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I keep getting the error 'disc too slow or system overload'

I am recording a guitar combo jacked to the max and the recording keeps stopping with the same error. Could I be overloading the interface?

Here's the chain.

Marshall AVT50 > SM57 > PreSonus FireBox > Logic

I set the input pre's on the box so it's not coming through too hot, but maybe there is a max input dB or something? (I'm reaching here) Not sure if this is common or what could be causing it. If you need more info/details I will be glad to oblige.

Thanks
-Jake

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TheJackAttack Sat, 06/13/2009 - 17:56

I'm s(h)ure you made s(h)ure your external was 7200 rpms. Right? If it is 5400rpms it ain't fast enough. At any rate this is definitely a bus overload error. Mac users all swear they don't need to defrag their hard drives so I hesitate to suggest it but......

How much is plugged into your USB port? Anything you can turn off or unplug? Remember that USB is "dumb."

If I remember you are on a Mac so I'm limited to vaguely remembering OS 6 or something like that. Back then I was more concerned with an X at 12 o'clock than purely audio.

Guitarfreak Sat, 06/13/2009 - 18:01

Actually yeah it is 7200 RPM, or so the internet says. I do have a bunch of stuff plugged into USB ports though. They aren't being used in the recording process though, are you saying they are screwing something up? The drive I am referring to is pretty full, about 2 Gb left on it. I'm thinking this is also a probable cause.

Space Sat, 06/13/2009 - 18:09

You run a Mac don't cha Jake? Notebook?

Seems that all the things you may recal from your PC days might be of some help. E.G. turn off anything that isn't part of the recording process, etc.

I have read that freezing tracks can help and to not have software instrument tracks selected while recording.

[[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.mac-foru…"]Mac-Rumors.com/some stuff you might want to look at[/]="http://www.mac-foru…"]Mac-Rumors.com/some stuff you might want to look at[/]

Guitarfreak Sat, 06/13/2009 - 18:12

I'll look at that link you posted in a minute, but i just wanted to defend myself here for a second. Yes I run a mac, but not a notebook, an iMac desktop. I quit everything except for Logic. I didn't have any kind of software or plugs running at time of recording. All other tracks were muted and their respective plugs bypassed. My wireless connection was turned off.

That said, I will now read your link :D

TheJackAttack Sat, 06/13/2009 - 18:22

Two things. USB is a "dumb" connection and doesn't prioritize or compartmentalize very well or at all.

If you destination drive is too close to being full then there might not be enough space for the temp folder cache and the actual recorded audio.

That said, 2 gig is still quite a bit. I'd look to either unplugging unused USB devices or if you are using a hub, go directly from the drive to the computer.

Guitarfreak Sat, 06/13/2009 - 18:36

Well in the spirit of spending a bunch of money, do you think I should look into a firewire HD? I have always thought I should have gotten one, but recently it has become glaringly obvious that I should. I think the 2GB free is one such reason... And if this issue is cause by USB clock speed and/or bottlenecking then there's another reason to go firewire.

jammster Sat, 06/13/2009 - 18:39

Jake, My experience has been sometimes there are funny quirks with Logic.

Its good to save your files on an hourly basis or so when working on a tune.

After having a system freeze I Shut the system down, let it sit for a minute or two and reboot.

I find that running a couple of different usb 2.0 drives helps so you can back one up while you use the one that has free space. Save your files to DVD-R or something similar.

Its best to save at least two different copies of your work, NOTHING sucks more than loosing a session. I've learned in the past. I try to keep up on it, however there is always the concern that a drive may fail.

I think it really helps to have a drive that has at least 10% left empty. There is usually no worries.

TheJackAttack Sat, 06/13/2009 - 18:48

I always use usb hard drives. On my desktop actually I use eSATA. When I dust it off and fire it up that is. I have about six USB enclosures with drives of various sizes. Two are redundant and massive sized that store my finished projects. I spin them up once a month in order to keep the spindles lubed. Sometimes I back up finished projects to DVD-DL but not often.

My philosophy is that I want the Firewire to be strictly audio interface streaming and all HID and HDD's go on USB 2.0 (or the aforementioned eSATA).

jammster Sat, 06/13/2009 - 19:07

TheJackAttack wrote: My philosophy is that I want the Firewire to be strictly audio interface streaming and all HID and HDD's go on USB 2.0 (or the aforementioned eSATA).

I'm totally hip with that.

When I first updated my system in may 2007, I had not made a new computer purchase since the Texas Instruments TI 99 4A when I was a kid.

Seriously, I think new computers are a rip off until now days when you actually get performance.

I had tried recording through the firewire interface with a drive hooked up to the through port once. It was making zipper noise in the background. The "Genius" at the apple store told me it would be fine.

Don't trust someone who does not know what there talking about. The only way to really learn is to do the research and read up on the facts. Then of course you have to try it for yourself.

The wonderful thing about the RO forum is that you get plenty of info about what problems are out there with different situations and environments.

Guitarfreak Sun, 06/14/2009 - 21:49

Hey, you mentioned defragging my drives. How is this possible? I have done research for free defrags for mac but haven't really found much. MacJanitor, and Cocktail claim to do everything you need but they only take like 2 seconds. Without a long defrag process I don't feel like I accomplish anything :) That's ignoring the fact that I don't think they defrag at all.

Maybe all I need is a simple console code?