Delta 1010 and Tiger freezes

[aerodeon]

I have just bought a Delta 1010 for my PowerMac G4 and am getting kernel panics whenever I try to use it. It happens if I start Logic Pro or even if I use System Preferences, choose the Delta as the default output for the Mac and try a system sound. The Mac comes up with the kernel panic page and I get a very loud looping digital noise.

I know that the card itself is not faulty. I have installed a fresh copy of OS X 10.4.11 on to another partition and it works perfectly. I would much prefer to get my existing installation of Leopard working as I have many music apps that would need to be re-authorised on the new partition. It's a real bind; I would sooner return the Delta and buy a different sound card if it came to that.

After looking through a few posts, I have tried removing the drivers and card, re-installing the 10.4.11 combo update, repairing permissions and re-installing the drivers and card. No difference - the machine still freezes when using the Delta.

Is there anything else that I can try?

Many thanks.

[JA]

What version of Leopard are you running? 10.5.6? Have you tried running the 10.5.6 combo update? Have you tested the card in other PCI slots?

Do you have any other PCI cards installed?

Have you ever upgraded the processor in your computer?

[aerodeon]

Hi,

Many thanks for your reply.

I'm sorry; I wrote "Leopard" instead of "Tiger". The version is 10.4.11 and I have run the 10.4.11 combo update again.

I have also tried putting the card in different PCI slots, even had the card in on its own with no other cards (apart from the video card), tried Command-Option-P-R to reset the PRAM - no difference.

One partition - the main one with all the music software that I need - causes kernel panics when I use the card. The other partition - which is a clean install of Tiger 10.4.11 with no software apart from Logic Studio and the Delta drivers - works perfectly.

I have tried version 2.08 and 1.21. Both yield the same result.

I have never touched the CPUs. I think they're maxed out as they are.

[JA]

It sounds like something is conflicting or corrupt on the partition with the music software. Are there any other audio or MIDI drivers installed?

You could try trashing the Audio MIDI Setup Preference files located:

Macintosh HD>Users>UserName>Library>Preferences> com.apple.audio.AudioMIDISetup.plist
Macintosh HD>Users>UserName>Library>Preferences>ByHost> com.apple.MIDI.letters&numbers.plist

Then restart, repair disk permissions, and test again.

[aerodeon]

The only other audio devices in the Mac are the built-in audio and an emagic Unitor8 MIDI interface.

I tried trashing the two preference files that you mentioned, repairing permissions and trying again. The Mac is still locking up.

I also tried creating a brand new user on the Mac to see if any user preferences at all could be causing the issue. The Mac froze up on the new user too, so it doesn't seem to be anything to do with user preferences.

Could be system preferences I suppose...are there any files there that I should check?


Once again, thank you for your help.

[JA]

I'm not sure what else to check; it definitely sounds like that installation of the OS is corrupt. I would suggest contacting Apple to see if they have any suggestions on things to check before doing a clean install of the OS and your recording software.

[Granger]

Hi, I also have this problem with a delta 44, g4 1.25dp and 10.4.11. I read just now that someone cured their kernel panics by removing login items. I'll try that for a while. What login items do you have , maybe we have something in common?
Would this be relevant if you've already tried a different user?
It's worth a try, it's driving me nuts, to the point where I'm considering burying this thing in the garden!
I can temporarily cure the problem by removing drivers and re-installing, but it always comes back. I've tried installing while the card is out, but still no joy.
A couple of years ago, (yes it's been happening for ages) I did a clean install and that didn't help. Since you have the delta 1010, must it be a driver compatability issue somewhere?
I've raised the issue with support before and found them no help, they just ask for the same info as I submit, I've got one going at the moment regarding this.
G

[Granger]

Hi aerodeon,
I've been crash free for a week or so since I removed all log in items. I had a crash this morning (after firing up Logic) but when I then checked, ical had put a log-in item in my account. I removed it and logged out, same crash. I then re-started instead, and....... no crash. I've never been able to do this before, I've always had to remove and re-install the driver. Now crash free for 4 more days.
It seems as long as I keep no log-in items, it's stable......I'm really hopeful, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
G

[aerodeon]

Hi Granger,

Thanks for your replies and PMs. They've been very helpful and slightly reassuring.

The saga at my end has gotten to the point where a clean install of Tiger with the Delta driver is panicking now. (Install OS X, install Delta driver, System Preferences, Change default output to Delta 1010, try a system sound, kernel panic.)

I'm at a loss to understand what's going on here. With so very little software installed, there can't be many conflicts I would have thought.

The plus side is that I've re-installed OS X so many times now, I've pretty much nailed where all of the preference files are stored for the apps and plugins. I might try an install of Leopard and see how that goes...

[Granger]

Aerodeon,
I've been doing some reasonably time consuming cubase work lately. Also needing to switch itunes output to the delta 44. This used to 'panic' the G4 a lot. I've been pretty much panic free until day before yesterday and today. Up to it's old tricks until I found ical had put 'alarm scheduler' in login items AGAIN. I removed it logged out but didn't cure. Only when I restarted am I now panic free again. I keep coming back to this. It's not specific to ical I don't think, I no longer have 'suitcase' (font management) in login items anymore.
I've given up with the support staff as they reply after 7 days or so, but they have mentioned this 10.4.11 combo update, even though I'm on 10.4.11. Are you installing 10.4.11 direct or updating?, although I remember this problem before 10.4.11.
I don't get on this forum much, but let me know if you get any progress.
Granger (granger-morton@uk2.net)

[Granger]

sorry, just re-read the thread and you've done the update..........

[aerodeon]

Hi Granger,

I've pretty much determined that the problem with my system is that the Delta 1010 is incompatible with Tiger 10.4.11. That's the only conclusion that I can come to as I get kernel panics with pretty much a vanilla install of 10.4.11 and the Delta driver and no other apps.

I have carried out an install of Leopard, which is now updated to 10.5.7 and is working perfectly with the same drivers that crash out Tiger. Leopard now has all the music apps that I need and about 95% of the plugins I have to use. Other plugins aren't Leopard-friendly or universal binaries, so they can't be used.

I'm keeping the old Tiger partition, but using Logic with built-in audio (at least it works) because some plugins that have been updated for Leopard aren't compatible with their old plugin settings or aren't picked up by Logic. Bummer.

So, I've got my setup moved over to Leopard and it's working. As it turned out, it wasn't all that painful to do. I should have done it sooner, looking back.

I can't explain why the Delta should suddently start panicking the Mac in Tiger when it had been working perfectly well before, nor why it should continue to crash out when it had had a clean install of the OS, fresh drives, the lot.

Still confused...but working now.

[Granger]

That's great news, I may do the same. I've been holding back as I'm a bit worried about which plug-ins don't work in leopard but as I need to go over to Logic, I may as well do it. After a good period of being panic free I have had a few lately but it seems they are alot fewer and farther between. Leopard here I come.
Did you get Leopard as an upgrade or complete disc?
Good luck
G

[aerodeon]

The same disc will work as an upgrade or a full clean install and there's no price difference between the two - it's $129 (or £83 in the UK). I ran a clean install of Leopard and then installed the apps and copied the preference files afterwards. It's possible an upgrade install of Leopard would have worked fine; I didn't want to take the risk.

I was reluctant to move over to Leopard because I had heard that it was a good deal slower than Tiger (rather like Vista is to Windows XP). I've since learned that that isn't the case, at least with 10.5.7. It's really swift and Logic outperforms its counterpart on Tiger.

Best of luck with your trial.