CPU Overload MackBook Pro

[drumingdude]

Hey everyone, so I bought a MackBook Pro not too long ago and I have been using Logic 9 to do my recording and it has been great! But as my studio grows and I am using more plug ins and things, Im really asking a lot of my CPU and sometimes too much. I use Superior Drummer 2.0 which basically just eats my power right up and if other plug ins are running...forget it.

So anyway, my question is - Is there a device or some way that I can take the load off my computer? I have herd about using an external DSP but I have no idea what that is or if that is even relevant. But I am just looking for something that is cheaper than buying a new computer and will help take the load off. Also will upgrading to 8GB ram help this issue? Here are my specs for my MacBook Pro. Thanks!

MacBook Pro
Mac OS x Version 10.6.4
Processor 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory 4GB
Hard Drive 250GB

 

[PDP]

The Ram upgrade wont help unless your having memory crashes. Make sure you are not running Superior Drummer 32bit on a 64bit OS it will devour your CPU, as will 32bit plug-ins. The DPS is the only hardware I know that will alleviate the CPU load on effects. You can also bounce tracks with heavy processing to straight audio and free up that amount of processor load. Thats all I've got.

 

[guitarplayr82]

Make sure you are not running Superior Drummer 32bit on a 64bit OS it will devour your CPU, as will 32bit plug-ins.

What if the OP is running the 32-bit version of Snow Leopard? Although SL is 64-bit capable, it boots in 32-bit by default. So, just to clear this up, would it still be fine if the OS is in 32-bit mode and he's running 32-bit plugins?

 

[guitarplayr82]

Hey everyone, so I bought a MackBook Pro not too long ago and I have been using Logic 9 to do my recording and it has been great! But as my studio grows and I am using more plug ins and things, Im really asking a lot of my CPU and sometimes too much. I use Superior Drummer 2.0 which basically just eats my power right up and if other plug ins are running...forget it.

So anyway, my question is - Is there a device or some way that I can take the load off my computer? I have herd about using an external DSP but I have no idea what that is or if that is even relevant. But I am just looking for something that is cheaper than buying a new computer and will help take the load off. Also will upgrading to 8GB ram help this issue? Here are my specs for my MacBook Pro. Thanks!

MacBook Pro
Mac OS x Version 10.6.4
Processor 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory 4GB
Hard Drive 250GB

Does the non-latency mode of Logic take any of the CPU load off?

 

[kcearl]

I run four DSP cards and they basically just doubled what my PC can handle now...for a Macbook you could get an external host to put the cards in but this is all going to cost $$$


What I used to do when I worked on a laptop was to bounce down VSTi's then save it as a separate project and work on that while tracking...I generally bounce everything down as stems at the end and mix completely separately anyway..Its a bit lengthier but maximises what your PC can do for you and gets you in a different mindset from tracking

not really a solution but a work around that works for me....

 

[PDP]

What if the OP is running the 32-bit version of Snow Leopard? Although SL is 64-bit capable, it boots in 32-bit by default. So, just to clear this up, would it still be fine if the OS is in 32-bit mode and he's running 32-bit plugins?

Not an expert, but I'd say that should be no problem. Its when your DAW has to run 32bit apps on a 64bit DAW.

 

[drumingdude]

Thanks guys! I appreciate the help!! It makes sense that I may be running a 32bit on a 64bit system (or the other way around) because on my old computer (a PC with some serious power!) Superior Drummer 2.0 had trouble running on that too and that computer was running 64bit. So Ill check that out. Thanks!