a cpu overload error occurred - help:=)

[cathrine]

Hi!
I have an imac os 10.8.4 21.5 inch late 2013
avid mbox 4*4 1.1.4
And pro tools express 10.3.4

It says on avids site that this two are compatible.
My problem is this error occurring saying.
A cpu error overload occurs. If this happens often, try increasing the H/W Buffer Size in the playback engine dialog, or removing some plugins (-6101.)

I have tried to increase the buffer size and also tic the box to ignore this error windows. The message even occur when i have no track recorded.
Sometimes it is okay for 15 minutes and suddenly its back up again. I have had someone over to look at it, but he found no solution.
Any one knows this problem.
Thanks from Cathrine

[Ben Jenssen]

Hi Cathrine, and welcome to the forum.

Have you done the general optimizations?
Mac OS 10.8 optimizations

The very first thing I would try if you haven't already, is in playback engine settings, set it to one less core than you have on your cpu. (ie: 3 if your max is 4.) The idea is that that the OS and other tasks have a free core and don't interfere with PT so easily. Often very effective.

Have you been looking at the system usage window? What does it tell you?
Are you taxing your system with heavy plugins and virtual instruments?

[cathrine]

Thanks for reply.
We tried both adjusting different things in the playback engine setting. And did all the the optimizations on the top of the site.
The system usage window - it used only 10% and the only plug in is the midi keyboard, ilok and mbox. and no virtual instruments.

Could it be something with the usb , that it cant cope?
got error (-6101) and (-6104) mostly the first error.

We recorded guitar and vocals and everything seemed fine, but next moment nothing is possible.

:=) cath

[Ben Jenssen]

Originally Posted by cathrine

We tried both adjusting different things in the playback engine setting.

So the number of processors in use is how many? ...out of how many? Just curious.

Have you tried googling the forum for "-6101"?

[cathrine]

we tried both 2 and 4 processors.
No I haven't.
I am on it:=)

[cathrine]

so its totally 4 processors.

[Southsidemusic]

Originally Posted by cathrine

so its totally 4 processors.

Then you should set it to 2 or 3 if you can

Also, 6101 errors are CPU overload and here are some read up and steps you can do and see if that helps

http://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/...e-6101-errors/


Also make sure you have a dedicated hardrive for PT sessions and that it is up to spec.
The internal drive in your iMac is what type? Should be 7200rpm or SSD. If you have a fusion drive you will have a pain with that.


Best of Luck
Christopher

[cathrine]

Hi Christopher.
The rpm is 5400 and the internal drive is SATA and intel core i 5.
I dont know if I have a fusion drive.
http://support.apple.com/kb/SP687

thanks for helping!

[Southsidemusic]

Yeaaaa ... Thats gonna pose a big problem and maybe thats what you are seeing right now. The speed needs to be 7200rpm or greater and no green drives with power saving functions as it just won't work with PT. To slow read/write time and response so if you want to get rid of these errors you need to get a better drive, and also another drive, 7200rpm or greater for the sessions to live on.

This is all over the internet so it's not something I pulled out of thin air

So, conclusion :

1. Get a better internal OS drive for hosting PT and other OS related software
2. Get a better hardrive for recording to - session drive and it really had to be a 7200rpm or better, otherwise these error messages will keep plaguing your system.

Good Luck
Christopher

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by Southsidemusic

Yeaaaa ... Thats gonna pose a big problem and maybe thats what you are seeing right now. The speed needs to be 7200rpm or greater and no green drives with power saving functions as it just won't work with PT. To slow read/write time and response so if you want to get rid of these errors you need to get a better drive, and also another drive, 7200rpm or greater for the sessions to live on.

This is all over the internet so it's not something I pulled out of thin air

So, conclusion :

1. Get a better internal OS drive for hosting PT and other OS related software
2. Get a better hardrive for recording to - session drive and it really had to be a 7200rpm or better, otherwise these error messages will keep plaguing your system.

Good Luck
Christopher

Not going to be easy to do but would be worth it. Of course a lot of this is dependent on one thing that hasn't been mentioned: how much ram do you have Cathrine? 8 meg would be a minimum. But adding more is nigh on impossible on your iMac as it's soldered in.

Something I just saw in one of your posts Cathrine: You say you have OSX 10.8.4 right? I thought iMacs of the era you have came with OSX 10.9.x aka Mavericks. Did you have your iMac downgraded to Mountain Lion somehow?