why might i be getting dropouts when my cpu is reading 15%?

[ethios4]

Hmm, not sure why you are getting 15% CPU in Live and 100% in activity monitor. Is your internal drive a SATA drive? I am able to run projects with 40+ tracks of 32-bit audio with no dropouts using my dedicated internal 7200 SATA drive, so it should be possible for you. Since you've got 1 GB of free RAM you could put some audio in RAM to ease your hard drive load.

Still, it seems like there is something else going on...CPU activity, no problems with larger sets, occasionally plays fine. Hmmm....

[Earwax69]

Why not tell us what you get running the Ableton cpu test project?

http://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=111880

[andrew_]

Here's what I got...

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter %19
2) Desktop Mac Pro
3) Mac OS 10.6.1
4) Ableton Live version 8.0.4
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? 2 x 2.8ghz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
6) Amount of Ram? 4gb
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? MOTU 8Pre
8) Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 7200
9) Number of playback tracks? 8

[McQ714]

what's the matter with people? update your version of Live and get back to us!!!

[vicz]

Audio and CPU buffer sizes if you are using AU or VSTs? Any messages in Console?

[andrew_]

I've turned off every plugin in the set. No console messages. Newest version of Live now. Exact same dropout situation, this set only.

[angryman]

Im getting the same problem, and it basically reads exactly the same way you have described it. I am downloading the latest version now. I'll try that first and report back. But I am thinking that its a combination of two things for me.

1. Live 8.05 is buggy in some areas.

2. My Audio drive is 75% full and the sessions are old and have had many changes, along with changes in the Ableton Version Numbers

[nafe]

Its not an explaination for the dropouts, but freezing the tracks that you arent altering will save on CPU, particularly if you do it to 10-15 of your 40+

[LeifonMars]

It's your hard drive that can't keep up. Try an external HD - save as to your ext HD - collect and save.

[ethios4]

It's doubtful an external HD would have higher data rates than an internal, especially on a newer Mac Pro.

[Furland]

Seems like your system is rather new, but I just have a small FWIW comment, and that is to check and repair disc permissions using the Disk Utility tool. Then when done check the HD using the same tool.
I know it's a small and probably benign step to your solution but see what happens.

I use a MBP 2.66 Dual with an internal 7200 and external FW800 7200RPM disc, and I too occasionally get drop outs due to disc dropouts.
I usually accept the drops and bounce the parts to a different size or resolution while deleting the midi track (if so is present) just to see if anything changes.
Try to freeze the tracks also and see if it changes...

Again you setup is rather new it seems, but everyone can have a DOA harddrive even on a Mac!

G/L

[3phase]

Im getting the same problem, and it basically reads exactly the same way you have described it. I am downloading the latest version now. I'll try that first and report back. But I am thinking that its a combination of two things for me.

1. Live 8.05 is buggy in some areas.

Live 8 in general is buggy in some areas.. however live 8.09 seems to be the best sofar.. only crashes once a day

[djsynchro]

It just works

[LeifonMars]

It's doubtful an external HD would have higher data rates than an internal, especially on a newer Mac Pro.

Yes, but I'm assuming (which I should have mentioned in my earlier post) that his internal HD is pretty much full, and therefore it's causing the problems.

[ethios4]

^ True, that would cause a problem.