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Posted by Emvy on Feb-23-2012 06:41:

Producing in macbook problem

Hey guys, So i recently set up my mobile studio and i installed Cubase5 on my macbook pro... when i produce in it, there are a lot of cutting while playing the track...im assuming my computer is not powerful enough? but what exactly is lacking? Do i need to upgrade my sound card? Is that even possible for macbooks?

Posted by Normie on Feb-23-2012 07:26:

Re: Producing in macbook problem

Posted by jupiterone on Feb-23-2012 08:37:

this can only be fixed in one way. moar analog.

Posted by Normie on Feb-23-2012 08:48:

quote:
Originally posted by jupiterone
this can only be fixed in one way. moar analog.

and sidechain...real ANALOG sidechain...and KRKs.

Posted by DJ RANN on Feb-24-2012 02:26:

Re: Producing in macbook problem

quote:
Originally posted by Emvy
Hey guys, So i recently set up my mobile studio and i installed Cubase5 on my macbook pro... when i produce in it, there are a lot of cutting while playing the track...im assuming my computer is not powerful enough? but what exactly is lacking? Do i need to upgrade my sound card? Is that even possible for macbooks?

It may be that your MBP isn't powerful enough but don't forget some of your processing power is going to be bottlenecked by the efficiency of your built in soundcard. If it's a recent MBP then it's not going to be a question of just processing power alone;

It could be the way you arrange you projects in not efficient (all individual inserts rather than using groups sends)

It could be that one or some of your plugs are CPU hogs, or that you are using many multiples of a plug when less or one would suffice.

It could be that you've never done any maintenance on your laptop and it's telling you to fuck off (hint: repair disk permissions).

Without knowing what spec your MBP is, I can't really help further but in the long run, a dedicated audio interface (even a cheap one will take some of the strain off your CPU).

Posted by EddieZilker on Feb-24-2012 02:31:

quote:
Originally posted by Normie
...and ONE KRK.

Fixed for RANN.

Posted by Normie on Feb-24-2012 02:49:

Re: Re: Producing in macbook problem

I agree that an external SC would lessen the load and without question reducing plug count wherever doable is a good thing, but if you're 'that close to the edge' so to speak, is an external card going to make enough of a difference to be worth it? (Not that an external is ever a 'bad' thing.)

That said, if what you have is what you have to work with and a new laptop isn't an option, you do what you gotta do. Before I got my current box I was maxing the old one (Old P4) to the point where I was doing every trick I could find and it quickly grew frustrating to just 'not' be able to do certain/enough things. Freezing/bouncing et all was becoming a major PITA. (Even now I'm getting into issues with an AMD Quad with heavy synth string stuff.

quote:
Originally posted by DJ RANN
It may be that your MBP isn't powerful enough but don't forget some of your processing power is going to be bottlenecked by the efficiency of your built in soundcard. If it's a recent MBP then it's not going to be a question of just processing power alone;

It could be the way you arrange you projects in not efficient (all individual inserts rather than using groups sends)

It could be that one or some of your plugs are CPU hogs, or that you are using many multiples of a plug when less or one would suffice.

It could be that you've never done any maintenance on your laptop and it's telling you to fuck off (hint: repair disk permissions).

Without knowing what spec your MBP is, I can't really help further but in the long run, a dedicated audio interface (even a cheap one will take some of the strain off your CPU).

Posted by Looney4Clooney on Feb-24-2012 04:37:

track issues, -> ssd.

Posted by Normie on Feb-24-2012 05:23:

quote:
Originally posted by Looney4Clooney
track issues, -> ssd.

Do you need just the OS on ssd or OS and 'all' the music software?

Posted by Looney4Clooney on Feb-24-2012 05:34:

tracks cutting out on a laptop is almost always a kink with the hardrive not being able to send information fast enough. With a laptop, i would ditch your dvd , and ideally have 1 for os , 1 for audio tracks. If just one, then audio and os.

Posted by TranceLover007 on Feb-24-2012 07:56:

Re: Producing in macbook problem

Posted by DJ RANN on Feb-24-2012 20:49:

I have a feeling the problem is not a lack of SSD's or an under powered MBP - I think it's going to be a 16 zeta special, with inserts on each channel for the FX, on a MBP that's never had any maintenance while using an onboard soundcard.

My mate has a 2007 MBP and he's able to use cubase absolutely fine as long as he's not doing stupid things.

I reckon looking at how the projects are setup, a quick repair disk permissions and a even a cheap audio interface will solve all the OP's problems.

Posted by TranceLover007 on Feb-24-2012 21:03:

quote:
Originally posted by DJ RANN
I have a feeling the problem is not a lack of SSD's or an under powered MBP - I think it's going to be a 16 zeta special, with inserts on each channel for the FX, on a MBP that's never had any maintenance while using an onboard soundcard.

This is exactly what I suspected, he may even have to look at his Cubase setup (I think under Preferences) how every thing is routed over there.
We have few guys over here with mac Pro and Cubse, so they should be able to help him run proper setup (as he mention this in his comment that he has this problem right from the beginning).

Darek