CPU hitting 60%, sound clicking, 24 hrs B4 gig, HELP!!!

paolo topaz · Post by **paolo topaz** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 1:34 pm

Hi Guys, sorry if this is a repeat thread but I have tried searching and I can't seem to find a definetive answer

I'm running LIve 4 to dj with and have a launch night tomorrow Djing with my production partner using two G4s sisde by side

So far so good

But my only remaining problem is that when I load in clips and three or four running together my CPU% shoots up to 60/62%

I have a 3band EQ and Auto filter running on each of the four channels

Is this too many effects active at the same time?

I just put in a 256MB ram upgrade this morning but it still stutters if I drop or start a few clips at the same time

The total spec of my set up is

PowerBook G4 1.33Ghz 60 GB 256MB Ram (built in) 256 RAM upgrade too

Evolution controller and M-Audio Firewire Audiofile

I have 17 GB still free on the hard drive

Lately I've spent a lot of time using the G4 on the internet, could this be causing the problems?

This powerbook has run flawlessly since i bought it three months ago

Any advice would a MASSIVE help, I only have 30 hours to go to this gig and I can't have anything go wrong on the launch night

thanks in advance

Paolo

www.paolotopaz.com

telekom · Post by **telekom** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 2:40 pm

hey paolo,
Um, is it quality ram you just installed? I've heard that cheap ram can be unstable and cause major problems on an otherwise happy mac. Crucial and Kingston are recommended as reliable suppliers. If you aren't sure of the quality of your new ram then take it out and try running things again.

Also I wonder if you've seen the threads relating to trashing your prefs file? Sure you have. Maybe try to repair permissions too? I'm running 512 (factory installed) ram in my 15" PB 1.3ghz and it's been ok with Live. But I'd like to upgrade to 1GB and I'm sure many others here would recommend it.

HTH pal, keep the heid as they say.

Bestaluck

quandry · Post by **quandry** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 3:10 pm

Unless you put clips into "RAM" mode, Live streams them from disk. If you are working with smaller clips (not entire 5 minute .wav songs), putting the clips into "RAM" mode in the clip view may help ease the strain on your cpu. So you had 256 (which is the bare minimum), now you're up to 512 RAM? That should help some. Also, if you have an external firewire drive, it can help the streaming from disk a TON. The reason is that external drives can spin faster (typ. 7,200 RPM), whereas your internal drive is probably 4,800. It definitely makes a big difference in terms of track counts. Try using RAM mode, and an external drive if possible, see if that helps.

Ryan

robtronik · Post by **robtronik** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 5:48 pm

it is interesting that he has this problem. Its popped up for me too in Live ver. 5, but I have 1.5 GB of RAM and a 1.67 ghz powerbook.

Its weird that I get drops in audio playback at the loop point when the CPU meter hits around 55%. I can only guess that the CPU meter isn't really telling the total load on the machine because things begin to work as normal if I turn off effects on each track.

In a DJ set, I usually run 8 tracks and have a ton of clips (half short 4 bar loops and the other half, full tracks).

On each track I usually have a Supertrigger or delay loaded and on the master out I have T-Racks loaded.

And it starts to choke at around 55%. That's weird to me. And it is indicative of what his problem is.

anyone else have this issue too?

rob.

zeropoint · Post by **zeropoint** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 6:41 pm

Yes......I suffer from this too - but I only have three decks running, two are on complex warp. sometimes with reasonably extreme tempo shifts, the other usually on beats. Autofilters and Kill Eqs on 1 & 2, just a Kill on 3. A couple of send effects, delay and comfort verb and a limiter across the master outs. If I set up two loops on the fly in 1 & 2 one of them will drop out on the loop jump and if I try to run a third loop or resample while this is happening its usually bye bye time.......

I'm considering upgrading to a 1.67 Powerbook so Robtronik can I safely assume that your lappy would handle this sort of set up and feel rock solid? Thanks.

paolo topaz · Post by **paolo topaz** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 7:03 pm

Cheers for the replies,

I am going to just three channels only two with eqs and filters, I'll just be mainly laying down tunes while my production sidekick will be throwing in accapellas and effects

thanks

keep the thoughts coming in

Paolo

hambone1 · Post by **hambone1** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 7:07 pm

Minimize the use of complex warping. Unless drastically altering the tempo, the result is indistinguishable, and is far less CPU intensive. Or pre-render some of your warped clips.

Like you, I get stutters and dropouts anytime the CPU meter exceeds 50%.

paolo topaz · Post by **paolo topaz** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 7:12 pm

i generlally warp in 16 bar section in beats mode, this is fairly basic,no?

zeropoint · Post by **zeropoint** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 7:31 pm

hambone1 wrote:
Like you, I get stutters and dropouts anytime the CPU meter exceeds 50%.

On the dual or the powerbook?

robtronik · Post by **robtronik** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 7:32 pm

hambone1 wrote:Minimize the use of complex warping. Unless drastically altering the tempo, the result is indistinguishable, and is far less CPU intensive. Or pre-render some of your warped clips.

Like you, I get stutters and dropouts anytime the CPU meter exceeds 50%.

Isn't that strange that we get stutters and drop outs at the loop points when the CPU is only above 50%?

That just does not seem right as I could understand dropouts occuring at higher CPU usages, but not at 50%. I have complex warping on as a default since I play full songs (DJ style), so I could reduce the load that way I guess... but if this is taking more load on the computer, shouldn't the CPU meter reflect that?

Thanks for that tip though. I'll see if this has a material affect on improving the performance.

I wonder if PC users are seeing the same thing?

rob.

robtronik · Post by **robtronik** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 7:35 pm

Mammalux wrote:Yes......I suffer from this too - but I only have three decks running, two are on complex warp. sometimes with reasonably extreme tempo shifts, the other usually on beats. Autofilters and Kill Eqs on 1 & 2, just a Kill on 3. A couple of send effects, delay and comfort verb and a limiter across the master outs. If I set up two loops on the fly in 1 & 2 one of them will drop out on the loop jump and if I try to run a third loop or resample while this is happening its usually bye bye time.......

I'm considering upgrading to a 1.67 Powerbook so Robtronik can I safely assume that your lappy would handle this sort of set up and feel rock solid? Thanks.

Yes, this seems to be definitely within the realm of a 1.67 powerbook being able to handle smoothly. I may be pushing mine a bit harder than it should be with the amount of tracks and effects I have.

I'm more concerned about the CPU usage meter not accurately reflecting the load on the machine to tell us when we should dial back our set ups.

It was quite worrying when I first encountered it while playing live at a gig.

rob.

zeropoint · Post by **zeropoint** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 8:10 pm

Thanks for that Rob.....

quandry · Post by **quandry** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 9:23 pm

robtronik wrote: I wonder if PC users are seeing the same thing?

rob.

sorry to say, but no. Its fairly well-established that for whatever reason, Live runs much more effeciently on pcs. Only when mixing 18 tracks of 24/48 audio (a "studio" recording project of a band I'm in) do I start to get dropouts, and that is when trying to use tons of Waves C1 and Rveb effects, just the tracks with no effects is only around 18-20%. When I get in the 85%+ cpu range, I'll get the red D light and dropouts, never at 50%. Do you get the red D when you have your 50% dropouts. Have you trashed your prefs file, which seems to be helping a lot of people. I think there was also a thread in the last month or two about some OSX settings that could cause issues like this, I can't remember the details.

Ryan

robtronik · Post by **robtronik** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 10:38 pm

Well, I'm good for now... I use Mac's because of OS X. So, I'll be patient, use what I have and when the Intel PB's come out, we'll see how the performance fares then. I hope it is the same as what you are seeing.

But I just cannot deal with windows. Use all day at work... and that's enough for me. I've got a lot invested in my Mac workflows, etc. I can deal.

rob.

bensuthers · Post by **bensuthers** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 11:19 pm

just putting this in perspective.

I have no problem playing back 8 channels of audio and 3 synth plugins on my 400MHz G4 Powerbook with 640MB Ram, no clips in RAM, some long clips, WaveArts trackplug + other VST's, 1 'ambience' reverb and a delay.

also, just for perspective. I don't start getting dropouts until I hit 80-85% CPU - this is because of Live 5 - I used to have dropouts earlier in Live 4.

my girlfriends 1.5GHz Powerbook can do LOTS more.

check your activity monitor for other programs running. dashboard widgets. etc.