However, it will also introduce greater latency - which somewhat defeats the point of the smaller buffer settings! I find it most useful when playing a virtual instrument live at very low I/O buffer settings and it's worth trying it out if you are having problems - although in my experience it can actually introduce more of the very clicks and pops you're trying to avoid, especially on lower–spec Macs.Ī more useful addition is the Low Latency mode, which can be found in the General section of the Audio preferences. When ticked, it attempts to prevent the crackling noises you can get at very low I/O buffer settings. The safety I/O buffer in the Devices section is a new addition to Logic. Increasing this buffer size for mixing will then release CPU cycles for your plug-ins. One old favourite that remains, the I/O buffer size, is usually set to the lowest value you can get away with while still avoiding overload messages or audio glitches when recording. You can easily add the Low Latency mode button (orange, bottom right) to the Transport, for instant access.The Audio preferences in Logic 8 have been quite radically changed compared to previous versions.
But there are still a couple of areas related to Logic's performance, day-to-day running and maintenance that can cause a bit of confusion, so this month we bring you a handy guide to some of the most commonly asked questions. Now that we're effectively running Logic on supercomputers, most of these obscure performance parameters have been removed or streamlined in more recent versions of the program. The Safety I/O buffer is one new addition, and in the General section you can find the useful new Low Latency mode.When the first version of Logic capable of handling audio was introduced way back in the mists of time, the (then Emagic) programmers had to be extremely creative in an attempt to coax reasonable performance out of computers which, if still around today, would be having sand kicked in their screens by an iPhone. Logic's Audio preferences have been changed quite a lot for version 8. Housekeeping tasks might not be as much fun as making music, but staying on top of them should ensure safely backed-up tracks and a hassle-free system performing at its best.