Memory problems with large set. 10.3.8. Powerbook G4 400.

geralds · Post by **geralds** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 12:58 pm

My powerbook G4 400 started glitching a few months ago when I was working on a very large (20GB 24 bit 150ish long files) Live 4.1 set.

The audio cuts out when I play a new clip, restarting it is fine.

I figured it was the classic glitching problems I've read about and upgraded to 10.3.8 before running through the fixes listed in previous posts but the problems vanishd after the upgrade leaving the system very stable for a few months.

I have added some more files to an expanding set (another 10-15 gig) and the cutting out has returned. I've seen the long methods for fine tuning the OS to be stable, but didn't have to do this before, and I haven't added any hardware or software, or updated anything. (Still use the same indigo DJ)

Is this a memory problem? I only have 512 meg in the laptop and wondered how much memory a very large set would need. (Are the ALS files stored in RAM?)

It is definately not the speed of the internal drive as I only play a maximum of three files at the same time (with a couple of Impulses) and it was working perfectly before I added more files.

It certainly seems like its running out of RAM and having to use the virtual memory on the drive. When I checked out the Activity monitor Live was only using 150meg ish of real ram and a few hundred more of virtual, leaving 150 meg unused. In OS 9 it was simple to max out the memory of one application if that was all you were using. Can this be done or is 1gig ram the realistic minimum for OS x?

G.

nobbystylus · Post by **nobbystylus** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 1:01 am

I'm using a very similar set up (G4 /400 512 Ram, Loads of samples) for one of the machines for our live set, and what i've found is you need to keep it well lean to work. Make sure you've got a good 5 gig (or more) spare on the drive, regularly run Onyx, and Disk Warrior, while you play turn off all networking (set a new location and turn off Ethernet, FireWire and modem ports), and also take all Audio Units and VSTs out of your plugins folder, as well as disable plugins from within live. This way i manage to avoid the nasty drop outs, but it can be a bit hair raising still from time to time..

drscissors · Post by **drscissors** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 11:55 am

...well....after having the same problems like you guys and having Ableton Support guys telling me on the phone " Live was not intented to hold so many files/large files" and dividing my set into two halves i have no glitches SO FAR in these two parts.
I have talked also to a friend familiar with Unix Systems (OS X is Unix based as far as i understand).
One part of the problem seems to be the general behaviour of the OS, swapping out memory maybe needed by an running application (talking about all processes behind the scenes) to the HDD that holds the System itself. i found some things in the internet about this
--- ype "OSX+swapfile+delete" into google ---

......but only tech geeks will be able to tweak a machine in this way ;()

IMO, there should be no limitations in how many and how big Live set could be....may<be the whole programming and behaviour of Abletons Live itself should be reviewed in this light...

peace so far

Dr.Scissors