System Overload in Logic

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13 points

System Overload in Logic

Hi I have a problem I cannot seem to fix with Logic Pro X

For years I have intermittently gotten the message :- ‘System Overload’ ‘The audio engine was unable to process all required data in time.’

I have tried all the on-line suggestions regarding I/O buffer size Multithreading etc which frankly does nothing at all and couple of years ago I massivley increased my ram to 64 gigabytes but it had no effect either so I returned it.

A couple of weeks ago I did more research into this and as a result I moved all of my instrumental libraries on to a Samsung T7 external ssd drive connected through the thunderbolt port of my 2017 iMac. I also moved all my logic projects onto a separate external hard drive so the only thing my iMac had to deal with internally was Logic itself.

I though from what I had read up on that this was going to finally crack the problem. But it didn’t.

Take my recent project for example. I have ten instruments loaded up but three of the tracks I have frozen. The remaining six are muted so I am only attempting to play some violins from ‘Sine Strings’ on one track.

The moment the playhead hits the first note I get the message SYSTEM OVERLOAD. Which is really annoying.

In fact I can actually play the strings if I start the playhead again and if they stop again I restart the playhead once more until finally I can play the whole track without any hitches.

As this happens time and time again even with only a few instruments loaded or just one such as the EX sampler can anyone suggest anything that mght eliminate this problem.

I really don’t know what else I can do.

Looking forward to some advice

BRIAN PATERSON.

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Apr 20, 2023 10:09 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 25, 2023 05:42 AM in response to Artiquarius

Outside of I/O Buffer Size, what is your Process Buffer Range set to?

And how much RAM is in your iMac?

What happens if you change Summing mode from High Precision to Standard?

Is there much processing going on on that tracks that cause Logic to fall over?

Does Delete Undo History before saving help?

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Answer 2

Artiquarius Author

Level 1

13 points

Apr 25, 2023 09:56 AM in response to Ben Collier

Hi Ben thanks for replying. Apple’s advice is to lower the buffer size for recording and put it on high for mixing.

I guess mixing is like playing back in essence and as I am constantly recording and playing back when composing then I would forever be going into preference and changing back and forth endlessly. So I have plumped for medium. ( To be honest over the years I have tried every variation I can think of in audio preferences and I can't say any of it makes much of a difference.)

Re - Ram, I have 8 gig of ram. A while back I thought more ram would make everything work better with Logic and Final cut pro etc etc so I bumped it up to a massive 64 gig. The only thing I noticed was that some apps ran slower. ( can’t remeber which ones exactly ) and there was no discernible benefit, to anything so I returned it all and got my money back. Later research seemed to suggest ram is great for having many apps open at the same time ( which I don’t ) but won’t increase speed or performance very much.

There seems to be many differing opinions on this but I tend to agree from my own experience.

On the particular Logic piece I am currently working on there is very little processing going on. As I said I have around seven tracks, three of which I chose to freeze to help things and only two I am actively working on. Some strings from Sine Player and Cello from Chris Hein. No Eq. Reverb etc Just straight out of the box.

I have just tried deleting the undo history to see if it helps but it dosen’t. I am even getting the System overload message before the playhead hits a note.

Having moved all my libraries to a recent Samsung T7 external SSD drive I think some tracks are running a bit easier but not everything. Tried a few tests whilst writing this and some pieces still give me problems. Not sure how many or why, still a lot of testing to do on older stuff.

I am wondering if I install an OS update, maybe to Monterey from the Mojave I am currently using, that it might have a beneficial effect. I don't know what else to try.

Your thought are very much appreciated.

Regards

BRIAN.

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System Overload in Logic

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