Kontakt 5 (on mac os 10.7.5) - occasional "clicks and pops"

First here's some specifics:
Mac Pro 4,1 Intel Core Duo 2.26 Ghz "Nehalem"
17GB RAM (Crucial brand)
Mac OS 10.7.5
Pro Tools HD 10.3.8
Sample drive: WD 1TB Caviar Black 7200RPM on internal SATA bus (clean, contiguous and, >half full-1 partition)
Kontakt 5.3 RTAS
Memory Server - ON
No spikes visible on Kontak's CPU or Disk meter.
Other than this issue, this system works well (knock on wood!)

Problem: occasional clicking and popping sounds typically after legato phrases w/ sustain pedal depressed on instruments like Alicia's Keys, 8DIO Legacy 1969 Steinway, etc.
What I've tried to fix this so far:
-change host sample buffer to different settings, (same symptoms at 256-1024 samples.)
-install latest versions of host and instrument software, (no help).
-try different multi processor settings, (no change-still getting occasional pops and clicks)
-follow all NI optimization steps for Kontakt 5 on Pro Tools, (no better)
-check forums for similar issues (none found)

Any help with this will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Mark

 

…or perhaps a recommendation to a forum that can help with K5 on Mac OS?

 

What audio interface are you using?

 

My audio interface is a Digidesign 192 i/o. Typically, it's synced to an Apogee Big Ben. I've tested both with the external sync and without. In both scenarios there was still random pops and clicks.

 

Do your non NI plugin have the same issue?

 

Thank you for your reply!
Yes, other instruments, hosted hosted in K5.3, will produce the random pops and clicks.
The instruments that produce the clicks and pops more frequently are pianos. I've tried:
NI Acoustik Pianos
NI Alicia's Keys
8Dio Legacy 1969 Steinway
Cinesamples Piano in Blue
Spitfire Audio Simcock Felt Piano

-Mark

 

But, if those are hosted in Kontakt 5.3 are instruments inside K 5.3. How about another brand of sampler (Halion, IK multimedia, etc). Do they have the same issue? BTW, I have had time when the sample rate of my NI stuff didn't seem to automatically change when using USB and come to think of it, I've had some issues with my own interface when using it with NI stuff, lately...hmmm. But, I'm not getting any popping sound.

Back to troubleshooting (if you haven't already). It sounds like anything you load in K5 is having issues, some more than others. Try a stock PT plugin like their piano and see if you get crackles there. If you do, you know it's a more global problem (not just K5). Have you tried K5 in standalone mode?

 

Thank you again "djtorch" for your help with this issue!
So, it seems K5 in standalone mode does not produce the random clicks and pops I get when K5 is instantiated as a RTAS plugin in Pro Tools HD 10.3.8 (Mac OS 10.7.5). With this being discovered... In your opinion, what's the best work-around of me? I love K5 and all the instruments I use with it.
(Unfortunately updating my Mac's OS to 10.8.x will cause many more problems with other of my favorite plugins that aren't compatible with this version of OS.)
-Mark

 

What sample rate do you have your OS system set for and what sample rate do you have your DAW system set to? I'd start there to make sure they match. I know that USB and other interfaces SHOULD do this automatically. But, who knows? If your driver is set for 48k (for example) make sure PT is set for 48K and do on. Another troubleshooting idea is to try a totally different interface all together (even your mac sound card) see if it's having the same issues?