Help: Suddenly Digidesign Control Panel ON bogs things down

I have: -PowerMac G4 867, using OS 9.2.1 -ProTools HD (HD 1, 192 I/O) -Waves Gold, McDSP plug-ins, Waves Masters I have other applications on my Mac for occasional use, even thought I am using ProTools 90% of the time. Specifically, I have Microsoft Office 2001. I have noticed that suddenly Excel is very slow. Before this, calculations were lightning fast. By much trial & error turning extensions on/off, I finally find that the problem is solved simply by switching the Digidesign Control Panel OFF. The problem occurs even with ProTools CLOSED. I have always left the Control Panel on in the past at all times...no problems with other applications. The only things I have done recently that I can identify is: -Updated Waves to version 3.6 -Updated McDSP plug-ins to latest versions. Could the Waves update be causing this problem....even with ProTools OFF? Yes, I can simply switch the Digidesign Control Panel OFF and restart the Mac whenever I want to use Excel. But I'd like to understand what caused the problem and hopefully find another solution. Any suggestions?? Thanks! Mike

Try deleting the following: System Folder/Preferences/Sound Preferences

Digi Admin, You got it!! Great. NOW I remember that I did go to Sound Manager and switch the sound output from Internal to Digidesign. I have surround speakers with the 192 I/O as the only input (thru a volume controller). I wanted to listen to a transcribe program thru the surround system. I guess I'll have to go to Sound Manager each time I want to do this, then reset to Internal. Thanks SO much. I wouldn't want to tell you how many hours I have spent trying to solve this. Thanks again, Mike

Will do. Thanks, Mike