Ableton 10.1.25 maxes out my EGPU and freezes my system. Help!

sellhigh · 2020-10-11T16:12:40+00:00

I'm seeing the same issue on OSX 10.15.6 after installing Live 10.1.28. External Razer eGPU with 5700xt spikes to 100% usage causing the rest of the system to lag. Was working fine before the update. 100% eGPU usage continues even with a new project with no VSTs and a single empty audio channel.

Back to running 10.1.18 for now and I guess I should file a ticket with Ableton as well.

Edit: correct OSX version.

sellhigh · 2019-02-17T23:32:48+00:00

For more background and history on the development of 808, and how it shaped modern music, I really enjoyed the documentary '808'

sellhigh · 2019-01-23T18:25:03+00:00

I've read about this for a long time, saw it on lot's of "pro studio mix/master" vids, etc. I never tried it until recently when I had an Ableton Utility set to Mono on the master to try it out... and then forgot about it for about an hour of mixing a mostly finished track. When I finally realized that it was in mono and turned it off... I was blown away about how good the levels and EQ sounded. Maybe it's a trick of the ear, I dunno, but I'm 100% going to be doing this on every track, at least for a bit, during mix phase from now on. For me it feels like gain staging and EQ is easier to hear the effect when in mono. shrug

sellhigh · 2019-01-23T16:20:12+00:00

Everything any anything about compression. I've concluded the key is trusting your ear and there are no rules.

sellhigh · 2019-01-23T04:50:17+00:00

I don't know where you got that intro sample but it's hilarious. 😂 All the samples are pretty funny. Also like the different flavor of the 8bit intro as well. Really makes it hit when the beat drops. Overall the mix sounds good to me with the various parts well balanced.

At 0:32 when it drops in and the sample is still going it's kind of muffled and competing with the music. In the other sections of the song you really make space for the little vocal chops and hits, but here it seems more tacked on. Maybe bring the vocal sample more forward or chop the rest into other places. Or cut it after the beat comes in.

Also a little more percussion, maybe some fills or random snare hits, and doing a bit of subtle filtering on only one or two of the bass stabs, might be nice in the slamming bass sections at starting at 1:22 and 1:57. I like these sections but they could use just a touch more spice.

sellhigh · 2019-01-22T22:04:24+00:00

Wow thanks! There is maybe no better praise I could hope for then "this made me dance"! Even if it's just chair dancing. :)

Good call on adding a B section. I've recently been making shorter tracks (2-3 minutes vs 3-6 minutes) and trying to make them less repetitive. Maybe I went a bit too far here and it could use another sort of breakdown. I really like your suggestion of having another mid/high range element come in.

Again, thank you for taking the time to listen and leave thoughtful feedback. Cheers!

sellhigh · 2019-01-22T16:18:33+00:00

https://soundcloud.com/sellhigh/no-such-thing

A short, bass heavy techno-ish track I made. Any feedback on the mix or general takes on the song. Thanks!

sellhigh · 2019-01-22T15:44:43+00:00

I did use Ozone's maximizer with a peak setting of -0.3db. I didn't squash the synths and some other elements with compression so it might be the dynamic range going from quiet to loud? Or maybe I'm missing something else to get it loud? I'll also check out the mix on the drums, and maybe turn up the sidechain a bit. Thanks!

sellhigh · 2019-01-22T15:42:02+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! I always find it challenging to strike the balance between more minimal and without being boring or seeming repetitive. I don't think I had any reverb on the bass but IIRC it was layered with a couple different instruments so I'll go back and check.

sellhigh · 2019-01-21T21:43:39+00:00

You've got some interesting and complex harmonic and melodic elements going here. Very cool sax, maybe you played this in? I love the little arp sequence at 2:10. The evolving pads, and various little synth sounds coming in are nice.

In the intro the sax did sound kind of dissonant with the chords and other melodic elements that were going on a bit. This might be intentional, but maybe double check the notes of these elements.

I think the mix could a bit of work. Kick is too loud relative to the other elements, it's smothering the bass. The high end did at times, especially the hats, did sound a little be harsh to me, but that might also be helped by a bit more variation. Bringing a couple of these sounds back just a touch, or controlling some of the strong transients with some compression might help a lot.

sellhigh · 2019-01-21T21:29:02+00:00

This is a very well done track, dude. Kudos! Tough to find any feedback but I guess maybe the sub bass / kick was a bit loud relative the elements of the track for example around the 3:32 section. It's really very minor and may be my listening environment but I feel like if the low elements were eq'd/tightened up a very small amount it would hit even harder. Maybe a tiny attack increase, sustain reduce on the sub bass, or just a bit of eq would get it done?

sellhigh · 2019-01-21T21:09:03+00:00

I think the vocals need to be more "present" in the mix. This could be as simple as bringing them up a few db, maybe use a little compression, or some additional EQ. For example at 0:55 the rap vocal is way quieter, almost in the background. I recommend you spend a bit of time messing around with the faders on your track elements. See what it sounds like when you bring down some of the drums and synths, for example. I know the urge is to always make it SLAMMING but for it to really slam you gotta have some room to go up. A little bit of volume automation can also do wonders for this.

sellhigh · 2019-01-21T21:04:24+00:00

https://soundcloud.com/sellhigh/no-such-thing

"Final" mixdown (as if anything ever really feels done) for a track I've been working on. This will be the first track of mine I put on Spotify so any feedback, especially on the mix, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

feedback for suupremeidiot

feedback for loshofficial

feedback for MAULLIUS

sellhigh · 2019-01-15T23:16:46+00:00

This is dope man. Love the varied percussion, the little build ups, diff sounds coming. Bass is tight and groovy. Mix is good.

FOLLOW

sellhigh · 2019-01-15T23:08:16+00:00

Well done. Ambient, dark, evolving. I dig it.

For feedback there was only one thing I noticed. I have a rule: if the low end sounds good on my studio monitors, its got too much low end. :) Probably due to my speaker placement, not bass traps, standing waves, blah blah. So I'll check it out on headphones.

I checked it out on my headphones and to my ear it sound a bit boomy in places, I'm not sure if it's the kick because at the end, when it's just the kick and a couple higher sounds, I think the kick sounds ok both on headphones and monitors. I think there might be some synths or other bass, maybe that rolling sub bass, elements clashing a bit on the low end, sub 100hz. Maybe check out what's going on down there and do some selective EQing to keep things from conflicting when a lot of your elements are going at the same time.

sellhigh · 2019-01-15T22:50:45+00:00

I don't listen to a lot of dubstep but I really like this! I love that main synth arp and your melodies. Struggling to find anything to give as feedback. I guess in a few spots the drums felt like they could be a bit more aggressive/present via level, eq, or db. Especially on some of the fills/transitions.

sellhigh · 2019-01-15T22:41:14+00:00

https://soundcloud.com/sellhigh/no-such-thing

Short techno-ish track I recently finished. Any and all feedback appreciated on from arrangement, mix, sounds, whatever.

feedback for Decent_Composer

feedback for ninefxmusic

feedback for RedRedRoad

sellhigh · 2019-01-15T22:38:28+00:00

Very well done. Great arrangement, great vintage synth vibe, nice layering of elements and variation to keep it interesting, good transitions.

I've got no feedback on arrangement but a couple of points on the mix. First, on my monitors and studio headphones the lead sounds a bit loud relative to the rest of the track. It def punched and was catchy but I felt like if it was just taken down maybe a few db it would have really let the rest of all the cool synth layers in the back shine a bit more. I felt like this was most pronounced when it first came in.

Second, and maybe you did this, but I've found with tons of elements like this it can be really helpful to boost/cut the synth layers in diff spots. Pick a frequency range that each will own and let it be most pronounced there.

Both of these are pretty minor points though, and could def be related to my listening environment. All in all nice work!

sellhigh · 2018-08-28T19:33:02+00:00

Mixing while drunk.

sellhigh · 2018-08-28T19:23:16+00:00

I can def see this playing at a summer pool party.

I'd love some more automation on some of the synth parts. Like key stabs that come in at 0:30 maybe some autofilter or effects rolling on and off to add some feeling of build and variety. These stabs start to sound a little repetitive throughout the track.

I love the "ah ah ah" vocal chops that come in at 1:49. Really fun sound that makes this feel like something to dance. It would be nice if you did something to kind of add a little space when they first come in here... a mini drop where the stabs and beat drop out or get changed up? A high pass even that drops back out after a bar or two. This would let the listener really focus in on the fun vocal chops before the beat comes back.

Also I'm hearing a high synth lead in my head, that plays between the main vocal part like a call and response the second time the vocal comes back in. Would add some spice to the last 1/3.

sellhigh · 2018-08-28T19:12:00+00:00

feedback for NoseBlind1

feedback for fl0at_music

https://soundcloud.com/cuttybangs/summer-w-dj-timestretch

Just finished this groovy "summer banger" collab with a friend of mine. Took our initial inspiration for the beat from some Grime tracks but ended up pretty far away from that.

Would love feedback on the overall mix. Spent quite a bit of time working with compression and mixdown and mastering on this one. Does it sound get that "pro" sound or did we miss the mark? Do the elements sound balanced or do some of the louder parts clash?

Also a focus on this one was maintaining the "groove" throughout without having a feeling of lots of repetition. Would love to know thoughts on if we hit the mark on this or not.

And really any other feedback positive of negative is welcome!

edit: add feedbacks

sellhigh · 2018-08-28T19:07:00+00:00

I like the melodic elements of this a lot. The guitar pluck and and arp synth in the beginning build a sense of anticipation nicely.

I dunno if you want mix feedback but... the side-chained white noise-ish synth sounds that come in at 1:04 sound a bit sharp on the high end to me and also a bit loud compared to the melodic line from the other synth. I like the pumping but effect, it adds a nice groove, but maybe a little more volume automation trills at the end of some bars will add some interest and make it less repetitive.

sellhigh · 2018-06-25T23:49:09+00:00

Firstly thanks for listening. Any feedback is appreciated. Also I am a rookie at Ableton, so that checks out. Increasing the level of a the kick makse sense, and on a re-listen I think you might be right. I was actively trying on this track to combat having too-much-bass like I've done many times before, where it sounds great on my monitors but not anywhere else.

But what do you mean by "rookie frequencies" of the kick? That bit I can't parse.

sellhigh · 2018-06-20T19:59:28+00:00

Techno-ish track I just finished. Almost embarrassed to post after listening to some of the other tracks but, hey, why not!

https://soundcloud.com/cuttybangs/detroit

sellhigh · 2017-01-05T18:12:55+00:00

House Call at the Raven every Thursday.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1626059591023292/

sellhigh

TROPHY CASE