Cubase 4 'CPU Overload/Audio Dropout detected.'

[geoff956]

Got Cubase 4 more or less up & running (i thought).
So I'm playing a simple synth sample in cycle mode trying out the EQ presets. No other tracks or effects loaded. Almost every preset I select I get a message 'CPU Overload/Audio Dropout detected.' Then everything's running normal except the mouse which won't select anything so I have to switch off & power up again.
How can that possibly cause an overload?
Sound card buffer was at 256. Tried it at 512 but no difference. Raised it to 1024 and it stopped.
Any ideas much appreciated?

[Electriclight]

It sounds like perhaps something else is running inthe background? Antivirus stuff whatever?

Start with this guide to optimizing XP:

SweetCare Service & Support | Sweetwater.com

[MetalDave]

It almost sounds like you may have not enough Cache on your hard drives to keep up with that monster CPU you are using. what is the cashe on your HDDs? if it isn't at least 8 meg it could be something completely different than what you are thinking. If you are only at 2mg cache, you are having to buffer more so things can catch up to what your processor it shoveling at it. You may want to run the 2 HDD's raid 1 mirrored so they can handle more bandwidth. I didn't see how much memory you have either. this is a tough thing to figure out without being there. Watch you HDD light... If it goes solid as you are trying to record you may have the problem there. If you are trying to record directly to your external, try a different drive.With the system you have, there shouldn't be a problem at all. you should be able to record 20 track simultainiously. Good luck. try some different stuff until it works better then remember the last thing you did.

[geoff956]

Thanks very much for the replies. Not very technical so I'm in a bit deep here.
I've done the optimizing things for XP and tried disconnecting the external HD and disabling the antivirus but makes no difference.
I can't see anything about HD cache. The HDD light seems ok on record.
I have program installation on 'C' and projects/samples on 'D' drives. The external I use only for back up.
Memory 2GB.
As I said if I raise the card buffer to 1024 it doesn't happen and as I have a mixer and don't monitor through Cubase maybe it doesn't matter much, but I'd still like to know if its a computer thing or a program thing.
If there was any overload it would show on the VST performance meter wouldn't it? It only shows a low reading.

Weird thing: when the warning comes up and and the mouse refuses to function (although the tracks carry on playing) I bring up the Task Manager which shows it as running. I then close that window and the mouse returns to normal operation ???

[Electriclight]

Just curious. What Bit rate and sampling rate are you running? Have you defragged lately. Grasping at straws here.

[geoff956]

44,100/24bit. Recently defragged.
Interesting thing, I ran through a C4 tutorial which came with this month's Future Music mag and the guy on there made a reference to switching off the overload warning which I did. It also got rid of the freezing of the mouse thing - even when I switched the card back to 256.
So it looks like the problem is largely an academic one but it still bugs me.

[Electriclight]

Originally Posted by geoff956

I ran through a C4 tutorial which came with this month's Future Music mag

Where are you? They cancelled my subscription a year ago and started sending me Guitar Player magazine, which I hate. I thought Future Music went out of business?

[geoff956]

UK South Wales.
I usually get 'Computer Music' but I got this one because of the tutorials.

[uab9253]

There is a software utility I use called End It All that I run before I work in Cubase or Pinnacle Video Studio. It basically kills everything that is running except core windows necessities. You can also opt to kill AV stuff too. It is free and works well. I have been using it for a couple of years.

[geoff956]

Thanks Alan, I'll check it out.