AAE error 9416 is a relatively rare and often unpredictable message in Pro Tools that typically indicates an issue with Elastic Audio (EA) processing or a exhaustion of system resources
"The audio device buffer underflowed. (AAE error 9416)"
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). aae error 9416 updated
In the latest 2025–2026 updates of Pro Tools (including versions 2024.10, 2025.3, and the recent 2025.12), users have reported a resurgence of this error. While older forums blame disk permissions or simply a "bad day," the updated manifestation of AAE error 9416 points to specific conflicts with cloud collaboration, audio file fragmentation, and session file corruption.
Unlike errors with clear-cut definitions (like CPU overloads or missing hardware), -9416 is generally categorized as a general system resource or cache failure. The most common triggers include: AAE error 9416 is a relatively rare and
"AAE error -9416 was encountered."
This indicates Pro Tools cannot read or write audio data to your drive. Common causes:
Clear Plugin Caches: Move all .aaxplugin files out of your plugins folder to test if a specific third-party plugin is causing the audio engine to spike. Update interface firmware and driver (even if brand
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