setting up my iMAC

Posted on Mar 20, 2008 11:23 am
Dematrix
http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member Since: Nov 27, 2007

Hi guys, if there are posts somewhere on this site covering this please let me know.

Im wondering how to set up my mac for recording, what to turn off in the settings etc.
im kinda having trouble with the sound going all distorted, like there is a metalizer effect on playback. sometimes i can go into device setup and reset the US1641 driver and its ok for a bit but not for long. sometimes i gotta restart cubase and even restart the comp.

im on about the 5th track now so im assuming thats the issue.
being new to mac im not all that sure about things.
ive got 2gig of ram and was recording on 128samples in the buffer size.
is that too low??? dunno. i only got it a week ago and never really used one before.

some tips on what to set, stuff to disable etc would be good.
I've had a look at a site called Mac music but it was infuriating to use and i didnt see anything posted here on Macs.
hope you can help.

Cheers guys.

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zekthedeadcow
Eat Spam before it eats YOU!!!
Member
Since: May 11, 2002

Mar 20, 2008 02:26 pm

Apple broke their USB audio a while ago...

reboot and type dmesg in the command prompt

if you see an error like this

[quote]
ARNING: AppleUSBAudio has detected that clock_get_uptime () value changed radically from previous values
WARNING: AppleUSBAudio has detected that a connected USB audio device is sending too much audio data.
WARNING: This USB audio device may not function properly. Please notify the device manufacturer.

WARNING: AppleUSBAudio has detected that a connected USB audio device is sending too much audio data.
WARNING: This USB audio device may not function properly. Please notify the device manufacturer.
WARNING: AppleUSBAudio has detected that a connected USB audio device is sending too much audio data.
WARNING: This USB audio device may not function properly. Please notify the device manufacturer.
[/quote]

then try taruga's fix in this post:
www.homerecordingconnecti...14657&frm=1

if you get a different error post it here.

Dematrix
http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007

Mar 20, 2008 10:08 pm

not getting any warnings, just wanna make it run the best it can. as i said its kinda distorting sometimes at about 5 tracks and sounds like the audio is being played inside a tunnel or a metalizer effect is on it.

thats why im wondering if i got it set up right, coz when that happens on other computers its usually due to it running to many other things in the background.
in this case the MAC i wouldnt know what to turn off etc.
Thanks though i will check the link.

Dematrix
http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007

Mar 20, 2008 10:31 pm

yeah checked out the link, not sure its the same problem im having. but its gotta have something to do with it.

still havent had warnings yet but im expectin it soon though.

i see you've had some experience in working this stuff out, if its cool i will post some audio of what mine sounds like and see what you think?

having said that to post audio on this post, can i do it form here or do i have to post a link?
if so can you suggest where a site to use?
cheers mate.

i forgot to mention also, the problem alot of the time starts if i use pan or the eq.

zekthedeadcow
Eat Spam before it eats YOU!!!
Member
Since: May 11, 2002

Mar 20, 2008 11:40 pm

if you can just upload it to your profile that should be fine.

also if you could say which imac you're useing (and verify that it isn't an eMac - which are pieces of **** :) ) rarely some people get those confused... usually while buying a mac off ebay...

also which version of OSX

Dematrix
http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007

Mar 21, 2008 10:40 am

ok, since i changed the buffer size to 392 i think it is, for playback n mixin it hasnt played up, but i erased one track so it may start playin up when i re record it.

Having said that, audio has dropped out on occasion but is ok when i stop start it again. it only really does it when i hold down the mouse clicker to say move the eq or pan. could that indicate too much info for usb?? it hasnt said anything.
i have also added an effects track, so i guess its nothing to do with not having enough nuts or it would've hated the effects track.

anyway to answer your questions about the specs.
its definatley an iMAC an 07 model and its running leopard 10.5

i notice in the link you gave me something about a kernel??? i also saw that when looking around my mac it said it was 9.0.9 if thats anything to you??

basicly i've done nothing to the mac in regards to set up for music, if you can think of some stuff that would be cool.

i am using a usb mouse along with the keyboard, are there issues associated with usb connections and static or drop out? and should i turn off usb's that arent being used etc?

so many questions.
cheers