Hi JohnT,
I will try my best to explain. To begin with, the system.
Macbook pro, 15" mid2013, i7(2.4GHz), 8GB Ram, 256GB SSD
External HDD: 2TB Western Digital (I do not store my music files in the computer. All the files exist in the WD HDD. In the MC19 while configuring auto-import i choose the WD HDD) (Add the folder which you would like the program to watch in the auto-import. then i add the external wd hdd for the file location. MC19 then imports from there. However the physical files remain in the external HDD, only the metadata gets created in the MC19 per track - Hope this explains what I had tried to convey earlier)
Wireless: Airport Extreme
Recreating the steps to the current problem:
1. Downloaded Mavericks OS X 10.9.4 (This was the first time. I did not re-format my SSD (Macintosh HD) as it was not necessary. I simply downloaded the new upgrade)
2. Download successful, all my applications and files intact.
3. JRiver, MC19 was .131 version. I thought that I should upgrade to the newest version as well. As a rule, I always upgrade to a newer version of MC whenever available.
4. Upgrade to MC19.144 successful. Successful restore of the license. All good to go.
5. Next step is to configure auto-import.
6. Auto-import configured successfully (to the external HDD as explained above)
7. Takes about 30 mins to complete 45,000 Flac tracks, including building thumbnails and matching for external changes (Additional processes available while auto-import. I do not check the analyse audio as it take too much time)
8. MC19 ready for playback.
9. Hardware used for playback: External DAC (RME Babyface (audio interface) and EVE Audio Active monitors SC-208)
10. Configure the MC19.144 in options. Audio Device (RME Babyface), playback from memory (I always prefer this). At this point I do not select INTEGER MODE (even though I am using 10.9 and the Babyface accepts integer mode.) However, subsequently I do select it to see if I am hearing any difference. I did not have any issues with or without the INTEGER mode.
11. Playback commences, so far so good. No problems at all. Played back for an hour or so. Absolutely no issues.
12. Switched off the computer.
13. Next Day: Switched it on again. No issues - End of Day- Shut down as usual.
14. Another day later: Switched on: Let me give details of switching on: Computer on Battery power, switch on, computer boots up, all systems go. Open MC19.144, it opens up fine, I start playback, plays fine. Halfway during the song, I switch tracks (simply by double clicking on another track. It simply stops playing the current track and starts playing the new one). Here is where the whole trouble starts.
15. MC19.144 displays a box saying that something went wrong with the playback and that the file can't be found. And the MC19.144 hangs.
16. I wait for almost 10 minutes for the machine to clear up. I have experienced this in the past. If it hang, I simply don't do anything, after a few minutes, it starts on its own.
17. 10 mins later, I realise that I will have to perform a force quit. I do so, and restart the MC19.144
18. MC19.144 open up totally blank. From 45,000 tracks complete with all metadata, cover art etc to ZERO TRACKS.
19. I try to recover library, I perform restore library. It tells me I do not have a library. I check Finder. Library folder exists, but with nothing inside.
20. I shut down computer, restart
21. Open MC19.144 - Same result - absolutely nothing. At this stage I notice other things:
documents folder, contacts, notes, keychain, calendar, all wiped out clean. all bookmarks, all system preferences wiped clean, all passwords gone, in fact on restarting the computer again Mavericks asked me to create an account for the computer (something i did when i first bought the computer) iTunes passwords etc all gone. Right now, I am writing all this in the cleanest computer ever.)
22. What remained surprisingly was all the applications including MC19.144 were intact except that they all had lost their licenses. If you can, check how many times I reinstalled my license in the past 3 days.
23. I suspect the SDD on my computer. This is the first time I had used an SDD. I have 3 other macs (macbook pro, iMac and a mac mini - all with HDD)
24. I call up apple technical assistance. It's been a week that I have been interacting with them, no results. They have referred the problem to Steve Jobs (apparently). anyway, I am still waiting for an answer from them. IN the meanwhile, they send me a software called CAPTURE, I run the program and send them all the info they require. This entire drama is still to come to its conclusion.
25. At this point I decide to ask my fellow MC19 users if they have faced similar problems. One of the replies surprised me. Different problem, similar results.
26. Yesterday,17th July 2014, I gave up on my new mac and returned back to ma old mac with HDD.
27. Once bitten twice shy, first I took a time machine back up of my old computer.
28. Then I reformatted the entire HDD.
29. Then I downloaded Mavericks (it was already on mavericks) and set up the old computer. Installed all my applications including the MC19.144
30. Used the same external HDD. But first, I used disk utilities to verify disk (good), then I checked it for virus (clean my mac software) Once I was sure the external HDD is OK, performed Auto import etc on the old mac.
31. All systems go.
32. Start playback - plays back, switch track and BOOOOM
33. My old computer is clean as a whistle. THANK GOD FOR TIME MACHINE.
To the JRiver technical team, here are my conclusions:
1. I think I have sent the Apple guys on a wild goose chase. There's nothing wrong with my computer.
2. The problem is either with Maverick or MC19.144 or both.
Remember, I also have a mac mini using the same WD HDD. That one still runs on Mountain Lion and with MC19.131 (Thank God, for some strange, I did not upgrade them yet) The mac mini with the lion and the .131 still works like a charm. By the way till upgrade number 19.131 there was no issue on the Maverick computers.
If you guys need any more info, please ask. I will reply instantly.
Regards,
Subhankar Das
Mumbai, India