Why is Pro Tools dropping out / hitting CPU?
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Create a free profile →I get 'AAE error -6101'. Help.
Also searched as: Pro Tools CPU error; AAE error 6101; Pro Tools dropouts
AI starter answer — please verify with real-world experience. Awaiting trusted contributor review.
Pro Tools CPU dropouts (often AAE errors -6101, -9173) typically occur when the hardware buffer is too small for the session's processing load, or when a single plugin is poorly optimized and 'spiking' a single CPU core. Since Pro Tools processes audio linearly, even a powerful computer can choke if one track's plugin chain exceeds the capacity of a single thread.
- 1.Increase the H/W Buffer Size in 'Setup > Playback Engine' to 512 or 1024 samples for mixing (keep it low, like 64 or 128, only when tracking).
- 2.Set 'Disk Cache' to a specific RAM value rather than 'Normal' if you have 16GB of RAM or more to offload drive pressure.
- 3.Disable 'Video Engine' in the Playback Engine settings if you are not currently working with a video track.
- 4.Identify and 'Commit' or 'Freeze' processor-heavy virtual instruments and high-latency plugins like izotope Ozone or heavy reverbs.
- ×Avoid using 'Optimized' power plans on laptops; ensure your computer is set to 'High Performance' and plugged into power.
- ×Check for 'Denormal' issues where plugins continue to process tiny amounts of silence; inserting a dither or trim plugin can sometimes stop this.
- ×Ensure all plugins are up to date; older AAX plugins often cause instability on newer versions of macOS or Windows.
Enable 'Ignore Errors During Playback' in Playback Engine to stop the 'AEE 6101' pop-ups, but be aware this can introduce clicks/pops into the audio stream during monitoring.
Based on AI training data — may not reflect current information.
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