Timeout or Timer Inactive?

Question

Timeout or Timer Inactive?

I was working on GarageBand, and my USB headset mic was not recording correctly. It was recording odd sounds, which sounded like electrical flow. I then unplugged my mic. When I did this, my USB ports on the back of my monitor (only keyboard is plugged in there) stopped working. (These are still not working... any ideas why?) I plugged the keyboard into the computer, and it worked fine. Next time I opened up GarageBand, it took a long time during the 'Initializing' step, then I get a warning window (which, after I press OK, comes up a total of four times) which says,

"Timeout or Timer inactive!
Check other applications using Timer of MIDI'
(Code 0)"

Then the project opens, and I get another window which says,

"Warning.
Mac OS X MIDI Services not available"

And, as it says, all my MIDI (green) loops are gone. I cannot play any of my projects; when I try, the first message appears.
Then when I close the project, it once again gives the first message four times.

Does anyone know what is wrong, and how I can fix this? I really need this problem solved soon, for my project has a deadline.

Thanks for you help,

-Jimi Kathryn

PowerMac G5, Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Posted on Nov 30, 2005 10:40 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Nov 30, 2005 10:41 PM in response to Jimi Bonogofsky

Correction on first warning message:

"Timeout or Timer inactive!
Check other applications using Timer or MIDI
(Code 0)"

Reply

Answer 2

Jan 4, 2006 10:09 AM in response to Jimi Bonogofsky

I am having the same issue "Timeout or Timer Inactive...." in my lab. I did not have any "technical" difficulties however to seemingly cause the problem. I am in a lab of iMacs that do not have DVD drives so I installed the program and libraries using an external firewire drive. Initially the program worked and students were creating music then when students started GarageBand the 2nd day we got the "Timeout or Timer Inactive" flag.

Reply

Answer 3

Lanza

Level 1

0 points

Jan 6, 2006 12:16 AM in response to Jimi Bonogofsky

Hi fellow GB user! I just experience the same messages as you this week. Did you found a cure? After contacting AppleCare service the tech told me it could be related to a "M-AUDIO" device... I own an "M-AUDIO Firewire 4-10" but hadn't plugged it in for a little while since I just moved last month. Do you have an M-AUDIO device?

PowerBook G4 1Ghz 512mb Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Reply

Answer 4

HangTime

Level 9

53,841 points

Jan 6, 2006 12:29 AM in response to Lanza

Lanza, I have a vague recollection that installing the latest driver from M-Audio has solved the problem for some.

Reply

Answer 5

Lanza

Level 1

0 points

Jan 6, 2006 1:18 AM in response to HangTime

Thanks

I went right after I post... But I thaught t'was too late too lunch a driver update. I need to sleep cause it's getting late here in "Montreal suburb"... I will try Friday afternoon...Thanks again it is very much appreciated...

René. M...♪...♪...♪...

Reply

Answer 6

HangTime

Level 9

53,841 points

Jan 6, 2006 1:21 AM in response to Lanza

Do let us know how it works for you --Hang

(it's getting late in a New York City suburb too)

Reply

Answer 7

Lanza

Level 1

0 points

Jan 6, 2006 11:24 AM in response to HangTime

I hope you had a good night...
The problem is gone!!! I went to M-Audio drivers section; unisnstall and re-install the same driver I had since April 2005. Right now Gb is running...so thank You again for being a part of the solution

René. M...♪...♪...♪...

Reply

Answer 8

HangTime

Level 9

53,841 points

Jan 6, 2006 11:29 AM in response to Lanza

Glad to hear it, Enjoy --Hang

Reply

Answer 9

Jan 8, 2006 10:20 PM in response to HangTime

Just to let you know, I let the program sit for a night or so, and when I came back to it, it was just fine. Still no clue what had happened. o.O But I haven't had the problem since.

Reply

Answer 10

Jan 19, 2006 10:04 AM in response to Jimi Bonogofsky

I have the same problem, it is intermittent though. I do not have any midi hardware or software(that I am aware of).

Mel

Reply

Answer 11

Apr 14, 2006 8:02 PM in response to Jimi Bonogofsky

I get this error all the time in GB2. Here's what fixes it for me.

Find a Standard MIDI file (such as the one here http://www.purgatorycreek.com/downloads/pianotest1.mid) and open it in QuickTime Player with GarageBand not running (I don't know if it needs to be played in QT Player or just opened). Then launch GarageBand and see if you get the errors.

The unfortunate part is that if I open GB first, and get the errors, only a Force Quit gets me out of it. Then I do the fix above and launch GB again and it launches fine.

iMac G5 20" Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Reply

Answer 12

Orben

Level 1

0 points

Apr 19, 2006 5:47 AM in response to Joe Muscara

Joe,

I have opened the MIDI file you posted without having success on my set-up.
Still get the Timout or Timer Inactive! message.
GB2 on a G4 with M-audio driver for the Ozonic.

I followed the advise I saw from a post last year on this issue that suggested deleting the M-Audio driver then re-installing the latest driver.
Well I have now done that 4 times in the past 5 months and there is no new driver from M-Audio since I first installed. I spoke with a technical support person at M-Audio in regards to this issue back in December 05. He said that he had not heard of this issue. I wish that your cure worked on my system as it is obviously easier than trashing a driver to then re-install but no such luck.

I am posting in hopes that we could put word out that there is a driver/software issue. I too am sorry to hear that GB3 also gets this message and I wonder how many people are having to do the same trash and re-install dance I have been doing. GB2 will then open for me a number of times (random) before I get the message again.

Thanks.

Reply

Answer 13

MichelPM

Level 10

80,968 points

May 2, 2006 11:33 PM in response to Jimi Bonogofsky

I am, too, now receiving this message in GB2
Have all recent M-audio drivers installed.
Nothing will play as this message keeps popping up.
I can use most of GB2 functions, but since their is no presence of MIDI or timer clock working nothing will play.
I use a M-Audio FW solo interface and an M-Audio Midisport Uno MIDI interface.
I have just now re-plugged in the Firewire audio interface and restarted.
Still no luck getting GB to work.
I have not plugged in the USB interface cable, though.
Do I need to hav this plugged in as well to get GB to work?
Annoying if I need to keep cables hooked up and plugged in all of the time. It's bad enough that M-Audio doesn't reccomend hot-plugging of any of their interface devices.
I am a lounge musician that has decided to try to more thoroughly incorporate my Mac into my digital recording setup and I have tried to use GB recently, without success because of this issue.
I removed GB2 and related files.
I re-installed GB2 with no luck also.
Has anyone found a fix for this?
Fortunately, I have a few other digital recording apps, such as Deck 3.5, Wiretap Pro and Snapz Pro, but I have found GB in past to be little easier/convienient to use for multi-track recording.
Frustrated
Has anyone found the REAL culprit or solution.

Reply

Answer 14

May 3, 2006 5:15 AM in response to Orben

Orben,

Are you opening that MIDI file in your web browser or are you downloading it and opening it in QuickTime Player? I have been doing the latter.

I should note too that this issue is intermittent for me. Sometimes I don't see it at all, and I use GB2 to record my band when they come over as well as to create audio files for everyone to listen to on their own and for my copy of iTunes. Most of the time when I do that, I don't get the error.

I've not installed any drivers for the M-Audio Keystation 61 that I have and just used what came with the OS.

iMac G5 20" Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Reply