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Disk too slow or system overload?

im trying to record vocals on top of a song im working on and its the last step, the problem is i keep getting this error: Disk is too slow or System Overload. (-10010)

so i thought maybe i had too many tracks going so i bounced them into an .mp3 and made a new logic window with my vocal track for recording and one playing the other tracks all together, i still get the same error after a few seconds of recording...

now at this point i've ruled out RAM being the issue because just yesterday i recorded multiple guitar tracks without this error at all and i haven't opened logic since.

so im not sure exactly what the problem is, but im guessing im gonna have to delete something.

the only change is that im recording through a mic into a firepod into my computer via firewire but i thought would improve things, not make them worse...

id greatly appreciate any help, thanks : )

-alex

Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Sep 4, 2008 4:42 PM

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Posted on Sep 4, 2008 6:34 PM

Hi Alex,

First do NOT bounce to MP3 for mixing, do not use MP3 in your mix!
If you only have an MP3 version of some track you want to use, convert to AIFF first!
MP3 actually aggravates your problems, because MP3's are a bigger strain on the Macs' CPU than AIFF. So Use AIFF (or another unencoded) format.
Mp3 has to be decoded before there is sound, this decoding costs extra CPU power. AIFF is unencoded, much easier on the CPU.
MP3 is really only needed if you want to put it on an MP3 player. I always bounce to MP3 if I know it is not finished, so I can take it with me on my iPod Nano to listen to it somewhere in the Great Wide Open...
MP3 has only one advantage over unencoded formats: smaller files, for smaller systems... but a 80 GB harddisk can hold 40 hours of 24bit/96kHz unencoded stereo audio, 81 hours of 24/48 and 133 hours of 16/44.1. No need to save space there, at the cost of Logic performance and sound quality.
Keep all that's audio in AIFF (or one of the other available unencoded formats).
Now, your issue.
You should first probaly have to alter your audio buffer setting in Preferences>audio. First try a setting 1 step above what it is now. If it already is 1024, set it to 32, try, check, fiddle with the buffer setting until the problem is gone OR until you find the setting that has the least trouble, whichever applies first. On fast newer (intel, G5) systems it seems that turning it OFF yields the best result.

This is probably one of the most asked questions on this forum, though all this info is actually in the documentation.

Anyway, hope this works, but also check the LP8 user manual p. 97-ish. Let me know how it all went/turned out.

Regards, Erik
7 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Sep 4, 2008 6:34 PM in response to dinkydkmgshred

Hi Alex,

First do NOT bounce to MP3 for mixing, do not use MP3 in your mix!
If you only have an MP3 version of some track you want to use, convert to AIFF first!
MP3 actually aggravates your problems, because MP3's are a bigger strain on the Macs' CPU than AIFF. So Use AIFF (or another unencoded) format.
Mp3 has to be decoded before there is sound, this decoding costs extra CPU power. AIFF is unencoded, much easier on the CPU.
MP3 is really only needed if you want to put it on an MP3 player. I always bounce to MP3 if I know it is not finished, so I can take it with me on my iPod Nano to listen to it somewhere in the Great Wide Open...
MP3 has only one advantage over unencoded formats: smaller files, for smaller systems... but a 80 GB harddisk can hold 40 hours of 24bit/96kHz unencoded stereo audio, 81 hours of 24/48 and 133 hours of 16/44.1. No need to save space there, at the cost of Logic performance and sound quality.
Keep all that's audio in AIFF (or one of the other available unencoded formats).
Now, your issue.
You should first probaly have to alter your audio buffer setting in Preferences>audio. First try a setting 1 step above what it is now. If it already is 1024, set it to 32, try, check, fiddle with the buffer setting until the problem is gone OR until you find the setting that has the least trouble, whichever applies first. On fast newer (intel, G5) systems it seems that turning it OFF yields the best result.

This is probably one of the most asked questions on this forum, though all this info is actually in the documentation.

Anyway, hope this works, but also check the LP8 user manual p. 97-ish. Let me know how it all went/turned out.

Regards, Erik

Sep 4, 2008 7:07 PM in response to dinkydkmgshred

You are welcome! And here's an extra tip: you can turn off the overload message. If Logic overloads, it just stops play. I have some projects that are on the edge of what my system can do, and when the arrangement reaches a point where another instrument comes into play, it often stops. I then hit play, and it plays again immediately, no message to send away. Go to preferences>audio>general.

Regards, Erik.

Nov 23, 2008 10:25 PM in response to dinkydkmgshred

Man...this demon came out on my latest project and has been tormenting me endlessly. I've had relatively few issues with the "Disk Too Slow or System Overload" message when I freeze the files regularly...but this time nothing seemed to help. It happened with freshly frozen files and I also saw ALL the freeze buttons completely vanish when I enabled the record button on a track! Then about 4 measures into a pass...WHAM!! Track comes to a complete halt and the "demon message" would appear...all that was missing was an evil, (reverb-laden) laughter in the background!! What can I do to relieve this problem? Should I buy a third hard drive to record to? Should I increase the memory of my G5?

Message was edited by: TheAndyManCan

Disk too slow or system overload?

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