Members Ernest Buckley Posted November 15, 2014 Members Share Posted November 15, 2014 Around 4 months ago I upgraded EZ drummer 1 to Version 2… still not able to get it to work. I have tried uninstalling and re-installing. Still not working. Around 2 months ago I opened up Finale 2014 and started to enter notes, the program crashed. It does this every time now. I went to the Finale forum and posted, some Finale guru was unable to help out. I looked on the Finale website for help, the site is telling me I need the latest version to get help. I have the latest version! I then called Finale, they were having a meeting and no tech support was available. Lately, I`ve been having trouble with Adobe Reader… on 3 different computers… Ever feel like software has a personality that just wants to screw with you??? I`m ready to throw my computers off a very tall building. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ernest Buckley Posted November 15, 2014 Author Members Share Posted November 15, 2014 Anyone? no? I`m going to throw these things off a very very, I mean very tall building. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members onelife Posted November 15, 2014 Members Share Posted November 15, 2014 It's artificial intelligence and it is out to get you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nat whilk II Posted November 15, 2014 Members Share Posted November 15, 2014 Yeah, Ernest, I feel your pain. I'll close out Sonar and not touch that computer for a day or two. Then power up, load up, and....it can't find a sample set...it hangs on loading...I get the blue screen....some VST freezes....it can't find my interface....something. All my inspiration drains out my ears while I fart with it and get it all going again, usually not ever knowing exactly what caused the problem. But I'll say this - it's still these days, a lot better than it was say, 10 or 15 years ago. Back then, even simple MIDI setups would somehow lose their brains between power down and power up. And I'm a minor PC guru of sorts...build my own machines, used to write programs, troubleshoot all the family and friend's setups....PCs are born to trouble for sure, but!! It's Getting Better All The Time (repeat) nat whilk ii Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted November 15, 2014 Members Share Posted November 15, 2014 Ever feel like software has a personality that just wants to screw with you??? I`m ready to throw my computers off a very tall building. Sadly, yes, numerous times. And people wonder why I hold on to a computer for a long time when it does operate well!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author MikeRivers Posted November 15, 2014 CMS Author Share Posted November 15, 2014 Software is always out to get me, and as soon as I think I've got it down pat, something comes along that makes me upgrade, change, or replace it. Hardware, on the other hand, has limited functionality but you know what it is and it won't change. That's why I like to use it whenever possible. Hardware that depends on software is another story, though. It's pretty hard to avoid these days, and about the best you can do is assure that you're happy with it when you buy it. Sometimes it can get better with software updates, but there's nearly alway s glitch or two with every update, some of which get fixed with another update, some never get fixed because the manufacturer thinks they're important features. With hardware, you have to clean pots, switches, connectors, and the tape path, some things need adjustment periodically, and you occasionally have to replace tubes or other failed circuit components. But when something does go wrong, there's a straightforward way of diagnosing the problem. That's not the case with software. And sometimes software/hardware devices require a firmware update for the new software to run, and they rarely provide you with a procedure to reload the original firmware and go back to the old version of software if the update doesn't work or isn't to your liking. But consider the poor software sellers. Software doesn't wear out so they have to keep selling you something new. The first few updates are free, but then . . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mark L Posted November 15, 2014 Members Share Posted November 15, 2014 Anyone? no? I`m going to throw these things off a very very, I mean very tall building. A sloping building, perchance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Notes_Norton Posted November 18, 2014 Members Share Posted November 18, 2014 Software has something called a critical need detection algorithm built in. It senses when you need the software the most, and that's when it develops the critical errors that waste days of your life just when you are under the most pressure to get things done. Seriously. Actually, I wonder why we put up with the bugs in software. Would we accept that from a new car? Let me see, I'm pulling on the freeway, wait, blue screen of death, turn the car off, wait 10 seconds and reboot. That semi headed towards you at 70mph will understand. or While you were out, a small power surge locked up your refrigerator, it turned off, and now all your food is spoiled. or I got this brand new top of the line saxophone, but every now and then, usually in the middle of a great improvised solo, it locks up and plays only one note, no matter which keys I press down. You get the idea. We would not tolerate these errors, but a new version of our OS, Pro Tools, Word Processor or whatever comes out and there are severe bugs in it, and for some reason we don't demand a full refund of our money. Why? I don't either. And I can't figure it out. Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AlamoJoe Posted November 18, 2014 Members Share Posted November 18, 2014 We are all the Slaves of the Machinations we we fool ourselves into thinking we are the masters of.... Oh...and then there's women..but that's a whole different thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Anderton Posted November 18, 2014 Members Share Posted November 18, 2014 While I'm not willing to let applications completely off the hook, the computer hardware and operating systems are a huge factor. This used to be a major point of differentiation between Mac and Windows, where the Mac was very tightly controlled and Windows was basically high-tech anarchy. The Mac hardware is still quite predictable, however I hear so many developers complain about "Apple changing the goal posts" and making OS changes that require significant fixes that they're getting disenchanted, particularly iOS developers who feel like they're expected to provide a free update to their customers every time there's a change past the first decimal point. Windows is reasonably good about backwards compatibility, but the hardware situation is a mess. I've been hyper-aware of this since spending time on the SONAR forums, where threads start off as "SONAR is garbage! Doesn't do [name function]" followed a string of posts along the lines of "I dunno, works for me, I do that all the time" mixed with "same thing happened to me!" posts. Eventually someone hauls out DPC latency checker, and finds some auto-installed process from a graphics card manufacturer or whatever is totally screwing up their system for streaming real-time audio. With Windows, there have been so many "[name of software] sucks" threads in so many forums where the user ultimately ends up happy due to weeding out crap in the OS. Sometimes all it takes is disabling one service to go from unusable to smooth as silk, but you can't help but feel sorry for the person who has no clue where to look and just wants to make music. For Apple, the situation is a little different because while it's more likely the software will work initially, if it doesn't, finding a workaround is a lot more difficult, if indeed it's possible at all. I don't know what the solution is. Apple is better than Microsoft on emphasizing streaming audio in real time, but Windows machines are easier to hot rod if you want that extra performance factor. The fact is as audio professionals, or even amateurs, we largely don't matter to either company... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WRGKMC Posted November 18, 2014 Members Share Posted November 18, 2014 I usually, if ever see glitches when MS does their upgrades. It may be because they are uploading in the background while the computers being used. A reboot after they are installed usually fixes the issues. I don't network my DAW so its always stable. The glitches a I do get are usually resource related, having worked too long on a project without saving it. That happened to me last weekend, I spent about an hour and a half putting the final touches on a mix and had it perfectly balanced. Wouldn't you know it, I got a freeze just as I was getting ready to hit the save button. Its like It knew I had everything set just right and it denied me from keeping that mix. I had to start over from my last save point which meant rebuilding all my plugin settings. I doubt I got it exactly the same as I had it though. I was burnt out hearing that song so I put it aside for another day when my ears would be fresh again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Notes_Norton Posted November 18, 2014 Members Share Posted November 18, 2014 I never upgrade the OS on an old computer. After reading posts for years (and magazine articles before that) I'm convinced that the cutting edge is also the bleeding edge. When I get a new computer I'll go to the newest OS, the computer will be built for it, and there will be no leftover garbage on the machine. I've got two 8.1 computers and have no problems with them. I also make a hard drive image before installing or upgrading any app on my computer. Whether it's a music app or office app or anything else, (including those Windows updates). This has saved my bottom more than once. I remember buying a guitar pedal that came with a free Cubase LE. I always wondered about Cubase so I installed it. The installation routine didn't finish but locked the computer up. Then every time I tried to reboot the computer, it would ask for the CD, which I would insert, and it would do the same thing. Ignoring the please insert the CD made things even worse for the computer. So I restored the HD (I was using Ghost back then) tried again with the same results, restored the HD once again and flipped the CD in the trash. I've had other upgrades screw up my computers but Ghost or now Acronis has always saved the day. But when I think about it, I haven't had those need-to-restore problems very often. I've had PCs since Dos 5/Win 3.1, Apple from Sys 6 to OSX, and even an old Atari ST. I believe when I got my Atari Craig was editor of Electronic Musician magazine (Late 1980s). I was working on a cruise ship and someone turned me on to the mag. I learned a lot about MIDI and computers back then. All in all software crashes have been minimal and although I exaggerated in my earlier post, it was done mostly for fun. I quit Apple when they went to Intel chips. I like the OS just fine, but in addition to being a pro musician, I write aftermarket styles for Band-in-a-Box, and both BiaB and the StyleMaker app on the PC is light years better than they are on Mac. BiaB styles have been 100% cross platform now, so I don't need a Mac anymore. Nothing against them, I let the software I use the most choose my computer OS. When I'm gigging with my duo, I use 3 ThinkPads (I only need two). If worst comes to worse and I lose two, I can get a replacement anywhere. However, since 2002 when I started using ThinkPads on stage, I've had to go to the spare computer only 3 times. Since I do one nighters and they bounce on the keyboard stand all night, that's a good track record. In fact, one of the 2002 ThinkPads is still working every night on stage. That's good hardware. So back up every night, and before changing anything on your computer, do a fresh HD image. So when that 'critical detection algorithm' I mentioned in my last post rears it's ugly head, you'll have a life preserver. Insights and incites by Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gubu Posted November 18, 2014 Members Share Posted November 18, 2014 Solution:- Use the stuff that works, ditch the stuff that doesn't. We're creatives - if it doesn't work when it's powered on, use something else. Tech time and creative time shouldn't ever overlap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members techristian Posted November 19, 2014 Members Share Posted November 19, 2014 Solution:- Use the stuff that works' date=' ditch the stuff that doesn't. We're creatives - if it doesn't work when it's powered on, use something else. Tech time and creative time shouldn't ever overlap.[/quote'] I have enough here to start my own computer museum. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ernest Buckley Posted November 19, 2014 Author Members Share Posted November 19, 2014 Just for the record guys, I did not upgrade the OS on any of my Apples. I`m having trouble on all 3 computers at this time… Adobe Reader is pretty grumpy on all 3 machines. My studio iMac doesn`t like the EZ Drummer upgrade and lately, my laptop likes to give me that spinning wheel from time to time… Not sure what the issue is but its frustrating because not one machine is at 100%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gubu Posted November 19, 2014 Members Share Posted November 19, 2014 I have enough here to start my own computer museum. Dan See, I just don't get that. But then again, I've never had the spare cash to pour into heaps of gear. The way I look at it, my old Mac boots up when I turn it on, I've got a stable version of ProTools, a couple of snazzy, if dated, plugin bundles, and enough MIDI/elastic options in PT to do whatever I need to do. Should the need ever arise, the sessions can be brought to a Harrison/Neve/SSL equipped studio for mixing. And my next hardware upgrade will be to a newer Mac, on which I'll install whatever I can from my current suite, and buy/upgrade whatever else I can afford, after first researching which software is known to be glitchy, and which is known to be stable. The thing is, I know that by following the simple principle in my first post itt, that my new rig will be every bit as stable as my last, and I'll probably get 10 years out of it, if I need to. Seeing all of the various threads here about people's IT problems, I wonder if people have forgotten the point of having a recording rig in the first place. No offense intended. I haven't been on Craig's forum much lately, and it's the thing that stands out like a sore thumb here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Anderton Posted November 20, 2014 Members Share Posted November 20, 2014 I totally understand that philosophy. However, for me it's all a bit of a gamble and I don't always know how it's going to turn out. I gambled on SONAR X-series with X1 and now with X3. Fortunately, my musical productivity has gone through the roof so the gamble paid off. My IT problems have mostly involved AMD/ATI graphics, but that's under control. For now. I think. Maybe. Of course my context is a little different, because my gig requires that I remain up to date. Then again I was brought up during the days of tape, so I just consider relatively constant maintenance to be a part of the deal. The difference is that with tape it was every day, with the computer it's an occasional meltdown when Apple or Microsoft sneezes and some driver catches a cold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Notes_Norton Posted November 21, 2014 Members Share Posted November 21, 2014 When you toss them off the building, please film it and then show it in slow motion. Should be fun to watch. Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ernest Buckley Posted November 22, 2014 Author Members Share Posted November 22, 2014 Will do Notes Norton! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Notes_Norton Posted November 23, 2014 Members Share Posted November 23, 2014 And when you do, let me know. I have a printer we can toss of with them - it's queen of the paper jams and frustrates me constantly. As soon as the $85 toner cartridge wears out, it's getting recycled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jasaoke Posted November 24, 2014 Members Share Posted November 24, 2014 It's very rare when I don't feel like software is out to get me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Goober(s) Posted November 24, 2014 Members Share Posted November 24, 2014 get a mac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted November 24, 2014 Members Share Posted November 24, 2014 Why do you say "Get a Mac"? I dunno. I use a Mac. But I don't say "get a Mac" every time someone complains about computer issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ernest Buckley Posted November 25, 2014 Author Members Share Posted November 25, 2014 Why do you say "Get a Mac"? I dunno. I use a Mac. But I don't say "get a Mac" every time someone complains about computer issues. If he read the original post, he would have realized I was talking about my 3 Apple computers…. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Notes_Norton Posted November 25, 2014 Members Share Posted November 25, 2014 Some Mac people are just cult-like. Get a Mac seems to be the solution to anything. I've had Macs and PCs and really, I like some things about the Mac better, and some things about Windows better. I always advise people to choose the software first, then choose the computer OS. I write aftermarket styles for Band-in-a-Box http://www.nortonmusic.com - and both Band-in-a-Box and the StyleMaker app work better on the PC than the Mac - it's not an OS thing, it's a BiaB thing. Since I do the most critical work on BiaB, the choice is simple, PC. The Mac gathers dust in the corner. And yes, the Mac suffers from the same kind of problems that the PC does. But YMMV. Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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