A few minor issues/questions

[KingL1]

Hi guys. Just recently started a home studio with an mbox2 running on a G4 powerbook with a 1.25 GHz processor and 1.25 GB RAM. I have a Rode NT2 (not NT2a) connected to an ART Tube MP preamp. I do MIDI with a Keystation 88es and have the synthogy ivory piano stuff. I don't have a monitor, but I use AKG K240 Studio headphones for monitoring. I've been noticing some issues.

1. When I'm recording vocals, I sometimes notice that I am getting distortion, eventhough the levels aren't at clipping point. What can be the reasons for that?

2. When I am doing midi and using RTAS plugins such as Ivory or Reason Rewired etc, I usually run out of CPU power and it cuts my recording off, telling me I need to remove one or more RTAS plugins or increase hardware buffer (I think that's what it said), eventhough my hardware buffer is at the highest level. Is my powerbook too weak to manage 2 RTAS plugins? Is it because I need even more RAM? Do I need a new computer? I thought this powerbook was the way to go.

Any suggestions are appreciated.
:classic:

[fLiPaudio]

what hard drive?

[KingL1]

I use an external Lacie d2 drive for audio files and Ivory. Protools and Reason are installed on my internal drive.

[Muzykant]

To run Ivory by it self you need 1 GB RAM because it has massive library. Go to Ilio or Synthogy to check if they have some thing like Direct from disk feature for Ivory. In this case you don't load samples to your RAM but use them from HD:banana:

[KingL1]

Go to Ilio or Synthogy to check if they have some thing like Direct from disk feature for Ivory.

Why? Is there something wrong with the Lacie d2 that I'm using?

[evan_ccs]

Part of it could also be that the USB drivers on your PowerBook are not up-to-date or that, because of the library of Ivory, the USB transfer rate is just too low.

I would first check that the drivers for the USB are up to date, so that you're getting full transfer speed on the mother board's bus (I'm not exactly sure how to do this on a Mac, or if it's even applicable on a Mac, I'm a PC guy), and then, if needed try installing the plugin and library on the internal drive.

If neither of these are the problem, it is probably a RAM issue.

[KingL1]

Ok, but what about my distortion issues? Any ideas?

[audo85]

king L1, your problem with the faulty indicators may be as simple as your peak monitors. i havent done much research on what other virtual level monitors you can get, you can do that. but let it be known that protools factory level monitors are for lack of a better word "avarage". This may save you some heart acke. i have heard of this problem before as long as the distortion you are hearing is only slight and every now and then i would say it is definatly this however if it is more consistent and harsh i would be worried.