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Old 08-02-2022, 01:37 PM   #1
etamboni
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Default Help...I did something to my master bus...

Sometime last week, my Reaper started doing this:

I'll be playing back a session, and suddenly no sound.

The tracks are still getting signal, I can see the meters moving, but the master bus is silent, like it's just not getting any input...

It lasts for about 10-15 seconds, then comes back on.

Happens intermittently, whenever it feels like it I guess...

I have no idea what to check. Help.

Ed.
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Old 08-03-2022, 03:21 AM   #2
papagirafe
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Quote:
Originally Posted by etamboni View Post
Sometime last week, my Reaper started doing this:

I'll be playing back a session, and suddenly no sound.

The tracks are still getting signal, I can see the meters moving, but the master bus is silent, like it's just not getting any input...

It lasts for about 10-15 seconds, then comes back on.

Happens intermittently, whenever it feels like it I guess...

I have no idea what to check. Help.

Ed.
Hiho! Intermitent problems are the worst ones and usually related to hardware. Assuming you have some kind of USB audio hardware, I would try these actions:

1- change USB port
especially on laptop, the right side ports are on different chips than the left ones and are sometimes very sensitive to AC/line voltage level. For example on my laptop I can no longer use the right side port for audio. Also USB hubs drain too much power if not connected to a separate power source.
2- subsitute for another more sheilded cable
electric/rf noise like microwaves or power tools on the same electrical circuit..
3- check the audio output device settings
make sure it's not using any of the windows drivers....
4- check the outputs of the master track
there may be more than one audio hardware output in there..

good luck!
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Old 08-03-2022, 12:46 PM   #3
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I'm wondering if the automute is being triggered because the mix has gotten too hot before it hits the master buss.
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Old 08-03-2022, 02:33 PM   #4
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Quote:
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I'm wondering if the automute is being triggered because the mix has gotten too hot before it hits the master buss.
Possibly, but if it was automuting it should stay muted until the user unmutes it, whereas this lasts only 10-15 seconds.

Does it happen on every project or just one/some?

Another possible but unlikely cause might be a trial version of a plugin which outputs silence every so often, but then the meters wouldn't show activity. Accidental mute automation? Even less likely.
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Old 08-03-2022, 02:54 PM   #5
etamboni
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Thanks, you've given me some possibilities.

Here's one thing: maybe it has something to do with USB port??

I'm running a Windows 10 PC, with Audiobox USB interface which for years I've plugged into the main USB port on my PC.

Just last week I installed a Powered USB Hub.
The Hub goes into that main port on the PC, and now I'm running the interface thru the powered hub. That hub has one USB 3.0 port, the interface goes there.

That's the only hardware change I made...so I'll remove the powered hub and try it.

Thanks to all.

Ed.
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Old 08-03-2022, 03:17 PM   #6
etamboni
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Default Master bus fixed.

Well that fixed it...

It'something to do with the powered USB hub.

By the way, all the while this problem was going on it was only on Reaper, I could play audio files outside Reaper no problem, no muting.

I reverted back to interface plugged into the PCs USB, instead of the powered hub.
Everything worked fine.

So I went back to the powered hub to try it again...same problem, mutes Reapers master bus intermittently.

Clearly, it's the powered hub.

Thanks to all. Love this forum.
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Old 08-04-2022, 07:35 AM   #7
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Careful shopping for hubs! Look up the specs and I/O any product is capable of. There are budget products made that can make the connection but might share a single controller chip across multiple ports. They work without issue for folks connecting an extra keyboard or trackpad. Try to actually use the full bandwidth (or even half) the ports are supposed to support and suddenly the budget devices are DOA.

Shopping for thunderbolt and HDMI cables is another ringer situation like this. Products sold that really only support lower data rates - because that's what 8 out of 10 customers are only doing anyway or some customers just give up easily.
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Old 08-05-2022, 02:02 AM   #8
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It might not be the hub itself that is causing the problem, but rather your Windows power settings. Have you tried disabling USB selective suspend in the power settings? If this setting is enabled, Windows can selectively power down USB ports that it finds non-essential to decrease power usage.

https://winbuzzer.com/2021/06/10/how...ows-10-xcxwbt/

I would recommend to create your own custom power mode where all power usage settings are set to high performance. There are tons of guides on how to optimize Windows 10 for a DAW machine, some are a bit more advanced and others a bit more basic, but the ones in this are at least a start:

https://www.gearnews.com/optimize-wi...eaks-revealed/
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Old 08-05-2022, 10:09 AM   #9
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Thanks for the info, gonna check out those links.

Ed
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Old 08-06-2022, 07:27 AM   #10
etamboni
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Well..I was wrong..

It's doing it again today...I'm playing back my session, and the master bus just mutes itself, intermittently...lasts for about 10-15 seconds, then volume goes back to normal...but now it's not muting entirely, just cutting the volume down by 75% or so.

What is causing this?

Ed
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Old 08-07-2022, 06:26 AM   #11
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Oh...it doesn't happen in any other sessions, only this one...
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Old 08-07-2022, 08:34 AM   #12
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If it's just the one project, posting the .RPP file would be useful so we can take a look.
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Old 08-08-2022, 05:11 AM   #13
etamboni
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I zipped and attached my .rpp file.
What I've noticed now is when I start the session the master is usually muted right from the start, and unmutes around 15 seconds in.
Attached Files
File Type: zip If Not For You.zip (140.4 KB, 60 views)
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Old 08-08-2022, 06:05 PM   #14
etamboni
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Found it. I had a plugin on the master for referencing, let's you A-B your mix with your reference track...

Not sure why it was muting like it did, but once I disabled it all is working fine.

Thkx

Ed
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Old 08-09-2022, 01:27 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by etamboni View Post
Found it. I had a plugin on the master for referencing, let's you A-B your mix with your reference track...

Not sure why it was muting like it did, but once I disabled it all is working fine.

Thkx

Ed
Almost reminds me of a plugin that is on a trial period. That mutes every so often so that you're encouraged to buy it.
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Old 08-10-2022, 05:46 AM   #16
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Yes it does but Im using the same plugin on all my sessions for the last year or so, this is first time I've encountered this.
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Old 08-10-2022, 06:04 AM   #17
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maybe it's expired or needs re-authorizing?
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Old 08-10-2022, 09:48 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by etamboni View Post
Yes it does but I'm using the same plugin on all my sessions for the last year or so, this is first time I've encountered this.
Gotcha. Other things that come to mind are, is there a possibility that this plugin has its own auto mute based on input overload? Or, did you inadvertently assign a keyboard command or other controller button to that plugin, causing it to mute or switch its A/B state? Or possibly being triggered by some aberrant controller message?

BTW, what is the exact plugin that is on your master buss?
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Old 08-11-2022, 08:07 AM   #19
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The plugin is Mastering the Mix - Reference. It's authorized and have been using it for about a year on every session, have not seen this problem before.
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Old 08-11-2022, 08:17 AM   #20
etamboni
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I cant find any settings for muting or anything like that. It sits on your master bus, it allows you to click a button to match the loudness of your session track, and your reference track, which I always use.

I've always gain staged sessions to peak at about -6 so I don't think levels are too high.

And once again, it's only doing it on this session, not on the dozens of other sessions I'm using Reference on.

So I'm flummoxed.
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