4.1.4 & OS X = memory leak?

[taximouse]

I've been getting audio drop outs after Live has been open for a while. Even though both Live's CPU meter and my OSX Activity monitor are both below 10%. The drop outs are pretty extreme. I even get the drop outs when running 4 audio tracks.

I don't have any clips loaded into RAM but out of curiousity I started logging my RAM usage as I used Live over the course of the day. Right after I start up Live my RAM numbers are:

Wired 85MB
Active 101 MB
Inactive 332 MB
Used 517 MB
Free 251 MB

Then, after I've run the application for about an hour (I think) I get thes:

Wired 85 MB
Active 448 MB
Inactive 223 MB
Used 759 MB
Free 9 MB

Live is the only thing running. Once I get the drop outs it doesn't seem to matter how many audio tracks I have going. Oh, and I'm using no plug ins, inputs are turned off, using OS X CoreAudio. A temporary remedy is to restart Live. Then I get another hour before it happens again.

This says memory leak to me and it would explain the dismal performance I'm getting. Is this a known issue with Live 4.1.4 and OS 10.3.9 ?

Powerbook G4, 1.5Ghz, 768MB, OS 10.3.9, Live 4.1.4, CoreAudio

[taximouse]

I just noticed my logs whenever the dropouts occur (and these are catastrophic drop outs, causing the audio playback to totally stop)


Jul 19 23:42:58 localhost kernel: IOAudioStream[0x2032a00]::clipIfNecessary() - Error: attempting to clip to a position more than one buffer ahead of last clip position (1353,39d)->(1357,ede).
Jul 19 23:42:58 localhost kernel: IOAudioStream[0x2032a00]::clipIfNecessary() - adjusting clipped position to (1357,39d)

[vince watson]

please do a search on dropouts...this has been covered a million times before....

you will find the reason..not an easy or cheapo solution though.

There has always been a problem with coreaudio on osx...buy a good soundcard instead for a problem free world.

i advise a RME multiface with Cardbus...im running a very intensive liveset now with audio channels of audio and midi and a lot of fx and plug ins...i am running now at 2ms(124samples) for 8 months....i have never had a single dropout.

The best 600 pounds i ever spent.

If you try and save money on anything cheaper, then feel free..but your wasting your time....even the Motu guys are having problems..

i am running 10.3.7 and live 4.1

I saw no reason at all to upgrade the system to 3.9, or even 10.4.2 as i have a flawless setup...whats the point?

good luck

[vince watson]

and you need more ram...much more....768 is nowhere near enough IMO

I have 2gb and its lightning fast.

[taximouse]

Yes, I've done what seems like hours of forum searching. What I understood from the forums as the bottom line was a problem with M-Audio stuff, which I'm not using. If there is a specific thread that references a like situation, please post a link because I'm not finding it.

In fact, months ago when I needed a cheap travel interface for my new powerbook, I didn't get M-Audio BECAUSE of what I read here in the forums. The FireBox seemed to have less problems with Live and looked sturdy enough to travel with and bring onstage. However, I'm not using it right now...I'm mixing/arranging only.

So, I'm trying to understand what you're telling me...

1) I shouldn't be doing any work in Live WITHOUT an external soundcard? Live does not work well with CoreAudio? It really should say that in the promo materials because I would have thought twice about buying it.

I am on the road 75% of the time right now and do a lot of my mixing/arranging in moving vehicles, hotels and cafes. In these situations I bring only my computer with me and leave the expensive interface at home. I successfully work this way on huge 40-track audio projects in Pro Tools and Digital Performer. I assumed I could use Live the same way. Is this not recommended? I'd really like a definitive answer from Ableton. The forums are all over the map.

2) Get more RAM. Seems reasonable.