If your DAW is crashing, it could be a bug, but in our experience it’s one thing, and this is how to fix it fast.
In Short
The most common reason for DAWs crashing, almost always, is a bad plugin. Remove the bad plugin and your DAW should be back to normal. Read below to find a fast way to find the offending plugin.
In Depth
Do DAWs crash? Yes they do and sometimes it might be a bug. After all, even after the most rigorous QC and beta testing, some software does ship with bugs.
You might think this is shoddy and shouldn’t happen, but when you consider all the hardware and components used in computers, plus software permutations, it’s nigh on impossible to find every single possible thing that might cause software to crash.
This is often why bugs are found when released to the public, the software has gone from being tested by a few hundred to being used by a few hundred thousand.
However, one of the most common reasons for a DAW crashing is an incompatible plugin.
How To Fix It Fast
The first thing to do if an otherwise rock solid system suddenly starts to crash is to trace your steps backwards to consider any changes have been made.
Consider any new software installs, any new hardware and any system updates. If you have a memory like a goldfish and can’t even remember what you had for breakfast, then here’s a super fast way to find a bad plugin in eight moves or less.
Create a folder on your desktop.
Find your plugin folders. Depending on what DAW you use you may have AAX, VST, AU or a combination of folders. For example, Pro Tools users will have AAX plugins. However, some DAWs on Mac may have both AU and VST plugins. You need to check all folders. See how to find them below.
If you have two folders or more then create subfolders in the folder you created on your desktop for each plugin type.
Let’s assume you have just one folder.
Move half the plugins out of that folder to the desktop.
Relaunch your DAW and then try and reproduce the crash. If there is no crash, then move the other half of the remaining plugins out of the folder and the other half back in.
Repeat the relaunch and try and reproduce the crash.
If you have a crash, then divide the remaining plugins in half again and repeat the process.
Keep halving the plugins left until you find the offending plugin. It will take eight times or fewer to find the offending plugin.
Where Are My Plugins Installed?
If you are wondering where your plugins are installed, then here’s a guide.
For Windows users, here’s a helpful guide from Steinberg, VST plug-in locations on Windows
Mac AU Plugins - /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components
Mac VST Plugin - /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST
Mac VST3 Plugins - /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3
Pro Tools plugin locations:
Mac:
Macintosh HD > /Library > Application Support > Avid > Audio > Plug-Ins (AAX)
Windows:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Avid\Audio\Plug-Ins (AAX)
If It’s Not A Plugin
If your DAW is still crashing after removing all plugins then send a report to the DAW developer.
Make sure you supply all the following information:
Computer specification in detail. Some computers create this information automatically so you cut and paste it.
The current operating system. A word to the wise, if you are running a beta OS then don’t bother reporting it to the developer, a beta is never supported.
Any hardware attached.
What you are doing when the crash happens.
Anything else that may be helpful such as session info.
In Summary
Most crashes are an incompatible plugin, find the plugin and you should be good to go. One last thing, make sure you tell the plugin developer of the issue using their support contact info, and always be nice.