Hard Disk Access Speed with Live

highmix · Post by **highmix** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 4:01 pm

I am currently working on a rather large remix project. I am experiencing issues with playback due to the amount and size of my clips. I am running about 30 different audio samples with about a max of 12 playing simultaneously (ranging from 5KB to 2MB each). I am also using the compressor II and filters a lot. When I hit that point, my CPU jumps to about 85% and I get the clip light on the hard disk monitor next to it - my sound cuts in and out.

I upgraded my system Saturday, and still have the issues. I am running a P4 3G processor with 3GB of dual channel RAM and a Serial ATA RAID running each disk at 10K (combined 15K). So, I should be having NO issues accessing data.

Did I really just push it to the max? Are there any settings I can try????

AndrewDuke · Post by **AndrewDuke** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 2:31 am

what's the rpm on your disk drives? andrew
'

highmix · Post by **highmix** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:20 am

both hard drives are running at 10,000 rpms..........in a raid 0 array.

AndrewDuke · Post by **AndrewDuke** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:31 am

have you tried switching some of the samples to the ram?
andrew

highmix · Post by **highmix** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:17 pm

I did - but really dont see much improvement. the problem is that out of 30 or so audio samples (ranging from 2-5meg) i have chopped them and thrown all sorts of effects on each. so id have to load hundreds of samples into ram. i tried it last night, but saw minimal improvement........

AndrewDuke · Post by **AndrewDuke** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 10:35 pm

and you need to use such large samples? i mean, you can't minimize them to just necessary bits? (trying to be helpful here, please don't read me wrong). on my tour in march i played a couple of shows where i had ten tracks of audio going and 3 or 4 at a time were 20minute long samples that were pitched down, with no problems. i had about 6 effects in the master and a few effects spread out over the audio tracks. maybe there are too many "events" hitting at the same time for you. wish i could help more. andrew

dpel · Post by **dpel** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 11:09 pm

i get this issue sometimes.
also try to dis-enable extra inputs from your hardware. RAM Buffer (obvious)
only use what you need.

highmix · Post by **highmix** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:02 pm

cool - thanks for the tips guys. im just pushing my computer too far. i had compressors ans more effects running on each audio. i just went through and rendered each then reloaded. now it works much better........

AndrewDuke · Post by **AndrewDuke** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:26 pm

great. glad to hear it's working for you now. good luck with the mix. andrew

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Mon May 02, 2005 3:48 pm

I just finished a track with 37 tracks, about 20 insert effects like compressors and filters, three sends, all 24-bit audio. No hickups on my laptop running two 7200 rpm drives. Cpu hovered around 30%.

I have to wonder if the RAID has something to do with your hard drive issue. For the most part, with hard drives running at 10K RPM, there really isn't any need for RAID, unless maybe you're doing video editing. Just a thought.