The problem I was having was that when I was working on a large projects in Ableton, the audio engine would crash.
I tried killing the process tree in task manager. The Application would close but the Process would hang for ages after and I couldn't load Ableton again until it disappeared or I restarted my machine. So annoying!!!
I tried the TASKKILL command line, TASKKILL /IM didn't work. I thought of TASKKILL /PID but task manager wouldn't direct me to the PID so I couldn't try that.
I've struggled with this for a while and I stumbled upon this website http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/32648/ho ... ndows-app/
Basically, it ends all you currently running processes except the process what you system needs to run, all from the convenience of a desktop short cut.
Also, this program which is basically a more advanced task manager http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/32648/ho ... ndows-app/
(Don't worry it's a totally legitimate microsoft download. Check it out if you don't trust me!)
STEP ONE (The set-up)
First, download PROCEXP from Mircosoft (it's in a zip file).
Extract PROCEXP (I put it on my desktop for convenience)
Run Ableton
Run PROCEXE
Notice all the processes running in the left column, find Ableton.
Note the PID number next to the Ableton process.
Run a TASKKILL /PIM command line. (Click on start; XP users click run and type cmd in the window that appears, Windows 7 users just type cmd into the search bar and run the program that it finds. Type "TASKKILL /PID" (without the " ") then Abletons PID number you noted from PROCEXP. It should look something like; C:\Users\YoMommaGotSweetAssTitties> TASKKILL /PID 1808)
This should kill the Ableton application and the process shouldn't hang
STEP TWO (Creating the short cut)
Right click on your desktop and create a new short cut.
Type this in as the target; C:\Windows\System32\taskkill.exe /PID 1808 (1808 was the PID for Ableton THE LAST TIME I RAN ABLETON, THIS CHANGES EVERYTIME!!! ***SEE BELOW***)
***VERY IMPORTANT NOTE***
If you click that short cut the next time Ableton crashes it will not kill it!
Abletons PID changes everytime you run it so you need to amend the PID in the short cuts target EVERY TIME IT CRASHES (you'll need to use PROCEXP to find out what it is).
ALSO, if you use task manager to kill the process the Application will close but the Process will still hang. This guide won't help once it gets to that stage.
THE CURE! (Please follow the steps exactly)
Next time Abletons audio engine crashes, immediately SAVE YOUR PROJECT!
Run PROCEXP and get Abletons current PID
Amend the short cut target to the new PID
DON'T RUN IT YET
Now close Ableton as you usually would with the X in the top right corner. Save if prompted.
Wait until the error box regarding the audio engine appears.
DON'T CLICK ANYTHING (For some reason this only works when the message box is on screen)
Double click your short cut.
Ableton should close along with the process! NO MORE HANG!!!
I've just come across this last night so I'm sorry if this is something you've already tried. It's something that's really helped me out and I thought I should share.
I hope this helps someone. Post up if it does!
