Disk too slow

Question

Hi there,
I am running logic express 7.2 and tried to run some audio files yesterday. Unfortunatly i cannot run them as i am getting a disk too slow message popping up. I was trying to run 18 x 24bit x 96000hz files. This doesnt strike me as excessive for this day and age. My system:
MacBook Pro, 17-inch, 2.33GHz Intel
2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
3GB 667 DDR2 - 2x1GB SO-DIMMs
100GB Serial ATA drive (7200rpm)
Pls can somebody explain what the settings in core audio do? I have tried the biggest buffer and and larger disk buffer setting but no luck. I see the audio slider is rising quite high but again i would expect a machine like this to be able to handle it..
May logic 8 be able to handle this?
Also pls can you let me know how to defrag the drive on a mac?
thanks
richard

Answer 1

You have to consider that your internal disk is accessed by the system and the applications so it will NEVER play those 18 tracks.
If they were 16 or 24 bits at 44.1Khz you could have some chances to play them rightly.
The only solution is to have an external Firewire 400 or 800 (better) or, if you want more, an external array in stripe set 0 or 5.
About the buffer: more buffer = less CPU but more disk activity and more latency
less buffer = more CPU but less disk activity and less latency
And... Logic 8 won't help you with disk performances.
cheers
rob
rob