Is it my imac or logic pro software

I have an imac that I purchased new in 2013. I've been using Logic Pro X for about three years without any unsolvable problems. I currently have been getting "System Overload" indicators as Logic stops playing. Normally when this happens I make some adjustments in "Audio" section of "Preferences" and that solves the problem. No matter what I do now to correct the problem so that I can continue working, it's to no avail. For example, most recently, I am stopped from converting a track to an mp3 by logic just stopping about half way through my track. It will NOT let me both, either create an mp3 from that track, nor even play through that same track. Before I "spring" for a new computer, I want to make sure that the problem does NOT stem from some other factor within Logic. Please help, ASAP. I have a track deadline that I'm trying to meet. Thanks in advance for your assistance. John Dale

What do your disk and CPU activity meters tell you about the resources you are using?

I've enclosed screenshots to hopefully most fully answer your question.

which version logic? what OS?

 

anyway, it could be a drive issue; you could run the apple diagnostics test: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT202731

 

if you prefer, try resetting nvram on your mac, and perhaps the smc (google for instructions for these things). no matter what you try, make sure you're backed up first.

I've enclosed screenshots to hopefully most fully answer your question.

 

Your screenshots are lovely, unfortunately they are not at all what I asked, which is specifically what do Logic’s disk and CPU meters tell you while your project is playing... sorry if that wasn’t clear.

as des99 pointed out; you want to show logic's impact on cpu & memory (in activity monitor)...

Exactly where in logic are the disk and CPU meters displayed?

not in logic, in activity monitor. loop a busy section, then check to see what percentages logic is using.

 

if it were me, i'd run the diagnostic test; it does sound like a drive issue. (or, again, i'd reset nvram, the smc...things that might help if it's NOT the drive)...

The CPU usage is 76.3 % during one of the busiest loops. What are the steps involved for running the diagnostic you mentioned?

i posted the link for the hardware test instructions earlier.

 

to reset nvram: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063

 

to reset the smc: https://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac/reset-smc-mac-26444/

 

i would do the nvram first, see if that helps. then the smc if needed. then the hardware test. again, back up first, just to be safe.

 

hope you sort this all out!

Thanks, I'll do what I can. I appreciate your help. BTW, did the 76.3% seem excessive? If the percentage had been the cause, would it more than likely have stopped as it tried to push past 100%? (Just so I better understand.)

Exactly where in logic are the disk and CPU meters displayed?

 

In Logic you can double click here:

 

 

And this window pops up:

 

Thanks a bunch. If it's helpful to note, when the track stops half way through the little "beach ball" just keeps spinning and I have to force quit Logic. I don't know if that makes any difference to anyone that might be trying to help me, but that's what's happening.

What does your Logic CPU meter say?

I'm not able to get either of the two "windows" you sent to show what yours shows. Might it be because I do not have the very latest Logic version? What do I need to do?

I'm not able to get either of the two "windows" you sent to show what yours shows. Might it be because I do not have the very latest Logic version? What do I need to do?

 

Control-Click the transport and select Customize. Checkmark CPU display.

Thanks, I'll do what I can. I appreciate your help. BTW, did the 76.3% seem excessive? If the percentage had been the cause, would it more than likely have stopped as it tried to push past 100%? (Just so I better understand.)

 

 

Roughly speaking that is 76% of 1 core, each core is 100%, so you can have 700% of an 8 core machine and Logic still isn’t using all of the processing power.