Problems with Windows 10 and Komplete Audio 6 Mk 1 driver

sylpre
sylpre Member Posts: 46 Member
edited April 12 in Other Software & Hardware

Sometime at the end of 2024, Microsoft released an update for Windows 10. Since then, Windows has repeatedly kicked out the audio driver. I have tried many things with the help of ChatGPT, which has not yet helped to solve the problem. You always have to disconnect and reconnect Komplete Audio 6. Just annoying! It can't be that we now have to constantly buy new hardware just because Microsoft thinks it has to release new updates every now and then that cause our studio technology to stop working.

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  • sylpre
    sylpre Member Posts: 46 Member
    edited April 24 Answer ✓

    Next update: I was still researching for what caused this problem. Then I noticed that in the UEFI BIOS some things were not configured correctly for recording studio usage. Maybe the technician forgot to deactivate these things. On the Steinberg website you can read what you have to do. Unfortunately, I just have the link with the German text for you: [English language link inserted by Moderator]

    https://helpcenter.steinberg.de/hc/en-us/articles/360008589880-Windows-How-to-set-up-and-optimize-a-Digital-Audio-Workstation

    In a nutshell: You have to deactivate all CPU energy saving things and in Windows things like synchronisation (e. g. OneDrive). According to Steinberg, it can cause heavy problems for recording studio / audio usage.

    That's what I said, the reason of all these problems, DPC Watchdog Violation bluescreens and audio driver disappearing, could have been caused by something else.

    Since then the system works fine. I'll see how it goes from here.

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Answers

  • Vocalpoint
    Vocalpoint Member Posts: 3,696 Expert
    edited April 12

    If you are using this driver (which appears to be the only one):

    image.png

    This device (and its driver) dates to Feb 2011 - which is 4 years prior to the first release of Windows 10 - making this a Windows 7 driver - at best.

    And if you are assuming that this driver would somehow still be fully supported within Windows 10 22H2 - which is 11+ years after that device/driver was released - that is probably wishful thinking as well.

    Really do not think MS is out to get you - more like 12 years has gone by and MS is not even aware this device still exists.

    Finally - just saw this Reddit post - from 12 days ago (with an official NI response) indicating that Komplete Audio 6 has now reached EOL (End of Life):

    image.png

    Probably time to consider a new device

    VP

  • LostInFoundation
    LostInFoundation Member Posts: 5,389 Expert
    edited April 12

    Newer driver is available (4.2.0) and it’s stated for Windows 7 and above.

    You can find it in “DRIVERS & OTHER FILES” official NI page:

    https://www.native-instruments.com/en/support/downloads/drivers-other-files/

    On the same page you can also find Device Updater 1.7.0, from 23.07.2018

  • Vocalpoint
    Vocalpoint Member Posts: 3,696 Expert
    edited April 12
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/221312#Comment_221312

    Thanks LIF - My bad. Should work fine.

    VP

  • LostInFoundation
    LostInFoundation Member Posts: 5,389 Expert
    edited April 12

    I hope. I posted just the existence of newer driver (and the device updater)… not that sure that it will solve the issue.

    We don’t even know if he is maybe already using this version of the driver

  • sylpre
    sylpre Member Posts: 46 Member
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/221327#Comment_221327

    Thank you for your reply. I'm already using this version.

  • Vocalpoint
    Vocalpoint Member Posts: 3,696 Expert
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/221425#Comment_221425

    Well - if this device is EOL (as I previously indicated) AND Windows 10 (and some update) has caused this - it is highly unlikely that NI will start coding a new driver at this juncture.

    Suggest you contact NI Support and see what can be done. This is your only option at this point.

    VP

  • sylpre
    sylpre Member Posts: 46 Member

    How can I get in touch with the Native Instruments support? Since they left Germany there is no support hotline anymore or support e-mail contact or something. At least I can't find it.

  • LostInFoundation
    LostInFoundation Member Posts: 5,389 Expert

    This is the link for Traktor section of Support. Remember to log in at the bottom of the page in order to have access to chat (during office time) or open a ticket

    https://support.native-instruments.com/hc/en-us/sections/15449821909021

  • sylpre
    sylpre Member Posts: 46 Member

    Update: A couple of days ago I have deactivated the Windows systems sounds and since then I don't have any problems with that anymore. I don't know if this caused that problem or something else. But now everything works as it should be.

  • LostInFoundation
    LostInFoundation Member Posts: 5,389 Expert

    Thank you for reporting back

  • sylpre
    sylpre Member Posts: 46 Member

    Update 2: The "Watchdog Violation" bluescreen appears again. Deactivating the Windows system sounds was obviously not the solution. I did some research and found out that the whole thing is quite complex. It could be caused by all sorts of things. But it definitely seems to be down to some kind of driver. I think it's about time the IT industry came up with a better solution. There's always something that needs updating again and again. Back in the day, 25 years ago, you’d get maybe one or two updates for the entire system per year. These days, you get a message every week, sometimes even twice a week, just to update the web browser. All we want are systems we've built ourselves or had custom-made that work – and keep working – until the end, without constantly running into problems just because another update has broken the system. It's really starting to get on my nerves.

  • Vocalpoint
    Vocalpoint Member Posts: 3,696 Expert

    "All we want are systems we've built ourselves or had custom-made that work – and keep working – until the end, without constantly running into problems just because another update has broken the system"

    This is very easily accomplished. Simply never update anything once you get to a solid state and keep on rolling. If you are allowing Microsoft (in this case) to install updates in any way - you should be prepared for chaos.

    MS has no idea you are using an audio interface from 2011 and cannot ensure any updates they do - to their own OS - will affect you. By allowing updates - you are opening the door to trouble.

    If you want a guaranteed environment - shut down Windows updates, unplug your network cable and rock on. The system should continue to work fine - potentially forever - if you leave it alone.

    VP

  • sylpre
    sylpre Member Posts: 46 Member
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/222636#Comment_222636

    Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to deactivate Windows updates. I believe this was no longer possible from Windows 10 onwards. I used to always deactivate them and never had any problems.

    As I have already written, finding out exactly what it is is very complex. It doesn't have to be the old (still working fine) Komplete Audio 6 and its drivers. That's the problem. I could buy a new audio interface and still have the same problem. And that's what I mean: We can't have our entire system rebuilt every time and buy everything new just because some system somewhere is updating, whether it's Windows / Microsoft, the graphics card or something else.

  • sylpre
    sylpre Member Posts: 46 Member

    Update 3: What I can say so far is that the failures have become significantly less after deactivating the Windows system sounds. The system has been running for several days in a row without the audio driver failing.

    If it fails, I unplug the audio cable from the Komplete Audio 6 Mk 1, reconnect it and then restart the audio workstation. So, reboot and don't shut down and then boot up again. This is important because a restart is the only way to restore the operating system to its original state.

  • Vocalpoint
    Vocalpoint Member Posts: 3,696 Expert
    edited April 21

    "Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to deactivate Windows updates. I believe this was no longer possible from Windows 10 onwards. I used to always deactivate them and never had any problems."

    Windows Update is deactivated on all machines here and has been for years. It is most certainly possible - with just two simple registry keys. That said - this does not mean I do not have Windows Updates in play. They are applied - as required - but on a schedule of my choosing - using PowerShell.

    There is no concept of allowing Microsoft to slip any Windows Update onto any machine here. I am running a business with clients, deadlines etc. and cannot afford "surprises"

    "We can't have our entire system rebuilt every time and buy everything new just because some system somewhere is updating, whether it's Windows / Microsoft, the graphics card or something else".

    It has been this way since the beginning of time. Hardware plays nice with the OS - until it does not. The OS WILL change and there is nothing you can do about it - except - stay far away from any changes.

    If you really want your piece of hardware to last 20 years - you need a 20-year plan to do that. Eventually - that will mean staying away from all OS changes (and the internet) on a given machine. Total lockdown is the only way to perfectly preserve a working machine state once it's "good with my hardware" date has finally expired.

    If you do not like the idea of preserving a single machine for 20 years - the next smart play is purchasing an interface that will stand the test of time. And that unfortunately does not come from Native Instruments at a $249.00 price point.

    VP

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