“The audio device buffer underflowed. Try increasing the H/W Buffer Size. (AAE Error -9416)”
is a disk-related or stream-related error that typically appears during recording, playback, or punch-in operations in Pro Tools. The full error message often reads:
Demystifying AAE Error 9416 in Pro Tools: The Updated Troubleshooting Guide
While not a solution, temporarily editing at a more measured pace can help you complete critical sessions. As one user noted, "I have to slow down my editing and it generally doesn't come up again".
Imported media files originating from third-party database managers (like SoundMiner) occasionally introduce bad XML file structures or corrupted metadata fields into the active track list. Technical Summary of AAE 9416 vs. Related Errors AAE ERROR 9416 - the greatest mystery error ever? aae error 9416 updated
Although reported across various systems, the error appears more frequently on Macs, particularly on those not officially qualified with the current Pro Tools version. However, it can still occur on fully qualified systems.
Users on macOS (including Silicon-based systems) and Windows have reported this error even when Elastic Audio is not actively in use, suggesting it can be triggered by background system plugins or corrupted session data. Updated Troubleshooting Steps
A highly reproducible cause is enabling a fixed‑size in the Playback Engine. As one user explained, "The problem occurs when I enable Cache Size in the Playback Engine and it doesn't matter which size. When I put it back to Normal I don't experience the error".
AAE Error 9416 is an error code reported by users of Adobe After Effects (AAE) and related Adobe Creative Cloud applications. It typically appears during project imports, renders, or while using Dynamic Link between After Effects and Premiere Pro. The exact message can vary, but it usually indicates a failure in a component or process After Effects depends on (codec, media file, project file corruption, plugin conflict, GPU/driver issue, or permission problem). “The audio device buffer underflowed
Developer fixes and investigation steps
: If you aren't working with video, ensure the Video Engine is turned OFF to save resources.
The most common culprit in recent versions of Pro Tools is a conflict in how the timeline allocates large RAM allocations for the Disk Cache. When editing clips outside the actively cached memory window, the engine struggles to seamlessly fetch the data.
Whether this happens in or just one specific project Share public link The full error message often reads: Demystifying AAE
This rebuilds the session’s internal audio routing table, which often carries hidden 9416 corruption.
If you are seeing this error in Pro Tools 2024 or later, follow these steps to stabilize your session: 1. Manage Elastic Audio Since EA is the primary suspect, try the following:
If AAE refers to Adobe After Effects:
