Will more RAM help Garageband performance?

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Level 1

8 points

Will more RAM help Garageband performance?

I know how RAM works and how programs access it, Im just curious as to how garageband uses it. For instance, after using garageband and adding about 10 or more tracks, it starts to get really laggy. Now im not using any real instruments to record, just midi and audio samples/loops. i'll press play and them pause it but it will take a few seconds to stop playing the song and actually pause. And when i DO play it, the tracks on the left hand side do this wierd "jumpy" thing where they bounce around. So ultimately, will adding more RAM solve this or is this a problem where my proccessor is not powerful enough?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.6), 27"

Posted on Jan 25, 2012 12:19 AM

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Answer 1

Biggnick93 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 25, 2012 1:52 AM in response to AnaMusic

Thank you. As far as gjmnz's reply, do you know if logic is set up the same way As a 32 bit program so if I do switch to logic, adding more ram wont be pointless? (I've been debating a switch for a while)

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Answer 2

gjmnz

Level 3

858 points

Jan 25, 2012 2:04 AM in response to Biggnick93

I have a 21" iMac, 4GB Ram 1333MHz dual core. 18 months old. I currently have a GB project that has 37 tracks total so far. 7 tracks each with an instance of Melodyne Editor, 4 with instances of Addictive drums, 15 have multiple takes of audio, there are 3 tracks using GB software instruments, 9 have rendered audio from GB dragged back into the project. 5 tracks have instances of Izotope Nectar and 3 have instances of Izotope Alloy. I have not experienced any UI problems or lag with the transport controls. Having issues after 10 or so tracks using only loops and a couple of SW tracks sounds fishy to me. Not sure what to say really...

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Answer 3

gjmnz

Level 3

858 points

Jan 25, 2012 2:05 AM in response to AnaMusic

AnaMusic wrote:

Logic 9 can run in both 32 and 64... I use 64

Adding more RAM and still using GB is not pointless... In fact I recommend it... 8 GB RAM makes Our Mac Fly...

It won't help GB though, unless I misunderstand the nature of 32bit prog's. Happy to hear if I have missed something.

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Answer 4

Jan 25, 2012 4:05 AM in response to Biggnick93

Now im not using any real instruments to record, just midi and audio samples/loops.

That seems to be a misunderstanding: it's not the audio tracks, but the midi tracks that use a lot of processing power, since the software has to create all the audio on the fly, whereas with audio tracks it just has to play back the existing audio files.

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Answer 5

AnaMusic

Level 9

57,562 points

Jan 25, 2012 2:03 AM in response to Biggnick93

Logic 9 can run in both 32 and 64... I use 64

Adding more RAM and still using GB is not pointless... In fact I recommend it... 8 GB RAM makes Our Mac Fly...

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Answer 6

gjmnz

Level 3

858 points

Jan 25, 2012 1:12 AM in response to Biggnick93

GB is a 32 bit program so can only use up to 4GB Ram. You should probably let us know the spec's of your machine, maybe some users can compare machines and what they do.

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Answer 7

Biggnick93 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 25, 2012 1:45 AM in response to gjmnz

It's a 27" iMac with 4 gigs 1067 MHz RAM, 3.06 GHz intel core 2 duo processor. I got it early 2010

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Answer 8

AnaMusic

Level 9

57,562 points

Jan 25, 2012 1:49 AM in response to Biggnick93

I have the same Mac as you with 8 GB of RAM, using Logic 9, and have no issues at all...

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