This article will look at what might be causing your Logic Pro projects to freeze and crash. We will look at the typical issues that will cause crashing and how to fix and prevent these issues in the future.
Why Is Logic Pro Freezing & Crashing & How To Fix It
If you’ve been using Logic for a while, you’ve probably seen the System Overload warning, often followed by Logic freezing and crashing.
There are many reasons why system overloads can happen. Let’s look at the most common causes and how to fix/avoid them.
1. Too many open applications
When using Logic, especially in full-screen mode, it’s easy to forget what other applications we have open. This matters because each application you have open will be taking up RAM and processing power, no matter if you’re using the application or not. For example, while you are using Logic, you have iMovie, iTunes, Safari, and Chrome all open in the background. These other applications will use recourses that could be better used to help your Logic Projects run smoothly.
How to fix/avoid this
It may sound simple but close your applications and tabs. Unless you’re actively using these applications while also using Logic, all they are doing is taking up valuable RAM and processing power.
2. Virtual instruments
Some VSTs are very resource-intensive, and having loads open at once could cause Logic (Or any DAW, for that matter) to crash and freeze. Some Popular VSTs you might be using, like Spectrasonics Omnisphere, Native Instruments Kontakt, Output Arcade, Xfer Serum, and Native Instruments Massive, are all rather recourse intensive, so having loads open at once could cause issues.
How to fix/avoid this
If you need to use loads of Virtual instruments at once, then there is yet to be a definitive answer on how to fix/avoid this issue. You should always pause the playback on your project while loading new VSTs.
Bouncing in place is a great option to deal with wanting to avoid crashing and freezing while also using loads of VSTs, and we will look at this towards the end of this article.
3. Audio FX
Audio FX work the same as VSTs but are usually less resource intensive. Although they are less resource intensive, you will often be using double, if not more, audio FX than VSTs in each track, and it all adds up. Most stock Logic audio FX are not too resource intensive, but your more advanced 3rd party Audio FX will likely be.
How to fix/ Avoid this
Just like VSTs, If you need to use loads of Plug-ins at once, there isn’t a definitive answer on how to fix/avoid this issue. You should always pause the playback on your project while loading new Plug-ins and only have plug-ins you need open.
Bouncing in place is a great option to deal with wanting to avoid crashing and freezing while also using loads of VSTs, and we will look at this towards the end of this article.
Buffer Range
The I/O buffer range can significantly affect the performance of Logic Pro. The I/O buffer temporarily stores audio data before dispersing it to other locations on your device, this naturally adds unwanted stress to your Mac’s CPU.
How to fix/avoid this
A larger buffer range can greatly reduce the risk of Logic crashing/and or freezing. Having the buffer range set to the largest option is the best. However, sometimes, having it too large can cause similar issues, so finding the perfect balance is best. The larger your buffer range, the more latency you will have while recording, so it’s important to remember that.
- Click ‘Logic Pro’ on the menu bar. Navigate to preferences and select Audio.
- You will then see the I/O Buffer Size Tab. Select it to open the drop-down menu.
- Select your preferred size.
- Then select Process Buffer Range and select Largely.
Playback Summing
Another reason why Logic may be crashing, and freezing could be your summing setting. This setting allows you to change the Audio quality you’re hearing while using Logic Pro. Naturally, we all want to hear the highest possible quality, which causes extra CPU workload.
How to fix/avoid this
Set your Summing setting to the lowest available, which is 32-Bit. This may cause your audio quality to reduce greatly, but it’s not noticeable. 32-bit is still very high quality and good enough to create songs in Logic Pro.
- Click ‘Logic Pro’ on the menu bar. Navigate to preferences and select Audio.
- Towards the bottom, you will find the Summing Tab.
- Select it and Select’ Standard Precision (32 Bit) ‘
How to prevent crashing and freezing?
Bouncing In Place
Bouncing In Place or BIP is a great way to avoid crashing/ and or freezing in Logic Pro. If you don’t know what BIP does, it essentially bounces down (converts) your selected track into a new Audio file, with all VSTs and Audio FX with it. This means you can now close all your VSTs and Audio FX until you need to make any changes. This will greatly reduce the stress on your Mac’s CPU.
- Right click on the Audio File, MIDI region, or Drummer track and select Bounce in Place.
- A menu will then pop up, allowing you to add a name, destination, what to do with the source track, and so on.
- Select your ideal settings or those I recommend below, and hit Ok.
Then you will now be able to close all the VSTs and Audio FX from this track. Remember that all the Audio FX and VST settings are now locked in place, and you will have to redo this process if you want to make any changes.
Freeze
Another great way to prevent crashing and freezing is the Freeze tool. The freeze tool is the same as Bouncing in Place. However, you can turn this tool off to edit the VST and Audio FX settings.
- Right click on the track you want to freeze and navigate to configured track header.
- Make sure the freeze icon (The snowflake) is ticked, and then you should now see the freeze icon on your track header.
- Click this icon and begin playback of the track to freeze all the regions within the track.
- To turn the freeze tool off, click the icon again, and you can now edit all the VST and Audio FX settings again.
Other Tips and Tricks
Using the Performance Meter in the Built-in LCD displays custom settings is a great way to monitor your Mac’s performance within Logic. You can now monitor CPU and HD performance from here within DAW. Knowing how much stress you’re putting on your CPU and what specifically causes it is great. You can monitor it while you load up VSTs and Audio FX to see how much effect they have, and you can also pause your track if you can see it is becoming too much for your CPU to prevent Logic From crashing and freezing.
- Click the downward arrow on the left of the LCD.
- A drop-down menu will open; navigate the customize control bar and display
- The custom settings menu will open from here. Select Performance Meter (CPU/HD) in the LCD section.
- Then click apply as Default.
Conclusion
Although we have listed the most common issues, explained how to fix them, and provided some additional methods, you can only do so much with your recourses depending on components such as RAM and what CPU you have within your Mac.
I’m a Music Producer and Sound Engineer from the UK. I have been working with music my whole life and I’m currently studying Music Production and Sound Engineering at university.