Logic 9 - Have You Used Tempo Track w System Overload Error?

[pboss]

Logic 9 geeks: Have you ever used the tempo track in "Global Tracks" at the top in the Arrange window? The problem is that if I create one simple tempo change (that you draw in, say from 90 BPM to 100 BPM) it the "system overload" error to happen during playback, or recording MIDI. Or, if you use the tempo list, it's the same thing. I do have a video in the project, but removing it didn't help.

I've changed the buffer, closed other apps, lowered the video size, changed the video resolution, etc. It is an intermittent problem, and sometimes happens even with just a few tracks, on playback and on recording. If I remove the video, it still happens, it seems. I can't seem to find the common denominator for why this happens, other than the Tempo Track has a change in it. I tried all solutions found via web search, to no avail.

My machine has not had any CPU problems for two years, running pretty large project files. 4.6Ghz, 32 gig RAM, Mac os 10.7.5, Logic 9.1.8. I can't upgrade to Logic X at the moment. I'm not even sure if this is related to running video in the project or not. It seems like a bug, but perhaps there is a combo of settings that will put it at bay.

Thanks in advance,
-pboss

[johncolumbo]

Hello Patty,

What is the free hard drive space on the drive that you are running LP9 off of? According to Apple's Logic department you should have at least 20% of the drive FREE (I know that's insane) for LP9 to perform at it's best. So, if you have a 500GB HDD 100GB of free space. I had the same issue a few years ago, just started experiencing random "system overload" messages and it had been working perfectly for years. I was down to 10GB free on a 250GB drive. I made it so I had 60GB free and whalla, no more system overload messages.

Also, in LP9, if you mute a track with a software instrument LP9 does not process the software instrument so it cuts down on CPU usage. Note that in LPX there's an on/off button on the track header (you need to right click on a track and add this option) and then use this on/off button for this same functionality in LPX.

I hope that helps.
There's nothing more frustrating than the system overload message, totally kills the flow.
John

[pboss]

Hey, John, thanks so much for your quick reply. Yes, the free space on the Logic-installed drive is at 13% free space. What is ironic, is that the 13% free space, which is 16 gigs in this case, is the size of the whole hard drive we used to use a while back, right? (well, say, 25gigs for a Mac G4 stock hard drive).

You would think it needed a certain amount of space, not a percentage, but I'll certainly try this, as it may very well in fact be the cause of the problem. So, following this line of thinking, if you had a 10 terabyte hard drive that Logic was running on, you would need to leave 2 terabytes FREE (man! that's a lot of wasted space). OK, I'm just being theoretical, but it could be kind of extreme.

I'll post back if it solves the problem or not. Thanks again!

pboss


EDIT: I did clean off the system drive up to about 35% free, but unfortunately it did not fix the problem. I'm still sussing it out. I did install new large files recently, and space on the other drives holding VI libs may be part of the issue.

[pboss]

While cleaning the system drive up and fixing permissions and trashing prefs may have helped in general, this machine is a "hackintosh" and the Bios settings are set "overclock", meaning it allows the machine to run at a higher frequency in terms of CPU speed, than what the default settings dictate. This means that instead of the machine running at around 3.5 ghz, it has been running at around 4.6 ghz speed.

From what I've learned, the actual silicon in a chip can go through a phase where it physically needs more power to run smooth. I think of this as a silicon mid-life crisis, because I believe this change is more of a one-time thing. This is where tweaking the Bios settings comes in. I am testing a setting which gives it a bit more power. This, in turn, causes it to run at a higher temperature.

The Logic problem may also be related to using a tempo-locked type of virtual instrument. I'm still running tests, adjusting Bios settings and doing CPU tests.

While it may not be applicable to those of you running Apple-built machines, a "hackintosh" machine is about half the cost of an Apple-built machine, and runs Mac OS on Intel hardware. When you're talking about having a fast machine with several SSD internal drives, etc, the price can start to go up, so cutting that in half is nice. But the trade off I guess, is that you have to be aware of these types of things, which I am just learning about. Very happy with the machine in general, though, because it has fulfilled my goal of wanting a machine to be able to stay on all of the time, and be basically silent (staying cool with practically silent fans running). This contributes to creativity, where your DAW is always "ready to go".

[Russell Landwehr]

Very happy with the machine in general, though, because it has fulfilled my goal of wanting a machine to be able to stay on all of the time, and be basically silent (staying cool with practically silent fans running). This contributes to creativity, where your DAW is always "ready to go".

That would certainly be nice, I fire everything up, then step out for a bit while everything boots and loads and stabilizes. One time I left it running and left the lights on... and the AC off. When I came back the next day the control room was HOT and my PC had crashed... boy was that a few days of hell getting it back up and running.

My main concern with leaving my system running, though, is the fact that here in Ohio thunderstorms are frequent from Spring through Fall, and power outages and brownouts are the norm during the winter. These things don't make sensitive digital equipment happy... So I throw the breaker to the control room after every session.

[pboss]

Russell,

That's understandable, turning the power connection off. When you power back up, is your machine disconnected from the power outlet at that time? (I would imagine it is, otherwise it seems like you would risk a voltage shot to your computer, but then again I'm no EE). Just curious.

[Russell Landwehr]

My computer doesn't power up automatically when I flip the breaker, I still have to press the button on the front. My MOTU interface does power up, though... and my monitors too (screens and speakers). Everything else I turn on by hand, including my keyboard. I don't figure that power spike isn't any different than plugging and unplugging a power cable or flipping a switch.... but now you've got me thinking... hmmm