Cpu usage problem with 1 track

[why_vincent]

I don't know what has happened but suddenly I am getting CPU overload every 2-5 seconds when I am playing back audio. Keep getting -6101 error.

The system:

• Macbook 13 2013
• Interface: Tried both internal and apollo twin
• Pro tools 12.6
• Mac OS Sierra

The scenario:

• 1 audio track.
• 24 bit 44.1 kHz as project settings.
• No plugins.
• No Eucon.
• 1024 buffer size.
• 3 GB cache size.
• No external monitor.

All I did is try to record audio and try to play back audio(that I had to take from a different project since I cannot record). The projects I had open last week had 40+ tracks and many effects on with no problem.
It is impossible to work and I don't want to buy a new computer when the CPU usage is at 1-2 % just because of a bug in PT.

There is not even a CPU-spike in the activity monitor. Where do I go with this problem? If anyone can help me then I am eternally grateful.

[YYR123]

Great information, thank you.

I would scrap that session that has the issue.

Start again with another new session.

if that doesn't fix it...then trash prefs and try again with another new session.

Did you do any kind of updates to anything? Mac Software update? Plugin Update?

[Southsidemusic]

What hard drives are you recording to?
Whats inside that 13" MB?
Spinner or SSD? Speed of spinner if thats whats there?
How much RAM?

Anything else connected? More info needed ..

What was the great info here Daniel?

[YYR123]

Chris this is the info that most people don’t give. Perhaps it was just easier to extract that info due to it being in a list format

[why_vincent]

Originally Posted by YYR123

Great information, thank you.

I would scrap that session that has the issue.

Start again with another new session.

if that doesn't fix it...then trash prefs and try again with another new session.

Did you do any kind of updates to anything? Mac Software update? Plugin Update?

Thank you, tried putting as much in as I could think of at the moment, knowing that it would still might not be enough to find the error, just to eliminate some things. Killed prefs also and I'm starting to consider the painful process of reinstalling everything on my computer. I have went into every plugin manufacturers website and downloaded the latest versions. The brands I use are fabfilter, native instruments and waves.

Originally Posted by Southsidemusic

What hard drives are you recording to?
Whats inside that 13" MB?
Spinner or SSD? Speed of spinner if thats whats there?
How much RAM?

Anything else connected? More info needed ..

What was the great info here Daniel?

I am recording to an SSD and I have 8 GB ram. I am talking about one track of audio and nothing else. Starting a huge project in Ableton Live is not a problem at all(though that might be totally irrelevant) so I do not think those are the culprits, even if it is important.

I also have my iLok and one external Logitech mouse attached(except for what is listed above). That is it. I have detached my apollo twin when using the internal sound card(just for testing).

One long shot that might be worth mentioning is that I have been using Eucon but when I googled this error people mentioned that it could be a problem, so I uninstalled it, disabled it in PT and disconnected WiFi.

I have done hardware diagnostics, the one that Apple provides and it reports no error. Is there any more extensive way to find the error/eliminate what isn't causing it?

[Southsidemusic]

The error you get is a CPU overload message which is a weird one if you only have one track.

I would start by adding ALL plugins to unused folder then adding one back at a time testing if the error disappears.

Plugins not used but in the PT folder can and have caused many headscratchers as although plugins which are loaded but not instantiated can be demos, out of date and expired etc.

Also try different buffer settings in PT and have the ignore errors checked.

[john1192]

3GB Cache !!! since you did not say how much RAM your computer has - 4-8Gb probably ... One Track with 3GB cache is down right silly ... you are stealing memory away from your computer .. please try putting that to Normal ..

[Southsidemusic]

If you look at his last post he answered my question already - 8GB Ram ..

[john1192]

Originally Posted by Southsidemusic

If you look at his last post he answered my question already - 8GB Ram ..

oh good .. i missed that .. so that makes sense .. 3GB cache for One Track seems excessive !!

[Southsidemusic]

He should be able to have any number of GB cache without having these problems. Something is amiss here and I still think it is a plugin issue.