Help with understanding CPU overload message, Pro Tools 8

[12893874]

hi,

When I try to play some sessions I get this error message:

" A CPU overload error occurred. If this happens often try to increasing the H/W Buffer Size in the Playback Engine Dialog, or removing some plugins"

So I increased the H/W buffer size, I also bounced Midi tracks to audio and disabled the midi tracks to save on ram, removed some plugins.. AND I also just added another GB of Ram to my system. But my Mac is old and only holds 4gb, anyways is it just time to upgrade my whole system or is there something I can do to stop this error from happening, really gets in the way of getting work done.

Anybody had this problem before or know a solution?

Thanks in advance

Pro Tools 8, Mbox 2, Mac g5 Powermac 7,3 OS 10.5

[Park Seward]

You just need a faster CPU. PT8 won't use more than 4 GB of RAM so you are OK there.

[Darryl Ramm]

What interface

What exact model mac/cpu spec

What are all the playback engine settings?

What session sample rate?

What exact plugins and how many instances?

You need to make sure all systems optimizations are correctly applied. And especially that your sessions are operating from a dedicated proper high performance/audio spec drive. And that as little else as possible is running on the Mac. You should also look at using bussing and putting some effects like reverb on a bus not each track.

If you have done all that then it may be possible that you are just out if CPU power, but a lot of these problems are still user error/setup related. A G5 is getting to be museumware but you still want to exclude all the common setup problems.

Darryl

[12893874]

Thank you for the reply,

I just checked my settings and optimized them alittle better, thanks for the heads up, sessions seem to be playin smoother now.

thanx