EXS 24 Logic Sampler Users Group

Hey I have a song I'm working on, and until recently for the drums I was just arranging all 
the kicks, snares, etc. in seperate intruments and then just opening like 5 instances of ESX 
and cabling them all to one instrument.  This works fine... but it gets confusing, so i 
decided to just combine everything into one instrument and route the different samples to 
Aux' and then EQing everything seperately in the Aux chanel.  However when I tried that, 
the sound got all garbled up.  Especially if other virtual instruments were playing.  I know 
its not an issue of CPU power.  I have a Dual G5.  Plus I can just play everything seperatly 
and have 6 or more EXS' running at the same time and route all over the place with now 
problems.  Can anyone help me out?

Specs:
2.0GHz G5
Panther
Logic 6.3.3
Just using the bult-in Audio (until the G5's firewire grounding problem gets resolved).

>(...)
>
> Just using the bult-in Audio (until the G5's firewire grounding problem gets
> resolved).  

i know this is ot, but since i guess a lot of us are about to go g5 soon,
could you elaborate that problem a bit?
i head various issues regarding the g5 but all of them sounded like the have
been the fist shippment only.

thanks,
u.

I assume you're talking about the audio problem with the G5.  This problem is pretty 
common actually.  I've heard that there are people that don't have it... but I have no idea 
how wide spread this problem actually is.  However a huge number of pro audio people 
are all complaining about the same problem on the official Apple Disscusion board.  
Anyway, here's the break down.

There is a really weird high pitched digital screetching noise.  The noise sounds like the 
volume is related to CPU activity.  It's loudest when the you switch windows with Expose or 
scroll windows.  And kind of chirps at about 1Hz when the CPU is idle.

This noise also leaks through to the audio outs.  And the really weird thing is that it even 
leaks to audio outs of fire wire audio devices.  I don't know of this happening first hand 
since I don't have a firewire audio device, but a lot of people with MOTU 828's and Digi 
001's say it does.  Another problem is that the noise leaks to monitors that are grounded 
to the same power source.  I havent experienced this either, since I live in Japan and here 
there is no third prong on the power cord for the ground (just like a little wire... but since 
the only ground source in my apartment is in the other room, I don't have it hooked up).  
So basically none of my set up is grounded.

As to what's causing the noise, most people say that it's some kind of ground loop caused 
by the power supply.  Apple is already on Rev. E for power supplies just because of this 
problem.  Its not totally fixed yet, but I've heard that Rev. E is an improvement.  Apple is 
being really shady about the problem though.  They already closed the biggest message 
stream on the official Disscusions page, and most AppleCare people often deny people's 
complaints.

There are some kind of band aid fixes though.  One is a software solution called CHUD.  
CHUD is a bunch of tools for developers made by Apple.  Its not included with OS X but 
you can download it from the Apple Ftp pretty easily.  Anyway there is a feature where you 
can edit CPU settings.  If you disable something called NAP (which appears to be some 
kind of idle process) it cuts down on the noise a lot.  But it doesn't remove the noise 
leakage from the audio outs.  For that, you need a device called a Ground Loop Isolator.  
These can be picked up at any Radio Shack and sell for like $12.  I had a friend mail me 
one from Seattle (since I couldnt find any here).  For fire wire audio outs I've heard this 
works too, but I think you would need one for each out.  So like for the MOTU 828 you'd 
need 4 Ground Loop Isolators (they come in a  stereo pair).

So thats the big problem.  I have one of the first Dual G5's in Japan.  Acutally this is my 
second.  The first one I had a huge problem with the fans and had to be returned.

--- In exs-users@yahoogroups.com, "Todd" <maximillianv@h...> wrote:
> I assume you're talking about the audio problem with the G5.  This problem is pretty 
> common actually.  I've heard that there are people that don't have it... but I have no idea 
> how wide spread this problem actually is.  However a huge number of pro audio people 
> are all complaining about the same problem on the official Apple Disscusion board.  

CHUD worked for me. My computer used to chirp and whine but now the 
firewire ports are dead silent. I am worried about the long-term 
effects of CHUD but otherwise everythings cool. Some people tell me 
that the fans stay on when they used CHUD, but mine don't.

> I am worried about the long-term 
> effects of CHUD but otherwise everythings cool. Some people tell me 
> that the fans stay on when they used CHUD, but mine don't.

There was a lot of gossip in the begining because some one said that an AppleCare Rep 
recomended not using CHUD.  But it was never clear to anyone why.  Actually CHUD has no 
negative permanent effects.  It just changes your power settings so the only negative 
effect is that you G5 will consume more power than usual when NAP is unchecked.

your inside (insight?) is very apreciated here. thanks a lot.
cheers,
u.

(ps, that kind of sound drove me crazy with the titanium powerbook. thats
why i returned it. apple was not able to admit it. i was the onlyone (they
say) to complain at that time. but EVERY titanium i had a chance to test
made that kind of sounds... )

> I assume you're talking about the audio problem with the G5.  This problem is
> pretty 
> common actually.  I've heard that there are people that don't have it... but I
> have no idea 
> how wide spread this problem actually is.  However a huge number of pro audio
> people 
> are all complaining about the same problem on the official Apple Disscusion
> board.  
> Anyway, here's the break down.
> 
> There is a really weird high pitched digital screetching noise.  The noise
> sounds like the 
> volume is related to CPU activity.  It's loudest when the you switch windows
> with Expose or 
> scroll windows.  And kind of chirps at about 1Hz when the CPU is idle.
> 
> This noise also leaks through to the audio outs.  And the really weird thing
> is that it even 
> leaks to audio outs of fire wire audio devices.  I don't know of this
> happening first hand
> since I don't have a firewire audio device, but a lot of people with MOTU
> 828's and Digi 
> 001's say it does.  Another problem is that the noise leaks to monitors that
> are grounded 
> to the same power source.  I havent experienced this either, since I live in
> Japan and here 
> there is no third prong on the power cord for the ground (just like a little
> wire... but since
> the only ground source in my apartment is in the other room, I don't have it
> hooked up).  
> So basically none of my set up is grounded.
> 
> As to what's causing the noise, most people say that it's some kind of ground
> loop caused 
> by the power supply.  Apple is already on Rev. E for power supplies just
> because of this 
> problem.  Its not totally fixed yet, but I've heard that Rev. E is an
> improvement.  Apple is
> being really shady about the problem though.  They already closed the biggest
> message 
> stream on the official Disscusions page, and most AppleCare people often deny
> people's 
> complaints.
> 
> There are some kind of band aid fixes though.  One is a software solution
> called CHUD.  
> CHUD is a bunch of tools for developers made by Apple.  Its not included with
> OS X but 
> you can download it from the Apple Ftp pretty easily.  Anyway there is a
> feature where you
> can edit CPU settings.  If you disable something called NAP (which appears to
> be some 
> kind of idle process) it cuts down on the noise a lot.  But it doesn't remove
> the noise 
> leakage from the audio outs.  For that, you need a device called a Ground Loop
> Isolator.  
> These can be picked up at any Radio Shack and sell for like $12.  I had a
> friend mail me 
> one from Seattle (since I couldnt find any here).  For fire wire audio outs
> I've heard this 
> works too, but I think you would need one for each out.  So like for the MOTU
> 828 you'd 
> need 4 Ground Loop Isolators (they come in a  stereo pair).
> 
> So thats the big problem.  I have one of the first Dual G5's in Japan.
> Acutally this is my
> second.  The first one I had a huge problem with the fans and had to be
> returned.