Antivirus was causing Sonar X2 to crash

For the past two weeks and whenever i tried to load a ProChannel preset, I was having a white screen and Sonar X2 would crash. The same was happening also when i try to open two projects. 

Today i got a message that my Antivirus license will expire in 15 days, so i decided to buy another product. 

I had my doubts that the Old Antivirus was causing the crashes, so i tested Sonar before i installed the new antivirus and after. and guess what, i have no more crashes now. 
 

Yes... which AV? Microsoft Security Essentials is free, is supposedly top notch in protection and is considered a resource light AV so it's great for DAWs. Cake support recommended it to me for my DAW (I knew about it but have been an Avast user for years) and I've never had a problem with leaving it enabled while working. However if you choose anything else just disconnect the system from the internet, disable the AV (usually in settings or options disable something called "real time protection" or something similar... check the users info for your AV of choice) and remember to turn it back on before reconnecting the system to the internet. Cheers.

May I commend two things to ALL users, if you have not done this for yourselves. 1: Kill off UAC, you do not need it, (unless you share your PC). 2: Grab AVG, most unintrusive reliable FREE Anti-virus out there. You won't know yourself if you suffer issues with either thing regularly. No more needing to run in admin mode, or affirm use, you are it. And of course, no need any longer to disable anti-virus to install anything.

I have dealt with ALL the anti-virus stuff since I ran my BBS back in early 90s. It was sad to see the demise of Norton to the crap it is today, somewhere F-prot got lost etc etc...

/end soap box :D

Tony

I have never had any reason to install any antivirus software on my PC since Microsoft Security Essentials. It's all you need. And I'm used to turning real time protection off if doing anything CPU or memory intensive in the DAW. Just have to remember to turn it back on again (easier said than done). 

Progmatist


Perhaps the best solution would be to have your DAW never connect to the internet, and therefore not even need AV software.

Unfortunately not an option for most people. 

Oh man... so many bad AVs getting mentioned. McAffee has LONG been crap. I've never used bitdefender but it even gets mentioned in manuals as being intrusive on a DAW. AVG will choke your system. Seriously Microsoft Security Essentials is the way to go for a DAW system. It is MORE than enough protection and it is resource friendly. It's also really easy to configure and use AND it's FREE. You shouldn't be using your DAW for general web surfing anyway. It's okay to download programs and updates and browsing SAFE sites but anything beyond that is just asking for heartache. If you use Firefox with AdBlock+ and NoScript in conjunction with MSE and avoid the underbelly of the internet you'll be fine. You can get really great surfing laptops for very little these days (I love my little Acer). I don't know much about recording but I spent a LOT of time researching internet security because having to remove computer critters or wiping a system is a PITA and with the right tools and some common sense is quite avoidable. In the past 7 years or so since I've really plunged into the wonderful world of computers I have yet to be infected (touch wood). Cheers.

Howdy, John. :-)

Hiya Beep!

Thank you all for your advices. 

I should have asked before taking the decision, but at least i know now that i have a good alternative. When I'm recording i turn off the AV and the internet connection, but in other situations i do not.

Currently I'm using a laptop and planning to get a desktop, so probably i will dedicate the laptop for web surfing.  

Yeah Avast is really good too and I prefer it on my web surfing computer but the automatic updates will choke out the system a bit when they happen (you can set these to update at specific intervals or just turn them off and update manually though). It is a very very good AV. Supposedly it's not quite as light as MSE however but if your system is powerful enough it shouldn't be a problem. I'd say if you actually do use your system for a lot of web surfing it might be a better option... just make sure you disconnect from the web and turn the auto updates off when you are in session. Cheers.

Makzimia


May I commend two things to ALL users, if you have not done this for yourselves. 1: Kill off UAC, you do not need it, (unless you share your PC). 2: Grab AVG, most unintrusive reliable FREE Anti-virus out there. You won't know yourself if you suffer issues with either thing regularly. No more needing to run in admin mode, or affirm use, you are it. And of course, no need any longer to disable anti-virus to install anything.

I have dealt with ALL the anti-virus stuff since I ran my BBS back in early 90s. It was sad to see the demise of Norton to the crap it is today, somewhere F-prot got lost etc etc...

/end soap box :D

Tony

I had the exact opposite experience with AVG.  It slowed my whole system down.  No problems at all with Microsoft.

I build and repair computers for folks in my spare time, and have put Avast on literally over 50 machines.  I find that it does not interfere with Sonar, has a small footprint, allows dynamic disabling and re-enabling, and I believe was ranked like number 2 in testing.

It's also FREE - you just have to register once a year for it.

www.downloads.com and search for 'Avast free'.

I leave mine up and running all the time, and have no problems at all.

Bob Bone

I'd like to add another + 1 for MS Security Essentials.  I don't want to get into a long winded statement but I've used, Norton, McAffee, Fprot, Adaware, Spybot, Malwarebytes, AVG, and thats just what I can remember off the top of my head...  LOL

MS Security Essentials has been the best so far.  It protects your computer.  Take very little resources.  Doesn't interfere with the music software..

What more can you ask?

+1 for Avast Free Swear by it!

Hi All,

I am new to this and have been tearing out what little hair I have searching for an answer.  I have logged heaps of calls to Cakewalk who have been very friendly.  I changed everything including audio interfaces and reloaded Sonar I don't know how many times.  

Earlier this week my McAfee license ran out I installed another antivirus (Nortons 360), touch wood but up until now Sonar X2 has worked fine (for the first time since I upgraded from X1).  Maybe there is something in McAfee that does not agree with Sonar X2.