Toontrack opens with no GUI screen controls Logic 11.2.2

[Danny Smith]

Toontrack EZdrummer, EZKeys and EZBass will open and I can hear previously recorded toontrack tracks, but the toontrack contols and GUI screen is blank (dark gray). Everything else in Logic Pro works fine. This happens on what seems like a random basis. Sometimes the toontrack GUI screen and controls appear as normal.

The only fix I’ve found is to save the project, quit Logic Pro and reboot the computer.

NOTE: See image below

Is this a bug in toontrack??

Thanks for any help!

Danny

EZkeys version: 2.1.4
Operating system: macOS Sonoma (14)

Topic

[Olof Hermansson]

Never seen that happen. Does it help if you use the View menu to change to Controls and back to Editor?

Is it an Apple silicon Mac, running Logic in native mode?

Olof Hermansson - Toontrack
Coder

[Danny Smith]

Hi Olof,

Thanks for your help.

Does it help if you use the View menu to change to Controls and back to Editor?

I will check the next time the issue occurs. Yes, Apple silicon Sequoia 15.7.2 and I am running Logic 11.2.2 in native mode. I have cotacted tech support twice and got the same response both times. So I’ve followed their instructions twice now. See below…

If you experience issues after an upgrade of either Logic or your Toontrack software, please try, in the first instance, to delete the following files if they exist:

/Users/yourname/Library/Caches//AudioUnitCache/com.apple.audiounits.cache
/Users/yourname/Library/Caches/com.apple.audiounits.cache
/Users/yourname/Library/Caches/Logic/com.apple.LogicAudioUnits.plist
/Users/yourname/Library/Preferences/com.apple.audio.InfoHelper
/Users/yourname/Library/Preferences/com.apple.audio.AudioComponentCache.plist

Any other ideas appreciated! Happy Holidays!

Danny

[Mark Styles]

SETUP= 2024 Mac Studio M2 chip – OSX 26.2 – Logic Pro 11.2.2.

I have that issue with a few 3rd party AU’s..  EZ line works – comes up blank for 1-2 seconds, then becomes normal GUI.  I find after maybe several hours Logic starts getting ‘wonky’ with plug-ins and Logic itself doing normal functions (like space bar no long er starts/stops. etc..  When I get hold of tech support, the current fix is ‘save your project’, close programs, restart computer.  Then things are well again.  With each OSX update, some things improve, other 3 rd party AU’s get flaky or stop working.

It’s getting frustrating because I spend far more time typing into little ‘chat’ boxes with a ‘dumb’ AI, which has been rather poorly programmed to answer any complex situation.  What used to take a 10 – 20- minute call with a tech support person is dragged out to back/forth messages, often not resolved.

EZkeys version: 2.1.4
Operating system: macOS Tahoe (26)

[Danny Smith]

Yep, I have the same issue with toontrack launching with the GUI blanked (grayed) out… very frustrating. As stated, the only fix is to save your project, quit Logic Pro, shut down the computer, reboot the computer, launch Logic, and reopen the toontrack instrument. By that time your inspiration has faded.

I have contacted toontrack multiple times about this problem. I followed their instructions not once but twice… it did not resolve the problem!

I am hoping they will fix this!

Danny

[Mark Styles]

Kontakt 8 is very slow to open for me.  Sometimes over 3 minutes. Sometimes it seems to do nothing, other times, it opens as an empty black rectangle  I had hoped to have a lot ‘live’ opened instruments.  So I could instantly jump from Virtual instrument to another Virtual Instrument. Sometimes I’ll add a riff or a few notes to the bass, then I want to jump to piano, flute, drums, so they can plan a ‘flourish’ to have a bit of sparkle to a measure.  At one point I had 30 instruments live.  Opening this Logic Project would sometimes take several minutes to come to life.

I resorted to making a channel strip, giving it a short descriptive name, and then naming the midi or audio region with that. so I could quickly get back to that exact same patch. I leave the ‘activity monitor app open’  even though the Logic Pro app turns red; watch the ‘activity%’  if it is changing percentage, it has not really crashed. – it will sometimes come back to lifel.

Apple techs strongly urged me to update to the newest OSX 26.2.  That did help some. A few virtual instruments seem not able to open correctly. But sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t.  Saving the project and resstarting computer does appear to work.  If my Mac Studio has been on for several hours, a crash or lockup is far more likely. Last Apple tech told me to restart the machine in ‘SAFE MODE’  it resets more things than just a restart.  Then, of course, you have to restart again in your normal mode

2024 Mac Studio/M2 silicon = 64 GB of memory- OSX 26.2 – Logic Pro 11.2.2

[Danny Smith]

I am surprised no one else is reporting this problem. I posted it on a Logic FB forum and got several suggestions (none worked) but no one else reported they were having an issue with this. I assume its a mac silicon issue. I am on Sequoia 15.7.2 and the same problem occurs with toontrack instruments, Native Instruments and a couple of other VI instrument products… but not all Hmmmm….

It really takes me out of the zone when I am working… having to save the project, quit Logic, shut down the computer, re-boot the computer, open the project, open the VI istrument and triying to remember where I left off.

Yos said OSX26.2 “helped some”… Do you mean it fixed the issue or you still have the issue? Also, did you try the ‘SAFE MODE’ reset? If so, did that help?

Thanks for discussing this with me. I sure would like to get the problem cleared up. I will let you know if I discover any other news. Thanks!

Danny

 

EZkeys version: 2.1.4
Operating system: macOS Sequoia (15)

[Mark Styles]

I was using macOS 15.7.2. Each macOS update would fix the operation of some third-party plug-ins and break others.  Finally jumpingto OSX26.2.   Nof ons oc fhs 4 tech guys I spoke to recommended deleting caches and plists, and plistss – which I believe often does solve problems.  The real problem is  each manufacturer doesn’t really care how the other 3rd party VIs work or don’t work.  Over the last few years, I have bought a fair amount of 3rd party plu-iing that don’t play nice with Logic..

Once you download and install software, you will not be able to get a refund.  Yes, I believe a safe reboot, then a regular one doe give you a better chance with fewer problems.  The longer you use EZ line products, with Logic the greater chance it will go buggy.  That has been the result I see.   It feels like Logic holds some specific memory for variable changes for it’ fucctions.  EZ Line also uses the same memory.  So if you’re tryinv variable procedure, you don’t know how long Logic will get corrupted.

I’m too old to spend unending hours chasing bugs. I’ve been using Logic since the Emagic days.  I don’t have the time or patience to learn a new  DAW.  I see a fair amount of complaints about Toontrack not dealing with certain issues.  This is getting very frustrating.

EZkeys version: 2.1.4
Operating system: macOS Tahoe (26)

[Danny Smith]

Hi Mark,

You wrote. “I’m too old to spend unending hours chasing bugs. I’ve been using Logic since the Emagic days”.

I started with Emagic as well… back when it was only a MIDI sequencer, before audio capabilities. I am too old to wait save the project, quit Logic, shut down the computer, re-boot the computer, open the project, open the VI istrument and triying to remember where I left off.

We should not have to do that as paying customers. Do you think it is the fault of mac OS or the VI app technicians. Lets make them do their job and fix this!

Danny

EZkeys version: 2.1.4
Operating system: macOS Sequoia (15)

[John]

Hi,

is it correct that you are using version 2.1.4? If that is the case, please update to the final release of EZdrummer 2, which is 2.2.3.

BR,
John

John Rammelt - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[Danny Smith]

Hi John,

The screenshot was confusing. I took the screenshot of EZDrummer 3 but listed my version of EXKeys by mistake. My EZDrummer 3 version is V. 3.1.2. and EZDrummer 2 is V. 2.2.3.

I have EZDrummer, EZDrummer 2, EZDrummer 3, Superior Drummer 3, EZBass and EZKeys 1 & 2. All of these are the latest version.

You have a good eye to catch my mistake!  I have the same issues with all the Toontrack instruments and Native Instrument products as well.

The only fix is save the project, quit Logic, shut down the computer, re-boot the computer, open the project, open the VI istrument and try to remember where I left off. Its frustrating if you are in the zone.

 

 

[John]

OK,

I am also on Sequoia and have yet to be able to reproduce what is happening to you.
Do you still have an open Ticket with Toontrack Support?
If you have tried deleting the AU cache and rebooted, then a Reset & Rescan in the Plug-in Manager, the only other thing I could find related to having GUI problems in Logic 11.2.2 (which seems quite a few have), is to delete the
com.apple.logic10.plist and com.apple.logic.pro.cs Preference files and reboot.
If you want to try this, open Finder and press Shift+Cmd+G and paste ~/Library/Preferences.
You can Search the Finder window for ‘logic’ which makes them easier to find.

BR,
John

John Rammelt - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

1

Thanked by: Scott Eshleman

[Mark Styles]

I’m NOT having a black GUI when I open any Toontrack products.  Major problems with a WAProoductions plugin.  From what I have AI googled and listening to Logic Tech Support, deleting PLIST should be used as a ‘last resort’.

Yes, a ‘Reset & Rescan is at the top of the list.  That cleared up some other problems for me.  (Logic shortcuts – like using the spacebar for start/stop play. Mac is getting ‘wonky’.

Another thing is to start up the Mac in ‘SAFE MODE’. It will prevent any processes that reach deep into OSX.   I’m going to try this on Mac’s next ‘anxiety attack’  (which gives me an anxiety attack).

Another issue I need to focus on is getting back to the EXACT state the EZ line VI’s were in..  It seems to me, I save my project, EZ keys might have 4-6 ‘tracks’ in it. Alternate versions of chords and rhythms.  But when I open Logic Project the next day. Some of those tracks are missing, and/or they are not the same as when I saved the project.  I AM NOT POSITIVE BY THIS.  I’ve been ‘AI Googling’  EZ keys questions and coming up with more and varied answers.

My current saving process is to export any/all  EZ Keys, Drums, and Bass tracks.   into Logic, take a lot of desktop pictures, and keep text notes.  That way I have the best chance of getting the project back in the exact state when I saved at the end of the last session.   This is quite tedious, and I’m not feeling that this is a process I want to continue.  I get upset enough to abandon the Logic Project.  Part of the issue is that until I have a great bass part and melody, I want the liberty to change the chord progression.

In simpler words, as exciting as EZ modules are, all this ‘house cleaning’ work is taking the fun out of making music.   But the EZ line modules also allow one to easily come up with some great and inspiring parts, to keep me wanting to keep exploring.   It takes me to a place I could otherwise ot reach.  Not to feel bad, Toontrack people. Logic’s system, with its abortion of a chord track creating process, makes me not want to deal with it at all.

This wave of intelligent new music creation (the ability to manipulate creation by the machine being aware of the project key, and individual chords at any moment) is a HUGE step forward. There needs to be a discussion/forum on how musicians are using it. And the developers of this new NEXT STEP need to draw up a set of standards that other companies will follow.

[Danny Smith]

Hi John,

I have done all that Toontrack support suggested twice. Here is the list they sent to me.

“If you experience issues after an upgrade of either Logic or your Toontrack software, please try, in the first instance, to delete the following files if they exist”:

/Users/yourname/Library/Caches//AudioUnitCache/com.apple.audiounits.cache
/Users/yourname/Library/Caches/com.apple.audiounits.cache
/Users/yourname/Library/Caches/Logic/com.apple.LogicAudioUnits.plist
/Users/yourname/Library/Preferences/com.apple.audio.InfoHelper
/Users/yourname/Library/Preferences/com.apple.audio.AudioComponentCache.plist

I will add that Native Instruments will also occasionally launch to a grayed out screen.

Thanks

Danny

 

2

Thanked by: John and Mark Styles

[Author]

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