Finale Lost Authorization.

Problem: Finale 2008 lost its authorization. If you tried to re-authorize, the MakeMusic server would not allow because we already allocated all seats of our site license.

Solution: Evidently a known problem with the Mac 10.5.7 update. Finale has a patch fix. http://makemusic.custhelp.com/app/answers/preview_detail/a_id/1679

Run the patch. Restart. Problem solved on some machines. I’m contacting customer support for the others.

Now if I could get Finale to not crash every time you quit the program.  Not a huge problem as you are trying to close it out anyway, but it just seems wrong.  Applications should quit without crash issues.

Not all Kontakt samples available to student user

Problem: Some instruments load, some are missing samples.  If you navigate to computer folder using Kontakt database, the samples aren’t shown.

Solution: It works fine in admin account. Turns out some samples do not grant read and execute for “everyone”. I went ahead and changed permission for the entire loops and samples folder. chmod -R o+rx /Loops\ and\ Samples/

Kontakt Effects not working

Problem: Kontakt convolution effect not working (grayed out) in student user account.  Plus, presets in other effects not loading.

Solution: Both situations work in the admin account. Must be a permission conflict. Set Library/Application Support/Native Instruments to student as the group and read and execute permissions (recursive).  Or, I could just set “everyone” to have read and execute permissions for the entire folder.

Complete Production Toolkit added to Studio 9 computers

Digidesign’s Complete Production Toolkit is now on the studio 9 computers. This adds the following to Pro Tools 8 LE:

Features

• Edit and mix up to 128 simultaneous audio tracks
• Mix in up to 7.1 surround sound
• Double your Instrument tracks from 32 to up to 64 simultaneous tracks
• Comes with over $2,650 worth of groundbreaking virtual instruments and professional plug-ins, including:
  • Digidesign Eleven™ LE hyper-realistic, vintage guitar amp emulator
  • Digidesign Hybrid™ 1.5 high-definition synthesizer
  • Digidesign Smack!™ LE foolproof compressor and limiter
  • Digidesign Structure® LE advanced sample player
  • Digidesign DINR™ LE intelligent noise reduction
  • Digidesign TL Space™ — Native Edition convolution reverb
  • Digidesign X-Form® time compression/expansion and pitch shifter
  • Neyrinck SoundCode Stereo surround-to-stereo down-mixer
• Multitrack Beat Detective™ rhythm analysis, extraction, and correction tool
• DigiBase™ Pro full-featured file management tool
• DigiTranslator™ 2.0 for import/export of OMF, AAF, and MXF files
• Time Code and Feet + Frames functions
• Powerful editing and session management features
• Pro Tools® MP3 Option for exporting MP3 files

Check out the website for more. http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?langid=100&navid=115&itemid=6282

VueScan Software installed in Studio 8

VueScan software in now in Studio 8. This tames the HP ScanJet and makes scanning possible again. If you own a scanner, check out this software. http://www.hamrick.com/ Thank Kyle Snyder for the tip.

DVI extended to SHA and SHB

If you look closely, Trevor and I installed DVI connectors in Soundhouse A (SHA) and SHB. The second DVI output of the Mac goes to a DVI distribution amplifier. From there the video is split to go out to the LCD display in studio 1 and the two DVI connectors in SHA and SHB.

What’s the big deal, right? This allows anything displayed on the secondary monitor in the control room to also be broadcast to the soundhouses. One good application would be for audio post production. Put the Pro Tools movie window on the secondary display and now the musicians can follow along in the soundhouse as the music is scored to picture. Or actors can do dialog replacement. Or foley can be recorded to picture. Or, …you get it.  Just don’t plug in a DVI display while the computer is running.

Our only trouble with the installation was being careful not to get the high resolution DVI cable stuck in the conduit. The DVI connector barely fit inside the 2 inch rigid conduit. Trevor gently pulled while I feed the cable into the conduit. When we hit a snag, I would pull back the cable a little,  gently twist it and Trevor would continue the pull.  For the record, the picture below is Trevor pulling cat5 cable for a USB extension system in studio 1.  We pulled the DVI cables later that day.

Trevor Frohberg using fish tape to pull cable in the North Machine Room

Final Result. Plasma in Soundhouse A

ScoringSessions.com

If you ever wanted to see behind the scenes of a hollywood-type scoring session, check out this website. Amazing.

http://www.scoringsessions.com/

Melodyne Essential installed in Studio 9

Celomony’s Melodyne Essential is bundled with Pro Tools 8 LE. It is a separate application but will soon be a RTAS plugin.

manufacture’s website

Studio 9 now has Digidesign MBox interfaces

Studio 9 switched over to Digidesign MBox

You can run programs simultaneously.  I opened and successfully played audio through the MBOX for DP, MAX, Peak, Audacity, Kontakt, Reason, Tassman, Soundhack, Cecilia, finale AND Pro tools LE. All programs were left open and sometimes I was playing back audio from multiple programs.

Trouble with Melodyne Essential 1.8.1.3 install

Problem: The Melodyne Essential 1.8.1.3 that came bundled with Pro Tools 8 LE keeps failing its install.  It gives the following error excuse: Install Failed. The Installer cound not install some files in “/”. Contact the software manufacture for assistance.

Solution: The installer is having writing over the existing Propellerheads ReWire plugin. I used the Terminal App to first delete the folder and its contents, then create a new empty folder of the same name. This will probably come back to bite me later (but I’ll deal with it then).