1 Topic by Tehom (edited by Tehom 2024-09-06 01:00:33)

  • Tehom
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Topic: TotalMix FX window not showing up

Hello,

I have already had this problem before, but was able to fix it by updating all software/firmware. However, this time I'm completely unable to find a solution. Here how this happened:

The story: I have recently started renting a studio space which has an RME Fireface UFX +. I personally have an RME Fireface UFX.

Before going there, I downloaded the latest version of the drivers. Upon my arrival, I couldn't get the TotalMix FX window to show up. I spent an hour or so updating the firmware of the UFX +, uninstalling, reinstalling, trying different versions of TotalMix FX, etc. Couldn't get it to work. I did also setup the device (codec or w/e, I forget what it's called) to add an audio port detectable by Windows. All of this works fine. The soundcard works fine, there is no issue with audio or connection with my DAW. The only thing that doesn't work is TotalMix FX.

After returning home, a little bit frustrated, now my own TotalMix FX didn't show up. Reminder that I did not update/change the drivers for the UFX, just the UFX+. In any case, after uninstalling/updating/looking online for other solutions, the thing that finally worked (for whatever reason) is opning an old totalmixfx.exe file. The window opened fine and I changed my shortcut to that old version.

I went back to the studio 2-3 times, same thing, never could get it to work, had to find really annoying ways to work around it (creating subgroups in my DAW and putting that on "monitor" etc. Trust me it's really annoying). Then last night, after returning home from another session, my own TotalMix FX started bugging. Again, no change in the software/firmware or TotalMix FX version. I didn't do anything special that session that I didn't do any other session.

And now for whatever reason my old totalmixfx.exe file doesn't work anymore, so I have no way of using TotalMix FX anywhere, at home or at the studio. This is very, very, very annoying and honestly will not be possible to keep working like this for a longer period of time.

If anybody has any hindsight, please let me know.

I'm on Windows 11.

Cheers,
Xavier

2 Reply by MC

  • MC
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Re: TotalMix FX window not showing up

More details would be helpful. You tried the latest TM FX from the forum? Either 1.96 or 1.97b1.

When you start TM FX what EXACTLY happens? Is the process visible in the Task Manager? Then it might just be out of the desktop space. You could delete the file lastFirefaceUFX1.xml, see manual 25.7.1 to get it back, which also helps in case that file is corrupted..

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Matthias Carstens
RME

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3 Reply by Tehom (edited by Tehom 2024-09-06 04:35:57)

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Re: TotalMix FX window not showing up

Thanks for your reply. I'll try what you suggested, but a bit late for that now. In the meantime: I downloaded the latest versions of the drivers available on the website, so no not the beta versions that seem to be available on the forum. I doubt that will fix my issue but I will try it.

What happens exactly is I just have the little popup screen with the icon and minimize, etc symbols ( - [] X )

It is visible in the Task Manager yes. The process seems to be running but simply not able to execute properly - perhaps an issue to talk with the soundcard?

  • waedi
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Re: TotalMix FX window not showing up

What says the device manager in windows ? Is the interface listed as audio device ?

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • waedi
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Re: TotalMix FX window not showing up

Try this :
On Windows 10, you can right-click the taskbar and click “Cascade Windows” to move every window back onto the desktop.

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

6 Reply by MC

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Re: TotalMix FX window not showing up

I knew this function but never expected that it could be helpful for the lost windows - nice one! In Windows 11 the solution is to use the Desktop View, icon on the task bar beside the Windows icon (Cascade Windows no longer exists).

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Matthias Carstens
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7 Reply by Tehom (edited by Tehom 2024-09-07 19:52:20)

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Re: TotalMix FX window not showing up

This is not the issue. The window is not open somewhere else. It opens but the TotalMix FX mixer doesn't launch.

This is how it shows up:

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  • Tehom
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Re: TotalMix FX window not showing up

Any other insight on this issue? Have tried everything that was posted in this thread so far.

  • waedi
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Re: TotalMix FX window not showing up

How is the Settings Dialog doing ?

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10 Reply by Tehom (edited by Tehom 2024-09-11 00:03:27)

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Re: TotalMix FX window not showing up

What Settings Dialog? Sorry I'm not sure I understand the question.

By the way if this helps, I completely forgot to mention this in the OP but the Matrix View works, only the Mixer View doesn't work. So only the mixer doesn't work - the actual window opens.

Edit: now that I see a bit better it seems I'm able to at least route things throught the Matrix window. I guess there is no way to control the gain on the analog inputs however, and obviously having the mixer view would be beneficial but I may be able to work around some of the issues I've been having with the matrix view.

Edit2: Holy shit I can switch from Matrix to Mixer and it works! Wow, okay, interesting. Not sure why I never bothered with this before. I'll have to see if it works with the UFX+ at the studio...

  • waedi
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Re: TotalMix FX window not showing up

the Settings Dialog is the other program beside Totalmix, the driver settings, it's called Fireface USB Settings
or for interfaces with Madi Madiface Settings.
But the question is no longer important as you found a solution.

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

12 Reply by Tehom (edited by Tehom 2024-09-11 00:26:53)

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Re: TotalMix FX window not showing up

Well it is half a solution. Still weird that when I open up the program the Mixer View doesn't launch at all, yet when I open it through the Matrix View, then switch to Mixer, it works fine...

So to answer your question : the Settings dialog doesn't seem to have any issues that I can see...

  • waedi
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Re: TotalMix FX window not showing up

In the settings dialog on top what is the firmware and driver version shown ?

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Re: TotalMix FX window not showing up

Driver date: 10.07.24
Driver version 1.251
Hardware Revision: 361

15 Reply by MC

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Re: TotalMix FX window not showing up

There seems to be an illegal window size stored somewhere. Which brings me back to my suggestion in post #2.

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Matthias Carstens
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Re: TotalMix FX window not showing up

I searched both in C:/User and did a global "C:/" search and couldn't find any file named "lastFirefaceUFX1.xml". Also that section which you referred to rather states:

"Current User ensures that when workstations are used by several people they all find their own settings. In case the settings should be identical or given for any user, TotalMix FX can be changed to use the All User directory. An admin could even write protect the file lastFirefaceUFX1.xml, which results in a complete reset to that file’s content whenever TotalMix FX is restarted. The xml-file is updated on exit, so simply set up TotalMix as desired and exit it (right mouse click on the symbol in the notification area). "

Nothing on deleting/retrieving that file.

17 Reply by MC

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Re: TotalMix FX window not showing up

The complete path is clearly given in the manual. AppData might be a hidden folder on your machine and when looking with  Windows Explorer, though. You can easily change settings for Explorer to make it visible.

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Matthias Carstens
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  • Tehom
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Re: TotalMix FX window not showing up

MC wrote:

The complete path is clearly given in the manual. AppData might be a hidden folder on your machine and when looking with  Windows Explorer, though. You can easily change settings for Explorer to make it visible.

Yes, sorry, dumb comment there. I should've done that - bit overworked these days. In any case, I tried changing the file name (in case I couldn't get it back), re-opened TotalMixFX and no changes, but it's not clear in that section how I'm supposed to get it back. Perhaps you could quote me the section about that since from your post it seemed to be explained?

Thanks for your help!

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Re: TotalMix FX window not showing up

No changes because you did not exit TM FX completely before editing the filename.

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Matthias Carstens
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