Auval crashes / long load time exs24

Question

hey, after having being able to solve a nagging problem fast in this forum, I'd like to post about two other things that bother me
1) Choosing EXS24 patches takes extremely long time
Every time I try to load a EXS24 preset, it takes a very long time until I actually can use the preset. This is absolutely unacceptable as I can't just try out a preset. Very annoying. I read somewhere that's because EXS seems to encounter some duplicates. However, I do not have duplicates - anymore. I have an external backup drive; exs may have found duplicates on a backup there. But all this annoying waiting happens also when the external drive is not attached. I read there is a cleanup software - but this is clearly a bug and I do not want to buy a software just to have normal response time! I am not using exs at all because of this and that's not ok. Any suggestions?
2) Every time I start Logic Pro 7, I get an error message stating that "auval" (I think that's the name) crashed. Seems to be the plugin validator or something. I can continue using Logic without problem, but I'd like to know if there is any solution to that, don't like to click away an error message every time.
Every suggestion appreciated
thanks

Answer 1

Logic Pro 7.2 is still installed in the exact same path in the Application folder as at the first day. I never moved the installation folder.
Where Logic is is not relevant, it's where the samples are in relation to where the instruments think they should be that's the issue.
So where does Logic Pro look for the samples? Why can't it find them?
Each EXS instrument file contains a list of samples, like:
/Volumes/MyAudioDrive/Samples/SwingingCats/SmallRoom/miaooowwww.aif
/Volumes/MyAudioDrive/Samples/SwingingCats/SmallRoom/miaooowwww2.aif
/Volumes/MyAudioDrive/Samples/SwingingCats/SmallRoom/crash.aif
So each sample will be loaded from those locations stored within the instrument file. If Logic tries to get /Volumes/MyAudioDrive/Samples/SwingingCats/SmallRoom/miaooowwww.aif and fails (let's say the drive isn't mounted, or that directory doesn't exist, or that directory does exist but the correct samples aren't there, then Logic will attempt to search your file system for where the right sample actually is.
What in fact is different from the original installation is my username with which I use Logic - so does LP look in my home folder? Can I fix this in one go?
So, if your sample content that is causing the problem is in your user folder, then for instance, an instrument file might be looking for:
/Users/MyNameIsSteve/Samples/wazzoo.aif
and if your home folder is now called "ItsChangedToBarbara", clearly, the directory referenced to in the instrument file is no longer there, causing Logic to need to search for where your samples now are (/Users/ItsChangedToBarbara/Samples/wazzoo.aif)
Can I fix this in one go?
Yes, as mentioned, Logic's project manager can do this.
It is in fact how you say, I loaded an empty project file, loaded exs, loaded a preset - took a long time. didn't save it, closed, re-opened it, and this time exs loaded the preset immediately.
And from my explanation of the behaviour, you should understand why now.
How to relink ALL files in the project manager?
Do a full scan, select the EXS instruments you want to relink, and use the "relink samples for instruments" operation, I forget the exact wording.
Unfortunately, there is no nice error message, auval just crashes.
Have you looked at the crashlog?
So I have no idea which of the many plugins I have causes the error. I use only
Native Instruments plugins from the Komplete 5. And I would not even know how
to remove that plugin, as when one installs a program, everything installs
automatically (there must be something like a VST folder somewhere?)
Logic does not use VST plugins. The AudioUnit plugins are installed to:
/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/
/Users/YOU/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/
Temporarily move the plugin component files out of there, and add them back in until you find the one that is crashing validation.