Hard Disk Overload and Dropouts with only 40 Tracks

[square_push]

I am playing back a project with about 40 tracks. The tracks are on an external hard drive connected by a Firewire 800 connection. My full system stats are shown below. The problem is that while playing back the tracks the system continuously drops tracks and the "D" indicator lights up indicating Hard Disk overload. Seems like I should be able to playback 40 tracks without a problem.

The system monitor is showing the processor is only at about 10% of capacity (i'm not using any plugins) and the RAM is at only about 50% capacity. So the system is handling the load without a problem.

Anybody have any idea why I would be experiencing drop outs?

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iMac Intel Dual Core 2.8 GHz
2 GB RAM
Mac OS X Version 10.6.2 (Snow Leopard)
Ableton Live Version 8.1
External Hard drive: Lacie 500 GB (about 250 GB are left on the drive)
Firewire 800 connection from iMac to external hard drive

[taximouse]

If you find a solution, I'd love to know it. I'm also experiencing astonishing dropouts, crackle and flashing "D" with my 34 tracks and no plugins.

[longjohns]

at what sample rate and bit depth

[taximouse]

for my situation I'm at 24bit 48khz.

today's mix is just 30 tracks and i'm getting so many drop outs i can't tell what's going on musically. to hear what the heck is going on have to render small segments and listen to them in quicktime.

this is interesting...i've found the dropouts to be significantly alleviated if i turn a track's speaker to OFF anywhere there isn't a loop playing, even if for just a few seconds. if i turn their speakers back ON in the arrangement, even if there aren't loops in them, the dropouts come back.

[Soundscapemusic]

I get the same problem.. What i usually have to do is play the entire set back and turn the master off (so you cant hear the audio dropouts etc etc). Then when i play it back the second time everything plays back perfectly. Its annoying and it shouldnt happen. What it looks like is its not loading the audio files fast enough to be able to play it back 100% the first time around.. I dunno thats just awild guess.

Gear:

hp pavillion dv6700
vista 32x sp1 @ 2ghz
3GB RAM
Live 7
Hp Personal media drive (usb -_-) 500GB @ 7200RPM
Presonus firebox.

[Tan]

Here something to consider: try freezing some of the more CPU intensive tracks namely, those that use plugins..

Dropouts tend to occur because your computer cant keep up with the audio. Increasing your latency will tend to make your system more 'stable'.

My appologies if you have already considered these possibilities. I am merely looking at the simple point of view.

[square_push]

My tracks are 24 bit at 44.1 khz. I'm not looping any tracks. Also, I am not using any plugins and my processor load is around 10% so definitely not a CPU load issue. Playing the tracks all the way through doesn't seem to help, but I will experiment more with this. From what I am gathering from the responses there seems to be a definite bug somewhere in Live. Thanks for all of the replies so far.

[kleine]

The system monitor is showing the processor is only at about 10% of capacity (i'm not using any plugins) and the RAM is at only about 50% capacity.

What does it show for disk activity?
How fast is your external drive?

best
Christian

[Soundscapemusic]

My tracks are 24 bit at 44.1 khz. I'm not looping any tracks. Also, I am not using any plugins and my processor load is around 10% so definitely not a CPU load issue. Playing the tracks all the way through doesn't seem to help, but I will experiment more with this. From what I am gathering from the responses there seems to be a definite bug somewhere in Live. Thanks for all of the replies so far.

+1
i do freeze tracks often but the fact that the PC is optimized 100% and im applying all of the tactics necessary to reduce cpu load including freezing and limiting vsts/fx etc.. this is kinda crazy, i cant have this continue to happen.. :S

[taximouse]

My only effects are a compressor and reverb on the master output.

I've been using Ableton to mix huge projects (with video even) for years....and version 8 is the first time I've experienced drop outs this bad.

[Soundscapemusic]

im editing drums right now! on a set with 15 audio tracks no longer than 2 minutes and its crackling!

WTF! im afraid its gunna crasshh my god.. i cant have artists come and record when my software is crackling? How embarassing is that..

[taoyoyo]

I was playing with the Swayzak Ableten track in 8.1.1 last night... Took out all of the arrangement tracks and had it in session view.

The HD Overload warning would light up once every 8 bars, this was with all tracks on (there's only maybe 10 audio tracks playing). There were not any audible dropouts but I was still slightly bemused as the meter was between 16-20%.

The (dedicated purely to audio) HD the audio was streaming from was 80% empty.

I'm on a 2008 Mac Pro 2 x Quad running OSX 10.6.2... slightly concerned at this behavior, never seen that light before in Live!

Alan

EDIT: Just tried the same set on 8.09... getting the Warning at 8 audio tracks here. 14-15%. 9% of the

Would it be helpful to submit a report?

[MrH]

I keep getting dropouts and also crackles when I change tempo.

Has anyone here found out the solution yet? It's driving me MAD!!

[prof_lofi]

Me too, drop outs and freezes with only 8! tracks. There are some long wav files but never had this problem till now-cpu meter show 30% and nothing else running (no vsts, fx etc). It hiccuped during a solo set yesterday-totally embarassing! Can't be a pro and have that happening-fix please! I'm on xp home, 2gig ram, 2.33ghz.
Bill

[MrH]

Come on Abes. This is driving us mad!