New System Kacked My Garageband
Friday, July 03 2009 @ 11:53 AM CDT

I'm new to Macjams, so I'm not sure whether this topic has been raised.

I updated my system from OSX 3.9 to OSX 5.7, and now Garageband acts screwy. When I create a new real track, the default disappears... but not really. It reappears when I hit the "View/Hide the Track Editor" button. Then, when I add another track, the new track appears only after I hit the "View/Hide the Track Editor" button. And then randomly, when I hit the record button, I get a surge of static coming out of the speakers.

I reinstalled the software from the System DVD, and upgraded with the last software upgrade, but so far nothing has worked. I'm thinking of deleting all Garageband system files (if I can find all of them) and rebooting the app.

Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks!

Mike
(Dobrothunder)

Re:New System Kacked My Garageband
Friday, July 03 2009 @ 12:21 PM CDT

It is likely that there is more at work (or NOT at work in this case) than just the OS upgrade. When a program (like GarageBand) has trouble updating its controls (buttons, window areas, etc) on-screen, that usually means a low-memory condition. Maybe you could tell us what kind of Mac you are running it on (PPC or Intel, laptop or tower), and also how much RAM is installed... the extra goodies that were added with 10.5.7 may be using up enough RAM now, causing GB to run out of memory for periods of time.

What version of GarageBand are you using? Have you upgraded GB lately?

Are other programs having trouble too? Have you also installed other stuff at about the same time as the upgrade? Have you done a Disk Utility check of your hard drive (BEFORE and AFTER the upgrade) to make sure your hard disk & directories are OK?

And welcome to Macjams! Sorry you arrived at a rather chaotic time here, as we are under attack by stupid forum-hackers... hope it gets cleared up soon. And hope we can help get you back up and running too.

ttfn,
Drakonis

Re:New System Kacked My Garageband
Friday, July 03 2009 @ 06:06 PM CDT

Hi Drakonis.

I just moved over from EZ Folk. We had our troubles with hackers, too.

Garageband and GuitarPro5 are the only apps giving me trouble. Logic still works, but it's bigger than what I need as a solo (sometimes trio) act... bigger than what I want to learn. Audacity, Amadeus, Protools... all fine. Carbon apps run as soft as butter on my Mac.

I'm on an eMac OSX 10.5.7, 1.25 GHz Power PC G4, with 768mb RAM

My Garageband is 304 (104.7)

Thanks for gettin' back to me.

Mike
(Dobrothunder)

Re:New System Kacked My Garageband
Friday, July 03 2009 @ 06:21 PM CDT

If you haven't already, try deleting your Garageband preferences (in your HD/Library/Preferences folder), the .cs and .plist files. They will be rebuilt the next time you open GB.
What type of interface do you use? It seems unlikely but perhaps you need to update the driver software for you interface. I know I have had problems ever since updating to 10.5.7, and it seems to be some sort of incompatibility with my MOTU Ultralite.

Re:New System Kacked My Garageband
Friday, July 03 2009 @ 07:03 PM CDT

Hi Jim.

From Jamroom?

Lo and behold... I found a 305 update to Garageband. Removed my preferences and installed the update, and right now GB seems to be working. I'm headed to Oregon this evening, and it'll be a week before I get to take the update for a drive, but I've got a hunch that I can get back to using GB when I return.

(I like that Max Headroom/Tennessee Williams beat poetry track).

Mike
(Dobrothunder)

If I am no longer disturbed myself, I will deal less with disturbed people, but I don't regret having concerned myself with them because I think most of us are disturbed.

Re:New System Kacked My Garageband
Friday, July 03 2009 @ 07:04 PM CDT

So far so good.

Re:New System Kacked My Garageband
Friday, July 03 2009 @ 08:03 PM CDT

Quote by: Dobrothunder Hi Drakonis. ... I'm on an eMac OSX 10.5.7, 1.25 GHz Power PC G4, with 768mb RAM

Eek... 768 MB of RAM is probably on the light side. I have a Dual G4 1.0 GHz that was recently a hand-me-down to my wife, and it is still (barely) hanging in there with 1.5 GB RAM. One thing to try is to "lock" any synth-instrument tracks you are not editing, and let them get "rendered" as audio files, that could reduce some of the CPU load that might be causing the "static sputter". And although more RAM would instantly help, I might suggest saving up for a newer Mac if you're doing lots of recording like this, especially with Logic.

Ha, we just got back from a wonderful driving trip up to (Grants Pass, Cresswell, Eugene) Oregon... have fun! Look forward to hearing some of your music here when you return.

ttfn,
Drakonis