    What complicates the issue is that not everyone is having these troubles. But this fact does nothing to help those who are. I've invested the same funds others have to less than acceptable results-- and it's all because I've been "protected" from using my own software. The success of others is small solace when my projects are at a virtual standstill. For how many more days or weeks must I endure VI sitting dormant-- dysfunctional and unused-- all because of glitches with a third-party authorization process that doesn't work?

    It's just a total waste, and with every day that passes my lo$$es only increase. At this point, I cannot wait for Syncrosoft to effect a solution that ought to have worked *more* reliably and universally well before now. Changing libraries at this point just for the sake of meeting project deadlines is akin to moving out of a brand new house back into a one-bedroom apartmement. The entire situatiion is shameful, embarrassing, and wholly unacceptable.

    Sorry for the rant, but all I have to go on is the faith that things will get sorted out eventually. In the meantime I've paid for a library I cannot use with no assurance of when I might be able to use it.
  • R
    R
    Couldn't have said it better myself.


    Bottom line - is rolling back to 4.9.x solving the problem?


    If so, could someone tell me the steps in 'rolling back'

    (unistall existing, VI registering libraries issues, etc.)

    [8o|]


    Rob
  • R
    R
    The pdf help file on the SYnc site was helpful. Rolling back seems to have fixed the issue [:D]

    You can't pay me to update to a higher release (I don't care if they say 'all clear' - too much down time.

    Rob
  • J
    J
    Hi Rob:

    Since my last post I've had a nap and some fresh air. I feel like Hal from 2001 Space Odyssey: "I'm feeling much better now, Dave..."

    Someone else mentioned that using the earlier version of SLCC worked for them. I will give it a try, but not today. I first want to get away from the "silicon inferno" and get my projects done on time. I'll be going back to PE and supplimenting it with Vitous Philharmonik for now. Since getting VI, my hard drive setup has changed considerably. Glad I backed up all those files.

    Before "downgrading" to the earlier SLCC, I will need at least half a day to assemble the code files that Syncrosoft has requested, after which I'll give it a few days in case a solution is effected. As long as my projects don't come to a halt any more, I'm not going to rush through this. I want nothing more than for the VSL team to win. Okay, maybe a million dollars would be one exception, but Christian, Herb, Paul, Marnix and all the guys have bent over backwards for our sake. They have to know how much they are appreciated for their support and creativity. They deserve SO much more out of this, as do their customers.

    I've really grown quite fond of VI very quickly. It's just so cleverly thought out-- and I ache even more to put it to good use.

    One day soon it will all work out.
    One day soon it will all work out.
    One day soon it will all work out.
    One day soon it will all work out.
    One day soon it will all work out.......

    (I keep telling myself.)

    Gott im Himmel... bitte helfe mir!!!!
  • R
    R
    JWL -

    Just checked a third PC - roll back fixed that too. [:D]


    Rob
  • J
    J
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    @Rob Elliott said:

    JWL -

    Just checked a third PC - roll back fixed that too. [:D]


    Rob

    This is good news. Thanks, Rob.

    How were you able to do a full uninstall? On Mac, some authorization files remain hidden. Most uninstallers I've experienced don't "unauthorize". In fact, my SLCC still gives me warning that an authorization was interrupted two uninstalls ago. Can't get rid of it...
  • G
    G
    Am having the same problems :

    Syncrosoft License Control - Error

    -> No protection device connected.

    What do they mean, it's different on different systems? That's BS. I just have straight Quad G5 -- it should WORK. I hope they post a fix very soon. I just started a project using the Vienna Instruments and now can't open my Digital Performer file without getting a non-stop beachball.
  • R
    R
    Sorry guys I am on PC.


    Rob
  • J
    J
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    @garylionelli said:

    Am having the same problems :

    Syncrosoft License Control - Error

    -> No protection device connected.

    What do they mean, it's different on different systems? That's BS. I just have straight Quad G5 -- it should WORK. I hope they post a fix very soon. I just started a project using the Vienna Instruments and now can't open my Digital Performer file without getting a non-stop beachball.

    Hey Gary:

    Is your Vienna Key connected via a powered or non powered USB hub?

    If it's in a hub, have you tried unplugging the hub and plugging in the Key directly into the Quad? If that works, then we know it's not the key itself. It *might be* the hub (if you have one).

    Powered hubs seem to work best, but one thing I noticed was that SLCC had trouble reading more than one level of connectivity-- in other words, it *saw* the hub as an unknown device, but did not see the Key connected to it. At least at one point earlier this week, I could start VI in DP with my iLok and Vienna Keys connected to the powered hub, but I could not register with Syncrosoft unless the Vienna Key was the only one connected-- directly into the computer (not the keyboard).

    There is one odd behavior which I've not mentioned online yet:

    In DP, VI *may not* load if you've changed your audio settings in AUDIO-MIDI or with your Instrument Track Output assignments-- if they are different for whatever reason than they were when you last saved the project. For example, I was running everything with Built-In Audio for a while until my PCI-424 card came back from MOTU. Once I installed it and the drivers, VI would not load until the PCI-424 was selected, Audio Bundles were recongifured, AND the track output assignments were done. After that, I saw the yellow "please wait, loading instruments" windows.

    However, that was several days ago when troubleshooting a different issue. What we may be experiencing now is more closely related to SLCC . But, I hope some of this information will come in handy for you at a time when you need it most.

    Cheers,
    JWL

    PS-- if this is a case of changing audio output assignments, you may want to create a new project in DP, create the new audio settings with AUDIO-MIDI and DP's Hardware and Settings Preferences and Instr. Track assignments, then restart your VI project.
  • P
    P
    I can second the hub issue. I was successfully loading and running Logic with multiple VI's. But then I'd try to load another VI and SLCC would come up and say it couldn't find the key. It was a big crash. I could Force Quit Logic, but the only way I could remove the SLLC window was to turn off the computer.

    So I switched the key to the front USB port on my Mac. It stopped the crashing while composing. My issues are now limited to the initial launch of Logic.
  • G
    G
    Thanks for that info JWL. I did change settings in AudioMIDI setup, but if that's it, then SLCC is too sensitive as none of my other iLok plug-ins have any issues. I reinstalled some of the software and tried plugging the key into different USB ports, some powered-hub based, directly, etc., and was finally able to load Vienna after numerous attempts. Not sure why it's working now, but it sure doesn't inspire confidence. Hopefully they'll shore this thing up quickly. Thanks again.
  • J
    J
    My pleasure, Gary.

    Sad story with (I think) a happy ending...?

    Curiousity got the best of me, so I started troubleshooting SLCC issues. One moment, all of my licenses appear in the LCC screen. Another moment, there were NO LICENCESES PRESENT!!!

    So I followed the PDF instructions, which suggested removing the following three files from the Library/Receipts Folder:

    LCC.pkg
    NOS.pkg
    POS.pkg

    Then, I download version 4.9.7.6 for OS X and reinstalled. I made sure that the Key was plugged into the computer and not the hub (just in case), and that only the mouse and keyboard were connected. RESTART--!!!! (In fact, SHUT DOWN for a minute or to and REBOOT just to totally dump stubborn RAM data.) Immediately, my authorizations reappered when I launched LCC without having to use LCC's Wizard.

    Version 5.0.0.1 has some severe misread problems. 4.9.7.6 did allow me to at least view my authorizations and to start VI successfully in Standalone mode, but I've not attempted booting a VI project in DP just yet. Call me chicken, but I think I'd like to go to sleep on a good note. If VI chokes in DP, it would be better to have had a decent night's rest. [:P]
  • J
    J
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    @Plowman said:

    I can second the hub issue. I was successfully loading and running Logic with multiple VI's. But then I'd try to load another VI and SLCC would come up and say it couldn't find the key. It was a big crash. I could Force Quit Logic, but the only way I could remove the SLLC window was to turn off the computer.

    So I switched the key to the front USB port on my Mac. It stopped the crashing while composing. My issues are now limited to the initial launch of Logic.


    Likewise, I can confirm your experience as well.

    Seems like some features of VI simply override OSX...

    --no force-quit from host app
    --omni floating windows take screen and function priority-- even over DP's own omni-floating transport controls
    --DP's transport key commands are rendered dysfunctional if the last window clicked was the VI console. Clicking in and out of VI just to play-edit-play-edit-- what a process. VI seems to retain much of its Standalone priority
    in this regard...

    Gotta give it VI for its show of muscle!
  • P
    P
    "Clicking in and out of VI just to play-edit-play-edit-- what a process."

    Yep. It's the same in Logic.

    Okay, here's a tidbit that may be too soon to observe. It won't help JWL, or maybe anyone else. But this thread is as good as any to note it.

    As discussed, I've had inconstant success loading VI in Logic. But my last three power-ups have been smooth (er... not fast, just smooth). The only difference? I'm out of demo licenses. Now christian was prompt to send me more authorizations, but I haven't loaded them yet.

    I realized that some of my buggy start-ups were generating obscure L2 authorization prompts. So I wanted to see what would happen if I held off the demo stuff. Three successful starts is not a scientific proof. But I'm going to hold off the demo renewals through the weekend and perhaps load them next week for further observation.

    "Gotta give it VI for its show of muscle!" Truly, it yields to no other window. I half-expect it to stay there after I turn my monitor off.