This could be the result of hardware/environment issues or a bug.

Hardware Check

Make sure that your computer meets our System Requirements.

Intel or AMD x64 CPU with SSE 4.2 required. Houdini 21.0 will not run on a system with an instruction set lower than SSE 4.1.

Software Check

• Do you have Nahimic or 3D audio drivers installed? Or 3D audio software installed? Please uninstall or disable them.

NOTE:

Asus Sonic Suite 2, the audio card software that comes with a lot of Asus ROG mainboards, seems to also be a culprit.

If you have any 3D audio drivers, please uninstall them or disable them.

Environment Check

Try deleting (or renaming) your houdini21.0 preferences directory. When you relaunch Houdini this directory will be regenerated, with all your Houdini settings at default. If you have an older version of Houdini, you will delete or rename the directory for that older version (for example, houdini19.5).

Windows: My Documents->houdini21.0

OSX: /Users/(your name)/Library/Preferences/houdini/21.0

Linux: /home/(your name)/houdini21.0

Send Houdini info to Support

If this doesn't help and Houdini stays open long enough, can you please send the support team your machine info from Houdini's Help -> About Houdini -> click on "Show Details". Please click the "save” button at the bottom, and send the file to support@sidefx.com.