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Massive crashes Ableton, Logic & Cubase fix

Posted on 27th July, by Steve Foulds in Tutorials for Massive. 98 Comments

If Native Instruments Massive crashes Ableton, Logic or Cubase whenever you try to launch it or open an old file – don’t worry!

All you have to do is simply rebuild the database file.

To do so simple delete the database file.
You can find it here:

Mac
Users>You>Library>Application Support>Native instruments>Massive

PC
C:Documents and SettingsAdministratorLocal SettingsApplication DataNative InstrumentsMassive

The file is called ‘NIMassiveDataBase’

Once it’s deleted – try opening Massive again!
The file you deleted will rebuilt itself.

Problem fixed!

Note that it is the cracked copy that crashes like this. Buy the legit version and this will never happen again :)


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98 Responses to “Massive crashes Ableton, Logic & Cubase fix”

  1. ktg says:
    September 3, 2010 at 8:34 pm

    i think that the best solution is get komplete!

    Reply
  2. De-Bora says:
    October 16, 2010 at 10:51 am

    wow…genius…
    very very thank you…
    All the comments in other Blogs dosen´t work…
    But you solve that problem…
    Greetz from Germany

    Reply
  3. Jamie says:
    October 17, 2010 at 1:53 pm

    Yay thank you! Was hurting without my Massive. :)

    Reply
  4. Bora says:
    October 20, 2010 at 1:09 pm

    Why is it that I cannot see any file named "NIMASSIVE DATABASE" in that directory? I see something called tables.dat but if i delete it i must reinstall. V1.1.4 in use. Mac OSX

    Reply
  5. breakitdown says:
    October 21, 2010 at 8:47 am

    Bora – mac or PC ?

    Reply
  6. nympie says:
    October 24, 2010 at 5:34 pm

    Bora, You should look in /Users/*youruserid*/Libary/Application/Native instruments/Massive, the tables.dat file is located in /Library/Application Support/Native Instruments/Massive, so the wrong directory.

    Reply
  7. breakitdown says:
    October 27, 2010 at 4:45 am

    Thanks Nympie

    Reply
  8. misterT says:
    October 31, 2010 at 2:14 pm

    cant find this file, dont have a library folder there, searched for it too.
    massive keeps crashing.. any ideas?
    unig pc windows xp and cubase 5

    Reply
  9. hectorcv says:
    November 13, 2010 at 3:52 pm

    In my case it crashes after load your patches, i can do it, but once i'm choosing one of your presets crashes.

    Massive version 1.0.1 (mac)

    (?)

    Reply
  10. nick says:
    December 8, 2010 at 4:53 pm

    Hi, im running windows 7 and i dont think i have a documents and settings folder of any sort any ideas? i tired searching for the file and it came up with nothing :(

    Reply
    • Axim says:
      May 12, 2012 at 12:35 am

      With Win7 it’s C:\Users\[your user here]\AppData\Local\Native Instruments\Massive

      Reply
    • jonas says:
      May 15, 2012 at 12:24 am

      Windows 7 don’t use Documents and Settings, go to the Users folder instead. You might need to show hidden files – when in the Explorer window, press left Alt (a menu will appear), go to Tools / Folder Options / View – Show hidden files and folders.

      Reply
      • clark wilson says:
        October 22, 2012 at 9:19 pm

        i’ve dont what you said about the hidden folders but nothing seems to have changed.where am i going wrong?i deleted it and it rebuilt but doesnt seem to work.just keeps crashing!!

        Reply
  11. xanimeoz says:
    December 10, 2010 at 1:55 pm

    Hi guys, im using MASSIVE 1.1.4 for windows XP and it will open in standalone and in cubase but soon as i try and load a sound/sample it crashes(and closes cubase). now normally i would just delete the Database file. BUT its not there. it seems in MASSIVE 1.1.4 the Datebase file is put somewhere else. oo i can also run massive 1.1.3 fine, but i need MASSIVE 1.1.4 as it has add ons which i need for my tunes.

    Reply
  12. breakitdown says:
    December 13, 2010 at 6:19 am

    Hey,

    Just a note – but Massive is on version 1.1.5 now!

    Reply
  13. zooli says:
    January 22, 2011 at 9:55 am

    Thanks ! massive 1.1.5 is now working with deleting 'NIMassiveDataBase’ file !!!

    Just purchase "waveforms vol.1" amazing sounds !

    Reply
  14. bri says:
    February 4, 2011 at 5:25 pm

    thanks a lot :)

    Reply
  15. sam says:
    February 6, 2011 at 1:18 am

    i have the same problem as nick, i dont have a documents and settings folder. wtf?

    Reply
  16. sam says:
    February 6, 2011 at 2:03 am

    ok guys i have figured out what to do if you own ista or windows 7 and cannot view the documents and settings folder:

    1. open my computer and press alt
    2. go to 'tools' – 'folder options'
    3. go to the view tab and selct 'show hidden files, folders and drives'

    after this on my windows 7 computer i was able to go c: users. – "usernamefolder" – app data – local – native instruments

    and boom there is the database file in there. havent tried this on my vista pc yet but i assume it is no different from windows 7. if i have trouble with vista ill post back, if not its good to go so enjoy!

    Reply
  17. sam says:
    February 6, 2011 at 8:22 am

    ok im just coming back to let you guys know that this works perfectly on both my windows 7 and windows vista computers, thanks for this solution guys my massive hasnt crashed yet (it usualy does every few hours, and once it does initialy, every time i open ableton it just crashes and crashes and crashes) so thanks to the people who found this solution!

    Reply
  18. Sam says:
    February 10, 2011 at 4:03 am

    well after a few days my massive is crashing again, my data execution prevention keeps turning off ableton like before, i keep deleting the database file but it just keeps happening everytime i apply a lfo or env to any filter or osc, bam, it crashes. anyone know how to turn off dep for good i dont want it on there? i apply turn off dep for programs i select and it still happens. sigh :(

    Reply
  19. thankyou says:
    February 12, 2011 at 3:01 am

    just wanted to say i had my doubts about this….i thought i was gonna lose the song i made… but this actually did fix my crashing/click pop problem with massive and ableton. thank you !

    Reply
  20. nickyt says:
    February 12, 2011 at 2:28 pm

    I just want to say how much I fucking love you all. I was ready to smash it all and join a factory assembly line. No joke. Thanks for saving my sanity. My wife thanks you too!

    Mwah!

    P°L°U°R

    Reply
  21. Bass Ultra says:
    March 4, 2011 at 9:54 pm

    Thanks so much, I'd much rather just delete this file every so often than have to reinstall Massive.

    Reply
  22. Corey says:
    March 5, 2011 at 8:09 pm

    I am on windows XP with Massive 1.1.4. I have tried deleting the file but still nothing. Im even trying to delete the tracks with massive and ableton wont even let me delete them. I recorded my wobble to an audio file for resampling so i dont need it for wobble but im using massive for my sub bass and this is really frustrating me any clue why it wouldnt work? Note: there is a file in the same directory called ‘NIMassiveDataBase_ul’ should i delete that too?

    Reply
  23. anonymous says:
    March 6, 2011 at 2:48 pm

    Thanks sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much, I was so worried, i have been looking in thousands of forums to solve this problem, but finally I found the solution
    Again, thanks SO MUCH

    Reply
  24. Jussi says:
    March 16, 2011 at 11:12 pm

    Thank you so much for the tip… Once finished a few megahitsongs, will purchase the soft…

    Reply
  25. Jussi says:
    March 16, 2011 at 11:14 pm

    I mean, a BIG thanks!

    Reply
  26. Little Tom says:
    March 30, 2011 at 7:16 pm

    YOU SEXUAL BEAST!!!!! I LUUUUUUUUUUURVE YA… I'LL DO THINGS FOR YOU!, Hard Labour, Sexual ANYTHING !!!!! YOU ROCK DUDE YOU ROOOOCCCCKKKK?!!!!!!!

    Reply
  27. w00k says:
    May 7, 2011 at 1:28 am

    ive been using massive for months, and it just started crashing ableton. The file you are saying to delete is no where on my computer, not in any hidden folders or anywhere. Help.

    Reply
  28. ale says:
    May 11, 2011 at 3:01 pm

    Ironically the bad crack causing massive to crash puts me off buying massive, the service centre for registering the app does too. I don't like dealing with serials and protection it's just there to stop piracy but it isn't working so they should make it dead simple, like FL Studio with a simple reg file you download and all your vsts etc

    Reply
  29. Dave says:
    May 13, 2011 at 12:26 am

    For mac, grab down the latest 1.2.1 which fixes a LOT of instabilities!

    Reply
  30. Joaco Leon says:
    May 16, 2011 at 11:48 pm

    I was really inspired working on some dusty proyects and then it started crashing, after a few hours i realized it was because of massive.

    Im planning on buying Massive, im saving money, 200 usd are like 800 ar and thats way too much for a software. First some descent monitors, then Massive :D

    Thanks a lot.

    Reply
  31. Tek Support says:
    May 21, 2011 at 9:01 pm

    Happened on a perfectly clean system with only Ableton 8.2 and Komplete 6 installed. The solution fixed the crash. WIn 7 64

    Reply
  32. Kamikasse says:
    June 13, 2011 at 7:46 am

    Thank you! It solved the problem. Damn it's so annoying when ableton live crashes at the very beginning and also gets people worried about their projects ;)

    Reply
  33. KR8R says:
    June 16, 2011 at 1:16 am

    Wow, i really appreciate this! works fine now!

    Reply
  34. DUTCHOVEN says:
    June 17, 2011 at 6:34 pm

    YOU ARE THE MAF$%#IN MANNN!!

    Reply
  35. nick says:
    July 13, 2011 at 5:05 pm

    The VISTA and windows 7 fix posted by sam does indeed work for vista.
    Only a small caveat in that you need to delete both NIMassiveDataBase and
    NIMassiveDataBase_ul (or something like that)

    Many thanks guys. Bring on the BASS!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  36. Chris says:
    July 16, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    <3

    Reply
  37. Alphabet Pony says:
    August 3, 2011 at 6:20 pm

    wow actually works! thank you so sososososo much!

    Reply
  38. blutsuufd says:
    August 4, 2011 at 2:25 pm

    I've done that a couple of times, but my massive's still blocking after a couple of minutes.
    How can I fix it? My computer always says:'FL engine has stopped working'. But I know that the problem is massive.
    Thx

    Reply
  39. Dr X says:
    August 12, 2011 at 1:36 pm

    Cheers man ^^

    Reply
  40. payam tavakoli says:
    August 12, 2011 at 8:49 pm

    Really Really appreciated man , Thanks for this awesome TIp , / BIG RESPECT TO YOU

    Maybe You Like my stuff : http://soundcloud.com/payam-tavakoli cheers

    Payam Tavakoli

    Reply
  41. massive tune says:
    August 21, 2011 at 9:04 am

    Love Youre Help and solution :D It Wolrks !!:D Thank YOU ALL :D

    Reply
  42. manifolds says:
    August 24, 2011 at 6:30 am

    fuuuuuuuu thanks so much

    Reply
  43. rossco says:
    August 24, 2011 at 9:30 am

    thanks heaps mate:)

    Reply
  44. dj f8 says:
    August 27, 2011 at 3:27 pm

    Mate seriously i cant thank you enough ive got a big project on the go and thought it was all lost but thanks to you im flying again and massive is smashing it lol thx m8 true hero lol

    Reply
  45. gaz says:
    August 28, 2011 at 7:33 pm

    for all those who cant find it on vista go to: OS(C:)Users*USER*AppData(You will need hidden files and folders to be selected in folder options for this to be seen)LocalNative InstrumentsMassive

    you will find the file "NIMassiveDatabase"

    delete it and restart massive or the program you're using eg Ableton/FLStudio

    Reply
  46. sweepy says:
    September 25, 2011 at 7:19 pm

    i deleted the file and ableton still crashes when i try and open my project :( (

    Reply
  47. James says:
    September 27, 2011 at 7:54 pm

    So my database_ul file just keeps getting created each time i load an instance and from what the group here has said it seems like thats the problem :/ Does anyone know of a way to keep this from happening?

    Reply
  48. aaron says:
    October 9, 2011 at 10:25 am

    Deleted the file & it crashed again after I try to load any preset!

    Reply
  49. sci-fi mafia johnny says:
    October 10, 2011 at 9:47 pm

    same here .. the file just keeps appearing everytime
    I load Massive ;(

    Reply
  50. anonymous says:
    October 12, 2011 at 4:41 pm

    YYYEESSS!!! thank you so much!!

    Reply
  51. Kevin says:
    October 13, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    can't find the directory, there is no library folder after Users>You>???

    Reply
  52. wobb says:
    October 14, 2011 at 3:34 pm

    thanks a lot this one helsp for me !! :)

    Reply
  53. 2nzy says:
    October 25, 2011 at 12:17 pm

    version 1.1.4 & 1.1.5 not working in XP
    keeps crashing Cubase :(
    how do I fix this?
    I deleted the userbase but that does nothing :(

    Reply
  54. mob says:
    October 28, 2011 at 9:37 am

    I broke down synth, started to squeak .. really helped remove the nerves from damage .. now thank you very much friend

    Reply
  55. iDubstep says:
    October 30, 2011 at 1:32 am

    So I searched for that file and I figured out I don't even have it plz help me

    Reply
  56. rubdub says:
    November 4, 2011 at 1:46 am

    100000000000 thnx great fix

    Reply
  57. FYI says:
    November 6, 2011 at 1:08 am

    You can always do an search using F3 and search all of your hard disk for the NIMassiveDatabse and just delete it that way.

    Reply
  58. mischkunst says:
    November 7, 2011 at 9:45 pm

    woaaaaaaaaah! fuck, thank you so much :) ))))))

    Reply
  59. DAvid says:
    November 8, 2011 at 3:38 am

    SO when I try tot find it it only shows a installation file, and my hidden files are set to show.

    Reply
  60. Kevin says:
    November 9, 2011 at 1:31 pm

    this file don't exist on my hard drive. massive crashes anyway! what can i do?

    Reply
  61. Happy says:
    November 12, 2011 at 1:44 am

    Amaaaazing! THANK YOU!

    Reply
  62. mike says:
    November 17, 2011 at 3:29 am

    keep crashing when tryin to switch noises, uninstalled, reinstalled, deleted file, dont have it, deleted data base of massive, still it continues to crash, really have no other ideas, have tryed everything, anyone got anything ?

    Reply
  63. albinofro says:
    November 21, 2011 at 4:10 pm

    oh shiitttttttttt this is a massive solution many many many thanks

    Reply
  64. HOlic says:
    November 24, 2011 at 5:10 am

    many thanks

    Reply
  65. gareth says:
    November 24, 2011 at 4:00 pm

    unfortunately doesnt work
    my Massive database does not rebuild
    I bought an official Massive but NI wont activate it either :( pissed off big time

    Reply
  66. Ryan says:
    December 2, 2011 at 6:08 am

    Hey guys , For all you MAC users, I'm not exactly sure about snow leopard, but i know for a fact if you have osx lion, the users library is hidden, to unhide it, go to finder, go to the top tabs and click the go tab, then hold the option/alt key on your keyboard and it should appear among the other options, then just carry out with the instructions above!

    Reply
  67. E-Justice says:
    January 17, 2012 at 4:53 pm

    Someone offers you guys free support to fix a problem (which is known AND HAS BEEN ANSWERED for years) that only happens to internet criminals and now you even ask him for further support because you’re too dumb to find a fucking folder.
    You guys aren’t even hilarious anymore, you’re disgusting.

    Reply
  68. Goodfella says:
    January 23, 2012 at 3:59 am

    Man, I cannot thank you enough for this. This problem has been bothering me for years.. Been using massive a lot during years of production, but, at some point, this bug ALWAYS happened one way or another. Just tried your method and it works like a charm. Thank you for making me able to finish the last track i’m working on !!!! BIGUP

    Reply
  69. Mike says:
    February 3, 2012 at 3:55 pm

    @ Ryan

    you’re a fucking champ mate been searching for hours for a fix and nothing seemed to point to OSX Lion. thanks a million!

    Reply
  70. That Guy says:
    February 21, 2012 at 12:01 am

    i use massive on windows and it crashes sometimes but i can’t find the thing u explained :s

    Reply
  71. Nikfox says:
    February 23, 2012 at 5:23 pm

    Hey guys, thank you all for useful comments! i found my solution by looking for the flle in AppData Local NativeInstrument Massive ! Very very good job averyone !

    Reply
  72. darkYuris says:
    February 27, 2012 at 11:48 pm

    thank you very much. already thought that i lost my cute little session.

    Reply
  73. DEEZ says:
    March 3, 2012 at 3:47 pm

    i deleted the NImassive database but the Massive still keep crashing though…and eveytime i try to recall my project in FL studio 9 the massive still is “no preset loaded”
    Win 7 64bit anybody got a solution yet?

    Reply
  74. bismal says:
    March 10, 2012 at 6:09 pm

    you’re a legend – worked a treat

    Reply
  75. James Sainz says:
    March 22, 2012 at 1:04 pm

    Hi!!! well my problem is bigger, i’ve got a Mac with a Lion OSX and i do not have this folder where the ‘NIDataBase’ thing is located, I can find it on a Mac with an OS like Leopard or Snow Leopard, but i can not find it on lion… any ideas???
    Thank you!!!

    Reply
  76. Matt says:
    April 8, 2012 at 1:00 pm

    For all that have Mac OSX and have deleted the database file but sill have the issue…try just opening up “Massive” from the application menu (rather than just opening up from abelton or logic). I looked for the massive icon, double clicked, let it load,exited, then went back into Logic and it worked.

    Reply
    • James Sainz says:
      May 25, 2012 at 12:25 pm

      Ok thAt sounds great, but the problem is that I do not find the “database file”, because on my OSX i dont have the “library” option from my User menu.

      Reply
      • Rascal says:
        February 22, 2013 at 11:56 pm

        For you guys having trouble finding such file, try on your terminal (mac): defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE
        then type
        killall Finder
        This shows hidden files.
        After locating and deleting the file, type again on your terminal:
        defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE
        then type
        killall Finder

        Works on 10.8.2.

        Reply
  77. blubbrz says:
    July 13, 2012 at 12:14 pm

    deleted the database folder on the mac and it still crashes with ableton

    Reply
  78. Nate says:
    September 24, 2012 at 4:05 am

    Thank you do much! I had this problem awhile back and it self corrected when I resaved. The directions were really straight forward. I wij there was easy fix like this for all our problems.

    Reply
  79. Steven says:
    October 21, 2012 at 5:22 pm

    WOW!!!!! Had this installed years ago and haven’t opened it because I thought it was dead forever…..thank you so much!

    Reply
    • spacekadet says:
      November 13, 2012 at 9:26 am

      Wowow it took me for ever to figure this out on a mac i knew how to fix on windows but on mac u have to show hidden files to see the database file took me hours to figure if anyone need furthur help email me

      Reply
  80. Karl says:
    November 30, 2012 at 2:40 pm

    At first didnt work for me, deleted both database files, opened massive and it said database file had been deleted and a new one would have to be created. then i opened cubase and it was still crashing!

    So i deleted the file again but this time i went into massive and went file, options, browser, rebuild DB. Now it works good.

    Thanks for the fix!

    Reply
  81. Rascal says:
    February 22, 2013 at 11:54 pm

    For you guys having trouble finding such file, try on your terminal (mac): defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE
    then type
    killall Finder
    This shows hidden files.
    After locating and deleting the file, type again on your terminal:
    defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE
    then type
    killall Finder

    Hope it works.

    Reply

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